I can most probably search for the answer but I would like to hear from the "natives".

Why is it called the "show me state"?

As the 2023 legislative session sputtered to a close, House Speaker Dean Plocher stood before a throng of reporters talking about what happened — including the failure to change ballot initiatives.

Republicans wanted to send a ballot item to voters that would raise the threshold to amend the state constitution from a simple majority to 57%. The Des Peres Republican said something that many in Missouri politics assumed all along: Making the constitution more difficult to amend was critical in stopping an initiative petition to expand abortion access in Missouri.

“We are pro-life,” Plocher said. “And if the Senate fails to take action on IP [initiative petition] reform, I think the Senate should be held accountable for allowing abortion to return to Missouri.”

Some Democrats, like House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, said Plocher was saying “the quiet part loud” about the motivations behind trying to get voters to approve a measure raising the constitutional amendment threshold. But in many respects, the proposal will have a far bigger impact than just stymying one potential initiative petition.

The city of St. Louis and Missouri counties could enact gun restrictions tougher than those in state law under a plan that supporters hope will go before state voters next year.

A new nonprofit, Sensible Missouri, hopes to launch a petition drive to put a proposed constitutional amendment on the November 2024 ballot. It would allow county-level governments and St. Louis city to approve their own rules on the access and carrying of firearms.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/1174730

Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s attempt to increase the cost of an abortion-rights initiative petition was unprecedented and illegal, lawyers for the Missouri ACLU and state auditor’s office argued Wednesday in Cole County Court.

”No attorney general has ever attempted to exercise this level of discretion,” said Robert Tillman, deputy general counsel for Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick.

Meanwhile, the attorney general’s office contends it was simply exercising its authority under state law when it refused to sign off on a fiscal note summary crafted by the auditor that said the abortion-rights initiative petition would have no cost to state or local government.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/1174661

St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell, a Democrat, announced Wednesday he is a candidate for U.S. Senate, setting up what could be an expensive intraparty battle to take on Republican incumbent Josh Hawley in November 2024.

In a launch video released Wednesday morning, Bell said, “We need leaders who try to help — unlike Josh Hawley, who’s in a rush to be famous and pretending to be tough while showing the world how weak he really is.”

Bell, 48, would face Democrat Lucas Kunce, who hauled in $1.1 million in the first fundraising quarter this year, in next year’s August primary.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/1168894

Transgender minors and some adults in Missouri will soon be banned from accessing puberty blockers, hormones, and gender-affirming surgeries under a bill signed Wednesday by the state’s Republican governor.

Beginning Aug. 28, Missouri healthcare providers won’t be able to prescribe those gender-affirming treatments for teens and children. Most adults will still have access to transgender health care under the law, but Medicaid won’t cover it.

The most difficult part of the new rule is allowing parents to challenge the aged designation of any item in the library. Some libraries are receiving lists of 100 or more books and challenges overall are increasing, Moeller said.
“Most of the items being included in these lists relate to identity, race or sexual orientation,” she said. “What we really seeing is the ones that relate to identity are being called ‘inappropriate.’”

In today's "No Shit Sherlock" news...

I guess it's always good that they "run reports" on this stuff, however. Then maybe someday they can continue to do not much about it.

Missouri teachers who quit their jobs on short notice face increasingly severe consequences, as school districts facing staffing shortages impose financial penalties as high as $10,000 or seek to suspend the teaching licenses of teachers who break their contracts.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said a Toyota Corolla crossed the center line of the two-lane highway and struck the motorcycles, ejecting the drivers and passengers on each motorcycle. One of the motorcycles caught fire.

I can’t say that I share her optimism, but I suppose it’s always good to maintain hope that people here in MO will stop voting against their own interests.

Stop on by, post what’s on your mind. What’s happening in our state?

Want to be a moderator? Let me know!