01/24/22 - Missouri Mondays - 49th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade –Take action to protect Missouri!
Missouri Mondays - 49th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade –Take action to protect reproductive freedom, Medicaid expansion, public schools, initiative petitions!
This month marks the 49th anniversary for Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision of 1973 that granted women the right to an abortion in every state.
Sarah Felts with Advocates of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri writes: “On the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we’re sharing this Missouri Independent op-ed from Yamelsie Rodríguez, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri. This is a time to honor the rights and freedoms Roe established, and to recognize that the legal right has never guaranteed abortion access. While we mourn the real possibility this could be the last year we celebrate Roe v. Wade, we should find hope in the opportunity to build something better in its place. Read on to learn more about how abortion providers in our region are working together to forge a future with abortion access no matter who’s in Congress, the White House, or the Supreme Court.”
Read Yamelsie’s op-ed here: https://missouriindependent.com/2022/01/21/roe-never-guaranteed-abortion-access-its-time-to-build-something-better-opinion/ -Missouri Independent Jan 21
Help support the work of Planned Parenthood with a donation by phone 1-800-430-4907 or online here: https://www.weareplannedparenthood.org/onlineactions/cOJVhOyrzkq4uBcxVekXFA2
Donate to NARAL Pro-Choice America here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/naral-pro-choice-america-2
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MEDICAID EXPANSION UNDER ATTACK AGAIN BY MO GOP - TAKE ACTION!
“Missouri lawmakers are kicking around work requirements for Medicaid enrollment for the fifth year running. This year’s push packages the work rules within a proposed constitutional amendment giving the Legislature legal authority to defund voter-approved Medicaid expansion, for which an estimated 275,000 residents are now eligible. That number includes nearly 127,000 low-income adults whose families include at least one full- or part-time worker. The legislation, sponsored by House Budget Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, would institute a requirement for Medicaid recipients to work or do qualified community engagement for 80 hours a month. If passed by lawmakers, the amendment would go on the November ballot for voters to decide. These requirements could take the form of traditional employment or fall under the “community engagement” as outlined in the resolution — education, substance abuse treatment, community service, volunteer child care, and job search or readiness training.” Full story here: https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/missouri-gop-again-pushes-for-medicaid-work-rules-despite-setbacks-elsewhere/article_6852134b-3fbe-51fd-a4c1-7270f5c715bc.html –St. Louis Post Dispatch Jan 23
Rep. Smith’s constitutional amendment HJR 117 is another blatant attempt by MO GOP to overturn the will of the people. Voters passed Medicaid expansion and the Missouri Supreme Court upheld our vote to make 275,000 Missourians eligible for affordable healthcare. Now Rep. Smith wants to ignore the will of the people and take away the promise of healthcare to over a quarter of a million Missourians.
TAKE ACTION - CALL Rep. Cody Smith 573-751-5458, the Budget Committee Chair and sponsor of HJR 117, and tell him to respect the will of Missourians and to ensure that all Missourians continue to be eligible for affordable healthcare. Contact other Budget Committee members here–https://www.house.mo.gov/Committees.aspx?cluster=true
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MO PUBLIC SCHOOLS UNDER ATTACK
Charter School Expansion Bill in the Senate
SB 650 (Eigel) would expand charter schools in the state. It would allow outside entities to sponsor the charter school rather than requiring accountability to the local community and elected board members.
Banning Curriculum
More bills that seek to undermine public education and to limit the teaching of history, including banning the use of several nationally renowned and vetted curriculum materials have been assigned to committees.
As previously reported, these bills pretend to be anti-racist, but in reality they seek to limit the use of historical and current curricular materials and deny that racism exists or has ever existed in our country. They oppose Critical Race Theory, or CRT, which is typically not taught in K-12 schools. CRT is a theoretical framework taught in law school courses and graduate schools that examines how racism or racial bias in society has influenced our laws and institutions. It is being misrepresented and used to stoke fear in the public.
