02/14/22 - Missouri Mondays - Stand up! Fight back! MO GOP attacks continue on voting rights, more!
Welcome to another Missouri Mondays and another busy week of important actions! Thanks for all you do to make a difference!
YOUR VOICE NEEDED FOR VOTING RIGHTS! FIGHT MO GOP ATTACKS!
Republicans in the MO legislature are pushing to make it harder for you to cast your vote by enshrining photo ID and limiting access to voting by mail.
The bills below are up for public hearing this week in the House Elections and Elected Officials Committee on Wed Feb 16 at 12:00 pm.
SUBMIT WITNESS TESTIMONY FOR THE BILLS BELOW BEFORE FEB 16: https://house.mo.gov/WitnessForm/Default.aspx?noticeid=6630
HB 2113 (Sponsor Peggy McGaugh)
Photo ID and more
Bill summary here https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills221/sumpdf/HB2113I.pdf
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HB 2140 (Sponsor Peggy McGaugh)
Bill summary here: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills221/sumpdf/HB2140I.pdf
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HB 2002 (Sponsor Sean Pouche)
Requires partisan ballots be recorded
Bill summary here: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills221/sumpdf/HB2002I.pdf
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THE MO GOP ATTACK ON INITIATIVE PETITIONS –TAKE ACTION!
Last week the Missouri House passed HJR 79 and sent it to the Senate. “This bill attacks the citizen initiative process in Missouri by making it harder to place proposed amendments on the ballot, and increasing the threshold for passage to near impossible levels.” -Missouri Voter Protection Coalition For example, the minimum signatures needed for a proposed constitutional amendment would skyrocket from about 172,000 under current law to roughly 434,000.
CALL TO ACTION!
TELL YOUR STATE SENATOR TO VOTE NO HJR 79! Leave the Initiative Petition Process alone and not to support any changes to the Initiative Petition Process.
The MO GOP should not be trying to silence the people’s voice by making the initiative petition process harder.
Find your senator using the Legislator Lookup here: https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default.aspx
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MO GOP PUSH TO OVERTURN MEDICAID EXPANSION - FIGHT BACK!
HJR 117 Medicaid Eligibility
Rep. Cody Smith has proposed HJR 117, a constitutional amendment that would give Republicans the ability to overturn Medicaid expansion in Missouri. If passed HJR 117 says in any given fiscal year, any eligible population for HealthNet (MO Medicaid) services shall be eligible only if an appropriation for that population is made in that fiscal year.
In 2020 Missouri 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.
CALL TO ACTION!
HJR 117 is on the House calendar for perfection!
TELL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO VOTE NO ON HJR 117! The MO GOP must respect the will of Missourians and ensure that all Missourians continue to be eligible for affordable healthcare.
Find your representative using the Legislator Lookup here: https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default.aspx
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HOUSE DEMS FIGHT FOR GOVERNOR’S PROMISED $15/HR PAY INCREASE FOR STATE WORKERS WHILE HOUSE GOP MAJORITY DECREASES RAISE TO $12/HR
Appropriations bill HB 3014 (Sponsor Rep. Cody Smith)
Passed in the House, Reported to Senate, First and Second Read
Lowered state workers minimum pay to $12 rather than the $15 governor requested.
House Democrats fought to give state workers the raises Governor Parson promised them, offering an amendment to restore the Governor’s $15/hour pay increase. Our state workers and our departments need this $15/hour pay increase to ensure our state departments can battle the chronic understaffing they currently face. The amendment failed, with only a few Republicans voting to give state workers the raises promised by the Governor.
TAKE ACTION!
TELL YOUR MO Senator enough is enough! It’s time to pay our workers a competitive wage! Restore the Governor’s promised $15/hr for state workers in HB 3014! Missouri ranks 49th in teachers’ pay, and both schools and state agencies are understaffed. Missourians are tired of politicians playing games!
Find your state senator using the Legislator Lookup here: https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default.aspx
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MO LEGISLATURE IN THE NEWS
MO Senate Republicans fight over Congressional redistricting map
”More than a month after convening the 2022 legislative session, the Senate has yet to debate any bills besides redistricting, and has been mired in the conservative caucus filibuster for a week, with attacks during floor debate often veering away from policy and becoming deeply personal.” “The conservative caucus is demanding the Senate replace a plan already approved in the Missouri House with one designed to give the GOP the 5th District seat of Kansas City Rep. Emanuel Cleaver. Despite losing 8-24 on one plan on Monday night, caucus members have refused to allow the Senate to take any other votes. The redistricting bill is the only bill the Senate has debated in the five weeks since the session started. While the conservative caucus filibuster has been going all week, the bill only made it to the floor once – on Monday – with other days consumed with delaying debates on minor motions.”
