Passing first legislation of the year

Greetings from Jefferson City. It was very productive last week in the Missouri Senate as elected officials kicked off the week by working through the day and night to protect the Missouri Constitution and ensure a statewide voice on statewide issues.

Senate Joint Resolution 74 was third read and passed by the body on Thursday morning. I went into this bill in detail in my column last week and encourage you to read more about the bill and my support of it there. In summary, SJR 74 is initiative petition (IP) reform legislation that will increase the threshold required to pass constitutional amendments. Instead of only a simple majority (50% plus one vote) statewide, the current requirement to pass, SJR 74 would increase that to also require a majority in at least five of Missouri's eight congressional districts. This means rural Missouri will be a part of the equation!

As a resident of and senator for a rural district, this has been legislation very close to my heart. The constitution is the law of the land -- the entire land. That means the laws that are enshrined in its pages need to be beneficial and necessary to everyone within Missouri's borders. Big cities have different needs and, often times, values than rural communities, so neither group should be able to control the direction of our state without the voice of the other being heard. This ensures that happens with all constitutional amendments moving forward.

That's not to say I think this legislation is perfect. Following the all-night Monday filibuster, an amendment was added and passed that removed several related provisions that would have further protected our elections and political integrity. Language to require voters be U.S. and Missouri citizens prohibit foreign entities from funding ballot measures, and preventing amendments to allow lobbyists' gifts to lawmakers was removed. Those who supported this change to the SJR claim it is because this language, in some form, already exists in Missouri law. Unfortunately, there is a legal argument to be made that the current language has loopholes and could be challenged. That is why I feel it is imperative that this language be included in order to guarantee that non-citizens and foreign governments are completely unable to influence our law-making process.

The Senate passed SJR 74 with the amended language instead of the original, stronger language. It now heads to the House where I am confident that language will be reinstated and then sent back to us in the Senate. Hopefully, at that point, we will be in a position to have it fully agreed upon by the Senate. I want every voice to be heard and make sure that those voices, the foundation of our nation, are able to speak with the confidence that our elections are pure.

I always appreciate hearing your comments, opinions and concerns. Please feel free to contact me in Jefferson City at (573) 751-2459. You may write to me at Holly Thompson Rehder, Missouri Senate, State Capitol, Room 433, Jefferson City, MO 65101, send an email to Holly.Rehder@senate.mo.gov or visit www.senate.mo.gov/Rehder.

HOLLY REHDER represents Missouri's 27th Senatorial District. The district includes Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Iron, Madison, Perry, Reynolds and Scott counties.