Missouri Black Caucus Urges Governor to Veto Discrimination Bill

The Missouri Legislative Black Caucus has urged Gov. Jay Nixon to veto a workplace discrimination bill that recently gained legislative approval. In a letter to Nixon, the caucus said Senate Bill 188 would reverse important legal protections and roll back decades of progress on civil rights. The letter was signed by most caucus members.

Nixon’s office said it will closely review the bill.

Supporters say it aligns Missouri laws to federal civil rights laws and encourages job creation. The workplace discrimination bill was at the top of the “Fix the Six” initiative, a package of six legislative proposals backed by business interests.

SB 188 would create a higher legal standard for people who file lawsuits over being fired. Plaintiffs would have to prove that discrimination was a “motivating factor” in their firing. It also limits how much money could be collected.