Date: February 6, 2024 To: Chairwoman McGaugh and Members, Elections and Elected Officials Committee From: Trina Ragain, Lead Policy Strategist, Empower Missouri Re: Opposition for Altering the Initiative Petition Process and Requirements through HJR 67 and HJR 93 As the largest and oldest anti-poverty non-profit in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the...Lee mas

Date: January 29th, 2024To: Chairwoman Gannon and Members, Local Government and Elections CommitteeFrom: Trina Ragain, Lead Policy Strategist, Empower MissouriRE: Opposition for Altering the Initiative Petition Process and Requirements through SJR 48, SJR 49, SJR 51, SJR 56, SJR 59, SJR 61, SJR 73, SJR 74, SJR 77, and SJR 79 As the largest and...Lee mas

Date: January 23, 2024 To: Chairwoman McGaugh and Members, Elections and Elected Officials Committee From: Trina Ragain, Lead Policy Strategist, Empower Missouri Re: Opposition for Altering the Initiative Petition Process and Requirements through HB 1749, HJR 72, HJR 102 As the largest and oldest anti-poverty non-profit in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving...Lee mas

The initiative petition process is a right we share enshrined in Missouri’s constitution, Article III, Section 49: “The people reserve power to propose and enact or reject laws and amendments to the constitution by the initiative, independent of the general assembly, and also reserve power to approve or reject by referendum any act of the...Lee mas

We knew going into the legislative session that it would be a wild year. Unfortunately, wild years where very little gets done has become the normal legislative process in Missouri. It wasn’t designed to be this way. However, partisan infighting, electoral maps designed to favor one party, distrust in government and an overall breakdown in...Lee mas