Latest news with #PropositionA
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Prop A repeal awaiting Governor's signature; how it impacts Missourians
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — St. Joseph residents are bracing for potential changes as Missouri moves towards repealing Proposition A. The Proposition, a voter-approved initiative, would have gradually increased the minimum wage and paid sick leave statewide. Passed by 58% of voters in November 2024, Proposition A promised to raise Missouri's minimum wage to $13.75 in 2025 and $15 in 2026, with future increases tied to inflation. It also required employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. However, House Bill 567, passed by the Missouri General Assembly on Wednesday, aims to eliminate the sick leave requirement and remove future wage adjustments after 2026. The bill is now awaiting Governor Mike Kehoe's signature. St. Joseph resident, Dakota Allen, said this move from the government doesn't give him much confidence in the current democracy, and that Missourians should stand up to any party that violates voter rights. It's just kind of one of those things that no matter who's in power when they're looking to abuse their power and overturn the will of the people, it's time for us to step up and make sure that they can never do it again," Allen said. Allen said if this repeal is signed by Governor Kehoe, it will be painful for businesses that are looking to attract employees to the state, especially those in higher professions. "We're going to see this all across the board, there's not going to be those guarantees that make our state appealing for employees, and it's just going to become more and more difficult," Allen said. Sen. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Missouri said in an initial repeals conversation to the legislation in April of 2025, that the language in Proposition A was not made clear enough on the ballot. "When voters saw Prop A on the ballot, they were only given a small summary, but behind the summary was eight pages of statutes," Bernskoetter said. "It creates a one-size-fits-all for all businesses to follow and businesses should be able to tailor their workplace policies to meet the needs of their customers and employees." Opponents argue, combining minimum wage increases with paid sick leave mandates in a single ballot measure violates Missouri's constitutional requirement that initiatives address only one subject. In addition, claiming misleading ballot language, particularly regarding the fiscal impact and the scope of exemptions. Sparking backlash from Missourians everywhere, "SAVE OUR SAY rallies will be held across the state on Saturday, May 17, in St. Joseph, Farmington, Blue Springs, St. Louis and many other cities. If signed into law, the repeal will go into effect on August 28, 2025. Until then, businesses must comply with the sick leave requirements and wage timeline outlined in Proposition A.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
After Prop A rollback, Missouri Jobs With Justice launches ballot fight
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A newly passed Missouri bill aimed at reversing parts of Proposition A is now awaiting Governor Mike Kehoe's signature — and he's signaled he's ready to sign. In a dramatic move during one of the final moments of the legislative session, the Missouri Senate used a rare procedural tactic to end a filibuster and pass HB 567, a bill that removes the state's newly approved paid sick leave requirement. That means the sick day accrual policy, passed by voters just months ago, is on track to be eliminated. Kansas City man convicted in 2021, 2022 murder-for-hire plot The group Missouri Jobs with Justice is already preparing to fight back — filing paperwork to put the issue back on the ballot as a constitutional amendment. 'Missouri voters clearly support this policy — over 1.6 million people, or 58% of the state, voted for it,' Richard Von Glahn, the Policy Director for Missouri Jobs with Justice, said. While HB 567 doesn't entirely undo the state's new minimum wage increase — with the $15 per hour rate still set to take effect in January — it does cancel the automatic inflation-based increases that were scheduled to begin in 2027. KC Triathlon, Zoo pet vaccination event to shut down roads this weekend Supporters of the rollback say the changes will help businesses and protect jobs, but opponents argue this move is a clear case of lawmakers overturning the will of voters. 'We'll have to educate the public on why this is not in their best interest — this will stifle businesses opening up in Missouri,' Buddy Lah,l the CEO of the Missouri Restaurant Association, said. 'We also know that Missourians don't support politicians who overturn their decisions' von Glahn said. For now, the paid sick leave provision approved by Prop A remains in effect — but only until August 28. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Missouri Capitol rally vows to fight for paid sick leave, defeat abortion ban
Protestors hold up signs criticizing Missouri lawmakers' recent votes to overturn ballot measures passed in 2024 during a rally on the Missouri Capitol steps Thursday (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). When Missouri voters approved a ballot measure last November to provide paid sick leave to hundreds of thousands of workers, Andi Phillips felt hopeful. Gone would be the 'complicated math game,' that she says she knew well — weighing whether missing a shift's pay meant she would still be able to afford things like a gallon of milk, the electricity bill, or laundry. 'I imagined a near future where I could work hard and make a living and be present for my family and my kids when they need me,' Phillips, a server in Springfield, said at a rally Thursday in front of the Missouri Capitol. But now, she said, 'because of politicians' decision to undo the will of the people — the votes that we gathered — I will no longer have the ability to earn paid sick time and the relief of knowing that I have the choice between a paycheck and my family's health.' Hundreds gathered on the steps of the Capitol Thursday afternoon to protest the passage of two bills the day prior by GOP lawmakers seeking to overturn initiatives approved by voters in November. One bill gutted Missouri's paid sick leave law and the other will put an abortion ban back on the ballot. 