Voters pass all statewide initiatives

The initiatives dealt with casinos, energy and the language used at public meetings.

By Lindsay Eanet

Published Nov. 6, 2008

This Election Day, Missouri added some new laws and changed some existing ones.

Missourians voted to pass all five statewide ballot measures this year, most by a large margin.

Amendment 1, which will change the Missouri Constitution to mandate that all government proceedings and meetings involving public policy be held in English, passed overwhelmingly with 86.3 percent of the vote.

The amendment's sponsor, Rep. Brian Nieves, R-Union, said the vote ensured that meetings will be conducted in English.

"The state shouted from the mountaintops that we should preserve and even enshrine English in our Constitution," Nieves said.

Nieves said the law would change nothing and that the state would continue to pay for interpreters if they are required.

"I think there was some bad information, and I think it was done intentionally," Nieves said. "But the easiest way to remember it is that nothing changes in regard to any type of interpretation. Anything that was acceptable for interpretation or was paid or not paid for remains exactly the same."

Jennifer Rafanan, executive director of Missouri Immigrant and Refugee Advocates, said the group plans to watch how the amendment is put in place.

"We knew all along that it enjoyed pretty wide public support, but I think now our task will be to make sure immigrants can learn English and participate in our community and our state," Rafanan said.

Voters also passed Proposition A, which would increase the gambling tax to fund public schools, repeal the $500 loss limit and require casino identification only to prove the entrant is 21 years old.

"It means Missouri can finally compete for casino visitors and revenues on a level playing field with neighboring states, and it means there will be more revenues to help fund elementary and secondary education from the gaming tax paid by casinos," Yes on A spokesman Scott Charton said in a news release.

Proposition A passed with 56.2 percent of the vote. The margin of victory was tighter in Boone County, which voted 54.8 percent in favor of the measure.

"We knew that when Missourians read the measure and considered the facts, they would vote 'yes' on Prop A on Tuesday, and they certainly did in large numbers, not only in Boone county, but statewide," Charton said.

Opponents of Proposition A are still planning to fight the measure. Rep. Ray Salva, D-Sugar Creek, said the appeals court in Cole County would have a hearing about the measure Nov. 20.

"It was not a mandate by the voters," Salva said. "AmeriStar and Pinnacle spent $20 million on a campaign and we spent $50 and it was a close race. It shows you that it's not a mandate from the people."

In addition to the appeal, Salva said he will be filing an initiative petition to repeal Proposition A and would introduce a bill to increase the gaming tax to 27 percent.

The three other statewide ballot measures passed with a large amount of support. Proposition B, the initiative to establish the Missouri Quality Home Care Council, passed with 69.9 percent, Proposition C, the Renewable Energy Initiative, passed with 67.2 percent and Amendment 4, which will change the guidelines for funding storm water projects, passed with 61.7 percent.