HCS HJR 9 -- BIRD, FISH, WILDLIFE, AND FORESTRY RESOURCES

SPONSOR:  Hobbs (Dethrow)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Conservation and Natural Resources by a vote of 9 to 2.

Upon voter approval, this proposed constitutional amendment
requires a two-thirds majority for voter approval of initiative
petitions relating to harvesting bird, fish, wildlife, or
forestry resources.  Measures that repeal initiative petitions
previously approved by voters will require only a simple
majority.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2008, FY 2009, and
FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill raises the amount of
voter support necessary to pass initiative petitions that affect
fish, forestry, and wildlife.  Currently, emotions and propaganda
are being used to pass ballot initiatives, not facts.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Dethrow; Karen
Strange, Conservation Federation of Missouri; Sporting Dog
Association; Brian Brookshire, Missouri Forest Products
Association; and Missouri Farm Bureau.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that by eliminating the
"one person, one vote" standard, the resolution goes against the
basic principles of government.

Testifying against the bill was Sierra Club.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:21 am