Missouri Business Fall 2018

BUSINESS
& POLICY NEWS
MISSOURI CHAMBER FILES LEGAL
CHALLENGE TO AMENDMENT 1
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry has filed a
lawsuit to stop a disingenuous out-of-state effort to upend Missouri’s
political system. If successful, the Missouri Chamber’s legal challenge
will remove Amendment 1 from the Nov. 6 statewide ballot. This
would spare Missourians from having to decide whether or not to
approve this deceptive amendment to the state’s constitution.
Amendment 1 is an attempt by billionaire activist George Soros
to tinker with Missouri’s constitution and redraw the lines that
define how Missouri is divided into state House and Senate districts.
If Amendment 1 passes, it could lead to a radical shift in priorities
in the Missouri General Assembly, opening the door to higher
taxes and more bureaucratic regulation. It could also reverse longrunning
efforts to make our state business-friendly and competitive
for growth and investment opportunities.
“It should be appalling to every Missourian that an outside
billionaire is trying to rewrite our constitution and meddle with the
very rules that govern the balance of power in our state Capitol,”
said Daniel P. Mehan, Missouri Chamber president and CEO.
“The way Amendment 1 is being sold to the public could deceive
many Missouri voters into supporting what appears on the surface
to be an effort to improve state government. On the contrary,
Missourians need to understand that this is essentially a coup
attempt being powered by a billionaire activist with sophisticated
marketing tools. But in their limited understanding of Missouri, the
outside supporters of Amendment 1 drafted their amendment in
such a way that should invalidate it for the November ballot.”
The Missouri Chamber’s legal challenge to Amendment 1 focuses
on how the language bundles together several different issues
into a single ballot item. This is not allowed under the Missouri
Constitution. Judges have ordered similarly drafted amendments
to be removed from ballots in the past. The Missouri Chamber is
hopeful Missouri courts will side with it and remove Amendment
1 from the ballot.
When we put our energy
behind our communities,
we all thrive.
Here’s to the many cities and towns that make up the
great state of Missouri. We’re proud to support you as
you continue to advance this state we call home.
SpireEnergy.com
8 MISSOURI BUSINESS