Rudi Keller | Missouri Independent

Voters in 28 counties were assigned to new districts under the plan intended to boost GOP chances in the 5th District.

Scott Fitzpatrick says Missouri must bring spending in line with tax collections or risk emergency reductions to state services

Opponents contend the measure would violate a ban on constitutional amendments including more than one subject. They also argue the ballot summary is misleading and should be changed.

A guide to the statewide questions that could appear on the August and November ballots.

Lawmakers must finish work on spending bills for the coming fiscal year by Friday. The Independent has identified more than 150 small appropriations added by lawmakers, at a cost of $348 million, in the proposals from the Missouri House and state Senate.

Only one state Senate Democrat spoke during the Wednesday night debate on eliminating the income tax. House Minority Leader Ashley Aune said members instead should ‘fight to the end’ to stop the Republican proposal.

Republicans said the revenue reduction that would result if the plan is unchanged is an error and that the measure would be revised before debate.

Only about 200,000 of the 300,000 signatures submitted to force a statewide vote on the gerrymandered congressional map are being checked. Backers of the referendum are less than 200 signatures short of making the ballot but want all signatures reviewed.

The proposal would base funding on the number of students enrolled and some state schools could lose 40% or more of their state support. The plan is part of a budget proposal that cuts $300 million from general revenue spending requested by Gov. Mike Kehoe.

A Cole County judge made the decision about the ballot language on Wednesday.