State Rep. Peter Merideth Archives

Missouri lawmakers in both parties critical of Labor Department’s reimbursement request for unemployment overpayments

February 3, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s labor director was grilled by state lawmakers in both parties, during a Tuesday hearing in Jefferson City involving unemployment overpayments and the department’s subsequent request for reimbursement.

State Rep. Richard Brown, D-Kansas City, speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on January 13, 2021 (file photo courtesy of Ben Peters at House Communications)

State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations director Anna Hui testified before the Missouri House Special Committee on Government Oversight, saying the state overpaid more than $150 million in unemployment benefits last year. She also says overpayments are a regular part of the unemployment program.

The $150 million number frustrates committee chairman Rep. Jered Taylor, R-Nixa, who notes the number was about $100 million three days ago. Director Hui says the number changes each day.

Director Hui testifies that about 46,000 Missourians have been impacted by the unemployment overpayments, and emphasizes that her department will work with them on a payment plan. She also says it’s critical for Missourians who have received unemployment overpayments to communicate with her department, for a repayment plan.

“And they can cover a number of different things whether it’s offset against future benefits, offset against tax returns, refunds or again, we establish a payment plan,” Director Hui testifies.

Lawmakers in both parties are critical of that. State Rep. Doug Clemens, D-St. Ann, has filed a bill to change current law that mandates that the Labor Department collect on overpayments. State Rep. Richard Brown, D-Kansas City, tells Director Hui that a woman he knows has received a letter, asking her to repay $23,000. Brown says the woman doesn’t have the money.

State Reps. Tony Lovasco, R-O’Fallon, and Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, say Missourians who didn’t commit fraud should not have to repay money, because the state made the error.

“I think we need to figure out a way to let these people keep this money because ultimately they’re never going to trust us again if we don’t,” Lovasco says.

As for Representative Merideth, he’s filed a resolution that calls on Governor Parson to forgive the balance of non-fraudulent overpayments.

During the three-hour hearing, State Rep. J. Eggleston, R-Maysville, read a letter from a northwest Missouri teacher who’s being told she must repay $9,000, because of the state’s error. He says the teacher wishes she had been denied unemployment, to begin with.

Lawmakers also learned new details about the pandemic’s impact on the state’s economy and the unemployment system.

Director Hui testifies that Missouri paid out $236 million in unemployment benefits in 2019. That number increased to $5.1 billion in 2020, due to the pandemic.

St. Louis Democratic legislator wants Missouri House to investigate Giuliani

January 13, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

A St. Louis Democratic state lawmaker is calling on the Missouri House to investigate whether former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani committed perjury at a heated December House committee hearing in Jefferson City.

State Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on January 12, 2021 (photo courtesy of Benjamin Peters at House Communications)

State Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, says 20 of his Democratic colleagues have joined in his call.

Republicans control the Missouri House 114-47, and Representative Merideth says he’s sent a letter to House Speaker Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, requesting an investigation.

On December 14, Giuliani testified via zoom before the House Special Committee on Government Oversight in Jefferson City. Merideth notes Missouri House rules require that witnesses testifying before House committees sign an affidavit that their testimony, to the best of their knowledge, is true on penalty of perjury.

Mayor Giuliani and Representative Merideth clashed multiples times during the December hearing, when Giuliani alleged fraud in both Pennsylvania and Georgia in November’s presidential election.

Both accused each other of being dangerous, and spoke over each other multiple times. The hearing got so heated that then-Committee Chairman Robert Ross, R-Yukon, had to bang the gavel three times, to restore order.

Former Mayor Giuliani, who led the Trump campaign’s post-election legal challenges, described Philadelphia that night as a “crooked Democratic machine,” and alleged fraud in Georgia as well.

“I think we’re right to be upset about this action and about your spreading of misinformation and lies that are inflaming things across our country, at a time when we need to move on and accept the results of an election. Thank you,” Merideth told Giuliani that night.

“Obviously, you have no interest in the truth. All you have an interest in is lecturing me,” Giuliani responded.