We must continue to make our views known by contacting members of the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee.
HB 1474 (Schroer) would ban the use of the 1619 Project as well as other materials from highly respected organizations such as the Southern Poverty Law Center.
HB 1755 (Basye) and HB 1858 (Baker) contain a similar list of “parental rights”
HB 1747 (Basye) details a plan for the recall of school board members that includes language that could lead to frivolous lawsuits.
HB 1995 (Richey) creates new requirements regarding the teaching of "controversial or divisive" topics. The bill creates mechanisms by which parents can object to instruction and materials based on their beliefs and creates an extensive mandate to put all school curriculum and all source materials. It includes a “penalty provision” that could result in fines of up to $10,000 each from the school district with 80% of the fine amount going to the Empowerment Scholarship Fund, a voucher program.
TO TAKE ACTION–
Make your views known by contacting members of the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee.
Rep. Chuck Bayse 573-751-1501 Rep. Mike Haffner 573-751-3783 Rep. Ben Baker 573-751-9781 Rep. Rusty Black 573-751-2917 Rep. Phil Christofanelli 573-751-2949 Rep. Bruce DeGroot 573-751-1247 Rep. Shamed Dogan 573-751-4392 Rep. Derek Grier 573-751-9765 Rep. Ron Hicks 573-751-9768 Rep. Jon Patterson 573-751-0907 Rep. Brad Pollitt 573-751-9774 Rep. Dan Stacy 573-751-8636 Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch 573-751-1169
Further reading: Missouri education committee puts early focus on parental rights, critical race theory–Missouri Independent
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INITIATIVE PETITIONS UNDER THREAT
The House Elections and Elected Officials Committee heard HJR 79 (Henderson) on January 12. HJR 79 would require a higher fraction of signatures (10% of voters rather than 8 % per district) in more parts of the state (all eight Congressional districts rather than six) for an initiative that amends the Constitution. The HJR also would require a two-thirds supermajority vote (rather than the simple majority vote required since Missouri became a state) to pass a Constitutional amendment.
Several similar bills that would make it more difficult for the citizens of Missouri to file a ballot initiative petition will have public hearings this week.
TO TAKE ACTION–
Call these members of the Elections and Elected Officials Committee and tell them to leave the Initiative Petition Process alone!
Rep. Dan Shaul 573-751-2504
Rep. Peggy McGuagh 573-751-1468
Rep. Jeff Coleman 573-751-1487
Rep. Bishop Davidson 573-751-2381
Rep. Ann Kelly 573-751-2165
Rep. Adam Schwadron 573-751-1452
Rep. John Simmons 573-751-3776
Rep. Dan Stacy 573-751-8636
Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch 573-751-1169
Further reading: Republicans Renew Push to make it harder for voters to amend Missouri constitution – Missouri Independent
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NEW MO HOUSE DISTRICTS MAP APPROVED - SENATE DISTRICTS MAP WILL GO TO COURT PANEL
“As the Missouri House finalized its version of a new Congressional map Wednesday, a panel of 20 Republicans and Democrats agreed on a new map for the chamber’s 163 seats. The House Independent Bipartisan Citizens Commission voted unanimously to approve the plan, which needed support from 14 members to pass before Sunday’s deadline. The successful completion of a Missouri House map was the first by a citizens’ commission since 1991. “The reason our commission was successful overall was that we realized we needed to come to some common ground,” said Jonathan Ratliff, a commission member who is also executive director of the House Republican Campaign Committee. In a statement issued by the Missouri Democratic Party, commission Co-Chair Keena Smith noted that many observers were skeptical of its chances for success. “We are encouraged by the bipartisan work this commission has completed,” Smith said. Of the 163 districts approved Wednesday, there are 38 where Democrats should have the advantage, 97 where Republicans are dominant and 28 districts with past election results showing less than a 10% advantage for either party.”
