MISSOURI RISING COMMENDS HOUSE FOR PASSING RIGHT-TO-WORK

“This overwhelming vote in the House shows just how critical it is for Missouri to embrace Right-To-Work,” said Missouri Rising communications director Jeremy Adler. “This important step, along with Governor Greitens’ strong endorsement in his State of the State address on Tuesday, shows that this legislation is on the fast-track to being law, giving Missouri and its workers a much-needed opportunity to compete and grow in 2017 and beyond.”

In Tuesday’s ‘State of the State’ address, Governor Eric Greitens expressed the importance of Missouri adopting Right-To-Work legislation, saying that the state, “must do everything in our power to put people back to work in good, high-paying jobs.”

Watch a snippet of the Governor’s speech touting Right-To-Work and see a transcript of his comments below:

GOVERNOR GREITENS: “Missourians are hard working people. They want good, quality jobs. I remember being out one morning, meeting folks, and shaking hands at a diner in Portageville. It was 5 AM. It was going to be a hot day, but people were up and they were ready to work. In county after county – in Pemiscot County, and in Dunklin County, and in Mississippi County, I spoke to people who want to work. Who want a job. Who want to provide for their families. And they are sick of seeing their friends have to get in a truck and drive across state lines for work. But they look over the border and they see opportunity. They see that in Arkansas, and in Tennessee, paychecks are getting bigger. They see other Midwestern states like Indiana, and Michigan, that are leading the nation in new factory job growth. Since 2009, the country has had ten percent private sector job growth. If we had grown just as fast as the rest of the country since ‘09, we would have 120,000 more jobs here in the state of Missouri. And if income in Missouri had risen at the same rate as the rest of the country, the average Missouri family – the average Missouri family would be making $2,400 more every year. Instead, we’ve fallen behind. And the people have sent us a message. We must do everything in our power to put people back to work in good, high-paying jobs. And that is why we must join 27 other states and sign Right To Work.”

On top of the Governor’s remarks, State Representative Rocky Miller (R-Lake Ozark) delivered a statement on the House floor yesterday about why he initially opposed Right-To-Work and now has come to embrace it as a needed solution for Missouri:

Following debate in front of the full chamber today, the Missouri House of Representatives voted to advance Right-To-Work by a vote of 100-59, sending the legislation to the State Senate where it will be taken up in short order.