Hours after visiting the site of a shuttered aluminum processing plant in New Madrid, Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens asked the more than 125 people attending a rally Saturday at the Black River Coliseum to join him in fighting to bring jobs back to that plant and to Southeast Missouri.
Community and business leaders from Poplar Bluff, as well as county officials and citizens from Butler, Carter and Ripley counties attended, many holding signs saying such things as: "Tell the Politicians: Get to Work," "Thank You" and "Fighting for Jobs!"
Many also signed a banner, which read: "We Don't Want Welfare -- We Want to Work -- Bring Back American Jobs."
The rally was held two days after Greitens called for a special session to revisit a blocked Senate bill, which would have allowed the Public Service Commission to negotiate with Ameren for lower electric rates at the shuttered Noranda facility at New Madrid. With the lower rates, the facility could reopen, as well as a new steel mill.
Prior to introducing Greitens, Rep. Donald Rone (R-Portageville) provided those attending with the background, which led to the special session set to begin at 4 p.m. Monday.
Rone said 980 jobs were lost at Noranda, including 480 in his 149th District.
Rone filed an amendment, which would have allowed Noranda to reopen, initially putting 251 people back to work at an annual salary of $95,000
By 2018, he said, about 200 more employees would be hired, some with an annual salary of $125,000.
Reopening the plant "can to happen pretty quick," he said. " ... If we can get all our ducks in a row in Jeff City, they can start repairing the old Noranda facility, and we'll be back in business in 120 days."
After receiving cheers and applause, Rone went on to say that a "caveat to that" involves a man from "across the water," who approached New Madrid officials about a steel mill.
The man, Rone said, loved the city's location as it is on Interstate 55 and within three miles of the Mississippi River port.
"He's got the highway; he's got the port, and he's got two railways going into the Noranda facility if he needs railroad," Rone said. " ... He's already found his raw material supplier in St. Louis."
This man, Rone said, is ready to invest between $80 and $100 million in building a steel mill, which will employee between 200 and 220 people. Salaries will be around $55,000.
"Out of the 980 jobs we lost; we're going to bring back 600," Rone said. "And, all we have to do is do the right thing in Jefferson City."
Rone said he attached his amendment to a Senate bill on May 3, eight days before the end of the session. The bill, he said, went "through the process" and passed the House by a vote of 148-2, which is "unheard of on a bill of that magnitude."
Then, Rone said, the "seven of us," who represent districts in Southeast Missouri districts, including Todd Richardson and Steve Cookson went to the Senate.
"It quickly became obvious it wasn't going to happen," said Rone.
As a "hail Mary," Rone said, he attached his amendment to Senate Bill 142.
"Then, we heard the Senate had adjourned 45 minutes early," Rone said. "We just knew it was not going to happen."
Later, as Rone sat at his desk feeling upset, he said, the governor came to talk to him, encouraging him to keep his head up as "we're going to get the jobs for the Bootheel."
Sometimes, Greitens said, elected officials "get up to the state Capitol, and they forget who sent them there, That's not true of guys like Don Rone.
"I can also tell you that's not true of the son of Southeast Missouri, Speaker of the House Todd Richardson, who always, always fights for the people who sent him there."
In Southeast Missouri, Greitens said, for too long there has been "too many situations, where too many people" have lost too many jobs, like in New Madrid.
During his stop there Saturday morning, Greitens said, hundreds came out.
"You know them; they're some of your friends, your neighbors," Greitens said. "This is the thing that sometimes politicians can forget.
"A job is more than a paycheck. It's also about a sense of dignity, about a sense of purpose, about waking up with a sense of meaning, about being able to provide for your family."
Greitens said it's also about having a strong community.
"For too long, too many politicians, too many insiders, just didn't pay attention to what was happening to American jobs," Greitens said. "It didn't effect their pay ... their pensions ... their privileges."
That time, Greitens said, is over.
"We've come back to fight for jobs," he said.
The current situation, he said, is "pretty straight forward. Right now, we have a company that wants to come to Southeast Missouri and make steel.
