Review and approval of a summary statement prepared for the initiative petition submitted by Mark Reading regarding a proposed amendment to Chapters 149 and 196, Revised Statutes of Missouri (version 3).

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MISSOURI JEFFERSON CITY CHRIS KOSTER P.O. Box 899 ATTORNEY GENERAL 65102 (573) 751-3321 January 9, 2012 OPINION LETTER NO. 35-2012 The Honorable Robin Carnahan Missouri Secretary of State James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center 600 West Main Street Jefferson City, MO 65101 Dear Secretary Carnahan: This opinion letter responds to your request dated December 30, 2011, for our review under § 116.334, RSMo, of a proposed summary statement prepared for the petition submitted by Mark Reading regarding a proposed amendment to amend Chapters 149 and 196, Revised Statutes of Missouri (version 3). The proposed summary statement is as follows: Shall Missouri law be amended to: allow voters in cities and counties to set and control local taxes on cigarettes or tobacco products within their city or county; and use the proceeds of such taxes for local job creation, health care, public education, reduction and prevention of tobacco use, or other uses specifically approved by local voters? Pursuant to § 116.334, RSMo, we approve the legal content and form of the proposed statement. Because our review of the statement is mandated by statute, no action that we take with respect to such review should be construed OP-2011-0293 www.ago.mo.gov The Honorable Robin Carnahan Page 2 as an endorsement of the petition, nor as the expression of any view regarding the objectives of its proponents. Very truly yours, Chi Kht CHRIS KOSTER Attorney General OP-2011-0293