Group Ramps Up For Ban On Real Estate Transfer Taxes

A statewide group is trying to head off a tax currently collected in 37 states -- but NOT Missouri.

It's considered a pre-emptive strike against a tax that could hit you if you sell your home.

It's called the real estate transfer tax -- and Missouri realtors call it unfair double taxation. That's why they're getting behind a ballot initiative to change the constitution to bar it from ever coming to Missouri.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

The group, "Vote Yes to Stop Double Taxation" needs about 230,000 signatures by May to get the proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot.

Without Any Dissent

A proposed constitutional amendment that would provide a property tax exemption for disabled POWs is likely on its way to the November 2010 ballot.

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Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal's proposal would exempt POWs who suffer from a total service-related disability from paying property taxes.

The House passed the House Joint Resolution 159-0, followed by a Senate shutout of 31-0.

"Disabled former prisoners of war have suffered and continue to suffer from the consequences of their confinement," said Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City. "This proposal is one small way for Missouri to recognize their sacrifices."

The proposed constitutional amendment will go on the November 2010 statewide ballot unless Governor Nixon sets an earlier date.

Lawmakers Consider Shuffling Casino Money

WATCH THE KY3 News @ 10 REPORT HERE

The voter-approved law to put money from casinos into the state's school funding formula is irking some lawmakers because some districts won't benefit.

Now, two months after voters approved the casino ballot initiative, lawmakers are suggesting that the money be diverted to raise teacher salaries, boost special education and gifted programs and even help cash-strapped universities.

Nixa State Representative Jay Wasson (who gets extra brownie points for being a politico available on the New Year's Day holiday): "If there were some flexibility there, this is going to be a very tough budget crunch year." BUT . . . "If it's written that way as I suspect it is, that's where it'll have to go. I don't think we'll have any choice on that."

REPORTS A.P. MAESTRO LIEB:

"Lawmakers can ignore the spending directives approved by voters and appropriate money as they choose, or they can change the law itself with a majority vote in the House and Senate and the governor's signature." "The language addressing the formula was, for lack of a better description, not ideally written," said incoming Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, who was a supporter of the ballot measure. "There probably are going to have to be some changes."

The new legislative session begins next Wednesday.

Southwest Mo. Teacher Says He's Embarrassed To See His Name on Mailer Supporting Prop A

UPDATED: PROP A PROPONENTS SHOW CAMPBELL'S SIGNATURE ON THEIR FORM

"Mr. Campbell may not have understood the information we sent him or forget that he signed up as a supporter of Prop A, but his lack of understanding or forgetfulness don't qualify as news," said Prop A spokesperson Scott Charton.

A southwest Missouri school teacher's name is incorrectly featured on a mailer promoting Proposition A, according to the group fighting to oppose the ballot initiative.

Doug Campbell, a teacher at Carl Junction High School, said his name appears on a promotional piece for the "Yes On A" coalition. In a press release from the "No on A" campaign, Campbell is quoted saying he was embarrassed to see his name supporting an initiative associated with gambling.

"I understand first hand the dangers of gambling, as I've seen people who have suffered the terrible consequences of gambling addiction. I don't support removing the $500 loss limit or anything else that will benefit casinos," said Campbell in a statement.

UPDATED 8:21 P.M. But proponents of Proposition A provided the letter with Campbell's signature to the KY3 Political Notebook. The YesforSchoolsFirst.com survey clearly shows Campbell's signature, with a Carl Junction address.

"The form is clear and so was his voluntary expression of support," said Proposition A spokesperson Scott Charton. "Our opponents are simply trying to bully a few teachers into claiming they didn't understand what they were supporting. It's a desperate last-minute ploy to try to divert voter attention from the fact that Prop A is supported by hundreds of teachers throughout the state," he added.

For more on the details of what Proposition A is, click HERE.

In the press release, Campbell goes on to add that he believes other school teachers may have been mislead about supporting Proposition A.

