Missouri voters resoundingly defeated a constitutional amendment that sought to impose a three-quarter-cent sales tax to fund $6.1 billion of road and infrastructure improvements over the next decade.
Constitutional Amendment 7 received 590,963 “no” votes and 407,532 “yes” votes in Tuesday’s election, according to unofficial results from the Missouri secretary of state’s office.
The constitutional amendment was approved by the Missouri Legislature, and it was placed on the Aug. 5 ballot by Gov. Jay Nixon, who opposed the tax as regressive.
This amendment would have prohibited a change in gasoline taxes and toll roads or bridges.
Stephen Miller, chairman of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission, issued the following statement in response to the Constitutional Amendment 7 election results.
“We are very disappointed in the result, but the people have spoken and we respect that,” he said in the statement. “As we have seen for the past several years, I think Missourians have a clear understanding that more resources need to be invested in our transportation infrastructure, but there just isn’t any consensus on how to pay for it. We need to continue working toward that end.”
Dave Nichols, director of the Missouri Department of Transportation, issued the following statement in response to the election results.
“We will continue our focus on safety, maintaining our roads and bridges, and providing outstanding customer service with the resources we have,” Nichols stated.
Results for other amendments in Tuesday’s election include:
“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to ensure that the right of Missouri citizens to engage in agricultural production and ranching practices shall not be infringed?”
This measure received 498,751 “yes” votes and 496,223 “no” votes.
“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to include a declaration that the right to keep and bear arms is a unalienable right and that the state government is obligated to uphold that right?”
This amendment garnered 602,076 “yes” votes and 385,422 “no” votes.
“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to create a “Veterans Lottery Ticket” and to use the revenue from the sale of these tickets for projects and services related to veterans?”
This measure received 538,575 “no” votes and 440,369 “yes” votes.
“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended so that the people shall be secure in their electronic communications and data from unreasonable searches and seizures as they are now likewise secure in their persons, homes, papers and effects?”
This constitutional amendment received 728,549 “yes” votes and 246,020 “no” votes.