“I have no interest in more and more lies from you,” Merideth said. “I am tired of your lies. America is tired of your lies, and they are dangerous, sir. They are dangerous.”

“You are very dangerous, because you’re covering up a massive election fraud,” Giuliani responded.

The two continued to speak over each other, until Chairman Ross hit the gavel multiple times.

Giuliani testified that night that GOP inspectors were not allowed proper access to view absentee ballots being counted in Pennsylvania.

Representative Merideth says he’s also sent a letter to the New York State Bar Association.

Missouri House Committee approves Presidential election resolution; Giuliani and Missouri Democrats clash

December 15, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

A Missouri House committee approved a resolution Monday night in Jefferson City that declares the Missouri House’s lack of faith in the 2020 presidential election results.

Missouri House Special Committee on Government Oversight Chairman Robert Ross, R-Yukon, speaks at the Statehouse in Jefferson City on December 14, 2020 (photo courtesy of Ben Peters at House Communications)

The party line vote was 6-3, with Republicans on the House Special Committee on Government Oversight in favor and Democrats opposed. The hearing, which took more than two-and-a-half hours, was heated from the start, and featured testimony from former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who clashed with Democratic lawmakers on the committee.

The GOP chairman of the House Rules Committee announced Monday evening that he will not hold a hearing on the resolution, so the issue won’t be heading to the Missouri House floor.

State Rep. Justin Hill, R-Lake St. Louis, sponsored the resolution, saying future elections are at stake. His resolution names Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. The resolution says that if a full and fair investigation isn’t done, Congress should refuse to accept the electoral votes from those six states.

During the hearing, Hill testified that critics have called for him to be hanged for his resolution, and that he’s been called a seditionist. He says the fraud in other states is enough to change the election results. Hill read letters he’s received from Missourians and others supporting his effort.

“This obviously is perceived by the public nationwide as an election that there is very little confidence in the results of those six swing states,” Hill testifies.

During the hearing, State Rep. Keri Ingle, D-Lee’s Summit, questioned some information contained in Hill’s three-page resolution. She says the allegation that 20,000 nonresidents cast ballots in Georgia has been debunked. Hill says it has not been.

Former Mayor Giuliani, who’s leading the Trump campaign’s post-election legal challenges, testified via zoom before the committee. Giuliani describes Philadelphia as a “crooked Democratic machine,” and alleged fraud in Georgia as well. State Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, clashed with Giuliani, with the two speaking over each other several times.

“Obviously, you have no interest in the truth. All you have an interest in is lecturing me,” Giuliani responds.

“I have no interest in more and more lies from you,” Merideth says. “I am tired of your lies. America is tired of your lies, and they are dangerous, sir. They are dangerous.”

“You are very dangerous, because you’re covering up a massive election fraud,” Giuliani responds.

The two continued to speak over each other, until committee chairman Robert Ross, R-Yukon, hit the gavel multiple times.

Veteran State Rep. Jon Carpenter, D-Gladstone, voted against Hill’s resolution. Carpenter and Hill note they are friends, despite being from different parties.

“We’ve just had a national election and what the current President of the United States and what a number of his supporters, including yourself, are doing is incredible divisive. I think it undermines faith in our democracy,” says Carpenter.

Giuliani and Carpenter also clashed during the hearing, saying the other has demeaned themselves.

Hill’s resolution alleges that 50,000 votes held on USB cards are missing in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. It also says that 86,000 Pennsylvania absentee ballots are questionable.

66 Missouri GOP state representatives signed Hill’s resolution. They include House Majority Floor Leader Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, who will be Speaker in January.

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, participated in the hearing. While she’s not on the oversight committee, she is an ex-officio member of all House committees.

“The only evidence of fraud at tonight’s hearing was the litany of lies and debunked conspiracies House Republicans put forth in their dishonest attempt to steal the presidential election for Donald Trump,” Quade says, in a written statement.