"I received a survey asking if I thought more funding for education was needed. The survey had the appearance of an official letter from a state educational organization with several educators and their schools listed, so I filled it out. The only question concerning casinos asked how important it was to prohibit the legislature from using revenue from casinos for these funds," Campbell said.

But Charton said that while Campbell might have misunderstood the information, "his lack of understanding doesn't qualify as news." "The fact is, hundreds of teachers throughout the state have endorsed a YES vote on Prop A, because it will provide over $100 million in vitally needed new revenues to schools statewide -- without increasing any taxes on Missouri residents," Charton told The Notebook.

Evelio Silvera, executive director of Casino Watch said, "There is no telling how many other educators around the state have been used by the casino industry. Mr. Campbell's bravery to step forward has exposed this unethical practice and I hope more teachers will come forward to tell their story."

Proposition C Mandates Renewables For Big 3

WATCH the Sunday KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

"This will help us reduce our carbon emissions," Melissa Hope of the Sierra Club says, "and this will also in the long run be less expensive for Missouri consumers."

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Ballot initiative would mandate investor-owned utilities produce 2% renewables by 2011; 15% by 2021

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City Utilities isn't included in the initiative; Empire District Electric is neutral

"If we believe it's a good thing for Missouri, it's a good thing for everyone . . . not just investor-owned utilities, but also for co-ops and the municipalities," says an Empire spokesperson.

Prop B Would Aid Independent Living, Unions

Proposition B would create an 11-member board that would recruit more workers to serve as in-home assistants for people with disabilities. But it also would make it easier for those workers to form unions, something that opponents say is bad for business.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

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"I see a potential increased costs that maybe not the best for healthcare in Missouri, increased costs for those providers," says Trey Davis of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, which opposes the initiative.
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"If attendants choose to unionize, it would allow them to do that," counters Stephanie Goodwin of Missourians for Quality Homecare. "I think they should have the choice to be able to unionize."
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The initiative would cost approximately $500,000 annually to be taken out of general revenue. Goodwin says about 11 other states have a similar homecare board.

Steelman Says She's Against Greene Co. Court Plan

The State Treasurer Clarifies Her Position on A Greene County Ballot Initiative to KY3 Amid Confusion

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PLUS: Greene Countians Against Question 1 Launch Website

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Republican State Treasurer Sarah Steelman tells the KY3 Political Notebook she's opposed to a ballot initiative in Greene County designed to change the way judges are seated on the bench from election to selection.

The proposal is known as the Non-Partisan Court Plan, and it's Question 1 on Greene County's ballot.

"I don't recall being asked about the Greene County Non-Partisan Court Plan," wrote Steelman in an e-mail to the Notebook, after some supporters of the plan claimed the former candidate for Governor backed it. "But I do not support it. I don't support implementing the Missouri Plan in any county where it is not currently used," Steelman went on.

Earlier, backers of the plan had said Steelman supported the Non-Partisan court push.

James Harris of Better Courts For Missouri, a group opposed to the plan said that Republican candidate for Governor, Kenny Hulshof's support for Question 1 only tells half the story. "Hulshof has called for sweeping judicial reform at the state level because he like Governor Blunt recognize the personal injury attorneys have too much influence in the selection process," said Harris.

Still, Hulshof did announce at the Springfield Bar Association meeting last month that he backed Greene County's Non-Partisan Court Plan. He then went on to lay out some concerns with the Missouri Plan itself, which is used to select Supreme Court Judges.

Instead of electing judges, the Non-Partisan Court plan would set up a panel to select judges based on merit. That panel would include 2 citizens appointed by the Governor, 2 attorneys voted on by Greene County Lawyers and the chief appeals Judge. That panel would come up with a list of three names for appointment, and present that list to the Governor.

In her e-mail, Steelman went on to say that she supports the Missouri Plan with some changes, "specifically more transparency."

Chip Sheppard, a Springfield attorney who supports the Greene County plan, has said that the opposition group, Better Courts For Missouri, lacks transparency in its own organization. Sheppard describes Better Courts as "shadowy." "Lobbyist James Harris won't disclose to anyone, who is giving the big money he is spending," Sheppard said. "I think (that) violates Missouri Ethics Law," he added.

