Connecting Issues and Your Vote

Connecting Issues and Your Vote

Elections determine policy at every level -

LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL

And these policies affect your LIFE

Guns and Food | Affordable Housing | Book Bans | Marijuana Taxes | LGBTQ in Classrooms | Seniors Property Tax Freeze | Four-Day School Week

Guns and Food

The Missouri Senate passed bills to exempt firearms and ammunition from sales tax. The bill was sponsored by Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, and was approved with a vote of 19-15, with only Republicans voting in favor.
The bill initially included an amendment to exempt food from sales tax, but it was removed due to the projected cost. The elimination of sales tax on groceries was estimated to cost $200 million in state funds and $1.3 billion in local funds beginning in fiscal 2025.

Some senators, like Mike Cierpiot, R-Lee’s Summit, questioned the concept of exempting sales tax for ammunition and firearms compared to other purchases.

The bill also faced opposition from Democrats. Senate Minority John Rizzo, D-Independence said that Democrats are focused on exempting sales tax on feminine products and diapers, while Republicans are focused on exempting sales tax for bullets and guns.

Missouri is one of only 13 states in the country that taxes food. No state exempts guns and ammunition from sales tax.

These issues have not yet been resolved.
 
Resources

(1) Missouri Senate exempts firearms, ammo, diapers and feminine hygiene .... https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2023-04-07/missou....
(2) Exempting Firearms And Ammunition From Sales Tax Turns ... - Missourinet. https://www.missourinet.com/2023/03/03/exempting-firearms-and-ammunition....
(3) No sales and use taxes on guns and ammo purchases? A Missouri lawmaker .... https://www.missourinet.com/2021/12/08/no-sales-and-use-taxes-on-guns-an....

Affordable Housing

The issue of affordable housing in Missouri is a significant concern.

Here are some key points:
According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the average fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Missouri is $964 a month. To afford this without spending more than 30% of income on housing, a worker would need to earn $18.54 per hour, working 40 hours per week.
This housing wage is 11% higher than it was three years ago and 1.5 times higher than Missouri's current minimum wage of $12 per hour.
Missouri has a shortage of 115,000 affordable and available rental homes for the 200,000 extremely low-income households in the state.
In all areas of Missouri, including non-metro areas, housing wages surpass the minimum wage.
The top 5 highest Housing Wages in Missouri are found in Kansas City ($22.38), Saint Louis ($19.21), Columbia ($18.48), Pulaski County ($17.58), and St. Joseph ($17.21).
The United States as a whole has a shortage of nearly 7 million affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income families.

Missouri's low-income housing crunch shows no sign of abating, with about 113,000 households forced to pay more than they can afford just to keep a roof over their heads.

Please note that this information is current as of the last update and may have changed. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, it's best to consult with a housing professional or your local government office.

Resources
(1) Affordable Housing is Out of Reach for Too Many Missouri Households. https://empowermissouri.org/out-of-reach-2023/.
(2) Report: Missouri Suffers Major Shortage of Affordable Housing. https://www.publicnewsservice.org/2019-03-21/housing-homelessness/report....
(3) NECAC offers relief in Missouri's affordable housing crisis with rent .... https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/necac-offers-relief-in-missou....

Banning Books in Missouri

In Missouri, a contentious issue has arisen regarding the removal of books from libraries due to their sexual content.

1.  The Law and Its Impact:
A new state law in Missouri prohibits the provision of sexually explicit material to minors. This law, which came into effect in late August, makes it a crime for librarians or school officials to provide such material to students.
Under this law, librarians across the state have been forced to remove books from their shelves if they are deemed to contain sexually explicit content.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Missouri has taken action against this law, filing a lawsuit on behalf of the Missouri Association of School Librarians and the Missouri Library Association.

The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the law, arguing that it violates educators' due process rights by using vague language that invites government overreach. It also fails to differentiate between school employees' official capacity and their personal capacity, potentially exposing them to legal repercussions.

2.  The Impact on Libraries:
Schools across Missouri have ordered hundreds of books to be removed from their library shelves due to the law.

Many of these books were written by or about minority or LGBTQ individuals, leading to concerns about censorship and the suppression of diverse voices.

3.  Balancing First Amendment Rights and Protection:
The law puts school staff in a difficult position, forcing them to choose between students' First Amendment rights and the risk of prosecution.
While the intent is to protect minors from sexually explicit material, the law's broad language has raised concerns about its impact on intellectual freedom and access to diverse literature.

