Two GOP Missouri lawmakers who played a key role in passing Proposition A legislation involving sick leave have been honored by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Voters approved Proposition A in November 2024, which increased the state’s minimum wage to $13.75 in January and will raise it to $15 an hour in 2026. Proposition A also expanded sick leave. The Chamber has honored veteran State Sen. Mike Bernskoetter (R-Jefferson City) and State Rep. Sherri Gallick (R-Belton) for passing legislation removing the sick leave provision. Chamber president Kara Corches:
“And Senator (Mike) Berskoetter and Representative (Sherri) Gallick just stood up for businesses and stood up for protecting our state’s economy, and that’s why we gave them this new award,” Corches says.
Senator Bernskoetter and Representative Gallick were presented with the Defender of Business award. Democratic critics of the legislation say voters spoke when Proposition A passed with more than 57 percent of the vote in November 2024.
Meantime, Missouri’s current House Majority Floor Leader has been presented with the Spirit of Enterprise award from the state’s largest business organization. State Rep. Alex Riley (R-Springfield), who is also the House Speaker-designee, was honored recently by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce in Springfield. Ms. Corches tells 939 the Eagle that Leader Riley has grown in his role in the Legislature:
“And the really cool thing for me to see with this award is Representative (Alex) Riley actually received our freshman legislator of the year award in 2022. And so to see his progress and his growth in leadership in the (Missouri) House is just tremendous,” she says.
The award is presented to a lawmaker who has helped advance pro-business legislation.