‘It’s too easy to amend Missouri’s constitution’: GOP

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Republican supermajority in the Missouri Legislature is slated to pass major reforms to the state’s initiative petition process.

For years, GOP legislators have argued that it’s too easy to amend Missouri’s constitution by way of the voter.

“I think that rural Missouri has not been adequately represented under the initiative petition issue,” said State Rep. Brian Seitz, R-Branson.

Under the current process, any ballot measure needs a simple majority of the votes statewide to enact the question. 

Under proposed legislation in the extraordinary session, ballot questions would need a majority in all eight congressional districts.

“A majority in the congressional districts, which means you have to win a majority in all eight congressional districts,” said State Rep. Ray Reed, D-St. Louis.

Reed contends that under the proposed language, current state officeholders like Governor Mike Kehoe wouldn’t reach the threshold in all eight seats.

Seitz argues that it’s simply too easy to change the state’s constitution.

“I think what we're attempting to do is to elevate the document to the position that it should be in,” he said.

Lawmakers are expected to be back in Jefferson City Monday.