By Antonio D. French
Filed Wednesday, March 8 at 8:17 AM
A petition is circulating that seeks to ask Missouri voters to change the state constitution to allow for the use of public money for religious purposes and institutions.
The initiative petition, submitted by funeral home owner and Educational Freedom Foundation chairman Herman L. Kriegshauser, of Chesterfield, would also seek funding of school vouchers for private school students. But even though public tax dollars would go to pay for private and religious education, the state and area school districts would be prohibited under this proposal from imposing additional testing standards on these schools.
The initiative also asks for the following:
> changing the dedicated minimum amount of the state revenue from 25% to 33%
> allowing tax credits for school donations
> reducing the amount of lottery and gaming revenues available for public education by dividing those funds equally among public and non-public students
> take the matter of funding for all public & non-public K-14 schools out of the hands of school boards and making it the the sole responsibility of the state legislature
The Secretary of State Robin Carnahan's office estimated the impact on state taxpayers exceeds $3.5 billion annually. "Because public K-14 schools shall no longer assess local taxes, the impact on local government is unknown, as they are subject to funding from the state legislature," Carnahan's office noted.
To get on the ballot this year, supporters must gather approximately 145,000 valid signatures.
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