Two Statewide Candidates Join Criticism of Carnahan's Ballot Language
By: KOLR10 & Missouri News Horizon
Updated: July 10, 2012
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The battle over the national health care insurance mandate continues in Missouri.
A couple of Republican statewide office candidates are getting in on the criticism of Secretary of State Robin Carnahan's ballot language writing.
Secretary of State Candidate Shane Schoeller and Attorney General candidate Ed Martin say the language of questions that appear on statewide ballots should not be left up to elected politicians. The two made several stops around the state, including one in Springfield, to make the argument Tuesday.
Schoeller says citizens need to have input in the process.
"We have a system where our Secretary of State passes language on to the Attorney General who can approve it without accountability for the taxpayers," Schoeller said. "I support efforts to establish the Fair Ballot Accountability Act that will allow citizens to have a say in the
process."
The controversy began when Carnahan published language on a ballot measure to do away with insurance exchanges that Republicans say is biased and would cause many Missourians to vote against issue.
Martin says Attorney General Chris Koster has final review on the question and did not stop Carnahan's language.
"He should have stood up and said to Secretary Carnahan, the language that you have sent is flawed. The job of the Attorney General is not to rubber stamp what Carnahan or Obama or anybody else says, but to take a clear analysis."
Martin says he supports Lieutenant Governor Kinder's lawsuit against the ballot language. Kinder filed that suit today in Cole County.
Schoeller supports the formation of a non-partisan citizens commission that would go over ballot issue language before it goes to the voters.
See Also:
Follow Up: Carnahan Says Ballot Language in Question is Fair
A couple of Republican statewide office candidates are getting in on the criticism of Secretary of State Robin Carnahan's ballot language writing.
Secretary of State Candidate Shane Schoeller and Attorney General candidate Ed Martin say the language of questions that appear on statewide ballots should not be left up to elected politicians. The two made several stops around the state, including one in Springfield, to make the argument Tuesday.
Schoeller says citizens need to have input in the process.
"We have a system where our Secretary of State passes language on to the Attorney General who can approve it without accountability for the taxpayers," Schoeller said. "I support efforts to establish the Fair Ballot Accountability Act that will allow citizens to have a say in the
process."
The controversy began when Carnahan published language on a ballot measure to do away with insurance exchanges that Republicans say is biased and would cause many Missourians to vote against issue.
Martin says Attorney General Chris Koster has final review on the question and did not stop Carnahan's language.
"He should have stood up and said to Secretary Carnahan, the language that you have sent is flawed. The job of the Attorney General is not to rubber stamp what Carnahan or Obama or anybody else says, but to take a clear analysis."
Martin says he supports Lieutenant Governor Kinder's lawsuit against the ballot language. Kinder filed that suit today in Cole County.
Schoeller supports the formation of a non-partisan citizens commission that would go over ballot issue language before it goes to the voters.
See Also:
Follow Up: Carnahan Says Ballot Language in Question is Fair
