JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri Republicans on Thursday advanced a plan to weaken a process used by voters to expand Medicaid, increase the minimum wage and legalize recreational marijuana and sports gambling in recent years.

Residents and advocates filed into a Senate hearing room Thursday to oppose the resolution, which would ask voters to significantly raise the threshold for changing the Missouri Constitution via citizen petition.

"This would end majority rule in Missouri," said voting rights lawyer Denise Lieberman, the director of the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition. "It would make it more difficult for Missourians to have their voices heard at the ballot box."

Republican lawmakers stuck to their arguments with the support of several business groups. Senators said the change is ne

See Full Page