Immediate Action Requested: Oppose Proposed Missouri Anti-Business, Anti-DEI Language

The Missouri House of Representatives has added to all budget bills language that will ban state spending on staff, vendors, consultants, and programs associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Business leaders believe this is tantamount to displaying a sign that Missouri is “closed for business” and will impede our ability to attract new workforce members and economic development. It’s critical that our Missouri legislators hear directly from Kansas City businesses how this language overreaches into the efforts of private enterprise. Please call or email your Missouri Senate member today and request them to remove the House budget amendments that prohibit the state from expending funds on any vendors associated with DEI.
 
Key Message Points:

• This overly broad language will serve as a mandate on private businesses by prohibiting DEI policies in workplaces that want to do business with the state or institutions that are part of the state. If enacted, this language will jeopardize state economic and workforce initiatives and have negative consequences related to state contracts, hiring, and employment standards.
• These amendments threaten countless existing state contracts that provide vital services for Missourians, potentially grinding our economy to a halt.
• This is government overreach and business should be allowed to set their own workplace policies.
• There is a business case for DEI programs in terms of employee engagement and company financial performance. The language that was put on the budget could actually increase the cost of doing business by increasing business liability insurance rates and risk.
• We believe the Legislature should let business decide their own workplace policies and remove this language from the budget bills.
• The national perception of intolerance that is certain to follow these amendments will impede the state’s ability to attract much needed workforce (over 80,000 current job vacancies in the KC area) and new business development.

Please send a message to your Senator saying you and your company oppose this anti-DEI language!

The KC Chamber encourages our members to voice their opposition of this anti-business, anti-DEI language. Click here to find your state senator and let him or her know you oppose this proposed language. Please copy Senate President Caleb Rowden on your message at caleb.rowden@senate.mo.gov