In his quest to outlaw naked breasts in Missouri, Republican state Sen. Matt Bartle characterized strip-club employees as women forced into prostitution and drug addiction against their will. If he reads this week's feature story, "Exit Boobies," he might be surprised to learn that one of those employees is his own flesh and blood, and that she's not happy about his attempts to put her out of work.
Sally -- who requested we not use her real name -- has been tending bar at a metro club for almost
one year. When she heard about Bartle's bill, she penned this letter to
Gov. Jay Nixon pleading for a veto. We've presented it here with the
name of her employer removed to protect her identity.
Dear Sir,
Iam a distant relative of Matt Bartle, currently bartending at [a club]
in Kansas City, one of the Gentleman's Clubs that will be shut down
come August 28th. The reason I am writing to you is to ask that you
please veto this bill. Many of the women I work with are struggling single moms, trying to make ends meet. I myself am a broke college student saving up to complete my Bachelor's degree. Shutting these clubs down will put me and five thousand other Missouri citizens out of a job, at a time when jobs and money are already hard to come by.
The gentleman's clubs in the Kansas City area alone generate one million dollars in tax revenue every year for the state of Missouri. By eliminating these we will lose funding for fixing our roads and other important projects. It will also take away profitable business for our liquor vendors in this already struggling economy. We already do not have enough funding to keep our State Liquor Control office in Kansas City open before cutting off these much needed funds come August 28.
I understand that some people may have religious obligations to these kinds of businesses, but does that give the government the right to say they they are not allowed? We have freedom of religion and speech, but yet are going to force businesses that don't go along with some people's particular religious views to shut down? This is unconstitutional and wrong, going against the rights and freedoms our founding fathers fought and died for.
To conclude, I hope I have shown you how it is in our best interest to veto this bill. As a relative of Senator Bartle, I will be losing my job along with thousands of other Missourians come August, not to mention the other businesses that will be affected including limousine and cab services, liquor control, upholstry, carpet cleaners, and plumbers, just to name a few.
As the Governor of Missouri, the decision is now in your hands. Please choose wisely.
In order to avoid distress among my family, I am choosing to remain anonymous.
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