'What happened yesterday is a travesty of what's supposed to be democracy,' said Daniel Chura, organizer with Missouri Jobs with Justice, which helped lead the campaign for the paid sick leave law. 'When we look behind at this building, we know it's not democracy that's going on,' he added. 'But when we see what's gathered on these steps today, this is what democracy looks like.' Attendees led chants of 'this is what democracy looks like,' along with 'we are the worker, the mighty, mighty worker.' They said it's not the end of the fight for paid leave, and vowed to reject the abortion ban. They held American flags and signs ranging from 'Workers over billionaires' and 'No forced pregnancies,' to 'Missouri GOP: Gonna Override the People.' Wednesday evening, Missouri Senate Republicans invoked a rarely-used rule to shut down a Democratic filibuster and repeal the paid sick leave law and put an abortion ban on the ballot with language that does not mention banning abortion. The abortion amendment will appear on the November 2026 ballot, unless Gov. Mike Kehoe decides to hold a vote sooner. Missouri Republicans shut down Senate debate to pass abortion ban, repeal sick leave law The paid-sick leave benefits, which went into effect on May 1, will be stripped away on Aug. 28 if Kehoe signs the bill passed Wednesday. That bill also removes the requirement that the minimum wage be indexed to inflation, which has been in place since 2007. The paid sick leave and minimum wage provisions passed with nearly 58% of the vote in November as Proposition A, garnering support from unions, workers' advocacy groups, social justice and civil rights groups, as well as over 500 business owners. The measure made sick leave guaranteed for around 728,000 workers who lacked it statewide, or over 1 in 3 Missouri workers, according to an analysis from the progressive nonprofit the Missouri Budget Project. In November, more than 1.6 million Missourians voted 'yes' on the measure — more than the number who voted for U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley that election. Don Looney, a leader of UAW Local 2250, referred to the 'unmitigated gall' of lawmakers telling voters 'you didn't understand what you were voting for' by overturning paid sick leave. 'Your Missouri legislature has gone rogue,' Looney said. GOP critics portrayed paid sick leave as a 'job killer' that would hurt small businesses, and as a 'one-size-fits-all' mandate for businesses. House Speaker Jon Patterson said in a press conference Thursday he agreed with paid sick leave in principle but not as it was laid out in Prop A. 'I want people that are sick to be able to stay home and not have to work,' Patterson said. 'The way that it was done in Prop A it just was not workable. So I hope in the future what we see is something where employees are able to get their sick leave, but maybe not having mandates.' Regarding the repeal of Prop A without input from the voters, Patterson said: 'They do get to have their voice. They get to go out and vote for their elected representatives, and they come to Jefferson City and make decisions.' Amendment 3, which rolled back Missouri's abortion ban and opened the door for clinics to begin performing the procedure for the first time since 2022, passed with 52% of the vote, or over 1.5 million votes, in November. The proposed ban that will now appear on the ballot seeks to repeal the constitutional right to an abortion but allow exceptions for medical emergencies, fatal fetal anomalies and for survivors of rape and incest in the first 12 weeks of gestation. Abortion rights activists on Thursday led chants of 'we're not going back.' 'Voters have spoken,' said Mary Ann Perkins with Abortion Action Missouri. 'No forced pregnancy.' The proposed ban, if approved by a simple majority of voters, would reinstate several targeted regulations on abortion providers, or TRAP laws, that were recently struck down as unconstitutional by a Missouri judge. It seeks to ban gender transition surgeries and puberty blockers for minors, something that is already illegal in Missouri. 'No politician has the right to dictate what goes on in the doctor's office or in our private lives,' said Nancy O'Brien with Abortion Access Missouri. Terrence Wise, a low-wage worker with Stand up KC and Missouri Workers Center, said when he saw the news about the Senate vote Wednesday, he thought about all the days he went to work sick, or brought his children to work sick with 100 degree fevers because he lacked paid leave. He said the repeal could be 'fatal,' with people coming into work instead of getting needed care. 'Despite this clear mandate from the people, corporate interests refused to listen,' he said. Wise said Missourians in Democratic and Republican districts 'voted for economic dignity and for working people…a clear message that no one should have to choose between their health and affording rent.' Advocates said they'll consider putting the issue on the ballot again as a constitutional amendment, a move that would make it much harder for lawmakers to repeal. Ray Thomas, a union electrician and leader with Missouri Jobs with Justice, said in an interview with The Independent she was so 'jubilant' when the ballot measure passed in November that she cried. It was a 'relief' to, for the first time in her career, though she is nearing retirement, have time off when she or a family member is sick. Thomas collected 2,000 signatures to put the issue on the ballot last year and said talking to voters, she realized the issue transcended partisan divides — that it was about basic human rights. Initially the news of yesterday's repeal vote was 'depleting' but she said now, it's just 'round two.' 'The battle's back on,' Thomas said. 'I don't care if I'm out there in a wheelchair, I don't care. I'm gonna go collect signatures again. I'm not gonna lay down until we get what we deserve.'
