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Missouri Republicans Move to Put Right to Work Measure on August Primary Ballot


Readers who follow this blog are well aware of attempts by Republicans in Missouri to make the state the next right to work state in the country.  (States with right to work laws provide that employees cannot be forced to join a union as a condition of employment nor can employees be required to pay union dues if they are not a member of the union.  These non-member union dues are often called ‘agency fees’ and are collected by unions, from non-members, to help pay for the collective bargaining that a union does on behalf of all employees, regardless of whether the employee is a member of the union or not).

After a few false starts over the past few years, Republicans in the state were able to pass a right to work bill last year.  Republican Governor Eric Greitens subsequently signed the bill into law and Republicans cheered (while Democrats and labor unions simmered).  However, pro labor supporters quickly regrouped and obtained enough signatures to put the right to work measure on the ballot in November so that voters in the state could decide whether to allow the law to stay in place.  (Currently, the law remains on hold until voters have a say).  Unsurprisingly, money started to pour into the fight as supporters on both sides of the matter sought to ramp up support for (and against) the upcoming November ballot measure.

But as the saying goes, hold the phone.  Yesterday, the House Econmic Development Committee in the state voted along party lines, 8 - 4, to put the right to work measure on the August primary ballot rather than on the November general election ballot.  Critics were quick to call this a ploy by Republicans to limit voter turnout against right to work.  As some readers might know, primary voter turnout is often lower than general election turnout.  Traditionally, Republicans vote in larger numbers in primaries than do Democrats.  Given that Republicans in Missouri are attempting to ensure the right to work measure passes (and Missouri remains a right to work state), Democrats have been quick to call foul.  

For the time being, Republicans are one step closer to having this measure placed on the August primary ballot.  The matter now heads to the full House for further debate and a vote.  Stay tuned.


For additional information:  http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/plan-to-move-missouri-s-right-to-work-vote-to/article_f6b3e253-6c91-5b9b-baf4-5e8a3eb7d61c.amp.html

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