Initiative Petitions

Missouri Supreme Court judges overturned Cole County Judge Christopher Limbaugh’s decision to remove the proposed constitutional amendment from the Nov. 5 ballot.

A circuit court ruling Friday put a constitutional amendment that would repeal the state’s abortion ban at risk of not being on the November ballot.

The state Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in the case Tuesday, but on Monday, Ashcroft decided to decertify the ballot amendment based on a lower court ruling Friday.

The Missouri Supreme Court will have to issue a decision by Tuesday, the final day that a measure can be removed from the Nov. 5 ballot.

Members of the Freedom Caucus said the move to send the proposal to conference effectively kills what supporters call IP reform.

Lawmakers have until 6 p.m. Friday to finish work before adjournment.

If approved by Missouri voters, the development would include a hotel, convention center, restaurants and other attractions.

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom said they turned in more than 380,000 signatures into the Secretary of State’s office. The signatures must now be verified.

Missouri could be the first test of a more aggressive strategy to keep abortion off the ballot and out of the state constitution.

The Federal Reimbursement Allowance, which is a tax on hospitals, ambulance districts, nursing homes and pharmacies, is set to expire at the end of September. The Senate gave it initial approval early Thursday morning after more than 40 hours of filibustering by the Missouri Freedom Caucus.