Better Courts and other opponents think the Missouri Plan, and the Greene County Non-Partisan Plan gives undo influence to trial attorneys. After Gov. Matt Blunt appointed Judge Zel Fisher to the Supreme Court this week, Harris used the opportunity to criticize the selection process. "It is obvious that more qualified applicants were not nominated, leading us to believe that political favoritism and strong bonds to MATA (Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys) were the qualifications that propelled Judge Fisher to his newly secured position," Harris said in a release.

Harris stresses to The Notebook that it's the same "Missouri Plan" that will be implemented in Greene County unless its defeated, "not some modified statewide version." In an effort to ramp up their efforts against the initiative, Springfield conservative Larry Russell has launched a website http://www.stopquestion1now.com/.

"Greene Countians have been electing judges for decades, and it works for us, so I don't see any reason to import the problems of St. Louis and Kansas City just become some rich trial lawyers would rather pick judges themselves," said Russell, who is past president of the Missouri Republican Assembly.

For more on the debate over the plan, click HERE and HERE.

Gov. Blunt Opposes Greene County Court Initiative

In an interview with KY3 News, Gov. Matt Blunt announced his opposition to the Greene County Non-Partisan Court Plan that will face voters in three weeks.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

***FOR MORE, WATCH A DEBATE BETWEEN GOV. BLUNT AND INITIATIVE SUPPORTER CHIP SHEPPARD ABOVE***

The Greene County Non-Partisan Court plan would fundamentally change the way we pick our judges in Greene County from election to selection. The Governor says he opposes the ballot initiative because it takes away the people's right to elect judges. But supporters of the plan note that other top Republicans still favor the initiative, because they believe it will take politics out of the courtroom -- and lead to a judicial process that focuses on merit.

KENNY HULSHOF AND SARAH STEELMAN BOTH SAY THEY SUPPORT THE PLAN . . . JAY NIXON HAS NOT TAKEN A POSITION PUBLICLY.

Yeah or Nay on A?

The pro-and-con forces of Proposition A hit Springfield Wednesday.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE
KENNY HULSHOF PLANS TO VOTE "NO"
JAY NIXON'S POSITION UNCLEAR
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FOR MORE ON THE DEBATE Between Proposition A Proponent Gregg Keller and Opponent Evelio Silvera, Click Below.

ITEMS AT ISSUE: First, the elimination of the "player card I.Ds," included in the ballot initiative . . . Then, how voters can guarantee the money will trickle down into schools.

STATEMENTS FROM THE CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR:

(Provided By NOonA.com)

JAY NIXON, in a 2005 letter to Casino Watch: "A key challenge in the fight against crime is keeping criminal elements out of our state. Casinos - and in particular, those without loss limits - can provide an attractive and convenient means for drug dealers, organized crime, and even potential terrorists to 'launder' money derived from criminal activity, thus hiding the illegal origin of that money."

KENNY HULSHOF, in a 2008 statement to Casino Watch: "Proposition A removes mandatory identification requirements the Missouri State Highway Patrol needs to solve crimes such as identity theft, sexual assault, kidnapping, murder and more. Missouri's safety depends on keeping these critical law enforcement tools. Missouri does not need the problems caused by increased gambling. That's why I'm voting no on Proposition A."

Voters Will Decide How To Pick Greene County Judges

THE NON-PARTISAN COURT PLAN

David Jones won the Aug. 5th Judicial primary against Judge Bob Lawson. But would Greene County be better off selecting its judges by appointment -- or electing them? That's the essence of a County ballot initiative that will face voters in November.

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WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE
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Republican candidate for Governor Kenny Hulshof announced his support for the Greene County Non-Partisan Court Plan at the Springfield Bar Association Meeting: "I think that having the non-partisan plan here at the county level is a good thing."

