The GO Voter's Guide

With Election Day right around the corner, we thought we'd highlight the decisions that we think most affect you. For extra insight, we chatted with David Catanese, political reporter/blogger for KY3, who is arguably the most influential political reporter in town.

SPRINGFIELD'S BAR BAN
The result of a petition drive spearheaded by the DWI Task Force, proponents say keeping people under 21 out of bars and nightclubs will decrease underage drinking. Opponents say it will hurt the Springfield music scene, since clubs are largely dependent on both alcohol sales and ticket-buying minors, and inadvertently cause more drinking in unattended homes and at parties.

If you vote "Yes": You are voting to prohibit anyone under the age of 21  from being unattended at any venue that earns more than 60 percent of its annual sales from alcohol (not-for-profit events are exempt). Punishment for a business is revocation of its alcohol license for 48 hours (first offense) to one year (third). Minors caught where alcohol is being served can receive up to $1,000 in fines and/or 180 days in jail.

If you vote "No": You're keeping the status quo, which requires club and bar owners to purchase a permit and meet beefed up security and ID-checking guidelines to allow minors.

Why you should care: This law, if enacted, has the potential to significantly alter Springfield's entertainment scene and economy for a goal that is almost impossible to quantify.

U.S. SENATE
Republican Jim Talent and Democrat Claire McCaskill are locked one of the highest-profile national races of the year. To the winner's party likely goes the U.S. Senate majority.

The incumbent: Sen. Talent is against stem cell research (he says it's tantamount to cloning), against the minimum-wage hike (he says should be handled on the federal level) and wants to keep our troops in Iraq as long as it takes to finish the job.

The challenger: McCaskill is pro-stem cell research, pro-minimum wage hike and has attacked Talent for blindly supporting Bush in the war.

Why you should care: If you can force yourself, you should be excited that we live in a state that may set the tone for the entire country.

AMENDMENT 2 (STEM CELLS)
This amendment to the Missouri Constitution would legalize and set limitations on stem cell research, and mandate patient access to stem cell therapies. Stem cells are (very basically) cells that have the ability to grow into other types of cells or tissues. The science has doctors giddy that it could treat a range of diseases. Stem cell research can be conducted using embryos or adult stem cells, though scientists believe embryos have more potential.

If you vote "Yes": You're voting to allow Missouri researchers to conduct-and the state to pay for-any type of stem cell research permitted under federal law. The measure would also ban cloning. Several states, including California, Illinois and Wisconsin, have legalized stem cell research and pro-research groups like Missourians for Life-Saving Cures believe stems cells have the power to help treat incurable diseases like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and cancer. Other advocates say approval will bring much-needed tech and science jobs to our state.

If you vote "No": You're voting to not allow stem cell research in Missouri. Many opponents of the issue-including Republican state Senator Norma Champion-say the amendment as written is too ambiguous and "redefines cloning." Staunch right-to-lifers like Missouri Right to Life say the creation of embryos for the purpose of harvesting stem cells is abortion.

Why you should care: This is a fundamental change to the state's constitution. Both sides, especially evangelicals, are passionate about their stances, though it hasn't been the GOP-Democrat wedge issue many expected (Governor Matt Blunt is for the amendment).

Catanese warns voters not to let anyone speak for them. "I urge anyone who cares to read the actual amendment and decide what they believe."

AMENDMENT 3 (TOBACCO TAX)
This Amendment would create a fund which-as stated on the ballot-would help pay for "payments for services provided to Missouri Medicaid beneficiaries" and fund tobacco-control programs. The funding source: A tax increase of four cents on every cigarette sold and a 20 percent increase on the price of all other tobacco products.

If you vote "Yes": You're voting to add 80 cents to the cost of a pack of cigarettes (the current tax stands at 17 cents). Some supporters, like local health-industry spokesman Dr. Jim Blaine (yes, the same guy who helped get the bar ban on the local ballot), says $61 million of the $351 million the tax is expected to generate will go to help prevent teen smoking, while the other $290 would help low-income Missourians with health care costs. He says smokers should be supplementing an industry that their health issues help overwhelm, adding that Missouri has the second-lowest tobacco tax in the country. We have the second most smokers, according to the CDC.

If you vote "No": You're keeping cigarettes cheap in Missouri. Catanese says politicians from both parties are shying away from supporting Amendment 3 since tax hikes aren't cool for either side right now. Some, like Champion, say the increase is too drastic. Others, like state representative Sara Lampe, a Democrat who is undecided on the issue, say they fear Amendment 3 unfairly affects one segment of the population-in this case the poor, who tend to smoke more.

Why you should care: If you're a smoker, there's no issue that will affect you more surely and swiftly. Plus, says Catanese, this issue could set a precedent by amending the Constitution for a "sin" tax. "Some people feel taxes shouldn't target anyone," he says.  "What's next, a fast food tax?"

PROPOSITION B (MINIMUM-WAGE)
This proposition would raise the minimum wage to $6.50 per hour-a $1.35 increase over the federal level of $5.15-and increase it annually along with inflation in the Consumer Price Index.

If you vote "Yes": You're voting to pay every worker in the state (minus tipped employees, natch) at least $6.50 per hour. Supporters say the current wage is unlivable, and the resulting poverty affects everything from drug use to public health to children's education.

If you vote "No": You keep the wage at the national minimum. Some opponents, like Dan Scott, GOP candidate for Springfield's 137th House district, say tying the minimum wage to the CPI is dangerous, since there would be no cap.

Why you should care: It boils down to livable wages for poor people versus the ability of employers to create jobs and sell goods and services at low prices. Which is more important? Catanese says this issue-unlike stem cells-is much easier for people to form opinions on, and that it will definitely impact the economy no matter which way the vote goes.

GREENE COUNTY PROSECUTOR
Two-term incumbent Darrell Moore is being challenged by 33-year-old, Republic-based attorney Andrew Brown, who pulls no punches in saying Moore's priorities are flawed. With Moore so prominent in a number of local initiatives, we thought you should hear about a race that, to this point, has been largely overlooked.

The incumbent: Moore has been Greene County's prosecutor for eight years. You've probably seen him on TV sparring with City Council over his support for the bar ban, prosecuting (and then dismissing) a case against a local nurse for allegedly not reporting child abuse, or calling a grand jury to investigate gangs in Springfield. Moore says being in the public eye is part of a prosecutor's job-but are such crusades a good use of his time? He says yes. "The prosecutor is in a unique position to help educate the community," he says. Moore claims substance abuse-alcohol to meth to cocaine-is at the root of 70-75 percent of Springfield's crime, hence his drive to curb underage drinking. He also says gangs are here because of the demand for drugs, though he claims meth cases are down in recent years.

The challenger: Brown has spent six years working in Greene County, and serves as judge or attorney for several smaller towns. Brown says Moore is "dealing with molehills when we have mountains like child and domestic abuse," adding that Moore's preoccupation with minor issues is allowing real criminals to get away-hence Greene County having one of the worst child and domestic abuse rates in the state, (Brown cites Missouri Department of Social Services statistics). Brown says he would let assistants settle low-level crimes like MIP instead of clogging the courts with a zero tolerance policy.

Why you should care: Prosecutors have a unique power in that they set the law agenda for the county-who gets punished and what gets attention. There are enough local issues to warrant our attention to this race.