03/15/21 - Missouri Mondays - Stand up for voting rights, transgender kids, public health!
When the Missouri legislature returns from break next week, the majority GOP will be pushing hard to pass laws this session that would:
Limit voting rights
Harm transgender children
Strip away the power of cities and counties to protect the health of their residents
We must keep fighting back! Leave a message for your state representative and state senator to vote NO on the bills listed below when they return from break next week! Find your electeds by entering your address here: https://house.mo.gov/legislatorlookup.aspx
UPDATE on VOTER LIMITATION BILLS: Tell your Representative to vote NO on HB 1065, HB 738, and HB 842. HB 738 is progressing in the House. This week the bill was perfected and committed to the Legislative Review committee. We must STOP this attempt to limit Missouri voters. HB 738 requires voters to present a photo ID. Both HB 738 and HB 842 would eliminate electronic voting machines and require paper ballots, which could hamper voting efforts for the disabled as well as delay election results. HB 1065 would establish no-excuse absentee voting but for in-person voters only beginning three weeks before Election Day rather than the current six weeks. Vulnerable citizens such as the elderly or those with chronic health conditions could vote by mail only if they met one of six conditions. It also denies caretakers the right to vote absentee unless they reside in the home of the individual they care for, and it would require a state-issued photo ID to vote. The courts have already found the requirement of a photo-ID to be unconstitutional.
UPDATE on Anti-transgender bills: Tell your Representative to vote NO on HJR 53 and HB 33, two cruel anti-transgender bills that have been assigned to committees. This week the hearing on HJR 53 was postponed. We hope that is the last we hear about it.. HB 33 prohibits medical treatment of any person under 18 and would require a parent who permitted such treatment be reported for child abuse. The public hearing for HB 33 was completed last week. We must continue to tell our Representaives to vote NO on this bill.
UPDATE on VOTER SUPRESSION BILLS: Keep up the pressure. Tell your Senator to vote NO to HB 334 Photo ID bill! HB 334 was second read in the Senate and referred to committee. “For fifteen years, MO lawmakers have attempted to implement discriminatory photo ID requirements to vote in Missouri. Last year the MO Supreme Court made clear that such measures are unconstitutional and violate our fundamental right to vote. The State’s own data shows that HB 334 stands to burden more than 200,000 Missouri voters who do not have a current state-issued photo ID and would face barriers getting one, disproportionately voters of color, seniors, voters with disabilities, young voters, and low-wage workers.” Tell your Senator to vote NO on HB 334!
UPDATE on DANGEROUS PUBLIC HEALTH BILLS: Tell your Senator to vote NO on HB 75 and tell your Representative to vote NO on HCS HB 602. HB 75 passed the House last week and is now in the Senate. HCS HB 602 was voted out of committee and will progress to the floor after recess. Procedures required by these bills could prevent necessary actions by local governments to protect their citizens during public health emergencies that require immediate action.
March is Women’s History Month and here’s a few ideas for celebrating!
March 15 - 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM - “And She Could Be Next” Episode 2
Join the National Women's History Museum for Episode 2 film screening of And She Could Be Next, POV’s first broadcast miniseries. And She Could Be Next tells the story of a defiant group of women of color—candidates and organizers—who are transforming politics from the ground up. Filmed throughout 2018 and into 2019, by a team of women filmmakers of color, the two-part miniseries features a dynamic slate of history-makers including: Stacey Abrams (GA), Rashida Tlaib (MI), Lucy McBath (GA), Veronica Escobar (TX), Maria Elena Durazo (CA), and Bushra Amiwala (IL).
And She Could Be Next asks whether democracy itself can be preserved—and made stronger—by those most marginalized. Episode 2 is a deep dive into the grassroots organizing efforts and voter suppression that occurred during Stacey Abrams' historic 2018 run for Governor. Register HERE!
A story of Latina’s bicultural political engagement and experience in the United States. Presented in partnership with the National Women’s History Museum and NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises’ “Unstoppable Women” initiative.
Find more events celebrating the vital role of women in American history:
Join Missouri Voter Protection Coalition Zoom meeting TODAY MON MARCH 15 at 10am to learn more about the campaign to Ensure Voting in Missouri Amid the COVID-19 Crisis and beyond. Text MOVPC to 66866 to sign up!
IMPORTANT DATES FOR APRIL 6 ELECTION!
Election Day: April 6, 2021
Polls Open: 6:00 a.m.
Polls Close: 7:00 p.m.
Last day to register: March 10, 2021
IN PERSON ABSENTEE VOTING DEADLINE: 5PM APRIL 5, 2021
Military & Overseas Portal opens: February 19, 2021
Applications mailed to permanently disabled: February 9, 2021
Tell Sen. Blunt and Hawley to pass H.R. 1 For the People Act!
Missouri Voter Protection Coalition (MOVPC) statement on passage of H.R. 1 in the U.S. House: “In the midst of unprecedented attacks on the right to vote, we applaud the House for passing H.R 1, to give voice to Missouri voters. Missouri voters need reform now. Missouri is far behind the curve in access to the ballot compared to other states. Missouri voters are hampered by limited absentee voting options, notary requirements, lack of early voting, antiquated voter registration tracking, ongoing attempts to enshrine unconstitutional photo ID requirements and other barriers that make voting more difficult and deter participation, especially for voters of color and Missouri’s most marginalized citizens.
