From the Service Employees International Union (hat tip to Yellow Dog at They gave us a republic…):
Meanwhile, thanks to republican right wingnuts in the Missouri General Assembly:
FIRST REGULAR SESSION
95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE CUNNINGHAM.
0987l.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
JOINT RESOLUTION
Submitting to the qualified voters of Missouri an amendment repealing section 25 of article I of the Constitution of Missouri, and adopting one new section in lieu thereof relating to guaranteeing the right to vote by secret ballot.
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring therein:
That at the next general election to be held in the state of Missouri, on Tuesday next following the first Monday in November, 2010, or at a special election to be called by the governor for that purpose, there is hereby submitted to the qualified voters of this state, for adoption or rejection, the following amendment to article I of the Constitution of the state of Missouri:
Section A. Section 25, article I, Constitution of Missouri, is repealed and one new section adopted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 25, to read as follows:
Section 25. That all elections shall be free and open; and no power, civil or military, shall at any time interfere to prevent the free exercise of the right of suffrage; and that the right of individuals to vote by secret ballot is fundamental and thus, where state or federal law requires elections for public office or public votes on initiatives or referenda, or designations or authorizations of employee representation, the right of individuals to vote by secret ballot shall be guaranteed.
[emphasis in original]
Hmmm. A secret ballot for public votes for public office, or public initiatives or referenda. Quite unlike those previous instances, how is an authorization vote which will determine a part of the relationship between an employer (many which are privately held enterprises) and employees (private individuals) fodder for a constitutional amendment in the State of Missouri? Just asking.
Okay, the right to bargain collectively is in the Missouri Constitution. Is HJR31 a solution in search of a problem? I suppose it would be a problem for those who aren’t sympathetic to the concept of organized workers bargaining collectively. Just think of the probable downsizing of employee exploitation. The thought could make a robber baron shudder.
Here’s the current status of HJR31:
Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Activity History for HJR31
As of March 2, 2009, 7:07 pmDate Jrn Pg Activity Description
02/23/2009 H 371 Introduced and Read First Time (H)
02/24/2009 H 381 Read Second Time (H)
02/26/2009 H 417 Referred: Special Standing Committee on General Laws (H)
[emphasis added]
As I understand it, the governor cannot veto this if it passes.
Educate yourself about what the Employee Free Choice Act actually does. Go ahead, it’ll be good for you. Especially if you’re a working stiff and not a robber baron. That way you can then educate some squeamish members of Congress.