judge beetem will weigh in on some ballot language

A Missouri judge is to hear challenges to a pair of proposed constitutional amendments slated for the August ballot.

Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem scheduled hearings on lawsuits challenging the ballot summaries for measures that would enhance the right to bear arms and impose a three-quarter-cent sales tax for transportation projects.

In both cases, the lawsuits contend the summaries prepared by the Republican-led Legislature are unfair and misleading because they don’t mention some aspects of the measures.

Similar lawsuits routinely have been brought against other Missouri ballot proposals.

If Beetem were to order changes to the summaries, that could negate the votes on those measures for anyone who already has cast an absentee ballot in advance of the Aug. 5 election.