HOUSE LEADER ENDS DEBATE ON JUDGE PROPOSAL

After just 10 minutes of debate, House Speaker Pro Tem Bryan Pratt, R-Blue Springs, on March 11 unilaterally, HJR 41, would prevent state judges from ruling in cases involving taxation. Supporters say it would prevent judges from imposing tax increases, something a Missouri judge has never done as they are already prohibited from doing so by the state constitution. Opponents say it will prevent Missourians from seeking redress in state courts in legitimate disputes involving taxation.

The House again brought the measure up on March 13, but Republican leaders pulled it without taking the roll-call vote needed to send it to the Senate. closed debate and called for a voice vote on a proposed constitutional amendment to limit the authority of state judges. Although the “no” votes clearly were louder than the “yes” votes, Pratt nonetheless declared the measure had won first-round approval.

Although at least a half-dozen representatives were waiting to be recognized to speak on the proposal, a fact noted in news stories by several reporters who witnessed the incident, Pratt later claimed no one was seeking recognition.

The measure, HJR 41, would prevent state judges from ruling in cases involving taxation. Supporters say it would prevent judges from imposing tax increases, something a Missouri judge has never done as they are already prohibited from doing so by the state constitution. Opponents say it will prevent Missourians from seeking redress in state courts in legitimate disputes involving taxation.

The House again brought the measure on March 13, but Republican leaders pulled it without taking the roll-call vote needed to send it to the Senate.