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
Some senators, like Mike Cierpiot, R-Lee’s Summit, questioned the concept of exempting sales tax for ammunition and firearms compared to other purchases.
Missouri is one of only 13 states in the country that taxes food. No state exempts guns and ammunition from sales tax.
(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....
The issue of affordable housing in Missouri is a significant concern.
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....
In Missouri, a contentious issue has arisen regarding the removal of books from libraries due to their sexual content.
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.
Many of these books were written by or about minority or LGBTQ individuals, leading to concerns about censorship and the suppression of diverse voices.
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.
In Missouri, the issue of stacking taxes on legal sales of marijuana has become a point of contention.
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.
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%.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
(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
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 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.
The switch to a four-day week has been a response to chronic teacher shortages.
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.
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....