Southeast Missouri led state in blocking Prop A

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Southeast Missouri voters again opposed a massive tax increase at a much higher rate than the statewide average in helping to defeat Proposition A on Tuesday.

The measure, which would have generated an additional $342 million a year for the state by quadrupling the excise tax on cigarettes, barely failed to become law with just 50.9 percent of the electorate rejecting it.

With nearly 1.8 million ballots cast statewide, a shift of only 15,477 votes from "no" to "yes" would have meant passage.

In 19 Southeast Missouri counties combined, 61.3 percent of voters opposed Proposition A. The measure failed in each of those counties by a higher rate than the statewide result.

Although the ballots cast in those counties represent just 7 percent of the statewide total, a better showing in the region, where "no" votes outnumbered "yes" votes by 48,790, could have made the difference.

The area's overwhelming distaste to Proposition A marks the second time in recent months that the region has rejected a major tax increase with more zeal than voters elsewhere. In August, statewide opposition to Proposition B, a $483 million tax package for transportation, was 72.5 percent. In Southeast Missouri, opposition ran at an incredible 81.6 percent.

Supporters of the tobacco tax increase will have to wait another two years to have a similar measure put on the ballot via initiative petition as Proposition A was.

The General Assembly could pass legislation to put such a tax on the ballot sooner but Republicans who control the General Assembly have generally dismissed the idea of any tax increase.

Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, said the area's recent record on tax proposals comes as no surprise.

"We're conservative. We're anti-tax," Kinder said. "We think government has enough resources and has to learn to live within those limits."

State Rep. Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill, said the region, more than any other in Missouri, is distrustful of government.

"There is just skepticism in Southeast Missouri about how the state spends its money," Jetton said. "Voters just don't trust state government to give Southeast Missouri its fair share, and they're not going to give them more money until that changes."

Of Missouri's 114 counties, Proposition A carried in only nine plus the city of St. Louis. Most of those counties are in the St. Louis and Kansas City areas.

In Southeast Missouri, Carter County voters were the most opposed to the measure, with 72.3 percent opposed. Better than seven out of every 10 ballots also carried "no" votes in Bollinger, Reynolds and Wayne counties.

Voters in Cape Girardeau and St. Francois counties were the least resistant to Proposition A, with only 55.8 percent opposed in each county.

Proposition A would have raised the tax on a pack of cigarettes from the current 17 cents to 72 cents. The tax on other tobacco products would have triple to 30 percent of the wholesale cost. The money was to be earmarked for reimbursing health care providers under Medicare, an existing prescription drug program for the elderly, life sciences research, early childhood education programs and efforts to reduce smoking.

Gov. Bob Holden said the extra revenue would have helped the state cover mandatory spending increases on some health care programs. The governor said Proposition A's failure will mean more budget cuts in other areas next year to cover health care spending.

mpowers@semissourian.com

(573) 635-4608

BY THE NUMBERS

The percentages by which voters in Southeast Missouri counties rejected Proposition A, a $342 million tax increase on tobacco products:

Bollinger 70.4 percent

Butler 61.6

Cape Girardeau 55.8

Carter 72.3

Dunklin 59.8

Iron 65.7

Madison 64.4

Mississippi 67.1

New Madrid 64.8

Pemiscot 58.8

Perry 57.7

Reynolds 71.6

Ripley 66.2

Scott 60.8

St. Francois 55.8

Ste. Genevieve 58.7

Stoddard 64.6

Washington 65.2

Wayne 70.6

Southeast

Missouri 61.3

Statewide 50.9

SOURCE: Southeast Missourian