Medical marijuana, minimum wage increase pass in General Election
November 7, 2018
Charlea Estes-Jones & Isaac Estes-Jones
Medical marijuana and an increase to the state minimum wage were the hot topics on this election’s ballots. For the most part, Barry County citizens sided with the state as a whole on issues.
Possibly the most heated of the ballot initiatives this election cycle were the three medical marijuana options. Amendment 2 and Amendment 3 as well as Proposition C were all related to the legalization of medical marijuana. Barry County voters went the same way the majority of Missourians did, with Amendment 2 passing and the other two failing to gain the needed traction.
Amendment 2 passed in Barry County with 54 percent of the vote. Statewide, the margin was wider with 65.542 percent in favor. Amendment 3 failed with 75.06 percent of Barry County against it. Statewide, 68.562 percent of voters went against Amendment 3.
Proposition C also failed statewide with only 43.505 percent of voters opposed. Barry County voters had 5.16 percent against it.
Amendment 2 had the most vocal support of the initiatives locally.
Amendment 2 will impose a four percent (4%) tax on the sale of the product, with those tax dollars used to administer the program and fund health and care services for military veterans. Control of who will be eligible to be prescribed medical marijuana will be in physicians’ hands.
The proposal to raise minimum wage is Proposition B. Proposition B passed and will increase the state minimum wage by $0.85 per hour per year until 2023. At that time, the minimum wage would be $12 per hour.
Barry County voters were 52.34 percent in favor of raising minimum wage. Statewide, it passed with 62.270 percent of the vote.
Constitutional Amendment 1 passed statewide and by Barry County voters. Amendment 1 will change the process of redrawing legislative districts and change campaign donation and records specifications.
Barry County voters supported Amendment 1 with 57.40 percent in favor and 42.60 percent opposed. Statewide, those numbers were approximately 61.989 percent in favor and 38.011 percent opposed.
According to the official ballot language, Amendment 1 is estimated operating costs at the state level to increase by $189,000 but expect no changes for local governmental entities. It will establish rules for a new non-partisan state demographer to redraw districts on the basis of population as determined by the US Census.
It will also introduce a so-called “cooling off period” of two years between when an elected official or Missouri General Assembly employee stopped serving in that post and when they may register as a paid lobbyist. Further, campaign contributions would be required to have some limit.
Proposed Amendment 4 to the Missouri Constitution will alter the language related to bingo game advertising, which was found unenforceable in a recent court ruling. Further, members of organizations conducting licensed bingo games would be eligible to join the management of those games after serving for six months, instead of two years.
Statewide voters were 52.367 percent of voters were in favor. Barry County voters went against the measure with 53.25 percent against Amendment 4.
The final proposition was Proposition D. It would have increased the Missouri fuel tax by 2.5 cents per gallon each year for four years. However state and county-wide voters failed to pass Proposition D.
Barry County voter were 62.23 percent against and 37.77 percent in favor. Statewide the margin was 46.375 percent for and 53.625 percent opposed.
If it had passed, this measure was estimated to generate $288 million per year for the State Road Fund to provide for state law enforcement. Further, it is estimated to generate $123 million each year for local road construction and maintenance.
Under Missouri law, fuel taxes can only be used for state law enforcement and road maintenance and construction.
Charlea Estes-Jones & Isaac Estes-Jones
Medical marijuana and an increase to the state minimum wage were the hot topics on this election’s ballots. For the most part, Barry County citizens sided with the state as a whole on issues.
Possibly the most heated of the ballot initiatives this election cycle were the three medical marijuana options. Amendment 2 and Amendment 3 as well as Proposition C were all related to the legalization of medical marijuana. Barry County voters went the same way the majority of Missourians did, with Amendment 2 passing and the other two failing to gain the needed traction.
Amendment 2 passed in Barry County with 54 percent of the vote. Statewide, the margin was wider with 65.542 percent in favor. Amendment 3 failed with 75.06 percent of Barry County against it. Statewide, 68.562 percent of voters went against Amendment 3.
Proposition C also failed statewide with only 43.505 percent of voters opposed. Barry County voters had 5.16 percent against it.
Amendment 2 had the most vocal support of the initiatives locally.
Amendment 2 will impose a four percent (4%) tax on the sale of the product, with those tax dollars used to administer the program and fund health and care services for military veterans. Control of who will be eligible to be prescribed medical marijuana will be in physicians’ hands.
The proposal to raise minimum wage is Proposition B. Proposition B passed and will increase the state minimum wage by $0.85 per hour per year until 2023. At that time, the minimum wage would be $12 per hour.
Barry County voters were 52.34 percent in favor of raising minimum wage. Statewide, it passed with 62.270 percent of the vote.
Constitutional Amendment 1 passed statewide and by Barry County voters. Amendment 1 will change the process of redrawing legislative districts and change campaign donation and records specifications.
Barry County voters supported Amendment 1 with 57.40 percent in favor and 42.60 percent opposed. Statewide, those numbers were approximately 61.989 percent in favor and 38.011 percent opposed.
According to the official ballot language, Amendment 1 is estimated operating costs at the state level to increase by $189,000 but expect no changes for local governmental entities. It will establish rules for a new non-partisan state demographer to redraw districts on the basis of population as determined by the US Census.
It will also introduce a so-called “cooling off period” of two years between when an elected official or Missouri General Assembly employee stopped serving in that post and when they may register as a paid lobbyist. Further, campaign contributions would be required to have some limit.
Proposed Amendment 4 to the Missouri Constitution will alter the language related to bingo game advertising, which was found unenforceable in a recent court ruling. Further, members of organizations conducting licensed bingo games would be eligible to join the management of those games after serving for six months, instead of two years.
Statewide voters were 52.367 percent of voters were in favor. Barry County voters went against the measure with 53.25 percent against Amendment 4.
The final proposition was Proposition D. It would have increased the Missouri fuel tax by 2.5 cents per gallon each year for four years. However state and county-wide voters failed to pass Proposition D.
Barry County voter were 62.23 percent against and 37.77 percent in favor. Statewide the margin was 46.375 percent for and 53.625 percent opposed.
If it had passed, this measure was estimated to generate $288 million per year for the State Road Fund to provide for state law enforcement. Further, it is estimated to generate $123 million each year for local road construction and maintenance.
Under Missouri law, fuel taxes can only be used for state law enforcement and road maintenance and construction.