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Democratic candidate Jay Nixon's campaign sent The Notebook this response:

"Attorney General Nixon believes that politics has no place in the selection of judges," said spokesperson Oren Shur. "He is a longtime supporter of the non-partisan Missouri Court Plan, but he believes these decisions must be made at the local level. He trusts the voters of Greene County to make the right decision for their community on Election Day."

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For more information about the plan, CLICK HERE.

Better Courts for Missouri has expressed opposition. Read Why HERE.
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AND: The League of Women Voters Plans Forum on the Plan: Monday, Sept. 29th, Retired Judge Miles Sweeney will speak at The Library Center on South Campbell at 6:30 p.m. about the initiative

Page Pushes Veterans Ballot Initiative

Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor Sam Page is urging the Missouri Senate to approve a joint resolution that would place a sales tax proposal on the November ballot aimed at helping veterans.

“Our veterans have served us well,” Rep. Page said. “We have nearly 1,000 veterans on a waiting list to receive care at our state’s veterans’ homes. Offering Missourians an opportunity to vote to improve the care of veterans is the least we can do," the Creve Coeur lawmaker added.

House Joint Resolution 71 reads as follows . . . "Upon voter approval, this proposed constitutional amendment authorizes a dedicated sales tax of one-eighth of 1% for funding veterans' homes, services, and programs. The tax becomes effective January 1, 2009, and terminates December 31, 2016,unless reauthorized by the voters."

Ballot Bowl '08

Stem cells is a no-go. And so is the much hyped affirmative action initiative.

Yesterday was the deadline to submit signatures for initiatives to be placed on Missouri's 2008 ballot.

A group (lead by California businessman Ward Connerly) seeking to bar many state affirmative action programs missed the deadline. Supporters from four groups angling to get their initiative
petitions on the November ballot did hit the deadline.


A group wanting to restrict the use of eminent domain and another wanting to require the use of more renewable energy came within 15 minutes of each other.

Also, petitions to allow home health care providers to unionize and to repeal the state's cap on gambling losses while barring the construction of new casinos were submitted.

The Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures issued this statement on the anti-embryonic stem cell initiative: "The citizens of Missouri won an important victory Sunday when anti-stem cell activists failed to collect enough signatures to place on the November ballot their dangerous proposal. It would have jeopardized Missourians’ right to access federally approved research, therapies and cures – a constitutional right approved by Missouri voters only 18 months ago. No matter the rationale these opponents of stem cell research publicly parade, the reality is clear: Public support just wasn’t there," said Jim Goodwin in a statement.

"Extreme and Unconstitutional"

PLANNED PARENTHOOD VOWS FIGHT ON ABORTION INITIATIVE

Planned Parenthood in Missouri is calling an initiative petition that would prohibit abortion, "extreme, dangerous, and clearly unconstitutional."

State officials gave the go-ahead Friday for an initiative petition that would prohibit abortion, except when the procedure is necessary to prevent the woman’s death or serious injury.

Mary Hickey of St. Louis has filed a legal challenge that Planned Parenthood is supporting.

"Planned Parenthood opposes the proposed ballot initiative because it would ball all abortion s unless the doctor certifies it is needed to prevent death or severe medical risks," said Kellie Rohrbaugh of the Southwest Missouri chapter of Planned Parenthood.

"This initiative allows the Government to interfere with private health care decisions made between a patient and her doctor. It also invites law suits against doctors, family members or others who help a woman get abortion care," she added. "To be clear: this proposed initiative would make abortion in Missouri illegal except in the extremely narrow cases of imminent death or serious health risks. This is unmistakably the goal of the initiative sponsors."

You can read the full ballot initiative HERE.

18 To Drink?

A Kansas City man wants to lower Missouri's drinking age to 18.

The Secretary of State has signed off on a petition that could put the controversial question to voters next November. The proposed ballot initiative would lower the age to buy and consume alcohol from 21 to 18.

You can watch my KY3 News @ 10 report HERE.

The group organizing the petition can be found HERE.

Here's the text of the proposed petition.

Can you imagine any community leader, law enforcement officer or politician even come close to supporting this? Maybe it's just a ploy to try to get younger voters to the polls?