Release: Actual State of Missouri Not As Rosy as Governor Kehoe Depicts

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Governor Mike Kehoe will make his first state of the state address today. However, there is a stark difference in the picture he paints from the actual state of Missouri. 

The simple truth is that it’s hard to live in Missouri. While the Governor and Legislature are focused on cutting taxes for the richest of Missourians, the rest of the state is left fighting over scraps often leaving us at the bottom. 

Missouri currently ranks:

• 48th in public school students experiencing homelessness
• 43rd in broadband access
• 40th in women’s healthcare 
• 43rd in women dying by firearms
• 49th in early education systems 
• 44th in quality of life
• 48th in children living in households with smokers

“Despite spending over $16 billion on health care, maternal and infant care in Missouri is in crisis,” said Kyra Betts, Manager of Policy and Advocacy at Generate Health STL. “Black women are up to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. In 2022 alone, 467 infants in Missouri died before their first birthday, with Black infants facing nearly double the mortality rate of their white counterparts. These devastating statistics highlight systemic inequities that continue to endanger the lives of Black mothers and babies.”

Gov. Kehoe and leadership in the Missouri House and Senate need to be more concerned with the declining economic growth in rural parts of our state rather than party in-fighting and attacks on direct democracy. 

“I want the freedom to be myself and earn a good living,” said Ash Judd, Amazon STL8 worker and Missouri Workers Center member. “But racist, conservative lawmakers in Jefferson City are trying to pass laws to divide us and make it harder for us to thrive. They limit our futures while letting corporate donors gouge prices and refuse to guarantee the fair wages and safe working conditions we deserve.”

###