The controversial right-to-work bill headed to Gov. Jay Nixon’s desk yesterday after approval by the Missouri General Assembly.
After several hours of debate, the House voted 92-66 in a second round of voting to send the bill on to the governor, according to a news release from the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
In February, the House voted 91-64 to pass the bill to the Senate, which gave its approval May 12 by a 21-13 vote.
Immediately after the House’s second and final approval of House Bill 116 - sponsored by Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Springfield - Nixon issued a statement criticizing the legislation, designed to prohibit contracts requiring a worker to join a union or pay union fees as a condition of employment.
“Attacking workers and weakening the middle class will not create jobs,” Nixon said in the statement, a stark contrast to
claims by Burlison that the legislation would create jobs and spur economic growth. “In fact, rolling back the rights of working people would weaken our economy by lowering wages and making it harder for middle-class families to move up the economic ladder.
“This bill also takes the extreme step of subjecting Missouri employers to criminal and unlimited civil liability, which would stifle growth and discourage investment in our state. At a time when our economy is picking up steam and businesses are creating good jobs, this so-called right-to-work bill would take Missouri backwards.”
When asked this morning if Nixon would veto the bill, spokesman Scott Holste declined to comment, saying the governor’s office currently is focusing on the last two days of the legislative session.
If Nixon decides to veto the bill, it’s unlikely the General Assembly would have the votes to override his action, according to the vote tallies. The Senate needs 23 votes to override a gubernatorial veto, while the House needs 109.
However, even the movement of the right-to-work bill to Nixon’s desk is historic. It’s the firm time such legislation has gone before a Missouri governor in the history of the state, Burlison has said. If passed, Missouri would become the 26th right-to-work state.[[In-content Ad]]