School librarians, who are professionally trained to curate appropriate collections, find themselves caught between legal obligations and their commitment to providing valuable resources for students.

In summary, the issue revolves around striking a balance between protecting minors and preserving intellectual freedom within Missouri's libraries. The outcome of the ACLU's lawsuit will play a crucial role in shaping the future of book selection and access in educational settings.

Resources
(1) ACLU sues Missouri over book ban law that pushed school libraries to .... https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-02-23/aclu-sues-missouri-over-book-ban-la....
(2) ACLU sues Missouri over book ban law that pushed school libraries to .... https://www.kbia.org/missouri-news/2023-02-25/aclu-sues-missouri-over-bo....
(3) Missouri secretary of state to libraries: Take objectionable materials .... https://kcbeacon.org/stories/2022/11/22/missouri-book-challenge-secretary-of-state/.
 

Marijuana Taxes

In Missouri, the issue of stacking taxes on legal sales of marijuana has become a point of contention.

1. Background:

In November 2022, Missourians approved the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Since then, the state has been navigating the regulation of this new industry, leading to disputes between counties, cities, and the state regarding tax collection from dispensary sales.

2. The Tax Situation:
State Sales Tax: The state imposes a 6% sales tax on recreational marijuana sales. This tax generates approximately $4 million per month for the state.
Local Taxes: Under the state constitution, local governments (counties and cities) have the authority to pass their own taxes on marijuana sales. These local taxes can add up to an additional 3%.
Stacking of Taxes: The problem arises when both state and local taxes are applied to the same transaction. Some Missouri cities now impose a combined 20% in state and local sales taxes on recreational marijuana purchases.

Dispensaries argue that this stacking of taxes is unfair and potentially unconstitutional. They view it as an unconstitutional money grab by city councils and county commissions.

3. Legal Action:

Dispensaries, backed by the state cannabis trade association, have taken legal action against the practice of stacking taxes.
They argue that this violates both the Missouri Constitution and the will of the voters who approved recreational marijuana.
The lawsuits aim to put an end to the burden on adult-use marijuana customers, ensuring they don't have to pay multiple layers of local taxes.

4. Local Tax Adoption:
Currently, 83 out of 114 counties in Missouri have passed local marijuana sales taxes.
Some counties without active dispensaries have already implemented these taxes, eager to secure a share of the marijuana revenue when dispensaries eventually open.

In summary, the issue revolves around the ambiguity of sales tax application in the constitutional amendment legalizing recreational marijuana. While local governments seek revenue, the stacking of taxes has raised concerns about fairness and compliance with the state constitution.

LGBTQ Issues and Sexuality in the Classroom

1. LGBTQ Bills:

Missouri Republican lawmakers have pre-filed more than 20 bills aimed at restricting LGBTQ rights and visibility ahead of the 2024 legislative session.
In the previous session, lawmakers passed legislation that banned gender-affirming care for minors and barred transgender athletes from participating in sports that align with their gender identity.

2. Debates Over Education:

One specific bill that has sparked heated debates seeks to ban most LGBTQ education subjects for all grades in the state's public schools.
Lawmakers are arguing over whether such a ban is necessary to protect children or whether it stifles important conversations about diversity, inclusion, and understanding.

Resources

(1) ‘I’m terrified’: Missouri lawmakers file onslaught of anti-LGBTQ bills .... https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/i-m-terrified-missouri-lawmakers-file-....
(2) Missouri Debates Ban on LGBTQ Education for All Grades. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/missouri/articles/2023-03-01/mis....
(3) Missouri Leads Nation in Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation in 2023, Says ACLU. https://www.advocate.com/news/missouri-anti-lgbtq-legislation-2023.

