For any student who’s ever held a job, the words “minimum wage” probably sound familiar. Obviously, most young workers start out earning this base salary. In Missouri, the minimum wage is $7.25 – identical to the mandated federal minimum wage.

However, last week the Missouri House of Representatives chose to pass House Bill 61, which would restrict Missouri’s minimum wage from exceeding the federal minimum wage. Presently, the House is also working to overturn Proposition B, which was passed last year to control dog breeding facilities.

What do both these legislative actions have in common? For starters, both House Bill 61 and the drive to overturn Proposition B are both in blatant contradiction to voter-approved propositions.

That’s right. In 2006, a strong majority, more than 70 percent, of voters in Missouri voted for the state’s minimum wage to move with inflation, even if it exceeded the federal minimum wage. Last November, Missouri voters also voted to make Proposition B law in our state.

So, why are legislators overturning Missouri voter-led initiatives? As a state, we need to stop putting money into ballot initiatives if our state representatives are just going to overturn them. They should be following voter intent and signing them into law.

Essentially, it’s profoundly undemocratic. Elected representatives have no place to directly overturn a proposition after taking it to the public for a vote. Low voter turnout is in part to blame. By allowing elected officials to disregard voter intent so blatantly, we are allowing them to de-legitimize the democracy of our state. Specifically, House Bill 61 doesn’t even affect Missouri representatives, since none of them make minimum wage.

Come election time for Missouri representatives, Missourians need to make it clear what voter intent is and that we do not appreciate representatives who disregard our democratic rights.