The national push to enact state right-to-work laws suffered a resounding defeat Wednesday in Missouri, ending a string of recent successes in the heartland.
Missouri's veto-proof GOP majorities in both chambers had made the state a prime target for those hoping it would become the 26th to enact the plan prohibiting workplace contracts with mandatory union fees. Six of its eight bordering states have passed it, and Wisconsin, Indiana and even Michigan - the headquarters of the United Auto Workers - recently did too.
The bill's failure in Missouri highlighted divisions among Republicans elected to represent areas with strong union support. With a 96-63 vote in favor of right to work, the measure fell 13 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to override Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon's veto in the Missouri House, where the bill needed approval first before it could go to the Senate for a final vote.
Supporters said the bill would promote business and make Missouri competitive with other nearby states that adopted the union restrictions. Opponents argued it would weaken unions and could lead to lower wages. As in Wisconsin and Indiana, those who violated the Missouri measure would have faced misdemeanor charges.
Getting the bill to Nixon's desk was a challenge in itself, made possible only after GOP senators forced a vote on the measure in May in a move that led to a Senate shutdown and a days-long filibuster by upset Democrats.
Visitors packed in the House chamber Wednesday broke into applause when the override failed, and national opponents such as Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton and unions praised lawmakers who voted against it.
"I would like to thank the state legislators who put aside their partisan differences and came together to uphold Gov. Nixon's veto," Teamsters President James P. Hoffa said in a statement. "They recognized that right-to-work is wrong for working families and is wrong for the State of Missouri. This has been a true victory for all Missourians."
Despite the failure, those who would like to see right-to-work adopted in Missouri say they plan to continue to push for the measure.
"Gov. Nixon is the roadblock between Missouri and more prosperity, after bowing down to union bosses he blocked the legislature and the will of most Missourians," Luke Hilgemann, CEO of the conservative group Americans for Prosperity said in a statement. "This isn't the end for right-to-work."
Missouri House roll call on right-to-work legislation
By The Associated Press
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The 96-63 roll call vote Wednesday to override Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon's veto of a measure that would prohibit union contracts with employers that allow the collection of fees from nonmembers, sometimes called right to work. The bill was 13 votes short the two-thirds majority needed to override Nixon and enact right to work.
Voting "yes" were 95 Republicans and one Democrat.
Voting "no" were 42 Democrats, one Independent and 20 Republicans.
One Republican voted as "present."
REPUBLICANS VOTING YES
Sue Allen, Town and Country
Justin Alferman, Washington
Sonya Anderson, Springfield
Allen Andrews, Grant City
Kevin Austin, Springfield
Kurt Bahr, O'Fallon
Jay Barnes, Jefferson City
Chuck Basye, Rocheport
Nathan Beard, Sedalia
Mike Bernskoetter, Jefferson City
Jack Bondon, Belton
Rick Brattin, Harrisonville
Cloria Brown, St. Louis County
Wanda Brown, Cole Camp
Eric Burlison, Springfield
Jason Chipman, St. James
Mike Cierpiot, Lee's Summit
Steve Cookson, Poplar Bluff
Robert Cornejo, St. Peters