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (R) also testified at the hearing, for informational purposes. Republican and Democratic members on the committee requested that he appear, to answer questions about Missouri’s November election. Ashcroft answered about 20 minutes of questions from the committee.

Missouri lawmakers to hear testimony Monday on 2020 presidential election resolution (AUDIO)

December 14, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

A Missouri House committee will hear testimony Monday evening in Jefferson City on a proposed House resolution that declares that the House has no faith in presidential election results from six key states.

State Rep. Justin Hill, R-Lake St. Louis, speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on November 10, 2020 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

State Rep. Justin Hill, R-Lake St. Louis, filed the resolution, which names Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. Hill represents St. Charles County in the Legislature.

“Many of my constituents through all forms of media reached out to me, asking me to do something. And it’s not just me, it’s all representatives throughout the state,” Hill says.

66 GOP state representatives have signed Hill’s resolution. They include House Majority Floor Leader Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, who will be Speaker in January. Outgoing Missouri House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, and Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann, R-O’Fallon, did not sign the resolution.

State Rep. Rasheen Aldridge, D-St. Louis, is critical of Hill’s resolution, saying President Trump lost the election. Aldridge describes Hill’s resolution as meaningless, and says it “will do nothing of substance.” In a statement, Aldridge says Missourians want lawmakers to come together to work on issues like COVID.

The resolution says that if a full and fair investigation isn’t done, Congress should refuse to accept the electoral votes from those six states.

“We’re seeing in key states where we have razor-thin margins, lots of evidence of fraud, and most of it is not being investigated. So, we as a state have to make a statement,” says Hill.

Hill’s three-page resolution alleges that 50,000 votes held on USB cards are missing in one Pennsylvania county, and that more than 20,000 nonresidents cast ballots in Georgia. It also says that absentee ballot and mail-in ballot laws passed in the six states were likely ignored and violated.

“Future elections are at stake,” Hill says. “If we don’t do anything now, even though we’re Missouri and we did it right, if we don’t do anything now, if we don’t file our grievances, then we have no argument later.”

The House Special Committee on Government Oversight will hold Monday’s hearing at 5 p.m.

The oversight committee’s ranking Democrat, State Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, wants Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt (R) to appear before the committee on Monday, regarding his decision to join the Texas federal litigation.

The U-S Supreme Court on Friday rejected the Texas lawsuit. The “New York Times” reports the lawsuit sought to bar Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin from casting their electoral votes for former Vice President Joe Biden (D).

Representative Merideth says Schmitt’s recent decision is directly relevant to the resolution that will be heard on Monday.

“To be clear, you did not simply join in the Texas federal litigation. You led a group of 17 attorneys general in backing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s baseless legal theories,” Merideth writes, in part.

Merideth also says there is no evidence of alleged widespread election fraud.

If the oversight committee approves Hill’s symbolic resolution, it would then head to the Missouri House floor for debate this month.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s interview with State Rep. Justin Hill, R-Lake St. Louis, which was recorded on December 10, 2020:

$1.2 billion supplemental budget heading to Missouri Senate floor on Tuesday

November 30, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

The Missouri Senate is expected to vote on the proposed $1.27 billion supplemental budget Tuesday in Jefferson City.

Missouri House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, speaks at the Capitol in Jefferson City on May 7, 2020, as Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Dan Hegeman, R-Cosby, (right) listens (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The Senate Appropriations Committee will hold a Tuesday afternoon hearing at 1 in the Senate chamber, and committee chairman Dan Hegeman, R-Cosby, will outline the bills at that time.

The full Senate will convene Tuesday at 4 p.m. Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, tells Missourinet the plan is for the Senate to vote on the supplemental on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Missouri House approved the supplemental budget earlier this month, on a bipartisan 133-4 vote.

The money will provide additional resources to respond to COVID. The supplemental budget includes funding for school nutrition programs, job training grants, and it also includes $1 million for witness protection funding.

State Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, is urging the Senate to add funding for daycares across the state, warning that many of them are suffering financially.

