The Time is Now
The people of Missouri have the opportunity to have their voices heard and play a part in the making of herstory to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). As of today, Missouri presents an opportunity for supporters and advocates of the ERA to be the last state needed to ratify the Amendment, whether it be through connecting with their state legislators, participating in demonstrations, or raising awareness through social media.
The last time the Missouri House of Representatives passed the ERA was on February 7, 1975, but it was not passed by the Missouri Senate.
Current legislative session began on January 9, 2019
Two ERA bills have been introduced in the current session:
SCR7 in the Missouri Senate, introduced by Senator Jill Schupp (D-Creve Coeur) on January 16, 2019. The bill was read a second time on January 17, 2019 and was referred to the Senate Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee.
HCR12 in the Missouri House, introduced by Rep. Judy Morgan (D-Kansas City) on January 10, 2019, read a second time in the House on January 14, 2019 but was not assigned to a committee.
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Historical Context of the ERA in Missouri
The Missouri ERA Coalition was founded in 1969 and was committed to supporting the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Some of the organizations comprising the Coalition included the League of Women Voters, the Missouri Federation of Business and Professional Women, the Missouri Chapter of the Women’s Political Caucus, the National Organization for Women, and the St. Louis Chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women.
In 1973, then-Governor of Missouri Kit Bond not only supported the ERA but also helped initiate a ratification campaign in the Show-Me State. That year a subcommittee in the Missouri House of Representatives, led by DeVerne Calloway, held hearings on sex discrimination, but the Missouri Senate Judiciary Committee voted against sending ERA ratification for a vote in the full Senate. That same year, Representative Sue Shear introduced a bill ratifying the ERA in the Missouri House of Representatives. Two years later in 1975, the Missouri House of Representatives voted to ratify the Amendment by a margin of 82 to 75 in favor. Reverend John Percley of the Baptist Bible College of Springfield, MO led hundreds of demonstrators, many of whom were students to the state capitol to oppose the ERA. Proponents of the Amendment had enlisted the help of First Lady Betty Ford, who called two lawmakers to secure their support for the ERA. Although the ERA passed the House, the Amendment was defeated in the Senate that year. From then on, every time a measure ratifying the ERA came to the Missouri Senate, it was defeated.
Phyllis Schlafly’s STOP ERA organization was influential in Missouri throughout the 1970s.
Schlafly was born and grew up in St. Louis, and was a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis before founding STOP ERA. Schlafly would later attain a law degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1978. STOP ERA became the leading organization opposing the ERA nationwide. Schlafly told the New York Times that her organization was particularly strong in eight states, Missouri among them. STOP ERA activists in Missouri participated in the “Bread Project”, in which loaves of bread were given to legislators to glorify the traditional role of a woman as a homemaker. Senator Mary Gant, a Democrat who was the first woman elected to the Missouri Senate, was a leading opponent of the bill in the State Senate. Senator John Schneider, also a Democrat, opposed the bill as well.
The largest campaign for the ERA occurred in 1977. The Coalition engaged in a wide variety of lobbying activities. The Coalition worked with labor unions and groups such as the Teamsters Joint Council 13, the Communications Workers of America, the UAW, and the Missouri State Labor Council to help with fundraising, lobbying, and raising awareness of the Amendment. The Coalition’s Show Me Equality Caravan visited every county in Missouri to advocate for the ERA through holding public meetings and distributing educational materials. On February 2, 1977, ERA proponents and detractors
testified before the Missouri Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments. ERA supporters included Democratic Missouri Senator Harriett Woods, Republican Missouri Representative Jack Buechner, and University of Missouri School of Law professor Joan M. Krauskopf. Senators Gant and Schneider opposed the Amendment, and the Senate rejected the ERA on March 15, 1977, voting 22 to 12 against ratification.
In 1980, sponsors of the ERA removed it from the legislative calendar because there were not enough sponsors in the legislature. Two years later, the ERA did not attain a majority vote within the Missouri Senate Constitutional Amendments Committee, preventing it from getting to the full Senate for a vote. Senator Harriett Woods stated “a body dominated by men should not deny a vote on this issue, which is so significant to both men and women.” The Missouri ERA Coalition disbanded in June of 1982. Representative Shear, still serving in the legislature, would remain one of the strongest supporters of the ERA in the Missouri House until her death in 1998.
