Here’s the certified questions for the November 4th election

Amendment 1 (Official state language for business)

Amendment 4 (Stormwater control projects)

Proposition A (Casino Gambling for Education)

Proposition B (Missouri Quality Homecare Council)

So let’s go into the questions

Amendment 1 says

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to add a statement that English shall be the language of all governmental meetings at which any public business is discussed, decided, or public policy is formulated whether conducted in person or by communication equipment including conference calls, video conferences, or Internet chat or message board?

Last I checked, English was the official language of the state (via statute in 1996ish?).

So basically this is an amendment to stop a prospect that isn’t necessarily likely?

Vote against this, although two people will probably cancel out your vote and foil the international conspiracy to make the Savannah city council speak Esperanto.

More under the fold?

Amendment 4

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to change provisions relating to the financing of stormwater control projects by:

limiting availability of grants and loans to public water and sewer districts only;

removing the cap on available funding and existing restrictions on disbursements;

requiring loan repayments to be used only for stormwater control projects?

It is estimated the cost to state governmental entities is $0 to $236,000 annually. It is estimated state governmental entities will save approximately $7,500 for each bond issuance. It is estimated local governmental entities participating in this program may experience savings, however the amount is unknown.

Hm, this seems like one of those default yes votes unless there’s some hidden agenda here.

On to Prop A

Shall Missouri law be amended to:

repeal the current individual maximum loss limit for gambling;

prohibit any future loss limits;

require identification to enter the gambling area only if necessary to establish that an individual is at least 21 years old;

restrict the number of casinos to those already built or being built;

increase the casino gambling tax from 20% to 21%;

create a new specific education fund from gambling tax proceeds generated as a result of this measure called the “Schools First Elementary and Secondary Education Improvement Fund”; and

require annual audits of this new fund?

State governmental entities will receive an estimated $105.1 to $130.0 million annually for elementary and secondary education, and $5.0 to $7.0 million annually for higher education, early childhood development, veterans, and other programs. Local governmental entities receiving gambling boat tax and fee revenues will receive an estimated $18.1 to $19.0 million annually.

This is actually a bit of an interesting alliance from the EJC perspective.

Basically the established casinos were the ones helping get signatures for this proposition. And from what i’ve heard, the casino proposed for Sugar Creek (which would hit the current casinos hard) would be much less likely to be built.

In fact, a lawsuit was filed along those lines.

Considering that this involves taxes and casinos. Expect things to get a bit heated.

Proposition B

Shall Missouri law be amended to enable the elderly and Missourians with disabilities to continue living independently in their homes by creating the Missouri Quality Homecare Council to ensure the availability of quality home care services under the Medicaid program by recruiting, training, and stabilizing the home care workforce?

The exact cost of this proposal to state governmental entities is unknown, but is estimated to exceed $510,560 annually. Additional costs for training are possible. Matching federal funds, if available, could reduce state costs. It is estimated there would be no costs or savings to local governmental entities.

Seems good enough.

So… one controversial proposition, one silly amendment, and two harmless looking questions.

Any thoughts?

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