From Reddit yesterday:

It’s not coincidental that the people who believe that voting matters consistently succeed in the elections.

Get out and vote; make sure your voice is heard; inform yourself and cast a friggin’ ballot.

Initiative Petitions — Ballot Language

(from the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce)

Proposition A

A proposed statutory amendment relating to earnings taxes

The ballot language reads:

Shall Missouri law be amended to:

• repeal the authority of certain cities to use earnings taxes to fund their budgets;
• require voters in cities that currently have an earnings tax to approve continuation of such tax at the next general municipal election and at an election held every 5 years thereafter;
• require any current earnings tax that is not approved by the voters to be phased out over a period of 10 years; and
• prohibit any city from adding a new earnings tax to fund their budget

The proposal could eliminate certain city earnings taxes. For 2010, Kansas City and the City of St. Louis budgeted earnings tax revenue of $199.2 million and $141.2 million, respectively.  Reduced earnings tax deductions could increase state revenues by $4.8 million. The total cost or savings to state and local governmental entities is unknown.

Note: The earnings tax makes up 32 percent of St. Louis’ general fund revenue and 40 percent of Kansas City’s general fund revenue.  If this proposal passes, residents would be required to vote every five years to continue the current one percent local earnings tax.

Proposition B

A proposed statutory amendment relating to dog breeders

The ballot language reads:

Shall Missouri law be amended to:

• require large-scale dog breeding operations to provide each dog under their care with sufficient food, clean water, housing and space; necessary veterinary care; regular exercise and adequate rest between breeding cycles;
• prohibit any breeder from having more than 50 breeding dogs for the purpose of selling their puppies as pets; and
• create a misdemeanor crime of “puppy mill cruelty” for any violations?

It is estimated state governmental entities will incur costs of $654,768 (on-going costs of $521,356 and one-time costs of $133,412). Some local governmental entities may experience costs related to enforcement activities and savings related to reduced animal care activities.

Amendment 3

A proposed constitutional amendment related to real estate taxation

The ballot language reads:

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to prevent the state, counties, and other political subdivisions from imposing any new tax, including a sales tax, on the sale or transfer of homes or any other real estate?

It is estimated this proposal will have no costs or savings to state or local governmental entities.

A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to prevent the state, counties, and other political subdivisions from imposing any new tax, including a sales tax, on the sale or transfer of homes or any other real estate.

A “no” vote will not change the Missouri Constitution to prevent the state, counties, and other political subdivisions from imposing a new tax on the sale or transfer of homes or any other real estate.

Candidate Information

(from the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce)

Roy Blunt

Home: Strafford, MO

Age: 60

Education: B.A. in History from Southwest Baptist University, M.A. in History from Missouri State University

Career: Served as Secretary of State for Missouri prior to serving as President of SBU from 1993-1996.  Was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996, a position he has held since then, having been re-elected six times.

Website: http://www.royblunt.com/

Robin Carnahan

Home: Rolla, MO

Age: 49

Education: William Jewell College and the University of Virginia School of Law

Career: Currently serves as Missouri’s 38^thSecretary of State, a position she has held since 2004.

Website: http://www.robincarnahan.com/

Scott Eckersley

Home: Springfield

Age: 33

Education: B.S. in Management, Brigham Young University, J.D. University of Missouri School of Law, 2005; M.B.A. University of Southern California, 2009

Career: graduate instructor in Spanish; associate clerk Lathrop & Gage; Deputy General Counsel to Governor Matt Blunt; Employers’ Health Network. Named 2008 Attorney of the Year by Missouri Lawyers Weekly.

Web site: www.checkeck.org

Billy Long

Home: Springfield

Age: 54

Education: Attended the University of Missouri. Graduated from Missouri Auction School, Kansas City.

Career: Realtor, auctioneer, radio personality

Website:http://billylongforcongress.com/

Read the ballot; Mark the ballot

I know who I’ll be voting for, but I’d rather not work to sway you right now. Instead, inform yourself and go vote. Check out the full ballot in advance and do some Google searching; I wish I had time to look up each person and put together a fact-sheet on their stances, but unfortunately I don’t.

Google has an awesome Vote Map, where you enter your address and it lists your voting location. Polls are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. so you should be able to make it at some time today. That link, the one to the Library, also has some great resources; there are two constitutional amendments I didn’t list above, so check those out.

Got a question about what something means? Comment below and we can talk about it; I’ll be happy to read more in-depth and answer anything I can.