Recent Events Regarding the ERA in Missouri
Between 1999 and 2017, Missouri lawmakers have introduced an ERA ratification bill in every legislative session. In 1999, Representative Deleta Williams (D-Warrensburg), sponsored HJR 35, proposing a Constitutional Amendment to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
A year later in 2000, legislators in both the Missouri House of Representatives and the Senate sponsored measures to ratify the ERA. Representative Williams and Senator Mary Groves Bland (D- Kansas City) sponsored HJR 42 and SJR 43, respectively. Ratification of the Amendment was supported by many Democratic politicians and leaders such as then-Governor Mel Carnahan, as well as organizations including the League of Women Voters, the Missouri Human Rights Commission, AFL- CIO, Missouri NOW, and the American Association of University Women. Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R- Harrisonville) led the opposition to the bill, describing the ERA as a “moot issue” and stating “I think we have reached a valuable position in society,” and “My message would be for women and girls to get an education and to take advantage of all the opportunities we have today.” Following referral to the Critical Issues Committee on January 6 and the completion of a public hearing on January 24, the Committee voted “do pass”, in favor of the bill. On May 5, 2000, Representative Bonner made a privileged motion to lay HJR 42 on the table, a motion approved by the full Missouri House with 84 to 57 Representatives voting in favor of tabling.
In 2001, Representative Williams and Senator Groves Bland sponsored ERA ratification bills HCR 4, SCR 7, and SJR 7 in the House and Senate respectively. After a public hearing and a “do pass” approval vote by the Critical Issues, Consumer Protection, and Housing Committee, HCR 4 was defeated in the Missouri House with 94 to 57 voting against the bill on April 11, 2001.
In 2002, Williams and Senator Groves Bland introduced HJR 25 and SJR 28 ratifying the ERA in the House and Senate respectively. HJR 25 was approved again by the Critical Issues, Consumer Protection, and Housing Committee on April 25, 2002, but no further actions occurred.
In 2003, Representative Vicky Riback Wilson (D-Columbia) and Senator Groves Bland sponsored ERA ratification bills HJR 10 and SJR 1 in the House and Senate respectively. HJR10 was referred to the Judiciary Committee on February 6, 2003, but no further actions occurred.
In 2004, Representative Wilson and Senator Groves Bland sponsored HJR 30, HCR 33, and SJR35 ratifying the ERA in the House and Senate respectively. HJR 30 was referred to the Judiciary Committee on February 26, 2004, but no further actions occurred. HCR 33 was referred to the Judiciary Committee on April 8, 2004, but no further actions occurred.
In 2005, Representative Barbara Fraser (D-University City) sponsored HCR 30 ratifying the ERA in the House. The bill was referred to the Children and Families Committee on April 11, 2005, but no further actions occurred.
In 2006, Representative Fraser and Senator Joan Bray (D-University City) sponsored HCR 28 and SCR 33 in the House and Senate respectively ratifying the Amendment. SCR 33 was referred to the Senate Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions & Ethics Committee on March 14, 2006, but no further actions occurred. HCR 28 was referred to the Children and Families Committee and the Special Standing Committee on General Laws on April 10, 2006, but no further actions occurred.
In 2007, Representative Mike Talboy (D-Kansas City) and Senator Bray sponsored HCR 37 and SCR 7 in the House and Senate respectively. HCR 37 was referred to the Special Committee on General Laws on May 18, 2007, but no further actions occurred. A hearing was conducted in the Senate Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions & Ethics Committee on February 7, 2007 with regards to SCR 7, but no further actions occurred.
In 2008, Representative Talboy, Senator Jolie Justus (D-Kansas City), and Senator Bray sponsored HCR 14, SCR 28, and SCR 30 in the House and Senate respectively. HCR 14 was referred to the Special Committee on General Laws on February 14, 2008, but no further actions occurred. SCR 30 was referred to the Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions & Ethics Committee on February 7, 2008, but no further actions occurred. A hearing was conducted by the Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions & Ethics Committee on February 13, 2008 with respect to SCR 28, but no further actions occurred.
