In what could be considered a bold experiment in selective democracy, Missouri Republican lawmakers have taken it upon themselves to reinterpret the word “vote” as something between a polite recommendation and unsolicited advice. This week, they advanced legislation that would allow employers to pay teenagers and certain workers with disabilities less than the minimum wage, which was increased by voter mandate in 2018. Apparently, “the will of the people” has a surprisingly flexible definition depending on which chamber of the Missouri Capitol you find yourself wandering into.
The bill in question aims to undercut Proposition B, a measure passed by more than 62 percent of Missourians that scheduled incremental raises to the minimum wage, eventually hitting $12 an hour in 2023. But that, lawmakers say, was a long time ago in political years and also inconvenient, which is arguably worse. The new proposal would let businesses pay 18- and 19-year-olds just $9.25 per hour, provided they work fewer than 90 days. Think of it as summer camp, except you get a paycheck that covers exactly one tank of gas and a small fries.
Supporters of the bill argue it would help teenagers enter the job market by making them cheaper to hire. Representative Ed Lewis, a Republican from Moberly, explained that teens do not yet have the skills to justify full minimum wage. No word yet on whether this sudden concern for youth development extends to increased funding for education, job training or, daringly, adult supervision.
Opponents say this is just another attempt to ignore the will of the voters, who were quite clear in 2018 that they preferred a higher minimum wage. But Missouri lawmakers have a rich tradition of interpreting ballot measures as more of a Choose Your Own Adventure book. This isn’t the first time they’ve tried to undo what the voters explicitly asked for and frankly it likely will not be the last unless the people of Missouri vote next time to raise the minimum wage and write it in stone tablets.
It should also be noted that this proposal includes exemptions for workers whose earnings rely primarily on tips, a group that has long been paid according to a mysterious equation involving the phases of the moon and the contents of the tip jar. Under Missouri law, the tipped minimum wage remains $6 per hour and yes, we are all expected to pretend this is fine.
As debate continues, Missouri Democrats argue that the bill is not protecting teenagers but rather giving businesses a discount on labor under the noble guise of youth empowerment. Republicans counter that it is about “workforce readiness,” although readiness, in this case, seems to mean “ready to earn less money while adults discuss your future.” Everyone’s worried about the economy, but mainly the part of the economy that allows them to pass laws without looking too much at exit polls.
The measure now heads to the Missouri Senate, where lawmakers will have a chance to keep chipping away at direct democracy like a sculptor working on a statue of their own reelection campaign.
Because in Missouri, the customer is always right until they vote for something politicians do not like.