JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – House and Senate Democrats announced their policy plan for this legislative agenda to “Move Missouri Forward” on Monday.
“As we move into the 2016 legislative session, a unified Democratic Party is ready to fight for a Missouri that is more equitable for every citizen of our great state,” said Senate Minority Leader Joe Keaveny, D-St. Louis. “We believe our plan to Move Missouri Forward is the best opportunity to work with the Majority Caucus to pass reasonable legislation that will help hard working families, provide the necessary resources to educate our children, and restore public trust in their government.”
The “Moving Missouri Forward” platform focuses on economic and social policy, hoping to see that workers are protected from discrimination, paid a living wage, and given equal pay for equal work. The legislative slate also expands access to healthcare for the working poor, provides resources to police departments to purchase body cameras, assists Missouri’s agricultural economy, ensures full funding of our public schools, and bans all lobbyists’ gifts to legislators and their staffs.
“Our party’s goal is to leave a better Missouri for future generations,” said House Minority Leader Jake Hummel of St. Louis. “We stand ready and willing to work with Republicans to pass these common-sense bills that are widely supported by the majority of Missourians. It’s time we prove to our constituents that we can work together on their behalf to make Missouri better for every citizen.”
“We want to leave a better Missouri for future generations,” said Keaveny. “It’s time we prove to our constituents that we can work together on their behalf to make Missouri better for every citizen.”
The Senate and House each specified 8 bills to make up the platform, including:
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Hummel SB 653 (Nondiscrimination Act – Keaveny)
- SB 952 (Equal Pay for Equal Work – Walsh)
- SB 953 (Minimum Wage – Schupp)
- SB 955 (Lobbyist Gift Ban – Sifton)
- SB 958 (Farm-To-Table – Holsman)
- SB 961 (Medicaid Expansion – Nasheed)
- SB 962 (Body Cameras – Curls)
- SJR 37 (Constitutional Amendment to Fully Fund the Formula – Chappelle-Nadal)
- HB 2201 (Medicaid Expansion – Lavender)
- HB 2354 (Body Cameras – Ellington)
- TBD (Minimum Wage – May)
- HJR 85 (Foundation Formula – Morgan)
- HB 2356 (Equal Pay – McCann Beatty)
- HB 2073 (Lobbyist Gift Ban – Arthur)
- HB 2121 (Farm-to-Table – Hummel)
- HB 2279 (Nondiscrimination Act – McCreery)
The Democrats’ agenda was applauded by Democratic Attorney General and candidate for governor Chris Koster, who issued the following statement:
“I applaud the members of the Senate and House Democratic caucuses for developing a bold legislative agenda for Missouri’s future. Their common sense plan prioritizes ensuring that every Missourian has an opportunity to achieve success and addresses some of our state’s most pressing challenges.
“This year is an opportunity for both parties to work together on bills that are overwhelmingly supported by the majority of Missourians, Democrats and Republicans alike.
“The broad bipartisan overlap on these issues makes me hopeful that we can make real progress on the announced agenda. On issues of equality, no workers should be discriminated against because of who they love or paid less simply because they are a woman. Boosting workers’ wages and promoting Missouri agriculture will not just help families but boost our economy. Creating a more transparent government by providing funding for body cameras and banning lobbyist gifts will help reconstitute a level of trust between the public and their government. Finally, the children of our state deserve to have their schools fully funded.
“I thank Senator Keaveny, Representative Hummel, and all our Democratic Senators and Representatives for their hard work and vision in putting together this agenda and look forward to working with them to make progress on these important issues.”
Rachael Herndon was the editor at The Missouri Times and also produced This Week in Missouri Politics, published Missouri Times Magazine, and co-hosted the #MoLeg podcast. She joined The Missouri Times in 2014, returning to political reporting after working as a campaign and legislative staffer.
Rachael studied at the University of Missouri – Columbia. She lives in Jefferson City with her husband, Brandon, and their two children.
