By Kurt Erickson
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Aug 2, 2018
JEFFERSON CITY • Missouri voters will get a chance to weigh in on legalizing medical marijuana, tightening government ethics laws and raising the minimum wage in November, after state officials approved five ballot initiatives Thursday. ... Also on the ballot will be a question on whether to raise Missouri's minimum wage to $12 by 2023. The current minimum wage is $7.85 an hour.
Supporters say phasing in the increase will give businesses adequate time to adjust to the higher costs.
Scott Sandler, owner of Pizza Head in St. Louis, is among those backing the effort.
“It’s important to look at wages as an investment instead of a cost. The return on investment includes lower employee turnover, which saves time and money in hiring, training and managing new employees. It includes better customer service and higher productivity. And it builds a stronger economy,” Sandler said. ...