SB22,  the “Let Politicians Lie Act” has passed the Missouri State Legislature and is on it's way to the Governor's desk.  SB22 is a dangerous effort by politicians to block impartial courts from rewriting deceptive ballot language that is meant to confuse voters. This power grab by the legislature would give partisan politicians power to veto any measure they dislike, allowing them to run out the clock during an election cycle and prevent voters from having their voices heard.  Missouri voters value this 100+ year-old ability to have a direct say over measures that can change their lives. 

We urge you to sign on to the letter to Governor Kehoe, urging him to veto the bill. 

Dear Governor Kehoe: 

We strongly urge you to veto Senate Bill 22, also known as the “Let Politicians Lie Act,” which is a direct attack on Missouri's ability to protect voters from disinformation. Missourians have used the initiative petition process in the past to have their voices heard with Missourians voting to protect Missouri workers rights by overturning Missouri's Right to Work law and to ensure working families get access to health care by expanding Medicaid. 

Senate Bill 22 eliminates current checks and balances that are necessary to ensure accurate ballot summaries — leaving voters with politicized, biased, and deceptive information to make decisions during election cycles. It is a dangerous effort to block courts from rewriting deceptive ballot language that is meant to confuse voters, and it must be stopped. Missourians deserve to have their voices heard. 

While Missouri's current and efficient process allows impartial courts to rewrite biased and misleading ballot summary language, Senate Bill 22 gives three chances to rewrite language after the court rules they are attempting to deceive voters. The bill enables partisan politicians three times to skew ballot language and run the clock out for citizen-led campaigns to make it on the ballot. In the past, both Democratic and Republican officials have had ballot summary language rewritten through the courts. It is an even-handed process that maintains the integrity of voting, and should be preserved. 

We encourage you to veto Senate Bill 22 to ensure that ballot language is clear for Missouri voters and uphold democratic processes. 

Sincerely,