The People's Republic of Missouri

If there’s any doubt about who holds power in Missouri, let’s clear it up; it’s not the people.

Missourians consistently support progressive reforms when given the chance to vote directly. For example, expanding Medicaid, legalizing marijuana, and raising the minimum wage. But at the same time, they elect Republican legislators who actively work to undo those choices. These lawmakers claim to fight for limited government, but instead they expand government control, undermine the democratic process, and impose their will on the public. They then spin a different story on media outlets like Fox Entertainment, convincing the people that they’re heroes.

This year alone, Republican lawmakers have reversed voter-approved reforms. After Missourians voted to restore abortion rights through a constitutional amendment, the legislature responded with House Joint Resolution 73, which would force the issue back on the ballot. Their strategy? Repeated votes will eventually wear the public down. Meanwhile, the governor signed Senate Bill 22 into law, giving Republican politicians the power to write ballot language themselves, allowing them to confuse and mislead the people.

The same playbook is being used to dismantle Proposition A, which granted workers minimum wage increases and earned sick leave. Overwhelmingly passed by voters in 2024, it’s now being stripped apart by Republican legislators who think people actually want to be paid less and power-through the flu while working in the food preparation industry.

What can we do about it? Well, one idea is to meet with your legislators this summer and try to reason with them; catch them when they’re away from the lobbyists in the state capital. But a better step is to stop electing those who treat the will of the people as something to be manipulated. If we don’t fix it soon, Missouri may have to change its name to The People’s Republic of Missouri.