The For the People Act addresses these barriers. It includes reforms that Republican and Democrat election officials in Missouri have long advocated, such as no-excuse absentee voting. It would streamline voter registration. It would ensure fairer maps. For the People Act will modernize Missouri’s elections and move Missouri closer to the mainstream of election administration practices nationwide. The prioritization of S.1 in the Senate is critical to moving towards a more inclusive democracy where all voices can be heard.”
“We call on Missouri Senators Blunt and Hawley to move swiftly to advance the For the People Act in the Senate to make our democracy more just, fair and equitable, and give a much-needed voice to all Missouri’s voters.”
Email Sen. Blunt - https://www.blunt.senate.gov/contact/contact-roy
Email Sen. Hawley - https://www.hawley.senate.gov/contact-senator-hawley
MO COVID VACCINE UPDATE
Missouri will transition to Phase 1B, Tier 3 in its vaccine distribution plan starting March 15. https://covidvaccine.mo.gov/priority/Phase1b/#phase1b-2 This tier includes "critical infrastructure" classified as those people that are a part of "keeping the essential functions of society running." Teachers, educators, childcare employees, and grocery store employees will be able to start receiving vaccines however urban areas of the state are not receiving doses proportionate to their populations which means they are still working on Phase 1B, Tier 2. In Kansas City the majority of vaccines will be distributed to some of our major health systems including HCA, Saint Luke’s Health System, and Truman Medical Centers. The Biden administration will be sending additional doses directly to select pharmacies - some Walmart/Sam’s and Health Mart Systems pharmacies may receive the vaccine. If you are in Phase 1A, 1B Tier 1& 2, you currently qualify for the vaccine. You can view the tier levels here - https://covidvaccine.mo.gov/priority/ If you qualify and would like to get your vaccine, call your primary care provider, your local pharmacy, and reach out to one of the health systems that has been deemed a high throughput allocation site. For more information on the states vaccination plan, please visit https://covidvaccine.mo.gov/. Please note that many of the vaccination distribution sites have not received vaccines or do not have contact information. COVID NAVIGATOR - https://covidvaccine.mo.gov/navigator/ is a secure registry tool to assist Missourians in receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. You can also call the COVID-19 hotline at 877-435-8411 for registration assistance. TRUMAN WAIT LIST SIGNUP - https://www.trumed.org/forms/covid-19-vaccine-wait-list/ 816-404-CARE HCA WAIT LIST SIGNUP - https://researchmedicalcenter.com/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine-information/covid-19-vaccine-distribution.dot WALMART WAIT LIST SIGNUP - https://www.walmart.com/cp/1228302 SAM’S CLUB WAIT LIST SIGN UP - https://www.samsclub.com/pharmacy HEALTHMART SIGN UP - https://scrcxp.pdhi.com/Portal/Member/d1e1f5d5-007f-4167-b8d1-1ea83cb3b215 HY-VEE SIGN UP - https://www.hy-vee.com/my-pharmacy/covid-vaccine OPERATION SAFE/CLAY COUNTY (NKC & LIBERTY HOSPITALS) -https://clayhealth.jotform.com/210138520201032 SAMUEL U. RODGERS HEALTH CENTER COVID-19 VACCINE WAITLIST - https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=WYw-ckSF30ei2eXLBBAfJSZy6fvP_mhBpLKAX9-FudlUNko2VDFBWEtMSVIyQlo0NUJXTko2RlZUTCQlQCN0PWcu MASS VACCINATION EVENTS SIGN UP: https://covidvaccine.mo.gov/events/. Note: Governor Parson announced last week the state will host a “Mega Vaccination” two day event at Arrowhead Stadium on Friday, March 19 and Saturday, March 20, 2021. Details can be found at the above sign up link. PROVIDERS WHO CURRENTLY HAVE VACCINES ON HAND - You will be able to view a map and look up local, approved vaccinators - https://covidvaccine.mo.gov/map/. Contact your state representative or senator, the Governor, and the MO Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS) if you have concerns with the vaccine roll out or issues with scheduling your vaccine: Governor Parson Phone: (573) 751-3222 Email: https://governor.mo.gov/contact-us Dr. Randall Williams, Director Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS) Phone: (573) 751-6400 Email: info@health.mo.gov Upcoming COVID testing sites in our area can be found here: https://www.kcmo.gov/city-hall/departments/health/coronavirus-covid-19-kcmo-information-and-response/covid-19-testing-locations
As of Sat March 13 MO Dept of Health and Senior Services reports confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Missouri rose to 483,513 and 8,310 total confirmed deaths. The New York Times database reports as of March 14 at least 574,759 cases and 8,769 deaths in Missouri since the beginning of the pandemic
Please sign up to be ready to get your COVID-19 vaccine when you qualify, continue to social distance, wash your hands, and always wear your mask in public!
THANK YOU! for answering the Missouri Mondays CALL TO ACTION!
Invite your friends and neighbors to join us and sign up for Indivisible Missouri and this Missouri Mondays email at indivisiblemo.com/signup