If the Senate approves the budget as is, it would go straight to the governor’s desk. If any changes are made, the budget would go to a conference committee.

UPDATE: Missouri House gives initial approval to $1.2 billion supplemental budget

November 10, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

The Missouri House voted Tuesday to give preliminary approval to a proposed $1.27 billion supplemental budget, a supplemental that is the reason for the special session.

Missouri House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, (right) talks with House Budget Committee Chair Cody Smith, R-Carthage, and Majority Leader Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, on
May 7, 2020 in Jefferson City (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The supplemental budget includes funding for school nutrition programs, job training grants, $1 million for witness protection funding and money for child support payments.

Governor Mike Parson (R) called the special session, saying there is still CARES Act funding that needs to be distributed to Missourians.

One key part of Tuesday’s debate involved funding for the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for food.

State Rep. Justin Hill, R-Lake St. Louis, tells Missouri House colleagues that the money would be better spent on other things, saying some Missouri school districts have become “glorified lunchrooms.”

Representative Hill is specifically critical of the school district in eastern Missouri’s Wentzville, telling colleagues on the House floor that leaders there have failed. State Rep. Bryan Spencer, R-Wentzville, expresses similar concerns. Both Hill and Spencer note they have heard from many Wentzville parents.

State Rep. Raychel Proudie, D-Ferguson, responded by saying there shouldn’t be a child in the state who is hungry.

State Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, spoke on the House floor this morning about day cares across the state, warning that many of them are suffering financially. He says it’s a major issue across the state and must be addressed.

Missouri’s governor signs witness protection and St. Louis Police residency bills into law

September 22, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

(Reporter Ty Albright from Missourinet Joplin affiliate KZRG contributed to this story)

Missouri’s governor says two bills he signed into law on Monday will make communities safer. The two bills were critical components of the governor’s recent special session on violent crime.

State Rep. Ron Hicks, R-Dardenne Prairie, speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on August 24, 2020 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Governor Mike Parson (R) signed bipartisan witness protection legislation into law. The bill creates a pretrial witness protection fund where law enforcement agencies can provide resources for the security of victims, witnesses and their immediate families.

“Over the last several months, several years, we’ve seen that major crime, those homicides keep going up and up and up in the state of Missouri,” Parson tells reporters in southwest Missouri’s Carthage.

State Rep. Jonathan Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit, sponsored the witness protection bill. It was approved by the Missouri Senate 29-0, and the House approved it by a 147-3 vote.

The Patterson bill does not include funding. Missouri House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, told lawmakers in August that if they approve the Patterson bill, Governor Parson will likely call another special session to fund the program.

State Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, issued a statement on Monday, focusing on the funding issue. Merideth says Governor Parson “is more interested in photo-ops than doing the critical work to tackle the causes of crime.”

“Instead of actually taking action to keep communities safe, the Governor is signing a law that is completely unfunded – and as a result it will do little to reduce crime. The Governor should have ensured the program was funded during the special session,” Representative Merideth’s statement reads, in part.

Governor Parson also signed legislation into law on Monday that eliminates the residency requirement for St. Louis police officers, firefighters and EMS personnel.

St. Louis Police Chief John Hayden traveled to Jefferson City several times during the special session to testify for the bill, saying his department desperately needs more officers due to the surge in violence. St. Louis has had 198 homicides in 2020. The city had 194 in all of 2019. The “St. Louis Post-Dispatch” reported Sunday that St. Louis is on pace to have 240 homicides this year, the highest in 25 years.

Governor Parson says the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is currently short by more than 140 officers, and that House Bill 46 can help fill that gap.

State Rep. Ron Hicks, R-Dardenne Prairie, sponsored the bill, which was backed by the Missouri Police Chiefs Association and the St. Louis Police Officers Association.

Bill opponents say St. Louis residents feel safer with police officers living in their neighborhoods. Opponents also note that Representative Hicks is from St. Charles County.

The Missouri Senate approved the Hicks bill on a 25-5 vote, and the House approved it 117-35. Governor Parson plans a ceremonial signing of the Hicks bill on Wednesday afternoon in St. Louis.

