Missouri Senate Moves to Repeal Voter-Approved Paid Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Increases
Jefferson City, MO – In a swift move on Wednesday, Missouri Senate Republicans voted 22-11 to repeal critical provisions of Proposition A, a voter-approved law that granted employees paid sick leave and increased the minimum wage. The proposition, approved by 57.6% of voters in November, initially allowed workers to earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked and aimed to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026, with further increases tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
The recent legislative action scraps the paid sick leave component entirely and nullifies the CPI tie-in, effectively halting any minimum wage increases after 2026. Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, a Democrat, condemned the repeal, attributing the move to "corporate greed," calling attention to the detrimental impact on millions of Missouri workers.
The lone dissenting Republican vote came from Sen. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, who stood alongside all ten Democrats against the repeal. Critics voiced their outrage, with Sen. Stephen Webber, D-Columbia, stating that the decision undermines not just respect for the voters but the legislative process itself. The Senate’s procedural maneuvers, particularly a rarely employed previous question motion, facilitated a rapid vote on the bill, which had been debated multiple times without consensus prior to this session.
Proponents of the repeal, such as Sen. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Jefferson City, argued the original law imposed uniform policies that didn’t accommodate the diverse needs of businesses. With the bill moving to Governor Mike Kehoe’s office for consideration, the implications of this legislative decision have sparked considerable debate about worker rights and business regulations in Missouri.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
