Comment by lapetitejort | Hacker News Reader

Comment by lapetitejort | Hacker News Reader

As stated in the article, the initiative is dead in the water, as per the Missouri constitution:

> Article IX Section 10. Free public libraries—declaration of policy—state aid to local public libraries.—It is hereby declared to be the policy of the state to promote the establishment and development of free public libraries and to accept the obligation of their support by the state and its subdivisions and municipalities in such manner as may be provided by law. When any such subdivision or municipality supports a free library, the general assembly shall grant aid to such public library in such manner and in such amounts as may be provided by law.

I found this with a simple ctrl-f. However, thanks to the MO Library Association for knowing their law and educating people, otherwise I never would have looked.

That's not how it works though. The American system is reactive. Meaning, you could see something like this enacted with years of disruption, even if it is ultimately over turned.

Worse, if the court really wants to protect the law, they use "standing weaselry" to effectively protect it from being challenged.

This looks like a red-meat bill that won't pass both houses but it's a big deal that it made it through one. Usually these die in committee or never get schedule for a floor vote.

"in such manner as may be provided by law"

"in such amounts as may be provided by law"

Isn't this the law providing the manner and amounts?

“may be provided by law” means optional, right? I mean, what if a statute says 0% state funds, 100% local funds?

It’s cute that you think the republicans care about their constitution

That’s not what that user is saying.

Is "Policy" enforceable? Isn't "in such amounts as may be provided by law" meaningless if they change the law?

I don’t know.

> in such manner as may be provided by law.

>in such manner and in such amounts as may be provided by law.

Set amount = 0;

Set manner_of_support = "spiritual";

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