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MO House passes gerrymandering and referendum-restricting bills. And they'll likely get away with it [1]
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Date: 2025-09-08
In the past I’ve written a story or two about how Missouri voters aren’t as conservative as their pro-GOP voting patterns would suggest. They’ve passed pro-choice, pro-marijuana and other measures usually thought of as being promoted by the left. Even the previous GOP administration here had a bit of a progressive streak, at least when it came to budgetary issues. It looks like we just got a bit lucky for a couple years on that last front.
But the problem is that, in spite of their not-all-that-conservative ideological tilt, Missouri voters insist on continuing to vote GOP. For that reason we inevitably get stuff like this:
Trump-backed plan to gerrymander congressional districts advances in Missouri House
The Missouri House on Monday moved the new congressional district map demanded by President Donald Trump one step closer to passing. The only drama during the more than four hours of debate was whether any Republicans would vote against the revisions intended to give the GOP safe seats in seven of Missouri’s eight congressional districts. When the vote came to give preliminary approval to the new map, 12 of the chamber’s 107 Republicans — including House Speaker Jon Patterson of Lee’s Summit — voted against it, along with all Democrats present. The vote was 89-63, setting up a final vote Tuesday that will send the bill to the state Senate.
And also out today …
Missouri House advances bill to make it harder for voters to amend state constitution
The Missouri House gave initial approval Monday to legislation that would increase the threshold to pass constitutional amendments proposed through initiative petition. The bill passed largely along partisan lines, with five Republicans voting in opposition. It needs to be approved by the House one more time before heading to the Senate. If it passes that chamber, it goes on the ballot for voter approval. Under the proposal, constitutional amendments put on the ballot by voters would need a simple majority statewide and a majority in all eight congressional districts to pass. This means that a small percentage of the state’s voters could defeat any ballot measure.
I’m pretty sure the state Senate will also pass both bills, though it might be closer than in the House, then our governor will sign it. I hope I’m wrong about the state Senate, but I probably won’t be.
Now here’s the problem: Most Missouri voters will be against both these measures, but I guarantee you 80% of the state’s voters will never know anything about it because they pay little attention to the news as it is, and even less attention to state and local politics.
The state GOP knows this, so they figure they can pass these measures, and most of them will be voted back into office the next time anyway. A few activists might get another referendum going, but since one of the measures will be to restrict such referendums, it won’t do any good!
Maybe one or two of these referendums might barely manage to get on the ballot, but then your typical ignorant Missouri voter will go to the voting booth, look over the questions and scratch their heads, saying, “Didn’t I just vote for this same thing a few years ago?”
* smacks head *
Yes indeed, you voted for that a few years ago, and yes indeed, you are voting for it again, but because you insisted on continuing to vote for the GOP who is doing everything they can to subvert your wishes while you aren’t paying attention, you will keep voting for it again … and again … and again … and again …
This is the ultimate problem with the US and the state of democracy here: It is not the MAGAs who are maybe 1/3 or less of the electorate, it’s the 40% or more of the electorate who pay little attention to politics or current events at all, and as a result have absolutely no idea that the state GOP is doing all these things while they’re busy paying attention to Chiefs games but little else.
This is also why I’ve continually said that things have to get really bad in order to wake these people up. Joe Sixpack is not going to notice what’s happening until they see gas at $5/gallon and a box of Corn Flakes for $7.
And the only way to get gas at $5/gallon and Corn Flakes at $7/box is to actually let Trump get everything he wants. It’s really sad it has to come to that, but unfortunately I just don’t see anything else being effective. All those who claim they can somehow “educate” these voters I’m afraid are vastly underestimating the extent of the problem.
/rant
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[1] Url:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/9/8/2342512/-MO-House-passes-gerrymandering-and-referendum-restricting-bills-And-they-ll-likely-get-away-with-it?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=latest_community&pm_medium=web
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