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01/27/25 Missouri Mondays - Join us at the Capitol for MO Voting Rights Lobby Day Jan 28 / Time is NOW for MOLeg Calls to Action on elections, gun safety, public education, tax cuts and more!


Advocates gather at the capitol to support strengthening democracy and protecting voting rights.
Advocates gather at the capitol to support strengthening democracy and protecting voting rights.

Welcome to Missouri Mondays!


The MO legislative session is in full swing and our lawmakers have begun committee meetings and hearings on bills, if passed into law, would affect MO elections, tax cuts, public education, DEI (Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion), gun safety, climate & environment, social justice, and so much more. Now is the time to make your voice heard!  We urge you to take a look at the bills highlighted in the League of Women Voters of MO Calls to Action guide and take action on issues of importance to you: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ad55ImZoYSBk-URyjmFegE43Xr2C_GjC/view


We are excited to be heading to Jefferson City tomorrow Jan 28 for the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition Voting Rights Legislative Day at the MO Capitol from 11-3pm. Advocates from across the state will gather together to call on lawmakers to protect direct democracy through Missouri's citizen initiative process, to protect election workers and ensure voting is accessible to all Missourians, and to hear what's at stake for voting rights in Missouri, get engaged, and thank lawmakers who have stood up for our freedom to vote. We hope to see you there! Find event details and be sure to register so organizers will have enough materials for everyone: bit.ly/Jan28Lobby


Reach out to your state elected officials and sign up for their legislative newsletters! Connecting with your State Representative and State Senator is so important. Be sure you sign up for their legislative newsletters to stay up to date. To find your elected officials, enter your address in the legislator lookup here:  https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default

 

Thank you for staying informed and taking action for a better Missouri for all! Our voices are powerful and together we make a difference!  Help us spread the word by sharing this email and the link to sign up here: https://www.moactionalliance.com/signup



UPCOMING EVENTS / WAYS TO GET INVOLVED!


*MISSOURI VOTER PROTECTION COALITION (MOVPC) MEETING

MONDAY MORNINGS at 10AM

Online (Zoom)

To sign up text “MOVPC” to 66866 or register here: bit.ly/protectmovoters


Protecting the vote requires our continued attention! Join MOVPC Democracy Defenders across the state to learn how you can get involved with the fight to protect voting rights for all Missourians!


DONATE TO MOVPC

Help Missouri Voter Protection Coalition lead the fight against attacks on our freedom to vote in the statehouse, in the courthouse, in the media, in the streets and at the polls on Election Day. Donate: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/movpc



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TOMORROW JAN 28 IN JEFFERSON CITY!


Missouri Voter Protection Coalition

2025 Missouri Voting Rights Legislative Day

Tuesday, January 28

11:00AM - 3:00PM

Missouri State Capitol - Rotunda

Jefferson City, MO

Sign up here:  bit.ly/Jan28Lobby


Join Missouri Voter Advocates for 2025 Voting Rights Legislative Day at the Missouri State Capitol. Learn about legislation impacting our democracy and meet with lawmakers. We come together to call on lawmakers to protect direct democracy through Missouri's citizen initiative process, and to protect election workers and ensure voting is accessible to all Missourians. Join advocates from across Missouri in a nonpartisan Pro-Democracy Day at the Capitol to hear what's at stake for voting rights in Missouri, get engaged, and thank lawmakers who have stood up for our freedom to vote.


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Governor Mike Kehoe

2025 State of the State Address

Tuesday, January 28

3:00PM

Missouri House Chamber

Third Floor

Overflow area to view the live stream in Hearing Room 3 in the State Capitol.

 Live stream available:  https://www.mo.gov/live, Governor Kehoe's Facebook page, and the State of Missouri's Facebook page


Governor Mike Kehoe will deliver the 2025 State of the State Address on Tuesday, January 28 at 3 p.m. Find the full media schedule for the day’s events here: https://governor.mo.gov/media-advisory/2025-state-state-address-media-schedule.  The speech will be live-streamed on Governor Kehoe's Facebook page, the State of Missouri's Facebook page, and mo.gov/live.  An overflow area to view the live-stream will be located in Hearing Room 3 in the State Capitol.


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LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS MO - CALLS TO ACTION AND LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN


The League of Women Voters of Missouri provides two excellent documents with an overview of a number of bills being heard in committee and detailed action steps you can take on issues of importance to you. 


Link to this week’s LWVMO Calls to Action for the week of Jan 26:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ad55ImZoYSBk-URyjmFegE43Xr2C_GjC/view


Link to LWVMO Legislative Bulletin for the week of Jan 26:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/106E6iVHi4vTq57Y7a5lVjf4Y5_l0Mc6f/view


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MORE WAYS TO GET INVOLVED! ORGANIZATIONS NEED YOU! 


