Missouri governor repeals paid sick leave law approved last year by voters

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By DAVID A. LIEB
Updated 4:49 PM CDT, July 10, 2025

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Eight months after voters approved it, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed the repeal of a law Thursday that had guaranteed paid sick leave to workers and inflationary adjustments to the minimum wage.

The move marked a major victory for the state’s largest business group and a frustrating defeat for workers’ rights advocates, who had spent years — and millions of dollars — building support for the successful ballot measure. The repeal will take effect Aug. 28.

Kehoe, who also signed a package of tax breaks Thursday, described the paid sick leave law as an onerous mandate that imposed burdensome record-keeping.

“Today, we are protecting the people who make Missouri work — families, job creators, and small business owners — by cutting taxes, rolling back overreach, and eliminating costly mandates,” Kehoe, a Republican, said in a statement released after a private bill-signing ceremony.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/paid-sick-leave-missouri-b865c9ccb726b766fae929d228afecba

[Hotler]

1. Plain selfishness. nt

[msongs]

2. how effing stupid does one have to be to keep voting for these nutters. nice framing tho "protecting people" nt nt

[thought crime]

12. Protecting the "makers"

"protecting the people who make Missouri work". The "Makers" are sickening.

[Rebl2]

15. The rural

areas and certain rich suburbs vote them in. The Ozarks are rich with MAGA and so is Springfield, MO.

[BOSSHOG]

3. It's like a parody

We will protect by cutting, rolling back and eliminating. With the gop mandated lack of specifics about what those taxes pay for and the purpose of the mandates. And the ever popular overreach.

[Irish_Dem]

4. Democracy does not matter any more.

The will of the people is of no importance to the power and money hungry leadership.

[slightlv]

8. The will of the people not only is of no importance...

it is actively worked against. And, when it can't be beat at the ballot box, it's just axed by the paid-for politicians. Problem is, our speech doesn't mean anything because we have no real money to back it up. THIS is America!

[Irish_Dem]

11. We are useless eaters who want food, healthcare, housing.

We are not billionaires, we cannot bribe politicians, we are not worth anything to the elite.

In fact Trump and the billionaires want to do a purge and get rid of us.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. Sick leave required a few entries on a spreadsheet

[Phoenix61]

6. The number of obituaries I will read with glee grows by leaps and bounds every single fucking day.nt

[Prairie Gates]

7. AP mentions that workers rights groups spent millions to get a ballot measure approved

They refuse to say that the business groups spent tens of millions if not hundreds of millions in bribes, ads, and campaign contributions to defeat it.

It used to be that legislators would be terrified to overturn a ballot measure or referendum just passed by their constituents. Not in Missouri.

[Buddyzbuddy]

9. Smart move, eliminate a benefit the majority voted for.

That's some strategy. And you were genius enough to ferret out those freeloaders causing all of that burdensome record keeping. Well, I'm sure the business community will step up and show their appreciation.

Will you people ever f.cking learn. He's a Republican. Of course he works on behalf of business interests. How do you not all own timeshares?
The "show me state". More like I vote for my gov't to f.ck me over state.
I'm sorry, you did try to do the right thing. You voted in a good thing but your chosen leadership doesn't want you to get spoiled. They know better than you what you need.

[fujiyamasan]

10. This is actually poetic in a sense

And I hate to say it, but considering which party controls the state, the people of MO are deserving of this.

Sorry, you can’t simply vote for a referendum for policies you like, yet vote for politicians (I.e. republicans) that oppose those same policies. It simply does not work that way.

Vote smarter Missouri. You may then be able to keep your sick leave and higher minimum wage. If you vote against an abortion ban, and then vote for a governor and a state legislature that wants an abortion ban, guess what they’re going to do?

Is it just me or it this the height of stupid? Honestly I’m losing my patience and remaining sympathy here.

[leftyladyfrommo]

16. There is truth there. It's been that way forever

When I first came to KC in 1970 the mob ruled the city. Then the families got to fighting abd they blew up one too many businesses and the Feds came in.

KC is very liberal. But now we have government by idiots on the State level. I think the mob might be better. At least the way they control makes some sense.

[Martin68]

13. Missouri, Mississippi, Florida, Arkansas, Alabama, etc. The American Taliban.

[FakeNoose]

14. When Covid comes back, or another pandemic comes, it will spread like wildfire

Every worker will come and spread germs around to their co-workers. Teachers and nurses will all die first, then the rest of us will go as quickly as possible.

[Emile]

17. Job creators are consumers. What a dumb ass!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

18. What an asshole