Missouri Republicans Push for Changes on Ballot Measures

Missouri Republicans are pushing to make it harder to file initiative petitions.

A House elections committee on Wednesday considered bills to revamp the process for putting ballot initiatives before voters.

Ideas include adding a $500 fee to file petitions. Another provision would require a 40-cents-per-signature fee if groups hire workers to help collect signatures.

The push for change comes after voters approved several ballot measures that were opposed by some Republican lawmakers.

Voters last year struck down a right-to-work law passed by the Republican-led Legislature, approved a minimum wage hike and changed the redistricting process.

Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft says advocates file too many petitions without any plans to actually collect signatures on them.

House Democratic Minority Leader Crystal Quade says the efforts are an attack on democracy.