*Find additional events, resources, organizations that need your help here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SZqI3j4nv2N3ylrsLTYXHa60aNMC-a4GlXZyj08lmPw/edit?usp=sharing



MISSOURI VOTER RESOURCES 


Find your Current State Elected Officials and U.S. Elected Officials




Next election: April 2, 2025. Register to vote by March 6.

Check your registration on the MO Secretary of State website: https://voteroutreach.sos.mo.gov/portal/

Missouri Voter Protection Voter Eligibility & Registration Guidance:  https://www.movpc.org/missouri-voter-eligibility-and-registration

Do you have your voter ID? Approved forms of ID are listed below (your address does not need to match the address on the ID): 

  • A non-expired* Missouri driver or non-driver license;

  • A non-expired military ID, including a veteran's ID card;

  • A non-expired United States passport; or

  • Another photo ID issued by the United States or the state of Missouri, which is either not expired *or expired after November 8, 2022.

  • Voter ID cards issued by your county clerk, driver licenses from other states, and student IDs are no longer accepted as valid IDs to vote.




MISSOURI LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Week of January 20-24  -  MO House and Senate Dem Newletter Excerpts


“RESTORING STATE CONTROL OF STL POLICE AGAIN BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE


Legislative committees in both the House of Representatives and Senate on Jan. 22 heard bills seeking to restore state control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. The state oversaw the department for more than 150 years until Missouri voters reinstated local authority a dozen years ago.


The state’s first takeover of the St. Louis police occurred at the outset of the Civil War as Missouri’s secessionist governor sought to limit the power of pro-Union city officials and suppress the city’s Black population, both slave and free. Although the Civil War ended, state control remained until 63.9 percent of Missouri voters approved a statewide ballot measure in November 2012 that put local officials in charge of the department.


Under both the House and Senate bills, a state-controlled board would again run the department. Although city taxpayers would continue to be responsible for funding the agency, they would have no say through their local elected representatives in how it operates. The bills also would impose fines of $1,000 per occurrence on city officials who resist state control, as well as a lifetime ban on them ever again holding elected office.


While supporters of state control say it would stem violent crime, there is no evidence it would have an impact. When the state previously controlled the St. Louis police, there were several periods when crime was far worse than it is today. In addition, crime rates in Kansas City, which has remained under state control, have been higher than those in St. Louis in recent years.


Opponents of the bill noted violent crime has increased throughout Missouri after majority Republicans repeatedly weakened the state’s gun laws over the last decade-plus. Given the racist origins of the original state takeover of the St. Louis police, the current effort is also drawing criticism since the largely white Republican legislative majority is seeking to seize a key municipal function in a city with a Black mayor and population that is roughly half Black.


The House Crime and Public Safety Committee heard House Bill 495, while the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee considered Senate Bill 44 and Senate Bill 52. Neither committee took immediate action on the legislation before it.

 

ATTORNEY GENERAL ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES


Republican Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey issued a regulation on Jan. 16 purporting to dictate how social media companies moderate content on their platforms. However, Bailey’s effort appears to be an unconstitutional attempt to enact law under the guise of administrative rule – something he has unsuccessfully tried before – and is certain to face a legal challenge if finalized.


Under Bailey’s proposed rule, social media companies would be forced to give users a choice of what algorithm is used to determine the content they see, including requiring platforms to allow access to algorithms provided by outside parties. In a news release, Bailey said the regulation is intended to protect the free speech rights of social media users. However, a state official attempting to dictate how those platforms operate likely violates the speech free of the social media companies.


Although Bailey cites the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act – a consumer protection law traditionally used to crack down on deceptive business practices or the sale of defective products – as his legal authority for the rule, courts have thwarted his past attempts to use the law in novel ways to advance his conservative ideology. In 2023, a state judge blocked an administrative rule Bailey issued seeking to prohibit nearly all gender-affirming medical care for transgender Missourians, finding the attorney general had exceeded the power granted him under the MMPA.


Once the Secretary of State’s Office publishes Bailey’s proposed social media regulation, it will be subject to a public comment period and possible revision before a final order of rulemaking could be issued. As a result, it will be at least a couple of months before the rule could take effect.”



MISSOURI MONDAYS NEWS SUPPLEMENT!


With so much important news each week we don’t want you to miss a thing! Check out our MISSOURI MONDAYS NEWS SUPPLEMENT here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wMmphHQfXS3af8AnxQ145XN9hEfv6RLmtS5XTv-XcFk/edit?usp=sharing



THANK YOU! for staying informed and taking action to make a difference!


Invite your friends and neighbors to join us and sign up for Missouri Action Alliance and this Missouri Mondays weekly email at bit.ly/3pF99Uw


Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MOActionAlliance and check out our website at http://www.MOActionAlliance.com

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