“We have a serious problem with violent crime here in Missouri, and we have seen it escalate even more in recent months,” Governor Parson says. “HB 66 and HB 46 are valuable tools that will build on our efforts to combat violent crime, support law enforcement officers and make our communities safer.”

Kansas City has recorded 144 homicides in 2020, compared to 113 at this time last year.

Missouri House committee studying local taxation to hold final hearing Wednesday

November 19, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A Missouri House interim committee that is studying local tax rates and issues will hold its final hearing on Wednesday in Jefferson City, to discuss recommendations to the full House.

State Rep. Peter Meredith, D-St. Louis, (right) and other members of the Missouri House Special Interim Committee on Oversight of Local Taxation listen to testimony on October 7, 2019 in Jefferson City (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The House Special Interim Committee on Oversight of Local Taxation meets Wednesday morning at 11 at the Statehouse. The committee, which is chaired by State Rep. J. Eggleston, R-Maysville, will review testimony from prior hearings and will discuss possible legislative action on issues such as property taxes and an internet use tax.

Chairman Eggleston is also the House Assistant Majority Floor Leader.

State Rep. Phil Christofanelli, R-St. Peters, a committee member, says sales tax disproportionately impacts those with lower incomes. He has noted there are sales tax rates of 11.5 percent in the Kansas City area, and ten to 11 percent in the St. Louis region.

Missouri has more than 2,200 taxing districts, and more than 1,400 of those are known as special taxing districts.

Missouri lawmakers approve $29 billion budget; tuition for undocumented immigrants was key issue

May 10, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

The Missouri Legislature has approved an approximately $29.7 billion state operating budget, one that prevents undocumented immigrants from receiving in-state college tuition.

Missouri House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage (left) and House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, talk on May 9, 2019 in Jefferson City (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The state Constitution requires Missouri lawmakers to approve a balanced budget by today. The House approved the budget at about 11:15 Thursday evening, and the Senate approved it at about 1:45 this morning.

House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, led Thursday’s House effort to reject a budget conference committee’s recommendation that would have allowed those with unlawful immigration status to receive in-state tuition.

“And the House position is that we are going to reserve our limited resources and taxpayer dollars to subsidize in-state tuition for those with legal, lawful status,” Smith says.

State Rep. Curtis Trent, R-Springfield, who serves on the Budget Committee, also successfully urged his House colleagues to reject the budget conference committee’s recommendation.

“I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that if we allow this language to stand, people primarily in rural areas will be most injured by this, who will be most denied the opportunities that this state subsidy for education provides,” says Trent.

Missouri House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, speaks on the House floor on May 9, 2019 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Trent says his southwest Missouri constituents oppose providing in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants. State Rep. Dean Dohrman, R-La Monte, agrees with Trent, citing his constituents in Johnson, Pettis and Saline counties.

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, criticized Thursday’s House vote on the undocumented immigrants, noting the House hasn’t rejected a conference committee recommendation since 2009.

State Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, is also critical, saying the conference committee had compromised on the issue.

As for the overall budget, Senate Democratic Leader Gina Walsh, D-Bellefontaine Neighbors, says it fully funds the school foundation formula and increases school transportation funding.

“At the start of the 2019 legislative session (in January), the Senate Democratic Caucus called for fully funding the school foundation formula, increasing school transportation dollars, strengthening our workforce through Higher Education and job training, and making sure our mental health safety net is there for anyone in crisis. Today, Senate Democrats passed a bipartisan, balanced budget that achieves all of these goals and more,” Senator Walsh’s statement reads, in part.

The budget also includes a three percent pay increase for state employees, along with an $8 million retention pay plan aimed at wage increases for state Department of Corrections (DOC) staff.

The budget also includes the closing of the maximum-security Crossroads Correctional Center in northwest Missouri’s Cameron. House Budget Committee ranking Democrat Kip Kendrick, D-Columbia, supports the plan.

