Speaker gives Lincoln Day keynote address on right to work

Local Republicans had an opportunity to hear from their elected officials and two keynote speakers, Mark Mix and Stephen Yates, on Saturday night during the 48th annual Lincoln Day celebration at the Arena Building in Cape Girardeau, sponsored by the Cape County Republican Women's Club.

Mix, president of the National Right to Work Committee and the Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, said the intent of both organizations is to protect workers from the abuses of compulsory unionization.

Mix joined the legal defense foundation in 1999 and became president of the national committee in 2003.

State Rep. Donna Lichtenegger's introduction of Mix included a bit of insight into her involvement with right-to-work legislation.

"I've worked on right to work since 1978," she said, adding the first bill she filed as a state representative was a right-to-work bill.

Protesters against right-to-work legislation stand outside the Lincoln Day celebration Saturday at the Arena Building in Cape Girardeau.BEN MATTHEWS

"It's one of the main reasons I went to Jefferson City," said Lichtenegger of Jackson.

Missouri became the 28th right-to-work state in February after Gov. Eric Greitens signed the bill into law.

Before the event, approximately 30 protesters lined the Arena Building entryway, holding signs against right-to-work legislation and attacks on minimum wage.

Organizer Debbie Kitchen said the protest was not just about right-to-work legislation, but also prevailing-wage law and other attacks on the American worker, as she put it.

"Of course we know right to work has been signed into law by Gov. Greitens," Kitchen said. But, she said, a referendum has been passed, and a petition drive will begin shortly, to attempt to repeal right to work in Missouri.

The Lincoln Day celebration is held Saturday at Arena Building in Cape Girardeau.BEN MATTHEWS

Mark Baker, a business representative with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, or IBEW, Local 702, said they were protesting at the Lincoln Days celebration because Mix was invited to speak.

"I'm a union guy," Baker said, adding he believes right to work is an "ugly, unnecessary piece of legislation that strikes at the core of working families."

Former United States deputy national security adviser Stephen Yates provided the second keynote address.

Three awards were also presented.

The Meritorious Award, given to an individual who has demonstrated a duty to conservative values, was awarded to Glen Reeves.

Protestors picket against right-to-work legislation outside of the Lincoln Day celebration Saturday at the Arena Building in Cape Girardeau.BEN MATTHEWS

The Tough Tusk Award, given in recognition of a lifetime of achievement for the conservative Republican cause, was awarded to Gary Rust, chairman of the board of Rust Communications, which owns the Southeast Missourian.

The Bill Emerson Award was given to Scott Clark.

State Rep. Kathy Swan of Cape Girardeau read a resolution honoring the 24 years of service to the state of Missouri by former lieutenant governor Peter Kinder, a Cape Girardeau native, and congratulating him on his retirement.

The event's 50-50 drawing and silent auction drew participation from attendees, of which there were about 150.

mniederkorn@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

410 Kiwanis Drive, Cape Girardeau, Mo.