02/25/19 - Missouri Mondays - Tell your legislator to VOTE NO! on reckless bills!
Tell your legislator to VOTE NO! on reckless bills that would harm SNAP and Medicaid recipients and NO! to bills taking funds for public schools to expand charters!
First a big THANK YOU! to Moms Demand Action-MO and supporters who filled the Capitol last week and everyone who raised their voices for common sense gun safety! If you haven’t already done so, please contact your state legislators to support HB 960 to keep guns away from domestic abusers!
For this week’s Missouri Mondays we ask you to also contact your legislators about the following bills of concern:
Senate Bill 76 and Senate Bill 4 - Tell your Senator to reject attacks on benefits for children and families and VOTE NO! on SB 76 and SB 4!
SB 76 sponsored by Sen. David Sater, would require the state to apply for a waiver to allow Missouri to institute Medicaid work reporting rules.
Similar legislation to SB 76 was passed in Arkansas and since last August has resulted in loss of Medicaid health coverage for more than 18,000 Arkansans.
SB 4, also sponsored by Sen. Sater, would take away SNAP benefits (food stamps) for failure to meet certain work requirements, affecting an estimated 52,000 Missouri children.
Senate Bill 292 and House Bill 581 - Tell your Senator and Representative to protect funding for public schools and VOTE NO! on SB 292 & HB 582 expanding charter schools!
SB 292, sponsored by Sen. Bill Eigel, and HB 581, sponsored by Rep. Rebecca Roeber, would expand charter schools throughout the state.
Charter schools do not have to be held accountable by local taxpayers. They do not have a locally elected school board and do not require that all teachers be certified. The Washington Post reports that “The National Labor Relations Board ruled in 2016 that charters are private corporations, not public schools. As private corporations, they are not subject to the same laws as public schools.”
Charter schools do not have a good track record in Missouri. As of 2018, 74% of the charters with available data in Kansas City and St. Louis are underperforming.
Charter schools will receive 100% of the funding per pupil that would have been received by a public school. Public schools lose funding to charters, but still have the same operating costs such as utilities, maintenance and staffing. The charter school also has its own operating cost--so by duplicating operating costs, both schools have less money going directly to classrooms. Charter schools are often run by for-profit corporations, siphoning off tax dollars to companies. Since 1999 Missouri’s taxpayers have spent over $620 million on failed charter schools.
THANK YOU! for answering the Missouri Mondays CALL TO ACTION!
02/18/19 - Missouri Mondays - Raise your voice with Moms Demand Action and tell your State Legislator to support sensible gun legislation!
For this week’s Missouri Mondays CALL TO ACTION, please join us in raising our voices with Moms Demand Action - MO for their MISSOURI ADVOCACY DAY on February 19 in Jefferson City! They're planning to meet at 10:00 am at the DoubleTree Hilton for an overview of the day and then walk to the Capitol as a group to talk with legislators.
**UPDATED 2/19/19**
If you were unable to attend the event PLEASE CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR re: HOUSE BILL 960, sponsored by Rep. Tracy McCreery (D-088), HB 960 would prohibit certain individuals from possessing a firearm due to domestic violence and requires police officers to remove firearms at the scene of a domestic violence call.
Additional gun bills already filed this session are listed below. Look over the list and if you find one or two more in addition to HB 960 that you feel very passionate about, tell your legislator to support (or reject) the bill and why. NOTE: If you have personally been affected by gun violence be sure to briefly share your story with your legislator! You can find your legislator by entering your address HERE.
Several bills filed this year have been identified by the NRA as pro-gun legislation. Ask your elected official to VOTE NO! on these bills!
Senate Bill 5, sponsored by Senator David Sater (R-29), would modify and create new provisions relating to the initiative and referendum process. This would make it more difficult for the citizens of Missouri to vote for legislation that would help reduce gun violence.
Senate Bill 39, sponsored by Senator Bob Onder (R-2), would allow concealed carry firearms on public transit. As of 2/16/19 this bill is on the Senate Informal Calendar, Senate Bills for Perfection.
House Bill 82, sponsored by Representative Justin Hill (R-108), would allow guns to be stored in vehicles when parked in a parking lot or garage.
In addition to HB 960 mentioned above, the following bills seek to ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY and PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE! Tell your legislator to SUPPORT these bills:
Senate Bill 23, sponsored by Senator Jamilah Nasheed (D-5) would allow for a restraining order to prevent an individual deemed dangerous by the court from owing a firearm.