"And, their willing to bring hundreds of quality jobs."
Rone, he said, explained the situation perfectly.
"We had a couple of politicians, who for their own, personal political, petty reasons wanted to put that ahead of jobs for the people," Greitens said. "What they did is they ran out the clock."
They decided they wanted to "score political points rather than jobs ... wanted to stand in the way of jobs rather than standing up for you," Greitens said.
Those politicians, he said, "figured" they would run out the clock and then go home for vacation, while the people of Southeast Missouri had to "sit back and watch as these hundreds of jobs" go to another state.
Greitens said they "figured wrong" because ... they forgot about you.
"They forgot about fighters, like Don Rone," he said. "They forgot about people who were willing to stand up and fight for jobs ... their families ... community."
Greitens said he cancelled their vacations by calling the special session and "bringing them back to work, and they're going to do their jobs."
As a Navy SEAL, Greitens said, it was essential to understand the mission.
"Our mission here is real simple ... to bring hundreds of quality, good paying jobs to Southeast Missouri," said Greitens, who indicated SEALs also learn "when it comes to a big fight ... a big mission, you can't do it alone. ...You need a team."
Greitens asked those in attendance to join the team to as it fights for jobs and tell these politicians "'We are proud. We don't want welfare. We want to bring back American jobs.'"
Greitens described these as good quality jobs.
"These are the kind of jobs where you can raise a family, you can pay a mortgage, you can buy a truck and set aside some money for your kids to go to school," Greitens said.
Those willing to join Greitens' team, he made three requests.
The first, he said, is to pray for "this community ... and Southeast Missouri. Pray for strong leaders, like Don Rone and Todd Richardson." He also asked for prayer for himself and his family.
"I don't think you can pray too much ... pray that some of these politicians see the light," said Greitens
The governor also asked anyone who can to join him for a rally Tuesday at the Capitol to show the "strength and power of the people of the state of Missouri."
Residents can drive themselves or ride on buses, which will depart the Black River Coliseum at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Anyone interested in attending needs to RSVP at 573-340-1712 or by newmissouri.com.
"Don't just come alone; bring your friends ... family ... neighbors," Greitens said. " ... This is your Capitol; it's our job to fight for you. My job is to fight for your job, and that's exactly what we're going to do."
During his short time at the Capitol, Greitens said, learned "sometimes people get up there and forget who sent them there. They forget who they serve. We're doing this to remind them."
Greitens also urged everyone to "call these senators and let them know that you demand they bring these jobs back to Southeast Missouri."
And, if the senators can't be reached the first time, "keep calling," Greitens said. " ... You are going to call and call until they hear your voice."
Although the senators were not mentioned by name, cards were circulated with the names and numbers of senators Doug Libla (573-751-4843), Gary Romine (573-751-4008) and Rob Schaaf (573-751-2183) and a request to "tell him to stop blocking Missouri jobs."
Greitens also asked everyone to "think not just about yourself. Think about your friends ... family ... neighbors ... kids ... grandkids because what we are doing here is going to be important, not just to Southeast Missouri today or this week or next year.
"This is about the future of this community, and it's about the future of Southeast Missouri. Let's win this fight."
Early in his remarks, Greitens had encouraged those with their "Van Buren Strong" signs to hold them high.
"Is Van Buren strong, absolutely, absolutely," Greitens said. " ... We were down in Carter County and saw what happened to the Carter County Courthouse and went through Van Buren. We found it was hard hit."
In Van Buren and throughout Southern Missouri, Greitens said, "people come out" to help.
Given the flood's warning, "we sent out of swift-water rescue teams and let them know to get out there and be ready to save lives," said Greitens, who also talked of the fire/mutual aid and State Emergency Management Agency response.
Even after the "tremendous floods," Greitens said, he saw resilience among the people.
"We saw strength. We saw power," he said. "We saw people who in the face of hardship and the face of difficulty said we're going to come back even stronger. That's the kind of pride we have in Southeast Missouri."