In 2009, Representative Talboy, Senator Justus, and Senator Bray sponsored HCR 21, SCR 3, and SCR 12 in the House and Senate respectively, bills either ratifying the ERA or urging Congress to ratify the ERA. HCR 21 was referred to the Real ID and Personal Privacy Committee on May 15, 2009, but no further actions occurred. SCR 12 was referred to the Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions & Ethics Committee on January 26, 2009, but no further actions occurred. A hearing was conducted by the Senate Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions & Ethics Committee on February 3, 2009 with respect to SCR 3, but no further actions occurred.
In 2010, Representative Talboy and Senator Justus sponsored HCR 54 and SCR 40 in the House and Senate respectively ratifying the ERA. HCR 54 was referred to the House Elections Committee on May 14, 2010 but no further actions occurred. SCR 40 was referred to the Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions & Ethics Committee on January 25, 2010 but no further actions occurred.
In 2011, Representative Margo McNeil (D-Hazelwood) and Senator Justus sponsored HCR 40 and SCR 5 in the House and Senate respectively ratifying the ERA. HCR 40 was referred to the Judiciary Committee on April 12, 2011, but no further actions occurred. SCR 5 was referred to the Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee on January 26, 2011, but no further actions occurred.
In 2012, Representative McNeil and Senator Justus sponsored HCR 40 and SCR 22 in the House and Senate respectively, both ratifying or urging ratification of the ERA. HCR 40 was referred the General Laws Committee on March 22, 2012, but no further actions occurred. SCR 22 was referred to the Senate Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee on February 16, 2012, but no further actions occurred.
In 2013, Senator Justus sponsored SCR 6, an ERA ratification bill. A hearing on the legislation scheduled for February 5, 2013 was canceled. That same year on March 28, Representative Judy Morgan (D-Kansas City) also introduced a resolution, HCR 36 ratifying the Amendment. HCR 36 was read a second time on April 2, 2013, and was referred to the Missouri House General Laws Committee. Both bills died in committee.
In 2014, Representative Morgan and Senator Justus sponsored HCR 39 and SCR 30, bills establishing ratification or relating to the ratification of the ERA, in the House and Senate respectively. HCR 39 was referred to the Judiciary Committee on May 16, 2014, but no further actions occurred.
SCR 30 was referred to the Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee on January 30, 2014, but no further actions occurred.
In 2015, Representative Morgan and Senator Jill Schupp (D-Creve Coeur) sponsored HCR 33 and SCR 16 in the House and Senate respectively ratifying the ERA. HCR 33 was referred to the
Government Oversight and Accountability Committee on May 15, 2015 but no further actions occurred. SCR 16 was referred to the Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee on February 10, 2015, but no further actions occurred.
In 2016, Representative Morgan and Senator Schupp sponsored HCR 82 and SCR 57, pro-ERA ratification bills in the House and Senate respectively. HCR 82 was referred to the Government Oversight and Accountability Committee on May 13, 2016, but no further actions occurred. SCR 57 was referred to the Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee on January 21, 2016, but no further actions occurred.
A year later, on March 1, 2017, Senator Schupp introduced SCR 22, a bill ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment. The bill was read a second time on March 2, and referred to the Senate Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee. The measure did not progress further and, as the Missouri General Assembly adjourned on May 12, 2017, the bill died in committee. That same year, Representative Morgan sponsored HCR 23, ratifying the ERA. The bill was introduced and read for the first time on February 1, 2017, and then read for a second time the following day on February 2, 2017. HCR 23 was referred to the Select Committee on Local, State, Federal Relations and Miscellaneous Business on May 12, 2017, but no further actions occurred.
Please call your State Senators and Representatives and encourage them to support the ratification of the ERA in Missouri.
Be sure to stay informed on news and events regarding the progress of the ERA through the Equal Means Equal website at www.equalmeansequal.org.