By Hannah Falcon
KMOV-TV (Gray Media), March 12, 2025
Missouri voted to raise the minimum wage and require paid sick leave, but now that could be overturned by the Missouri Supreme Court. Arguments were heard Wednesday morning in a lawsuit that claims Proposition A, passed in November, was unconstitutional. ... Several business groups brought this lawsuit forward ... But some small businesses stepped up to defend it. ...
Joe Chevalier, owner of Yellow Dog Bookshop in Columbia, is one of five small business owners who filed a brief to defend Proposition A. Chevalier said putting employees first makes a small business competitive.
“The shop has experienced low turnover over the years, which saves time and money that would otherwise have to be spent on hiring and training new people,” Chevalier said. “Small businesses like Yellow Dog depend on local customers with money to spend. When the minimum wage goes up, consumer spending goes up, and the ripple effects benefit businesses, communities and the economy.”