Initiatives on the Nov. 6 Ballot. Amendment 1: Legislative Reforms Prop B: Minimum Wage Medical Marijuana - 3 Gasoline Tax Bingo

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1 Initiatives on the Nov. 6 Ballot Amendment 1: Legislative Reforms Prop B: Minimum Wage Medical Marijuana - 3 Gasoline Tax Bingo

2 Amendment 1 The Missouri Lobbying, Campaign Finance, and Redistricting Initiative will appear on the ballot as Amendment 1. This constitutional amendment: changes the state s lobbying laws lowers campaign finance limits for state legislative candidates enforces sunshine laws reforms the legislative redistricting process.

3 Lobbying Prohibits state legislators and their staff from accepting any gifts from paid lobbyists worth more than $5. Requires legislators and their staff to wait two years after serving to become a paid lobbyist.

4 Campaign Finance Blocks the Missouri State Legislature from passing laws allowing for unlimited campaign contributions to candidates for the state legislature. Establishes campaign contribution limits for legislative candidates and candidate committees for a single election cycle: $2,500 per person to elect a state Senate candidate $2,000 per person for a state House candidate

5 After legislators repealed contribution limits in 2008, Dollars Donated Number of Donors The total contributed to legislative candidates doubled, but the money came from only half as many donors Source: Missouri Ethics Commission (mec.mo.gov)

6 Current System Districts drawn by two bipartisan commissions (MO House and State Senate). Individual plans require 70% support from legislative commissioners If plans fail to gain 70% support, the MO Supreme Court appoints a panel of six appellate court judges. Proposed System Districts drawn by nonpartisan state demographer. Plans require 70% override vote from bipartisan reapportionment commissioners. If no changes are made or approved of, the tentative plan of apportionment and map of proposed districts are finalized. If consensus is still not reached, plans will be sent through series of circuit and state court decisions, can take upwards of 2 years.

7 Current Missouri House Districts 1 Cidrapr.com, Missouri State Representative District Map (2015)

Gerrymandering Gerrymandering - drawing electoral district lines to favor one political party,

Racial gerrymandering - drawing electoral district lines to dilute the voting power of racial

Maryland s 3 rd District ( the praying mantis ) Partisan gerrymandering - drawing district lines

8 Gerrymandering Gerrymandering - drawing electoral district lines to favor one political party, individual, or constituency over another. Racial gerrymandering - drawing electoral district lines to dilute the voting power of racial minority groups and is prohibited by federal law. Maryland s 3 rd District ( the praying mantis ) Partisan gerrymandering - drawing district lines to favor one political party over another. The Supreme Court and federal law has not ruled on partisan gerrymandering. Christopher Ingraham: America s most gerrymandered congressional districts (2014).

10 Possible Gerrymandering in MO MO House District 77 STL: O Fallon Park >Riverfront>Forest Park MO House District 74 STL: N Lindbergh>Seto I-70 at Norwood Hills CC and Walnut Park West

11 Possible Gerrymandering in MO MO House District 52 Whiteman Air Force Base > Sedalia MO Senate District 4 St. Louis 270 N. Mississippi > S 55

12 Specifics on Redistricting Amendment 1 sets the following criteria, in order of priority: make districts as equal in population as practicable; comply with requirements of U.S. Constitution and applicable federal laws, such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965; promote partisan fairness, defined as parties being able to translate their popular support into legislative representation with about equal efficiency; promote competitiveness, defined as parties representation in the state legislature being responsive to changes in the electorate s preferences; create districts composed of contiguous territory; create districts which coincide with the boundaries of political subdivisions of the state; and create districts compact in form.