Senate Bill 40, sponsored by Senator Jill Schupp (D-24), would require guns to stored in a manner that would protect children from dangerous access.
Senate Bill 41, sponsored by Sen. Schupp, would require a person convicted of domestic violence to surrender their firearms.
Senate Bill 42, sponsored by Sen. Schupp, would allow law enforcement to detain a individual at extreme risk of committing gun violence while they search for firearms in his possession. .
Senate Bill 94, sponsored by Senator Scott Sifton (D-1), would add to the categories of individuals legally barred from owning a firearm.
Senate Bill 163, sponsored by Sen. Schupp, would prevent private firearms transfers without background checks. Transfers would be processed through licensed firearms dealers.
House Bill 40, sponsored by Representative Deb Lavender (D-90), is similar to SB 42.
House Bill 56, sponsored by Representative Gretchen Bangert (D-69), would require firearms being transported in vehicles to be unloaded and stored in a locked case, trunk, or other secure container. It would also prohibit handguns being transported in vehicle cabins from being left unattended.
House Bill 162, sponsored by Representative Richard Brown (D-27), would ban certain firearm accessories for semi-automatic weapons.
House Bill 163, sponsored by Rep. Brown, is similar to SB 94.
House Bill 210, sponsored by Representative Greg Razer (D-25), would require all firearm sales to be made through a licensed dealer.
House Bill 235, sponsored by Representative Bruce Franks (D-78), would require all firearms lost or stolen to be reported.
House Bill 960, sponsored by Rep. Tracy McCreery (D-88), would prohibit certain individuals from possessing a firearm due to domestic violence and requires police officers to remove firearms at the scene of a domestic violence call.
THANK YOU! for answering the Missouri Mondays CALL TO ACTION!
2/11/19 - Missouri Mondays - Tell State Senators to vote NO! on SB 4 and SB 76 taking food and Medicaid benefits from thousands of MO families and children!
For this week’s Missouri Mondays CALL TO ACTION please contact State Senators to vote NO! on two Republican-sponsored bills, SB 4 and SB 76, that could take away food assistance and Medicaid healthcare benefits from thousands of Missouri children and families!
Senate Bill 4
SB 4, sponsored by Sen. David Sater (R-Cassville), was recently passed out of the Senate Committee on Seniors, Families, and Children. Senate Bill 4 would harm Missouri children and families by:
Cutting SNAP benefits (food stamps) for failing to meet certain work requirements. Penalties range from a few months to permanent loss, including entire families.
If SB 4 becomes law almost 52,000 Missouri children could lose food benefits for half a year or even permanently and through no fault of their own.
If passed SB 4 would cost Missouri $90 million or more because of work support that would be required, according to Missouri Budget Project estimates.
Senate Bill 76
SB 76, also sponsored by Republican Sen. David Sater, would require the state to apply for a waiver to allow Missouri to institute Medicaid work reporting rules. Similar legislation was passed in Arkansas and since last August has resulted in loss of Medicaid health coverage for more than 18,000 Arkansans.
The Senate Committee on Seniors, Families, & Children Committee will hold a hearing on SB 76 this Wed Feb 13 at 8am. Contact these committee members TODAY and tell them to vote NO on SB 76!
Senator David Sater, Chairman - (573) 751-1480 Sater Email Senator Cindy O’Laughlin - (573) 751-7985 O'Laughlin Email Senator Andrew Koenig - (573) 751-5568 Koenig Email Senator Karla May - (573) 751-3599 May Email Senator Jeanie Riddle - (573) 751-2757 Riddle Email Senator Gary Romine - (573) 751-4008 Romine Email Senator Jill Schupp - (573) 751-9762 Schupp Email
Also a reminder February 19 is our first Lobby Your Legislator Day of the 2019 Legislative Session! One of our allies--Moms Demand Action - MO has a lobby day action planned for that day, so we encourage you to join us to to lobby your legislators on their important issues as well as any other matters of concern to you.
Moms Demand Action
https://www.facebook.com/events/129413447978976/
RSVP Here:
And mark your calendars for these future Lobby Your Legislator Days as well!
March 26 - Planned Parenthood
April 11 - Equal Rights Amendment Ratification Rally
_______________
References:
http://www.mobudget.org/sb4-cost-mo-families/ - “Proposed SNAP Sanctions in SB 4 Would Cost Missouri, Harm Families”
