JEFFERSON CITY — With the clock ticking down on the legislative session, Republicans on Monday opened debate on a potential ballot question making constitutional amendments more difficult to enact — prompting immediate resistance from Democrats.
Democrats launched a filibuster at about 2:40 p.m., stalling action by the Legislature’s upper chamber. Democrats continued to hold the floor at 4 a.m. Tuesday.
If approved by a simple majority of voters, the proposed constitutional amendment would require that future constitutional amendments receive majority support in five of the state’s eight congressional districts.
That would mean a minority of Missouri voters could effectively kill a proposed amendment, a significant change in the initiative and referendum constitutional amendment, which was first .
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Republicans pushing the proposal are hoping to get the measure on the Aug. 6 primary ballot so that it would be in effect for the Nov. 5 general election.
Not only could that block a constitutional amendment restoring the right to an abortion in Missouri, it could also affect legalization of sports betting and a proposed new casino at the Lake of the Ozarks, even if they win support from a majority of voters.
Hard-right Republican senators had pressured Senate leadership to bring the legislation to the floor for final action.
The chamber faces a 6 p.m. Friday deadline on all legislation, leaving the fate of other measures in limbo. Unfinished business in the Senate included a package of child care tax credits, as well as changes to the governance of the the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Police Department and a requirement that ºüÀêÊÓƵ provide earnings tax refunds for remote work.
“I think there is a hope that we’re able to find a resolution to move forward,†said Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, the sponsor of the possible ballot question.
Coleman’s possible ballot question also includes extraneous provisions that could make the question an easier sell to voters — including limiting voting on constitutional amendments to U.S. citizens and prohibiting foreign governments from funding constitutional amendment campaigns.
Democrats have derided the provisions as unnecessary “ballot candy†meant to deceive voters.
Monday’s debate is the second time the Senate has been consumed by a filibuster against the initiative petition changes.
Earlier this year, a coalition of Republicans and Democrats eventually stripped the so-called ballot candy from the plan, sending it to the House for further action.
The House added extra provisions back to the bill, sending it back to the Senate and teeing up final action.
“They know ... if they have a straight-up fight over this issue, they lose,†said Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo, D-Independence, on Thursday. They have to “fool people into voting for something that will take rights away from them,†he added.
The legislation is .