Full story here: https://missouriindependent.com/2022/02/12/tempers-fray-as-missouri-senate-republicans-fight-over-congressional-map/ Missouri Independent Feb 12
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“Senate women refuse to let voices go unheard amid redistricting debate”
“On day three of a marathon debate on congressional redistricting, and about three hours into a Conservative Caucus member’s filibuster, the women of the upper chamber decided it was their turn to speak. The legislators from both sides of the aisle, who represent urban and rural districts, one by one stood up to decry the recent rhetoric flying. “I think it’s time we the women of the Senate say what we want to say,” Sen. Elaine Gannon, a Republican, said. The coalition of the 11 women has banded together in a remarkable way throughout the past year, brokering a deal on what became a contentious FRA renewal process and authoring a book to improve literacy in Missouri.”
Full story here: https://themissouritimes.com/senate-women-refuse-to-let-voices-go-unheard-amid-redistricting-debate/ Missouri Times Feb 9
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS
TAKE ACTION WITH THE MISSOURI VOTER PROTECTION COALITION (MOVPC)
TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE
Join the next MOVPC meeting
Monday Feb. 14
10 AM
Text “MOVPC” to 66866 or register HERE: https://wustl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYoceyuqTsqGN1NlXOMKb88rSExyr-kWjbt
Special MOVPC Valentine's Day Meeting
Let's Show Some Love to Missouri's Voter Protection Advocates! Come prepared to uplift a voter protection hero in your community. There will be updates on voting legislation and special guest Sean Soendker Nicholson with Missouri Fair Maps Coalition for an update on Redistricting, and how you can weigh in for Thursday Feb 17 Missouri Judicial Commission Redistricting Hearing.
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FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Midcontinent Public Library Black History Month Events Week of Feb 14
“Negro League Baseball: The Deep Roots of African Americans in America's Great Game (Zoom)
Thursday, Feb 17
2:00-3:00 PM
Register here: https://events.mymcpl.org/register.php?eid=73887&_ga=2.122073164.659092857.1644792817-1017490753.1644792817
“Join author Kevin L. Mitchell as he illuminates the rich history of Negro League baseball and shows how it overcame many obstacles to have a lasting impact on professional baseball. Attendees will get a deeper understanding of Negro League baseball as not just a part of African American history, but that it is imbedded into the fabric of 20th Century American History. Registration is required. Program registration will close 30 minutes prior to the start of the program. Participants will be emailed a Zoom access code 15 minutes before the start of the program. So please include your email in the registration. Please note: You must sign into the room prior to the start of the program. Admittance to the classroom will close five minutes after the program's start time. Space is limited.”
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“Underground Railroad: The Who, What, and Where Did It Go”
Sat, Feb 19
11:00am - 12:00 pm
East Lee’s Summit Community Room
Register here: https://events.mymcpl.org/register.php?eid=72328&_ga=2.83746513.659092857.1644792817-1017490753.1644792817
“Cultural historian Brother John shares the secret codes, symbols, agents, and songs of the Underground Railroad as well as adds his insight into this chapter of America's history.”
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Find more Mid-Continent Library Black History events here:
https://www.mymcpl.org/events/series/700
Find other special events and exhibits commemorating Black History Month and Kansas City’s rich Black history here: https://www.visitkc.com/2022/02/01/celebrate-2022-black-history-month-kansas-city?fbclid=IwAR2UVKXypsCPAYI-djOPV10BX5cqZBrsx3dOHOKk6i4P6fDiiQ3G9kCojLk
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JOIN THE MISSOURI HOUSE DEMOCRATS LEGISLATIVE NETWORK
AND HELP ELECT DEMOCRATS!
The Democratic Legislative Network is building a community of dedicated activists
to support our ideals, our message and our candidates in Missouri.
Fill out this form to sign up and help us put more Democrats into office: https://secure.ngpvan.com/oZqeiPSF7kqrBstdpQLk9w2
Help support local candidates across Missouri working to turn their districts blue in 2022 by making a donation to Missouri House Democrats here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/mhdccdonatenow
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MORE UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS
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
A new dashboard for Covid data in the Kansas City Metro area has been developed by The Kansas City Beacon. The Beacon reports that they “decided to release our own data compilation after reporters found that certain critical metrics used to assess the omicron and delta surges were not readily available elsewhere for the Kansas City area.”
You can check the dashboard here: https://thebeacon.media/stories/2022/02/02/kansas-city-beacon-covid-data-dashboard/
Free at-home COVID tests to be handed out to Medicare beneficiaries this spring
Free rapid at-home tests may be ordered (started 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.”
You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for community testing updates.
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 should 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 Feb 13 The New York Times
65% of Missourians have received at least one dose - (76% have received at least one dose in the U.S.)
55% of Missourians are fully vaccinated - (64% are fully vaccinated in the U.S.)
Total COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in Missouri
1,106,027 confirmed cases and 14,612 confirmed deaths and a 7-Day testing positivity rate of 17.8% –data 2/2/22 - 2/8/22 MO Dept of Health and Senior Services
1,390,245 total reported cases and 18,212 deaths as of Sun Feb 13 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
Follow us on Twitter at @MissouriAction, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MOActionAlliance and check out our website at http://www.MOActionAlliance.com