13 Other Endorsements: Former U.S. Senator John Danforth MO Senator Rob Schaaf (R-St. Joseph), Former Senators Jim Lembke (R-Lemay) and Joan Bray (D-St. Louis), Former Rep. Bob Johnson (R-Lee s Summit) Rep. Tracy McCreery (D-St. Louis), St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura Jones Paul DeGregorio, Former Chairman, U.S. Election Assistance Commission Trevor Potter, former FEC Chairman, President of Campaign Legal Center Nimrod Rod Chapel, Jr. President of NAACP Missouri State Conference Reverends Starsky D. Wilson, President of the Deaconess Foundation and Dr. Cassandra Gould, Executive Director of Missouri Faith Voices Rhonda Perry, Executive Director of Missouri Rural Crisis Center David Kimball, Professor of Political Science at UMSL

14 League Position LWVMO President Kathleen Boswell (Sedalia): Amendment 1 is our chance to increase fairness, integrity and transparency in government. The League of Women Voters believes in representative government and is endorsing this bipartisan effort to clean up state politics. This Constitutional amendment will take power away from special interests and give it back to the people.

15 Opposition to Amendment 1 Missouri Chamber of Commerce Missourians First

16 Minimum Wage Prop B would increase Missouri s minimum wage by 85 cents a year until it reaches $12/hour by This initiative will exempt government workers from the wage increase. Large employers who do not pay their workers minimum wage will be penalized, but businesses with under $500,000 in gross revenue will not be forced to implement this policy.

17 Proposed Schedule for Missouri Minimum Wage Increase $ Ballotopedia. Missouri $12 Minimum Wage Initiative (2018). $ $ $ $ $

18 History of the Minimum Wage The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 established the minimum wage at $0.25/hr in 1938; it covered approximately 20 percent of the workforce. In 1963, federal poverty line was designed to measure the share of Americans who are materially deprived. In 2009, the federal minimum wage was set at $7.25/hour; it covers about 84 percent of the labor force. In 2006, MO voters passed an initiative to make an annual state minimum wage adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index. That is why Missouri is one of many states with a state minimum wage higher than the federal minimum (now $7.85/hour).

19 Definitions Minimum wage: the lowest amount an employer can pay an employee that is set and regulated by the government Federal poverty threshold: indicator used by the government to determine eligibility for federal assistance programs Living wage: the amount an individual must earn to provide for the basic needs of their family, includes medical, childcare, and transportation costs. It does not have savings, or other buffers to prevent families finding themselves in a desperate situation in the event of an emergency. Amadeo, Kimberly. (2018). Living wage and how it compares to the minimum wage: how much do you need to live?

20 Problems with Missouri s Minimum Wage MO minimum is based on the federal poverty line which is outdated, having only been updated for inflation since 1963; there have been no methodology updates. Poverty threshold only covers food, clothing, and shelter based on number of people in a family; does not include childcare, does not cover health insurance, savings in case of an emergency, or other buffers against life s surprises. A living wage calculator is a better measure of people s needs than the federal poverty line.

21 What is a Living Wage? The MIT living wage calculator makes the adjustments for today s real costs. A living wage is still no extra money. It is living paycheck to paycheck. Takes into account geographic differences. It still does not have savings, or other buffers to prevent families finding themselves in a desperate situation in the event of an emergency. MIT Living wage = food + childcare + housing + medical + transportation + other + taxes MIT Living wage = wage needed to meet expenses to live

22 St. Louis Metro Area Living Wage Calculation Annual Expenses Massachusetts Institutes of Technology. (2018). Living Wage Calculation for St. Louis Metro Area. livingwage.mit.edu/metros/41180

23 League Position on Minimum Wage The League of Women Voters believes that one of the goals of social policy in the United States should be to promote self-sufficiency for individuals and families and the most effective social programs are those designed to prevent or reduce poverty. Promoting a minimum wage of $12/hour will advance self-sufficiency for individuals and families. Note: Position approved by LWV of Missouri in April 2018

24 Support for Prop B Raise Up Missouri Jobs with Justice The Fairness Project Laborers International Union of North America Numerous labor unions Missouri Business for a Fair Minimum Wage National Employment Law Center Sixteen Thirty Fund League of Women Voters of Metro St. Louis

25 Opposition to Prop B Missouri Chamber of Commerce

26 Medical Marijuana Missouri s Secretary of State certified three measures: Amendment 2: Amends the Missouri Constitution to allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes with a 4% tax on its retail sale at dispensaries. Funds estimated at $18 million would go toward veterans programs, state operating costs and local governments. It creates the Missouri Veterans Health Commission for Health and Care of Veterans to oversee use of the license fee and tax. Approximately $7 million will be spent on state operating costs. Pro: Tax is relatively small; overseen by existing Missouri commissions and departments; funds from taxes go to Veterans needs. Con: Tax Revenues limited to care for veterans.

