Missouri teacher group calls proposed tobacco tax increase ‘slush fund for politicians and private schools’
Missouri National Education Association political director Mark Jones says early childhood education is being used as a shield and special interests are trying to hijack their own agenda into the constitution. The state’s largest group of educators oppose Amendment 3, which aims to help pregnant moms and youth quit smoking and pay for early childhood programs and health screenings for children.
ACLU Executive Director Jeffrey Mittman
Jones says there’s a provision in the amendment that removes protections to not fund religious schools.
“That would allow Amendment 3’s money to go towards elite private schools and it certainly in no way be considered a lock box of any sort. It starts becoming a slush fund for pet projects and for politicians,” says Jones. “This unaccountable, unelected committee that has the ability to fund pet projects or give away political favors with the funds, and there’s no recourse for you and I as citizens to adjust that.”
ACLU Executive Director Jeffrey Mittman voiced a similar sentiment.
“Amendment 3 has one line in the amendment, that without notice, without discussion, without review, without clarification, overrules a long-standing rule in the state of Missouri. That rule is that in Missouri, we protect and respect religious freedom,” says Mittman. “With a one line snuck into a tiny phrase of a large amendment, that’s really bad practice. It’s bad drafting. It’s bad public policy. It’s bad politics,” says Mittman.
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