Gov. Mike Kehoe Betrays Working Missourians, Repeals Voter-Approved Paid Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Arrow

In response to Missouri Governor. Mike Kehoe's repeal of a voter-approved law that supported paid sick leave and minimum wage increases,DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:

"Working Missourians exercised their democratic right to vote in favor of paid sick leave and minimum wage policies that would help working Missouri families afford the cost of living - and Gov. Mike Kehoe just delivered a slap in the face to them. Republicans can't accept that their deeply unpopular agenda was defeated at the ballot box, so instead, they're going to extreme lengths to ignore their voters and boost their own power. Working families deserve better and we will continue the fight in Missouri by electing Democrats up and down the ballot."

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe repealed a voter-approved law increasing the minimum wage and requiring paid sick leave in a huge blow for working Missourians.

New York Times: "Missouri Governor Signs Bill Rolling Back Voter-Approved Minimum Wage and Sick Leave"

"When Missouri voters were asked last year whether they wanted to increase the minimum wage and require employers to provide paid sick leave, 58 percent of them said yes.

"Not long after that vote, the Republicans who control the state government mobilized to unwind those changes. On Thursday, Gov. Mike Kehoe, a Republican, signed into law a bill that limited the voter-approved minimum wage increase and scrapped the paid sick leave requirement altogether. …

"The move by Missouri Republicans to undo much of a voter-approved measure just months after it passed represented an escalation in the struggle over ballot measures."

The Hill: "Missouri repeals voter-approved paid sick leave law"

"An independent poll of Missouri voters in April found 75 percent opposed efforts to repeal the measure, but pro-business groups lobbied heavily for its repeal, describing it as burdensome for employers."

Newsweek: "Paid Sick Leave Repealed for Millions in Missouri"

Last November, Missouri voters passed Proposition A, guaranteeing a minimum wage price increase and paid sick leave for working Missourians.

Missouri Independent: "Missourians vote to increase minimum wage, require paid sick leave"

"An effort to hike the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour and guarantee paid sick leave won the support of Missouri voters Tuesday night.

"Proposition A was approved by Missouri voters 58% to 42%."

KCUR: "Under Proposition A, Missouri's minimum wage will increase in January 2025 from $12.30 an hour to $13.75. It will reach $15 an hour in January 2026 and be adjusted annually thereafter for inflation. …

"Paid sick leave will be available for existing workers starting May 1, 2025. Employers must provide one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. …

"Supporters of the ballot measure said the raise in minimum wage and sick time would benefit thousands of low-wage workers across the state and help lift them out of poverty. …

"A full-time employee earning Missouri's previous minimum wage of $12.30 would bring in $492 weekly before taxes. Once Proposition A goes into effect and reaches $15 an hour in 2026, that same employee will earn $600 a week before taxes."