This week, Governor Kehoe signed SB 4, an omnibus utility bill that changes financing for utility companies. The bill adds more ways for utility companies to shift costs to consumers and increase utility bills. Empower Missouri denounces this change for these reasons: Consumers Council of Missouri estimates that SB 4 will raise utility bills by...Read More

Last month, Empower Missouri launched a new educational series on the American housing crisis.  In our March piece, we focused on sharing statistics on the decrease of new home builds across the country and the resulting impact on both renters and aspiring homeowners. Today, we’re going to look at some of the underlying factors that...Read More

Yesterday, Governor Kehoe signed HB 495, a criminal justice omnibus bill with a variety of provisions. The primary provision of the bill puts the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department under state control. Empower Missouri denounces this change of control for the following reasons:  There is simply no logical explanation for pursuing this change of control...Read More

Date: March 12, 2025 To: Chairman Don Mayhew and Members of the Corrections and Public Institutions Committee From: Mallory Rusch, Executive Director, Empower Missouri Re: Support for HB 617 and Restoring Voting Rights Empower Missouri has been committed for over 120 years to improving the quality of life for all Missouri residents through advocacy and...Read More

In this year’s State of the State address, our new Governor, Mike Kehoe urged legislators to pass a “comprehensive crime bill that includes increasing penalties for crimes like violent rioting and fleeing from law enforcement in a vehicle, cracking down on criminals who participate in reckless stunt driving and street racing, and efforts to increase...Read More

Date: February 25, 2025 To: Representative Stinnett and Members, House Committee on Health & Mental Health From: Mallory Rusch, Executive Director, Empower Missouri Re: Our support for HB 398 Empower Missouri is the largest and oldest anti-poverty non-profit in our state. We view the experience of poverty holistically, with impacts in all areas of an...Read More

Date: January 27, 2025 To: Chairman Schroer and Members, Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee From: Mallory Rusch, Executive Director, Empower Missouri Re: SB 19 As the largest and oldest anti-poverty advocacy agency in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality of life for all Missouri residents through advocacy. Since our...Read More

Date: January 22, 2025 To: Chairman Myers and Members of the House Committee on Crime and Public Safety From: Mallory Rusch, Executive Director, Empower Missouri Re: Our opposition to HB 495 On behalf of the staff, board, and statewide Criminal Justice Coalition convened by Empower Missouri, I am here today to oppose HB 495. I...Read More

Date: January 21, 2025 To: Chairman Black and Members, Senate Local Government, Elections and Pensions From: Mallory Rusch, Executive Director, Empower Missouri Re: Our support for SB 50 As the largest and oldest anti-poverty non-profit in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality of life for all Missouri residents through advocacy. Since...Read More

Today’s Weekly Perspective is a copy of a speech that I delivered earlier today at our Anti-Poverty Advocates Summit, Empower Missouri’s 123rd annual conference in Missouri. It has been lightly edited and is much longer than our typical blog posts.  One week ago, Americans elected former President Donald Trump to a second term in office....Read More