RELEASE: Candidates can’t be trusted to uphold will of voters
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, Sept. 6, 2024
Contact: liz@progressmo.org
Polling shows Missourians support abortion, minimum wage increase but politicians are bent on having it their way
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri voters are energized to go to the polls this fall to vote on key ballot issues such as restoring abortion access, and providing workers with earned sick days while increasing the minimum wage.
Springfield resident Dr. Kathy LeMon called this fall’s vote “the most important in her lifetime,” with abortion topping her list of reasons to vote. It would seem that many Missourians agree with her. A poll released last week shows several ballot measures are popular with voters and expected to pass.
However, many politicians vying to represent their home districts in the Missouri State Senate have made it clear that they don’t respect the will of voters and will actively work to ensure the state is ruled by their worldview.
Jerry Nolte, candidate for State Senate District 17 in North Kansas City, voted to lower Missouri’s minimum wage, overturning the will of the voters in 2008. With a minimum wage increase on the ballot again this year, voters are afraid of history repeating itself.
Joe Nicola, running for State Senate District 11 in Independence, has said he will fight against abortion access as well as eliminating the tax revenues that fund key services such as schools and roads.
In 2015, the City of St. Louis passed an ordinance to raise the minimum wage; however, David Gregory, running for State Senate District 15 in west St. Louis County, voted to preempt that law lowering the minimum wage for City employees and taking money out of their pockets. Gregory also voted to prevent Missourians from accessing abortion.
James Coyne, running for State Senate District 19 in Boone County, wants to defund local public schools, police, firefighters, roads and more. Although residents in his district depend on these services, his policy proposal demanding the elimination of the state’s income tax includes no alternative revenue sources or spending adjustments, which would make critical parts of the state’s operation impossible. The state’s income tax accounts for nearly $10 billion, about 1/5 of the state’s $50.5 billion operating budget.
Adam Schnelting, candidate for State Senate District 23 in St. Charles, is endorsed by the Missouri Freedom Caucus and has bragged that he authored the cruel abortion ban currently in place in Missouri. According to the Missouri Independent, State Freedom Caucuses “are proposing conservative legislation and slowing measures they don’t like, even bills that were once considered routine and noncontroversial.”
“Our legislators are trying to pass bills in hopes of dismantling huge pieces of our democracy,” said Béla Holzer of Elk Creek in Texas County. “It is already nearly impossible to propose a bill or law that actually gets heard by anyone with legislative power.“
Missourians remember when voters overwhelmingly chose to expand Medicaid in 2020, giving health care to thousands. But politicians have spent years trying to dismantle it, denying people the care they were promised.
“Jefferson City politicians have vowed to destroy the initiative petition process during next year’s legislative session,” said Liz McCune, executive director of Progress Missouri. “So while Missourians are eager to have their voice heard in the fall, they also need to look at who they are electing to represent them. Because many politicians believe they know what’s best for Missourians and don’t respect the will of voters.”
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