Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry President and CEO Kara Corches issued the following statement in response to the Missouri Supreme Court decision in Raymond McCarty, et al. v. Missouri Secretary of State, et al.:
“We are deeply disappointed by the Missouri Supreme Court’s decision regarding Proposition A. While we respect the court’s authority, we believe today’s decision fails to address critical concerns regarding election irregularities and constitutional violations that occurred.
The Missouri Constitution requires ballot initiatives to contain a single subject. Proposition A imposes multiple, separate requirements on Missouri employers. These new mandates affect wages, employees’ use of paid sick leave and the enforcement of leave policies. The Court did not issue an opinion on whether Proposition A violated this single subject requirement.
Missouri employers know their employees are their greatest asset and recognize the importance of offering competitive wages and benefits. However, we believe business owners know best how to run their own companies, and additional mandates and government regulations do not promote job growth.
In light of today’s decision, it is now imperative that the Missouri General Assembly pass HB 567. This bill will provide much-needed clarity for business owners struggling with the onerous paid sick leave requirements and give employers the flexibility to tailor workplace policies to meet the needs of their workforce.
We urge the Missouri Senate to take immediate action on HB 567 and ensure Missouri’s economic climate is not adversely impacted by Proposition A’s implementation.”