Tax Freezes for Senior Citizens in Missouri

A new law known as Senate Bill 190 went into effect in Missouri that offers property tax relief to seniors. This law freezes the property assessment for seniors to ensure their tax bill doesn’t increase with the usual increase in the assessment value.
The relief is only available on the primary residences of people aged 65 and older. However, it is up to the counties to approve the property tax breaks.
The property tax relief wouldn't apply to teachers, firefighters, and other public employees who don’t collect Social Security but receive pensions.
In addition to property tax relief, the new legislation ends state taxes on Social Security benefits starting next year.
Some counties, like St. Louis County, are reconsidering the plan to offer a property tax break to senior homeowners. Other counties, like St. Charles and Jefferson Counties, favor tax breaks but still have some issues to work out.
If counties don’t implement property tax relief, the residents in that county can gather enough signatures to put the topic on a ballot for voters to decide.
There's also a proposal to amend the law to clarify who would qualify for the tax freeze. The amendment seeks to clarify that anyone aged 62 or older, regardless of whether they draw Social Security benefits, is eligible.

Please note that this information is current as of the last update and may have changed. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, it's best to consult with a tax professional or your local government office.

Resources
(1) Property Tax Relief to Seniors in Missouri: All You Need to Know. https://247wallst.com/economy/2023/09/01/property-tax-relief-to-seniors-....
(2) All Missouri seniors over 62 could get property tax freeze if the .... https://www.kcur.org/news/2024-01-17/all-seniors-over-62-could-get-prope....
(3) Property Tax Credit - Missouri Department of Revenue. https://dor.mo.gov/taxation/individual/tax-types/property-tax-credit/.

Four-Day School Weeks

Background
Four-day weeks have been an option for Missouri schools since 2011, and now over 30% of the state’s districts have adopted this shortened week. This serves around 11% of the state’s students.
Many of the districts that have switched to a four-day week are in rural parts of the state. However, larger districts, including some of the largest, are also switching to four-day weeks.

The switch to a four-day week has been a response to chronic teacher shortages.

For Four-Day School Week
A study conducted on the four-day school week concluded that it had “no statistically significant effect on either academic achievement or building growth”. This study included schools that adopted a four-day school week both before and after the pandemic.
The research has shown that the four-day week does not diminish academics so long as the instructional hours remain constant¹². Currently, state law requires 1,044 hours in school.

Research to date finds minimal impacts on measures of recorded daily attendance. Some educators reason that the four-day week could improve attendance in more nuanced ways undetected by traditional measures of attendance².

Against Four Day School Week
Although studies seem to prove that a four-day school week doesn’t harm students as long as the number of instructional hours remain the same, the issue has raised concerns among education leaders and state legislators, and some state lawmakers are pushing bills to reign in the practice. Three bills have already been filed this legislative session that focus on the length of school weeks.
Increasing evidence suggests that a four-day school week may cause student achievement to suffer. Students in four-day school week districts fall behind a little every year, and these changes accumulate over time. The potential long-term learning deficit in student achievement from the four-day school week is not trivial.
School leaders, teachers, and parents in districts with a four-day week often report that test scores are equal to, or even better than, results from before the policy was adopted. However, students in five-day-a-week schools were progressing faster, meaning the four-day students were actually, comparatively, falling behind.
While the four-day school week may seem like a way to save money, research has found minimal impacts on overall cost savings. The four-day school week may allow school districts greater resource flexibility in the wake of budget shortfalls, but it doesn't necessarily result in major cost savings.
A four-day school week can also put pressure on families, particularly those with younger children, who need to arrange for childcare or supervision on the day off.

The four-day school week could decrease the class time that rural students miss for lengthy travel to appointments or extracurricular activities by shifting many of these activities to the off-day. However, this could also lead to an increase in the number of school days missed for these activities if they cannot be rescheduled.

Please note that these are some of the reasons that have been discussed in the debate over four-day school weeks. The effectiveness and impact of such a schedule can vary greatly depending on the specific circumstances of each school district.

Resources

(1) The Four-Day School Week: Are the Pros Worth the Cons? | RAND. https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2023/04/the-four-day-school-week-ar....
(2) 4-day school weeks: Educational innovation or detriment?. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/4-day-school-weeks-educational-innova....
(3) 19 Big Advantages and Disadvantages of the 4 Day School Week. https://connectusfund.org/19-big-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-the-4-d....
(4) Missouri study finds 4-day school week had 'minimal if any' impact on .... https://www.kcur.org/education/2024-01-09/missouri-study-finds-4-day-sch....
(5) Missouri four-day school week faces scrutiny from lawmakers | STLPR. https://www.stlpr.org/education/2024-01-09/4-day-school-week-in-missouri....
(6) Missouri inches closer to restricting four-day school weeks. https://www.missourinet.com/2023/04/25/missouri-inches-closer-to-restric....