“Citizens’ commissions have been appointed to draw House maps since 1966 and one is appointed after each census. A similar process is used for the state Senate’s 34 districts, but this year’s Senate Independent Bipartisan Citizens Commission was unable to agree on a plan. The job of drawing Senate districts will now go to a panel of six appellate court judges, who will have until April 23 to file a plan.”
Full story here: Missouri Independent Jan 20 https://missouriindependent.com/2022/01/20/bipartisan-commission-approves-new-missouri-house-districts/
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS
NATIONAL BLOOD DONOR MONTH
January is National Blood Donor Month. Amidst a nation-wide critical blood shortage, you can help by joining the #GiveLifeKC campaign and donating blood at one of the Community Blood Center’s donor centers. Donors can schedule appointments by calling 1-877-468-6844 or visiting www.savealifenow.org.
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TAKE ACTION WITH THE MISSOURI VOTER PROTECTION COALITION (MOVPC)
TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE
Missouri lawmakers filed more than 300 bills for the 2022 session that started Jan 5 and using false claims of voter fraud the GOP majority will try again to pass restrictive photo ID laws, make the initiative petition process harder, reduce or eliminate voting by mail, and other laws suppressing our vote and our voice!
Help protect the right to vote in Missouri with the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition! The Missouri Voter Protection Coalition (MOVPC) is a nonpartisan statewide network working to protect the right to vote in Missouri, promoting access to the ballot and working to remove barriers to voting.
Weekly MOVPC Meeting
TODAY Mon Jan 24
10 AM
Text “MOVPC” to 66866 or register HERE: https://wustl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYoceyuqTsqGN1NlXOMKb88rSExyr-kWjbt
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MORE UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS IN JANUARY
Find more upcoming actions and events here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19AZUdtRH5WXefOC4Q5D9u-HyuzhBEL8rYX9Ospn3n18/edit?usp=sharing
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MISSOURI COVID UPDATE
Free rapid at-home tests may be ordered starting Jan. 19 at COVIDtests.gov.
The state of Missouri is also providing free at-home PCR tests, however, their supply may be low. A notice on their website states: “Please note that due to the current spike in demand, a limited quantity will be available each day through January. If the ordering site says the limit has been reached, please check back again the following day for availability. Thank you for your patience.”
Order your test kit here: https://health.mo.gov/living/healthcondiseases/communicable/novel-coronavirus/community-test.php#self-collection
FIND COVID-19 Vaccines KC Metro - Statewide and COVID-19 Testing & Recovery Treatment (KC Metro) HERE https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i1vCikZiGfMulA8tFCDSJbEKV5N37S1JU_TSlgs699A/edit?usp=sharing
COVID-19 Vaccines
Everyone ages 5 and older get a COVID-19 vaccine.
CDC has updated its recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines with a preference for people to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna). Read CDC’s media statement here: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1216-covid-19-vaccines.html
COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots
Everyone 16 years and older can get a booster shot. Details HERE: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1119-booster-shots.html
Three COVID-19 vaccines are authorized or approved for use in the United States to prevent COVID-19. Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (COVID-19 mRNA vaccines) are preferred. You may get Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine in some situations–https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/janssen.html
CDC Key Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines HERE: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/keythingstoknow.html
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Missourians Vaccinated - as of Sun Jan 23 The New York Times
64% of Missourians have received at least one dose - (75% at least one dose in the U.S.)
54% of Missourians are fully vaccinated - (63% fully vaccinated in the U.S.)
Total COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in Missouri
1,024,477 confirmed cases (59,512 in last week) and 13,872 confirmed deaths and a testing positivity rate of 35.1% –data through 01/22/22 MO Dept of Health and Senior Services
1,281,125 total reported cases and 17,254 deaths as of Sun Jan 23 The New York Times
THANK YOU! for answering the Missouri Mondays CALL TO ACTION!
Invite your friends and neighbors to join us and sign up for Missouri Action Alliance and this Missouri Mondays email at moactionalliance.com/signup
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