“Which I know is important to a lot of people in this building (Missouri Capitol), the consolidation of the two correctional facilities on the western side of the state,” Kendrick says.

Kendrick backs Governor Mike Parson’s (R) plan to consolidate Crossroads with Western Missouri Correctional Center, which is also located in Cameron.

Governor Parson says the estimated $20 million savings from closing Crossroads will give DOC employees a one percent pay raise for two years of continued service.

Parson outlined the corrections plan in January, at a Statehouse press conference with DOC Director Anne Precythe.

Precythe noted in January that Western Missouri Correctional Center has 1,900 beds, about 800 more than Crossroads. She also says there’s more programming available there and more space, which gives prisoners the opportunity to participate in more activities and keep them busy, which she says makes it a safer environment.

Missouri lawmakers will return to Jefferson City on Monday. The 2019 session ends on May 17.

Both sides on sexual orientation bill pack Missouri Capitol hearing room to testify

May 9, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

Legislation adding sexual orientation and gender identity to Missouri’s Human Rights statute was heard Wednesday afternoon by a House committee in Jefferson City. The House General Laws Committee heard about 90 minutes of testimony, before a standing-room only audience.

State Reps. Greg Razer, D-Kansas City, (at right) and Tom Hannegan, R-St. Charles, testify before the Missouri House General Laws Committee on May 8, 2019 in Jefferson City (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

State Rep. Greg Razer, D-Kansas City, who is gay, is the bill sponsor. Razer testifies it is not illegal in Missouri or nationally to fire someone for being LGBT.

“It is perfectly fine (under current law) to fire someone from their job, evict them from their home or deny them service say, at a restaurant, simply because you know they are or think they might be LGBT,” Razer says.

Razer says people can lose their homes and their jobs because they are gay or lesbian.

He emphasizes the bill is not special treatment for LGBT people, adding this is the 21st straight year the bill has been filed.

Razer and State Rep. Tom Hannegan, R-St. Charles, have filed the same bill. Hannegan, who is also gay, testifies this is about constitutional rights and about people being equal.

Razer’s House Bill 208 would prohibit discrimination based upon a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

Several religious organizations testified against the bill on Wednesday.

Grandview-based Desert Stream Ministries community outreach coordinator Amanda Smith testified against the bill, saying she identified as a lesbian 12 years ago and dated women. Smith is worried about what will happen next, if the bill passes.

State Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, who supports the bill, questioned Smith at the hearing.

“Do you think at that time in your life (12 years ago) while you were going through that period that it would have been okay for a landlord to deny you an apartment because they didn’t like that you identified as male?,” Merideth asked Smith.

“No,” Smith replied.

The Jefferson City-based Missouri Catholic Conference also testified against Razer’s legislation. Catholic Conference executive director Tyler McClay cites religious liberty concerns.

“The concern is regarding faith-based organizations that provide foster care and adoption care services in other states where this law has been passed, they have been shut out of government contracts,” McClay testifies.

The Missouri Baptist Convention also testified against the bill.

Missouri’s oldest business association also testified against the Razer-Hannegan legislation. Associated Industries of Missouri (AIM) President Ray McCarty testifies that creating a new cause of action for sexual orientation and gender identity is troublesome.

“According to the American Psychological Association, sexual orientation really involves your emotional attraction to another person, which is different than other types of protection,” says McCarty.

McCarty also says Missouri lawmakers should wait until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on three cases, cases he says could establish whether existing federal protection against sex discrimination applies to alleged discrimination because of sexual orientation and gender identity.

But Razer says the time to act is now, adding this is not a special law and that this is not a new law.

The St. Louis Regional Chamber and some other business representatives testified for the bill, saying it’s the right thing to do and will also improve the economy. A representative from Monsanto also testified for Razer’s bill.

The House General Laws Committee did not vote on the bill Wednesday, and is not expected to meet again until next week.

The 2019 legislative session ends on May 17. Razer says lawmakers can pass the bill before session ends.