Petitions circulating for consideration on the 2010 ballot

Groups wanting to change a state law or constitutional provision are working to gather signatures for 16 initiatives hoping to find a place on the November 2010 ballot. Here's how to find out more about the proposals:

Ballot titles: The approved language that would be on the November 2010 ballot if enough signatures are gathered for each petition may be found at the Missouri secretary of state's website: http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2010petitions/10init_pet.asp

* Eminent domain restrictions: Missouri Citizens for Property Rights has won approval to circulate four versions of a measure that would make it more difficult for state and local governments to take land for redevelopment.

Website: http://mo-cpr.org/

Telephone contact: Ron Calzone, 573-759-3585.

Initiative texts: http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2010petitions/2010-006.asp

http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2010petitions/2010-011.asp

http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2010petitions/2010-012.asp

http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2010petitions/2010-014.asp

* Term limits: Term Limits for Missouri wants to restrict all statewide elected officials to two four-year terms in office. Currently, only the governor is limited to two terms.

Website: None

Telephone contact: Edward Martin, 314-256-1776.

Initiative text: http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2010petitions/2010-009.asp

* Charitable donations: Provides a 50 percent state tax credit for contributions by individuals or corporations to designated charities.

Website: None

Telephone contact: Herman L. Kriegshauser, 636-391-1216.

Initiative text: http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2010petitions/2010-023.asp

* Union elections: Save Our Secret Ballot Missouri seeks to add a provision to the Missouri constitution requiring secret ballots in all elections, including those selecting union representation.

Website: www.sosballot.org/state.php?state=Missouri

Telephone contact: David C. Rouchka, 573-418-7055.

Initiative text: http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2010petitions/2010-025.asp

* State, county and municipal taxes: Amends the Missouri Constitution to eliminate local property and sales taxes and require a statewide vote on any increases in the state income tax.

Website: None

Telephone contact: Angela Basham, 573-245-9970

Initiative text: http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2010petitions/2010-033.asp

* Life Sciences Research Trust Fund: Requires the first $200 million spent annually from the trust fund to be spent on health care for low-income Missourians.

Website: http://moroundtable.org/

Telephone contact: Todd Jones, 314-854-1381

Initiative text: http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2010petitions/2010-036.asp

* Real estate taxation: Charles W. Hatfield, a Jefferson City lawyer, has proposed three versions of a measure to prohibit taxation of real estate transfers.

Website: None

Telephone contact: Charles W. Hatfield, 573-636-6263.

Initiative texts: http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2010petitions/2010-042.asp

http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2010petitions/2010-043.asp

http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2010petitions/2010-046.asp

* Health insurance: Missourians United for Choice in Healthcare wants to bar insurance companies from limiting the choice of a provider through differences in copays or reimbursements, imposing different co-pays or reimbursements within a benefit plan or limiting the participation of providers.

Website: www.mohealthcarechoice.com/

Telephone contact: Marsha Taylor, M.D., 417-725-8250.

Initiative text: http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2010petitions/2010-050.asp

n Affirmative action: Bans affirmative action programs in state contracting, employment or education.

Website: www.missouricri.org/

Telephone contact: Tim Asher, 816-868-3933

Initiative text: http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2010petitions/2010-056.asp

* Repeal Nonpartisan Court Plan: Better Courts for Missouri is proposing two versions of a constitutional amendment to alter the way appellate judges are chosen in Missouri. One version would allow the governor to appoint the judges with Missouri Senate approval. A second proposal from the same group, which has not been approved for circulation, would subject appellate judges to partisan elections.

Website: www.newmoplan.com/

Telephone contact: James Harris, 573-761-7875.

Initiative text: http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2010petitions/2010-061.asp

* Early voting: Proposes allowing voters to cast ballots in advance of election day regardless of whether the voter would otherwise be eligible for an absentee ballot.

Website: None

Contact Jo Sapp, 1025 Hickory Hills Drive, Columbia, MO 65203.

Initiative text: http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2010petitions/2010-064.asp

SOURCE: Missouri secretary of state's office