KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The effort by some Missouri lawmakers to overturn the Clean Missouri petition could end up back on the ballot.
When Missouri voters approved Clean Missouri last November, the law as passed would do multiple things: It would limit lobbyist gifts; No longer allow state house and senate members to be exempt from public records requests; And it would level the playing field when it comes to drawing district lines.
Despite the law passing with overwhelming statewide approval, some lawmakers want to change it.
"The way that some politicians don't care what their constituents have said is outrageous," Sean Soendker-Nicholson with the Clean Missouri campaign said.
Bills in the house and senate are getting majority support. If passed, they would make lawmakers exempt from public records requests and also reject the new way district maps are drawn.
"The real change, the most important change, is there are rules that require transparency and how those maps came to be so everyone can see the data that is used," Soendker-Nicholson said.
"Voters will still be able to approve or reject the changes when it comes to redistricting."
State Rep. Doug Richey (R - Clay County) supports the lawmakers version.
"It will allow voters to vote again on stronger ethics reform and protecting minority districts," Richey said in a statement provided to 41 Action News. "Our current process for redrawing districts is more robust and bipartisan than what was passed last year and would be more effective in keeping like-minded communities intact."
"Voters have made their demands clear for higher wages, more transparent government, and better maps," Soendker-Nicholson said. "When politicians undermine those, people speak out and they fight back."
While the battle over redistricting will be fought at the polls, the battle over public records will likely take place in the courtroom.
