Missouri 2010 General Election

On November 2, there will be several statewide issues on the ballot.  Some of the wording is tricky, so I encourage you to do a little research and know how you're going to vote before you go to the polls.  This will cut down on confusion.  Try going to your county election board's website and downloading a sample ballot.  You'll then know all the issues and judges on the ballot.  You can print this ballot out, do a little research, and have it marked for when you go to the polls on Tuesday.  With your sample ballot in hand and already marked, it will only take you a few minutes to vote.

Here are the state-wide issues:

Constitutional Amendment No. 1.  If passed, this amendment will require the office of county assessor to be an elected position except for one exemption.  Vote YES.

Constitutional Amendment No. 2.  If passed, this amendment will exempt disabled former prisoners of war from property taxes.  Vote YES.

Constitutional Amendment No. 3.  If passed, this amendment will prohibit any new tax, including sales tax, on the sales of homes.  Vote YES

Proposition A.  If passed, this proposition would prohibit any city from adding an earnings tax and require cities that currently have an earnings tax to put the matter to a vote.  Vote YES.

Proposition B.  Proposition B is specifically aimed at eliminating legal and licensed professional dog breeders in Missouri. It targets commercial pet breeders who are already licensed and inspected by the Missouri Department of Agriculture and who are in compliance with state and federal laws. It will provide no additional resources to enhance existing inspection programs or target unlicensed dog breeders. According to the Missouri Department of Agriculture, not one of the state's 1,400 current licensed breeders can comply with the regulations put forth in Proposition B.  Vote NO.

Judges:  Missouri Supreme Court Judge Zel Fischer.  Appointed by Matt Blunt.  Reported to be very conservative.  Vote YES.

For information on your  local judges, go to Missouri Family Network's website.

What you will see on the ballot:

GENERAL ELECTION
NOVEMBER 2, 2010
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO. 1
Proposed by the 95th
General Assembly
(First Regular Session) SJR 5
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to require the office of county assessor to be an
elected position in all counties with a charter form of government, except counties with a population
between 600,001-699,999?
  It is estimated this proposal will have no costs or savings to state or local governmental entities.
YES
NO

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO. 2
Proposed by the 95th
General Assembly
(First Regular Session) HJR 15
  Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to require that all real property used as a homestead
by Missouri citizens who are former prisoners of war and have a total service-connected disability be
exempt from property taxes?
  The number of qualified former prisoners of war and the amount of each exemption are unknown,
however, because the number who meet the qualifications is expected to be small, the cost to local
governmental entities should be minimal.  Revenue to the state blind pension fund may be reduced by
$1,200.
YES
NO

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO. 3
Proposed by Initiative Petition
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to prevent the state, counties, and other political
subdivisions from imposing any new tax, including a sales tax, on the sale or transfer of homes or any other
real estate?
It is estimated this proposal will have no cost or savings to state or local governmental entities.
YES
NO

 

PROPOSITION A Proposed by Initiative Petition Shall Missouri law be amended to: •  repeal the authority of certain cities to use earnings taxes to fund their budgets; •  require voters in cities that currently have an earnings tax to approve continuation of such tax at the next general municipal election and at an election held every 5 years thereafter; •  require any current earnings tax that is not approved by the voters to be phased out over a period of 10 years; and •  prohibit any city from adding a new earnings tax to fund their budget? The proposal could eliminate certain city earnings taxes. For 2010, Kansas City and the City of St. Louis budgeted earnings tax revenue of $199.2 million and $141.2 million, respectively.  Reduced earnings tax deductions could increase state revenues by $4.8 million.  The total cost or savings to state and local governmental entities is unknown. YES NO

PROPOSITION B Proposed by Initiative Petition Shall Missouri law be amended to: •  require large-scale dog breeding operations to provide each dog under their care with sufficient food, clean water, housing and space; necessary veterinary care; regular exercise and adequate rest between breeding cycles; •  prohibit any breeder from having more than 50 breeding dogs for the purpose of selling their puppies as pets; and •  create a misdemeanor crime of "puppy mill cruelty" for any violations? It is estimated state governmental entities will incur costs of $654,768 (on-going costs of $521,356 and one- time costs of $133,412).  Some local governmental entities may experience costs related to enforcement activities and savings related to reduced animal care activities. YES NO

 

JUDICIAL
Submitting to the voters whether the Judges named below, whose terms expire December 31, 2010, shall be
retained in office for new terms.
VOTE ON EACH JUDGE
MISSOURI SUPREME COURT JUDGE
Shall Judge ZEL FISCHER of the Missouri Supreme Court be retained in office?
YES
NO

View the original post at: http://loricamper.com/blog/?page_id=35