KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Activists from Missourians for Fair Wages are hoping to see the Kansas City, Missouri City Council reconsider a recently passed referendum that would gradually increase to minimum wage in the state’s largest municipality.
The group, which is a coalition of restaurants, hotels, and business groups like local chambers of commerce, are out collecting signatures for the referendum – what they call “a people’s veto.” They turned in 100 signatures on Friday to clarify their intent to submit the referendum.
“The main goal is to bring high paying jobs to Missouri,” said David Jackson, spokesman for Missourians for Fair Wages. “We believe that the minimum wage discussion is best held at the state level. A fractured minimum wage passed at the local level could hurt the same people we’re trying to help.”
The group has until August 25th to collect and turn in 3,400 signatures from Kansas City, Missouri residents. Kansas City’s Council passed a proposal to lift the minimum wage to $8.50 an hour this year and gradually to $13 an hour by 2020 by a vote of 12-1 just a few weeks ago. The City also has a ballot measure in 2016 to lift the minimum wage to $15 an hour. The St. Louis City Board of Alderman have debated similar minimum wage increases, but with less success.
“We don’t agree with what was passed,” said Jackson.
An override attempt is expect at the upcoming veto session on the “bag bill,” which would restrict local government from creating laws that contradict state law, such as minimum wage or grocery bag ordinances.
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.
