Right-to-work and tort reform legislation are priorities for both the MO Legislature and NFIB/MO.
The 2017 Missouri legislative session began on Jan. 4, 2017, and with it came good news for small business owners. Two of NFIB/MO’s top priorities—right-to-work and tort reform— are also at the top of the agenda for the Legislature.
Speaker Todd Richardson’s addressed both issues in his speeches before both chambers at the Missouri Capital:
On right-to-work: “Tomorrow, on the first day allowed, I will refer right-to-work to committee, and I would ask the chairwoman of the economic development committee to get that legislation to the floor as soon as possible. To build a more stable foundation, to grow jobs, to increase wages, we will put right-to-work legislation on the governor’s desk, and he will sign it. The voters have spoken, our majorities campaigned on it, and the governor’s race was fought over it. Missouri should and will soon be a right-to-work state.”
At this writing, right-to-work was scheduled to be heard in both the House and Senate committees on Economic Development during the week of Jan. 9.
On tort reform: “We must also ensure our court system is fair to all litigants. Unfortunately, St. Louis was just rated the worst judicial jurisdiction in the country. This is not a place where we want to be ranked number one. Let’s not just pick on St. Louis. Our state’s policies have helped make it a national magnet for massive litigation. Early in session it is my intention to get major pieces of tort reform to the floor and over to the Senate for consideration. Our court system needs to be fair to both plaintiffs and defendants. We must make Missouri a place where fear of needless litigation is not a disincentive to job creation.”
Brad Jones, NFIB/MO state director, is optimistic that both important-to-business issues will become a reality in 2017.