Sandy Crawford, Buffalo
Gary Cross, Lee's Summit
Paul Curtman, Pacific
Charlie Davis, Webb City
Shamed Dogan, Ballwin
Dean Dohrman, La Monte
Tony Dugger, Hartville
J. Eggleston, Maysville
Scott Fitzpatrick, Shell Knob
Travis Fitzwater, Holts Summit
Tom Flanigan, Carthage
Lyndall Fraker, Marshfield
Diane Franklin, Camdenton
Keith Frederick, Rolla
Don Gosen, Chesterfield
Elijah Haahr, Springfield
Marsha Haefner, Oakville
Jim Hansen, Frankford
Justin Hill, Willard
Denny Hoskins, Warrensburg
Lincoln Hough, Springfield
Jay Houghton, Martinsburg
Tila Hubrecht, Dexter
Thomas Hurst, Meta
Delus Johnson, St. Joseph
Caleb Jones, Columbia
Jeffery Justus, Branson
Shelley Keeney, Marble Hill
Mike Kelley, Lamar
Andrew Koenig, Manchester
Glen Kolkmeyer, Wellington
Mike Lair, Chillicothe
Bill Lant, Pineville
Mike Leara, St. Louis County
Donna Lichtenegger, Jackson
Warren Love, Osceola
Steve Lynch, Waynesville
Nick Marshall, Parkville
Kirk Mathews, Pacific
Andrew McDaniel, Deering
Joe Don McGaugh, Carrollton
Jeffrey Messenger, Republic
Rocky Miller, Osage Beach
Mike Moon, Ash Grove
Lynn Morris, Ozark
Dave Muntzel, Boonville
Jim Neely, Cameron
Mark Parkinson, St. Charles
Donna Pfautsch, Harrisonville
Don Phillips, Kimberling City
Randy Pietzman, Troy
Patricia Pike, Adrian
Jeff Pogue, Salem
Craig Redmon, Canton
Holly Rehder, Sikeston
Bill Rieboldt, Neosho
Tim Remole, Excello
Shawn Rhoads, West Plains
Todd Richardson, Poplar Bluff
Rebecca Roeber, Lee's Summit
Donald Rone, Portageville
Robert Ross, Yukon
Caleb Rowden, Columbia
Lyle Rowland, Cedarcreek
Dan Shaul, Imperial
Noel Shull, Kansas City
Lindell Shumake, Hannibal
Bryan Spencer, Wentzville
Kathy Swan, Cape Girardeau
Jered Taylor, Nixa
Rob Vescovo, Arnold
Nate Walker, Kirksville
Bill White, Joplin
John Wiemann, O'Fallon
Kenneth Wilson, Smithville
David Wood, Versailles
DEMOCRATS VOTING YES
Courtney Allen Curtis, Ferguson
DEMOCRATS VOTING NO
Joe Adams, University City
Ira Anders, Independence
Lauren Arthur, Kansas City
Bob Burns, Affton
Michael Butler, St. Louis
Jon Carpenter, Kansas City
Mike Colona, St. Louis
Pat Conway, St. Joseph
Randy Dunn, Kansas City
Brandon Ellington, Kansas City
Kimberly Gardner, St. Louis
Alan Green, Florissant
Ben Harris, Hillsboro
Penny Hubbard, St. Louis
Jacob Hummel, St. Louis
Kip Kendrick, Columbia
Jeanne Kirkton, Webster Groves
Michele Kratky, St. Louis
Jeremy LaFaver, Kansas City
Deb Lavender, Kirkwood
Karla May, St. Louis
Gail McCann Beatty, Kansas City
Tracy McCreery, Olivette
Tom McDonald, Raytown
Margo McNeil, Hazelwood
Sue Meredith, St. Louis County
Bonnaye Mims, Kansas City
Gina Mitten, Richmond Heights
Genise Montecillo, St. Louis County
Judy Morgan, Kansas City
Stacey Newman, Richmond Heights
Mary Nichols, Maryland Heights
Charlie Norr, Springfield
Bill Otto, Maryland Heights
Sharon Pace, Northwoods
Joshua Peters, St. Louis
Tommie Pierson, Bellefontaine Neighbors
John Rizzo, Kansas City
Joe Runions, Grandview
Clem Smith, Velda Village Hills
Rochelle Walton Gray, Black Jack
Stephen Webber, Columbia
REPUBLICANS VOTING NO
Linda Black, Park Hills
Kathie Conway, St. Charles
Kevin Corlew, Kansas City
Kevin Engler, Farmington
Sue Entlicher, Bolivar
Paul Fitzwater, Potosi
Elaine Gannon, De Soto
Ron Hicks, St. Peters
Galen Higdon, St. Joseph
Dave Hinson, St. Clair
Bill Kidd, Independence
Nick King, Liberty
Bart Korman, High Hill
Jeanie Lauer, Blue Springs
John McCaherty, High Ridge
Shane Roden, Cedar Hill
Becky Ruth, Festus
Sheila Solon, Blue Springs
Chrissy Sommer, St. Charles
Anne Zerr, St. Charles
INDEPENDENTS VOTING NO
Keith English, Florissant
REPUBLICANS VOTING AS PRESENT
T.J. Berry, Kearney
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