Five initiative petitions approved for circulation for 2014 ballot

 

Jefferson City, Mo. —Secretary of State Robin Carnahan today announced that four initiative petitions relating to minimum wage and one petition relating to payday, title, installment, and consumer credit loans met state standards for circulation.

The official ballot title for the first petition relating to minimum wage reads:

Shall Missouri law be amended to:

 

• increase the state minimum wage to $8.40 per hour, or to the federal minimum wage if that is higher, and adjust the state wage annually based on changes in the Consumer Price Index;
• increase the minimum wage for employees who receive tips to 60% of the state minimum wage; and
• modify certain other provisions of the minimum wage law including the retail or service businesses exemption and penalties for paying employees less than the minimum wage?

Increased state and local government costs for wages, operating expenses and programs could exceed an estimated $60 million annually. State and local government income and sales tax revenue could increase by an estimated $8.8 million annually.

The official ballot title for the second petition relating to minimum wage reads:

Shall Missouri law be amended to:

 

•  increase the state minimum wage to $8.45 per hour, or to the federal minimum wage if that is higher, and adjust the state wage annually based on changes in the Consumer Price Index;

•  increase the minimum wage for employees who receive tips to 60% of the state minimum wage; and

•  modify certain other provisions of the minimum wage law including the retail or service businesses exemption and penalties for paying employees less than the minimum wage?

 

Increased state and local government costs for wages, operating expenses, and programs could exceed an estimated $63 million annually. State and local government income and sales tax revenue could increase by an estimated $9.9 million annually.

 

The official ballot title for the third petition relating to minimum wage reads:

 

Shall Missouri law be amended to:

 

•  increase the state minimum wage to $8.50 per hour, or to the federal minimum wage if that is higher, and adjust the state wage annually based on changes in the Consumer Price Index;

•  increase the minimum wage for employees who receive tips to 60% of the state minimum wage; and

•  modify certain other provisions of the minimum wage law including the retail or service businesses exemption and penalties for paying employees less than the minimum wage?

 

Increased state and local government costs for wages, operating expenses, and programs could exceed an estimated $66 million annually. State and local government income and sales tax revenue could increase by an estimated $11.1 million annually.

 

The official ballot title for the fourth petition relating to minimum wage reads:

 

Shall Missouri law be amended to:

 

•  increase the state minimum wage to $9.25 per hour, or to the federal minimum wage if that is higher, and adjust the state wage annually based on changes in the Consumer Price Index;

•  increase the minimum wage for employees who receive tips to 60% of the state minimum wage; and

•  modify certain other provisions of the minimum wage law including the retail or service businesses exemption and penalties for paying employees less than the minimum wage?

 

Increased state and local government costs for wages, operating expenses, and programs could exceed an estimated $105 million annually. State and local government income and sales tax revenue could increase by an estimated $34.6 million annually.

All four petitions relating to minimum wage, which would amend Chapter 290 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, were submitted by Ms. Lara Granich, Jobs with Justice, 2725 Clifton, St. Louis, MO 63139.

The official ballot title for the petition relating to payday, title, installment, and consumer credit loans reads:

Shall Missouri law be amended to limit the annual rate of interest, fees, and finance charges for payday, title, installment, and consumer credit loans and prohibit such lenders from using other transactions to avoid the rate limit?

 

State and local governmental entities could have annual lost revenue estimated of at least $17 million if the proposal results in significant business closures. Changes in economic activity could offset these potential losses by an unknown amount.

The petition, which would amend chapters 367 and 408 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, was submitted by Ms. Maureen Dickmann, Missourians for Responsible Lending, PO Box 5164, St. Louis, MO 63139, (314) 367-0013.

Before any statutory changes can be brought before Missouri voters in the November 2014 election, signatures must be obtained from registered voters equal to five (5) percent of the total votes cast in the 2012 governor’s election from six of the state’s eight congressional districts.

Signatures on behalf of all initiative petitions for the 2014 ballot are due to the secretary of state’s office by no later than 5 p.m. on May 4, 2014.

Before circulating petitions, state law requires that groups must first have the form of their petition approved by the secretary of state and attorney general. The secretary of state then prepares a summary statement of no more than 100 words and the state auditor prepares a fiscal impact statement, both of which are subject to the approval of the attorney general. When both statements are approved, they become the official ballot title.