JEFFERSON CITY – Governor Jay Nixon on Friday vetoed two bills passed by the General Assembly which he says moves the state backward on workers’ and civil rights.

In a news release, Gov. Nixon said House Bill 1219 on employment discrimination is nearly identical to a bill he vetoed last year.

Nixon said the earlier bill would have undermined the Missouri Human Rights Act, and said the current bill contains what he called “the same fundamental flaws.” (Read the Veto Letter here)

“Rather than making it easier to discriminate against people with disabilities or cancer, or against women, older workers and minorities, we need to keep our focus on the economic policies that are moving us forward, such as the Missouri Works initiative.

Gov. Nixon also spoke about his veto of the worker’s comp bill,  Senate Bill 572.

“We also should not take a step back in protecting workers who are afflicted with serious or deadly diseases, as a result of their workplaces,” Gov. Nixon said. “Unfortunately, this bill weakens the important workplace protections that are part of our laws and regulations.”

“This bill moves us backward on protecting Missouri’s productive workers.”  (Read that Veto Letter here)