A group of protesters Tuesday afternoon called on Missouri U.S. Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (R) to vote to end the federal government shutdown that began October first.
The 40 demonstrators picketed outside Luetkemeyer's Jefferson City office and also delivered a so-called "cease and desist order" to members of his staff. Allison Dreith is with the Missouri Progressive Vote Coalition, the group that sponsored the demonstration.
"We demand (that) Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer invest in an America that works for working families by investing in good jobs and protecting vital services like health care, education, and food assistance," Dreith said.
The group also demanded that Luetkemeyer reverse course and vote to end the shutdown before the federal government goes into default, which could happen by Thursday. David Meinell is with the group Missouri Alliance for Retired Americans. He says they want a "clean bill" that will reopen the federal government and raise the debt ceiling.
"We do not believe (that) what is going on in Washington DC is conducive to good representation," Meinell said. "They're holding all of us hostage because of their dirty politics."
Afterwards, nearly half of the protesters headed to the State Capitol office of Governor Jay Nixon (D) to protest his decision to cut food stamp funding for low-income adults without children. Nixon was not there, as he had left for Chicago earlier Tuesday to attend this week's Bi-Partisan Governors Leadership Forum.
Meanwhile, neither Congressman Luetkemeyer nor his staff have responded yet to requests for a comment on the protesters calling for him to vote to end the government shutdown.
Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter: @MarshallGReport
