Should you have to pay a special fee to fund the retirement of present and retired courthouse workers in order to have your day in court? No! Our founding fathers created a system that meant that all citizens have the right to their day in court.

Amendment 6: “You can have your day in court so long as you fund my retirement account.”

Sounds like a Chicago mafia deal.

“In plain English, adding the proposed language to the Missouri Constitution would reinstate a $3 court fee that funded the Missouri Sheriff’s Retirement System. The Missouri Supreme Court found the fee unconstitutional in 2021, but the amendment would nullify the Court’s decision by clearly establishing authority in the state constitution to establish fees and costs to fund salaries and benefits for the specified public employees,” as explained by Ryan Frost of the Reason Foundation

Amendment 6 continues a troubling trend of expanding taxes and the size of government with targeted new taxes and fees for specific government services — often, as in this case of salaries and pensions, services that should be paid for with general revenue.

Frost continues with a concern about putting temptation where it should not be: “Amendment 6 would reinstate a set of perverse incentives that tie pension contributions to the volume of arrests, prosecutions, and other aspects of the criminal justice system. Law enforcement and courts are core government functions that should be funded through legislative appropriations, not fees.”

If salaries, benefits and pensions are based on court fees, doesn’t this incentivize law enforcement and prosecutors to increase the number of arrests and court cases? Their pay would be based on volume — much like a police officer who is given a daily quota of traffic tickets to fund his paycheck. History proves that these types of laws cause an increase in harassment of citizens going about their normal daily lives.

“Government spending is out of control — whether it be federal, state or local, it is out of control. We have to say enough is enough — no new taxes.” — Missouri State Senator Rick Brattin, who recommends voting no on Amendment 6.

Missouri has twice as many billions of dollars in the budget as just five years ago. There is ample money in the Missouri State Bank Account to fund the retirement system without nullifying the Missouri Supreme court’s ruling against these fees.

It is time to say no new taxes. No new taxes even when they are called court fees.

No on Amendment 6.

Election day is Tuesday, November 5.