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What's next as Missouri lawmakers move to repeal two voter-approved measures?
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri lawmakers passed legislation Wednesday in efforts to roll back parts of two voter-approved measures passed last year: One that enshrines abortion protections in the state constitution, and another that expands paid sick leave and raises the state's minimum wage. In November 2024, Missouri voters approved Amendment 3 – a constitutional amendment guaranteeing abortion rights – and Proposition A – a statutory measure aimed at strengthening workforce protections for pay and sick leave. Now, more than six months later, the Missouri legislature has approved a referendum seeking to repeal Amendment 3 and a house bill aimed at undoing key provisions of Proposition A. New cat hoarding case linked to Wildwood mansion suspect Earlier this year, a spokesperson from the Missouri Sec. of State's Office told FOX 2, that 'There is no specific statutory protection in Missouri law that prevents lawmakers from challenging or altering voter-approved amendments or propositions.' Because of that, Missouri law does not prohibit lawmakers from pursuing changes to voter-approved measures, even for proposals that voters directly approved. Now that legislation has passed to challenge both Amendment 3 and Proposition A, at least in the forms approved by voters, many questions arise: What comes next? And what does the future hold for both measures? The answers ultimately depend on how each measure appeared on the ballot. Amendment 3, the abortion rights measure, was place on the November 2024 ballot as a constitutional amendment through the state's initiative petition process. Under Missouri law, constitutional amendments can only be changed through joint resolutions passed by both chambers of the Missouri legislature, followed by Missouri voters for approval. Since lawmakers approved House Joint Resolution 73, an effort to repeal Amendment 3 could appear on the November 2026 ballot, or perhaps sooner if Gov. Mike Kehoe calls for a special election before then. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Meanwhile, voters initially approved Proposition A as a statutory measure, which unlike constitutional amendments, can be altered through standard legislative action. Lawmakers are attempting to do so through House Bill 567. While Proposition A is currently in effect, Gov. Kehoe could simply sign HB 567 into law without any other steps required, a move that could change its provisions as early as August 28. In previous FOX 2 reports, some local election rights advocates argued that challenges to voter-approved measures often arise when the party in control of the state legislature opposes the outcome. With that in mind, one advocacy group known as the Respect MO Voters Coalition began gathering public input in March a possible future constitutional amendment that would prevent Missouri lawmakers from overturning or weakening voter-approved measures, citing concerns with how the current setup undermines direct democracy and disregards to voice of voters. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Int'l Business Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Missouri Voted in Favor of Abortion Rights and Paid Sick Leave. State Republicans Just Overturned Them Both
Missouri Republicans were able to swiftly overturn abortion rights and paid sick leave using an uncommon procedural move, sparking outrage from Democrats and advocates who say the legislature has ignored the will of the people. In November 2024, Missouri voters passed two major ballot initiatives: Amendment 3, which reinstated abortion rights lost after the fall of Roe v. Wade, and Proposition A, which guaranteed paid sick leave for over 700,000 workers, the Missouri Independent reported. Both passed with strong support across party lines, with Proposition A earning 58% of the vote. Since their passage, conservative lawmakers have worked to undermine or reverse the measures, citing economic concerns and ideological opposition. On Wednesday, Republican senators invoked "previous question," a rarely used rule in the Missouri Senate, to cut off debate and force immediate votes on both reversals. The first measure proposes a new constitutional amendment to replace Amendment 3, reinstating abortion restrictions but adding exceptions for rape, incest and medical emergencies. The second bill repeals paid sick leave protections passed under Proposition A and ends the state's inflation-based minimum wage indexing. Both votes passed swiftly, despite an hours-long Democratic filibuster. The repeal of Proposition A is set to take effect August 28, stripping benefits from hundreds of thousands of workers. Meanwhile the proposed abortion restrictions are likely to end up back on the state's ballot in 2026. Originally published on Latin Times