Medical Marijuana Amendment 3: Similar to Amendment 2, but it imposes a 15% tax on the retail sale of marijuana that would be used for a Biomedical Research and Drug Development Institute to research

27 Medical Marijuana Amendment 3: Similar to Amendment 2, but it imposes a 15% tax on the retail sale of marijuana that would be used for a Biomedical Research and Drug Development Institute to research and develop cures for cancer and other diseases or medical conditions. Submitted and financed by Brad Bradshaw who would be CEO and select all Board members. Anticipated annual income of $66 million with implementation costs of $186,000 and annual costs of $5oo,ooo. Caps 30-day allotment at 3 oz. Pro: High tax would be used for medical research Con: Amendment 3 stipulates that the Institute s board members be chosen by one individual (Brad Bradshaw), who also controls the finances.

28 Medical Marijuana Proposition C: Annual revenues are estimated to cover annual costs of $10 million. The Division of Liquor Control would administer the program to license and regulate marijuana and marijuana facilities. One half of a percent of the estimated tax revenues ($50,000) would be split between the four areas: veterans services, drug treatment, early childhood education, and public safety in cities with a medical marijuana facility. The remainder of the tax would finance regulation. The cap would be 6 oz each 30 days. Pro: Small tax to be charged Con: Small $ amount of tax to go to designated funds

29 Medical Marijuana League of Women Voters Position: Support legislation which allows marijuana for medical treatments when approved by a physician. Support measures to allow patients to legally obtain marijuana for medical use.

Would increase tax from current 17 cents a gallon by 2-1/2 cents each year for four years.

30 Prop D: Raising Gasoline Tax Increase the state motor fuel tax by 10 cents a gallon to fund the actual costs of the Missouri Highway Patrol, subject to appropriation. Would increase tax from current 17 cents a gallon by 2-1/2 cents each year for four years. Authorizes the Olympic Dream Freedom Act which exempts Special Olympic, Paralympic and Olympic prizes from state taxes (original bill)

31 Prop D: Raising Gasoline Tax Establishes an Emergency State Freight Bottleneck Fund only for road projects specified in the bill, subject to appropriation, : Major Road Improvement (cost of $50 million or more) Needed to eliminate bottleneck, impacting distribution of goods, and on-time delivery of freight Needed to reduce fatal crashes in highway safe travel zones Receiving at least 35% from sources other than general revenue or state road fund Tax is estimated to generate at least $288 million annually for the Highway Patrol and $123 million annually for road construction.

A yes vote supports this amendment to lower the time required that someone is a member of an

32 Bingo Missouri Management and Advertisement of Bingo Games amendment was submitted by the General Assembly. A yes vote supports this amendment to lower the time required that someone is a member of an organization to manage a bingo game for that organization from two years to six months and remove the constitutional ban on organizations advertising bingo games. A no vote is against this change.

33 Helpful Campaign Web Sites The LWV of Metro St. Louis website. Link to vote411 information. Enter your address and print out a copy of your ballot. Has all of the Voters Guide information. Missouri Ethics Commission: contributions to Candidates and Issues Get ratings of the judges close to the election Secretary of State: all specifics about Missouri elections, check to see if you are registered & read entire ballot issues

Under the Dome & Across the State: Briefing for Justice Advocates September 27, 2018

Under the Dome & Across the State: Briefing for Justice Advocates September 27, 2018 How Empower Missouri can empower YOU: We keep advocates informed regarding the social justice implications of legislation