ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Earlier this week, KMOX's 'Total Information A.M.' had on Missouri Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Kehoe, and he discussed wanting to be 'the jobs governor'.
On Thursday, 'Total Information A.M.' welcomed Kehoe's opponent Missouri House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, who is the Democratic gubernatorial candidate for Missouri governor and she says she wants politics "out of doctor offices and personal lives."
Quade says the issues of education and abortion are two topics that have the most "stark differences" between her and Kehoe.
"Lt. Gov. Kehoe is for the status quo, he's support the current (abortion) laws in Missouri without exceptions," said Quade on 'Total Information A.M.' Thursday. "As for education, I'm a huge supporter of public schools, I believer that public taxpayer money should go to public schools, not private institutions."
"My opponent feels differently and has supported some of the expansions taking your taxpayer money and bringing it to private and religious institutions. I hope voters will see those differences and vote the way they believe to be best."
Quade was asked by 'Total Information A.M.' host Megan Lynch about Amendment 3, the proposed constitutional amendment related to abortion and the criticism from critics that it goes too far, covers more than abortion and would take parental rights in some instances.
"Quite honestly, what we are seeing from opposition of Amendment 3 is just straight up lies," said Quade. "Some of the billboards and the ads that I have seen are completely lying about what Amendment 3 does."
"I encourage folks to read the amendment. What it does is bring it back to viability, bring it back to Roe, and again get politicians out of our personal lives."
When asked if Amendment 3 goes beyond abortion, Quade says "it is about reproductive healthcare and protecting birth control and IVF."
Like Kehoe, Quade was asked about Proposition A which would see the state's minimum wage gradually increase to $15 an hour by 2026 and guarantee paid sick leave rights if Missouri voters vote to pass it next Tuesday.
"I know how difficult it is right now for folks to survive, we have many working families working multiple jobs to make ends meet," said Quade. "I fully support giving folks wages with dignity."
Quade says the most important part of Proposition A to her is guaranteed paid sick leave rights, and while she says she has had jobs that give her PTO, too many Missouri families are not in that same situation as her.
"If they call in sick to work because they or their children are sick, they could lose everything, so Proposition A gives that guarantee, it's not a ton of hours, but it's a place to start."
Quade was asked about the ballot initiative to legalize sports betting in Missouri and while she does support legalizing sports betting in Missouri, she prefers it would've gone through the legislative process and she does have some concerns about if the money from sports betting will go to education.
"The key about this conversation here is that if it does get passed and revenue does get collected, we've got to make sure we elect candidates who deeply believe those funds need to go to public education," said Quade. "Because how I read this is that there's no guarantee it's going to happen. I think folks have been frustrated how ads have been portraying it as."
"Do you want legalization of sports betting to pass, then vote yes. If you don't vote no. But don't allow the education funding conversation of this to become a part of it."
You can listen to the player above to hear the full interview with Quade, where Quade also was asked about efforts to keep the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals in the state of Missouri, along with accepting the results of the election.
