Vote no on Amendment 4

Our state representative, Matthew Overcast, claims to be an advocate for conservative government. His actions reflect otherwise.

This November, Missourians will vote on Amendment 4, a bill co-sponsored by Mr. Overcast. Amendment 4 seeks to destroy our right as voters to gather signatures to place issues directly on the ballot, a process known as the petition initiative. “Yes” on 4 will change how a petition initiative can pass in Missouri in an extremely undemocratic manner.

Under the current rules, any petition initiative that meets the qualifications to get on the ballot passes if a majority of Missouri voters vote to approve the measure. Under the new rules supported by Overcast, an initiative would have to get a majority vote in each of our eight congressional districts.

The realm of unacceptable consequence this would have is abhorrent. It means one of the eight districts could overrule the other seven. Special interest groups will be able to focus all of their spending into just one district to convince 50.01% of that district to vote “No” on something, which would mean up to ninety-five percent of the state’s voters would be defeated. It would make it nearly impossible for another initiative to pass ever again.

This un-American proposal is the complete opposite of small-government conservatism.

If Amendment 4 is passed as Overcast hopes, the rules change in a way that may strip away one of our rights forever and give more power to state legislators like Overcast. Worse still is how the bill originally hid its intent with confusing language proposing laws that already exist, like banning non-citizens from voting and punishing signature fraud as a crime.

Thankfully, these tricks were struck down by a judge last month. In short, vote “No” on 4 and vote against Matthew Overcast this November.

Laryme Mayberry, Thornfield