Internet Explorer 11 is not supported

For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.

Advocacy Where Politicians Can't Miss It: On Their Office Doors

On Tuesday, Gov. Eric Greitens led Missourians who'd attended his afternoon rally to lobby opponents of a bill he says will create jobs.

By Celeste Bott

On Tuesday, Gov. Eric Greitens led Missourians who'd attended his afternoon rally to lobby opponents of a bill he says will create jobs.

They signed fliers pleading for the passage of a contentious utility bill and taped them to the office doors of lawmakers like Sens. Doug Libla and Gary Romine, two Republicans who've expressed concerns with the proposal Greitens is hoping will cross the finish line in this week's special session.

It gave Rep. Bruce Franks Jr., D-St. Louis, an idea.

In the wee hours of the morning, he enlisted constituents to send him emails telling the governor to veto a bill preempting St. Louis' minimum wage increase.

He then printed them out and taped them to the governor's office door.

"I was inspired by the governor," Franks told the Post-Dispatch on Wednesday. "Posting yesterday was basically to say, look, you come from the city of St. Louis. This is where you reside. This is where you're raising your family. Folks here need livable wages."

Franks has been a vocal critic of the GOP-led Legislature's efforts to block the city's minimum wage increase. Workers in St. Louis are currently making $10 an hour, but if Greitens signs the bill, their paychecks will revert back to the $7.90 statewide hourly wage.

Hailed by Republicans as a way to standardize payroll and prevent uncertainty for Missouri's business community, Democrats like Franks argue the bill interferes with cities' rights to determine a fair minimum wage for their own communities.

Franks also posted messages encouraging the governor to veto a measure that would make it harder for workers to sue their employers for discrimination.

"(Greitens) is speaking up for the folks in the Bootheel. That's good. We commend that. Let's speak up for everybody," he said.

(c)2017 the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
Special Projects