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Former-AG Eric Holder joins Sen. Danforth in endorsing Amendment 1

Press release

On Tuesday, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder joined former U.S. Senator John Danforth and a broad, bipartisan coalition of reformers supporting Amendment 1 to clean up Missouri politics.

Statement from Danforth, Sen. Rob Schaaf (R-St. Joseph), former Sen. Marvin Singleton (R-Joplin), and former Sen. Bob Johnson (R-Lee’s Summit):

“When officials are not accountable to voters, they can be swayed by other forces. Partisanship, large donors, and powerful lobbyists can hold greater influence than the families back home. This can leave taxpayers holding the bill for favors to special interests. That violates our beliefs as Republicans, and it’s why we support Amendment 1 to clean up Missouri politics.”

Statement from Holder, Jr., 82nd Attorney General of the United States:

“Missouri’s Amendment 1 is a strong proposal that will add independence and clear, transparent criteria to the state’s legislative map drawing process. I’m confident it will protect the voting power of communities of color while ensuring that neither political party has an unfair advantage in future redistricting plans. Regardless of party affiliation, a fair redistricting process that will result in more competitive elections is good for our democracy. I’m proud to stand with Democrats, Republicans, and independent reform advocates who are encouraging Missourians to vote Yes on Amendment 1.”

The facts on what Amendment 1 will do:

  • eliminate all lobbyist gifts in the General Assembly worth more than $5
  • require that legislative records be open to the public
  • ensure that neither political party is given an unfair advantage when new maps are drawn after the next census, while keeping districts compact and contiguous and strengthening protections for minority representation
  • lower campaign contribution limits for state legislative candidates
  • require politicians to wait two years if they want to become lobbyists

Some Amendment 1 endorsements include:
AARP Missouri
League of Women Voters of Missouri
Former U.S. Senator John Danforth (R-MO)
Former U.S. Senator Jean Carnahan
Sen. Rob Schaaf (R-St. Joseph)
Rep. Nick Marshall (R-Parkville)
Former Senator and current Councilmember Bob Johnson (R-Lee’s Summit)
Former Sen. Marvin Singleton (R-Joplin)
Rev. Rodney Williams, President, KC Branch of NAACP
Paul DeGregorio, former Chairman, U.S. Election Assistance Commission, appointed by President George W. Bush, and GOP former St. Louis County Election Board Director
Rev. Starsky D. Wilson, President & CEO of Deaconess Foundation, Pastor of Saint John’s Church
St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura Jones (D)
Former Sen. Jim Lembke (R-Lemay)
Rev. Dr. Cassandra Gould, Executive Director of Missouri Faith Voices
Rhonda Perry, a grain and livestock farmer from Howard County, and the Program Director for the Missouri Rural Crisis Center
Mayor Mike Livengood (R-Union)
Mayor Clifford Harvey (R-Weston)
Former St. Louis Republican Central Committee Member John Saxton
Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder
National conservative reform expert Trevor Potter, appointed to the Federal Election Commission by President George H.W. Bush, and current president of the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center

Amendment 1 has also been endorsed by the Kansas City Star, Jefferson County Leader, Washington Missourian, St. Louis American, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and Columbia Daily Tribune.

Organizational endorsers include AARP, the League of Women Voters, NAACP Missouri State Conference, Campaign Legal Center, Metropolitan Congregations United, Missouri Faith Voices, Missouri Rural Crisis Center, Missouri Jobs With Justice, Sierra Club, Take Back Our Republic, and many more.

Amendment 1 is on the November 6 ballot because more than 300,000 Missourians signed initiative petitions in support of the measure in 2017-2018, with signatures coming from every county in the state.