Missouri Realtors host ‘Protect Your Power’ rally in Columbia against ballot amendments
Sutton Parker
COLUMBIA Mo. (KMIZ)
Missouri Realtors Association hosted a “Protect Your Power: Vote No” rally in Columbia on Thursday.
The rally is in opposition to Amendments 4 and 5 that will be on the Aug. 4 ballot. Amendment 4 would increase the required number of votes needed for a citizen petition to pass. While Amendment 5 seeks to eliminate Missouri’s income tax and expand sales taxes.
The Missouri Realtors Association argues Amendment 5 would allow politicians to bypass critical tax protections—including the Hancock Amendment, which guarantees voters a say on major tax hikes.
The group helped pass those original tax protections back in 2010 and 2016. They warn if this new amendment passes, those safeguards could be ignored, potentially opening the door to new taxes on buying and selling homes.
Derek Schriewer, with the association, expressed concern over the legislative actions.
“So the legislature is simultaneously seeking to inhibit our ability to utilize initiative petition, which Missouri Realtors has used to benefit Missourians across the state,” he said
Matthew Becker, treasurer-elect for Missouri Realtors, says the purpose of the rally was to spread the word.
“So the purpose of this meeting today is to get the message out to our membership, to get them excited about the upcoming election,” he said
When it comes to the opposition of Amendment 4, Becker said that if approved by voters, it would shift voting power.
“So, Amendment 4 is taking away the power of one person, one vote and that is what we have stood on for the last 118 years. And it puts more value on your zip code than it actually does on your vote,” he said.
When asked about the group’s opposition to Amendment 5, he said the group believes it would put too much power into lawmakers’ hands.
“Amendment 5 is just clear-cut. it is a blank check to our legislature over the next five years. there is no way we should allow them to make the decisions they want to make over the next five years with how they tax and what they tax,” he adds.
Republican Rep. John Martin, who represents parts of Boone County, said he completely disagrees.
“It is not a blank check because, No. 1, it has to be balanced. And so it’s not just a tax on everything. I think it’s a good way to, instead of taxing what people, you know, taxing what they’re here with their earnings, put it more of a personal choice, more of a consumption tax, which is more of a fair tax,” he said.
On Amendment 4, Martian says a higher voting threshold is necessary to protect the state’s constitution.
“I very much support Amendment 4, because it will be protecting our constitution. Amendment 4 does not change the ability of people to petition and sign petitions; it is just that we need a much higher threshold to change such a foundational document as our Constitution,” he said.
Martin also added Gov. Mike Kehoe has stated if approved by voters, there would be no taxation on real estate.
Records show Missouri Realtors just put $1 million toward Missourians for Fair Governance, its committee opposing Amendment 4.