The following major organizations representing citizens across the state have announced opposition to Amendment 3, and are urging Missourians to vote "NO."
Americans for Democratic Action, Missouri chapter
Citizens for Missouri's Children
Epiphany United Church of Christ, St. LouisInterfaith Partnership of Metropolitan St. Louis
Jewish Community Relations Council, St. Louis
League of Women Voters of Missouri
Mental Health Association of Greater St. Louis
Metropolitan Congregations United (MCU), St. Louis
Missouri Association for Social Welfare
Missouri Budget Project
Missouri Childcare and Education Association
Missouri Coalition for the EnvironmentMissouri Federation of Advocates for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
Missouri Federation of Teachers and School Related Personnel, AFT/AFL-CIO
Missouri IMPACTMissouri National Education Association
Missouri Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities
Missourians for Tax Justice
Natiional Council of Jewish Women, St. Louis Section
St. Louis Teachers & School Related Personnel Union, Local 420, AFT/AFL-CIO
Sierra Club, Ozark Chapter
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, St. Louis chapter
(incomplete listing)
Newspaper Editorials St. Louis Post-Dispatch/October 11, 2004
Kansas City Star/October 14, 2004
Columbia Tribune/October 14, 2004
Following are statements at an October 7, 2004 news conference from representatives of some of the organizations listed above.
"Investing in the health of Missourians and the education of our children should be our highest priorities. We need money for education, for health care, for roads and other basic needs, and we come up short. Instead of assuring an adequate amount of revenue to meet these basic needs, this proposal shifts money around and pretends to solve the problem," Ruth Ehresman, policy director of Citizens for Missouri's Children, stated.
The Rev. Ben Martin, chair of the Public Issues committee of the Interfaith Partnership of Metropolitan St. Louis, said, "Amendment 3 puts a higher value on the building of roads than on the vital human services that are paid for from the state's General Revenue. This violates the ultimate value our faith traditions place on the value of every human being, even the most vulnerable."
"The League of Women Voters of Missouri League believes monies should go in to the general fund to be appropriated by the legislature based on the need of various state programs. This amendment would bypass the legislative process and set up very strict guidelines in the Constitution that will not be easily changed with changing conditions and the state budget will lack further flexibility. Furthermore, no mechanism is provided for the replacement of the money taken from the general fund," Elaine Blodgett, the League's tax director, stated.
"Amendment 3 may sound good on the surface, but there are many compelling reasons why this proposal is not the solution for our transportation needs. It could in fact potentially cause more harm than good for the citizens of Missouri," Dianna Moore, executive director of the Missouri Association for Social Welfare, said. "At a time when the state is just beginning to see some revenue recovery we cannot afford to transfer dollars out of General Revenue until we have a fair and reasonable plan to replace these funds."
"As a result of the fiscal crisis in Missouri over the past four fiscal years, more than $1.3 billion dollars has been cut from critical human services, such as health care and education. Even if the economy improves in 2005, it won't be enough to bring state revenues up to the 2001 level, and education will still be under funded by $600 million. Amendment 3 would hurt education even further by taking essential funds from our children," said Amy Blouin, executive director of the Missouri Budget Project.
Peggy Eshelman, member of the executive committee of Missouri IMPACT, said, "Amendment 3 has been brought to Missourians courtesy of the big highway construction companies. This proposal is worse than 'Robbing Peter to pay Paul.' It is special interests robbing the people of needed state services for their own benefit."
"Now is no time to indelibly write into our state constitution the wishes of special interests to have a permanent hand in the public till," Barbara Ross, vice-chair of Missourians for Tax Justice, stated. "If this trend continues, Missouri tax revenues will be almost wholly earmarked for use by those special and vested interests that have the money and thus the political clout to command public dollars to do their bidding. Our state legislative process already is too heavily influenced by special interests. Passage of Amendment 3 will make this worse. There would be no accountability to the public over how these road funds would be used."
"Amendment 3 is a hidden tax increase," Greg Jung, president of Missouri NEA said. "It will siphon funds now used for education and other programs to support a massive increase in road construction. On the heels of three bad budget years and billions of dollars in painful cuts to all sectors of Missouri government programs including public schools and colleges, passage of Amendment 3 will deliver a devastating blow. It's simple: Amendment 3 sacrifices our public schools to build roads."
Ginger Harris, co-chair of the transportation committee, Ozark Chapter of Sierra Club, said "No wonder Missouri's roads need better maintenance: we have the 7th biggest state highway system among the 50 states while we're only 17th in population and 21st in land area," Tolls and higher fuel taxes for big trucks are just two of the ways Missouri could fund road maintenance rather than stealing from education, health and environmental protection."
"By taking nearly $190 million a year out of general revenue, Amendment 3 will undercut state services that depend on general revenue. It will also encourage more urban sprawl. That will make public transit more costly to provide, and it'll make it harder for low-wage workers to get to jobs," said Mary Jane Schutzius, co-chair of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, St. Louis chapter.
"The state is already strapped for money to fund our public schools," Mary Armstrong, president of the St. Louis Teachers and School Related Personnel Union, Local 420, AFT/AFL-CIO, stated. "If Amendment 3 passes it will probably mean more dollars for schools will have to come from local communities through property tax increases. Amendment 3 is bad news for families who want a good education for their children."
Pat Martin, public information coordinator for the NO on Amendment 3 campaign said "Amendment 3 is a complicated, far-reaching permanent change in our constitution. We want to warn Missourians this proposal is not in their best interest. We urge citizens to vote "No".
Last update: 10/29/04