03/20/23 Missouri Mondays - Lawmakers are Back, Voting Rights, Direct Democracy, Freedoms Under...
Attack! Take Action!
Welcome to another Missouri Mondays! Lawmakers are back in Jefferson City and we are ready for a busy week with everything you need to take action. We are stronger and more powerful together! Help us spread the word to get involved and sign up for Missouri Mondays updates here: https://www.moactionalliance.com/signup.
MO SENATE HEARINGS ON VOTING RIGHTS! MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!
Public Hearing on SB 98
TODAY Monday March 20
State Capitol, Senate Committee Hearing Room 2
2:00 PM
Missouri Voter Protection Coalition (MOVPC) OPPOSES the election law changes in SB 98. Some of the changes include:
Would require hand counted paper ballots. Currently automatic tabulating equipment & electronic voting machines are allowed.
Voters with disabilities would be allowed to use voting machines but must register creating barriers for voters with disabilities who are not able to pre-register or for voters temporarily disabled.
Singles out voters with accessibility needs for separate treatment from other voters.
Would prohibit the SOS from entering into any interstate compact -- like the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) -- to provide data for list maintenance, a practice that has been shown to provide more accurate and timely data. It does allow SOS to use data if it does the matching itself.
Require ballots to have a watermark and be produced in the US
Require absentee ballots to be mailed first class, and mailed only from the county of the election jurisdiction
See SB 98 bill summary here https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=44520
TESTIFY in person if possible! Only in person testimony will be entered into the record
CONTACT Senate Local Government and Elections Committee and tell them to vote NO on SB 98!
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Executive session on SB 376
TODAY Monday March 20
State Capitol, Senate Committee Hearing Room 2
2:00 PM
SB 376 would restore voting rights after incarceration allowing people on probation & parole to vote.
Missouri Voter Protection Coalition (MOVPC) SUPPORTS the voting rights changes in SB 376! See MOVPC Testimony in Support of SB 376
CONTACT– Senate Local Government and Elections Committee and tell them to vote YES on SB 376!
Sen. Elaine Gannon, Chair
Call: 573-751-4008
Email: elaine.gannon@senate.mo.gov
Sen. Sandy Crawford, V-Chair
Call: 573-751-8793
Email: sandy.crawford@senate.mo.gov
Sen. Jill Carter
Call: 573-751-2173
Email: jill.carter@senate.mo.gov
Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman
Call: 573-751-1492
Sen. Andrew Koenig
Call: 573-751-5568
Email: andrew.koenig@senate.mo.gov
Sen. John Rizzo
Call: 573-751-3074
Email: john.rizzo@senate.mo.gov
Sen. Barbara Washington
Call: 573-751-3158
Email: barbara.washington@senate.mo.gov
PROTECT THE CITIZEN’S INITIATIVE PETITION PROCESS!
The MO GOP is desperate to undermine the will of Missourians by making it harder if not impossible to place a measure on the ballot through the initiative petition process and pass it statewide. THANK YOU for making phone calls, submitting testimony or testifying on bills that would gut the IP process! Keep fighting!
Missouri House Elections and Elected Officials Committee
Public Hearing on HB 391
Tuesday March 21
State Capitol, House Hearing Room 6
12:00pm
Missouri Voter Protection Coalition (MOVPC) OPPOSES the changes to the initiative petition process in HB 391!
HB 391
Would prohibit any court from editing the summary statement or ballot language of any ballot measure proposed by the General Assembly.
Courts should have the authority to edit language of summary statements or ballot language that they find to be legally insufficient, deceptive or misleading. This provides important protection for voters to have access to accurate information about a pending measure.
TESTIFY in person if possible!
SUBMIT testimony online here: https://house.mo.gov/WitnessForm/Default.aspx?bill=HB391¬iceid=7591
CONTACT House Elections and Elected Officials Committee and tell them to oppose HB 391 and ANY changes to the IP process!
Rep. Peggy McGaugh 573-751-2917
Rep. Dan Stacy 573-751-8636
Rep. Brad Banderman 573-751-0549
Rep. Tricia Byrnes 573-751-1460
Rep. Jeff Coleman 573-751-1487
Rep. Bill Falkner 573-751-9755
Rep. Rodger Reedy 573-751-3971
Rep. Alex Riley 573-751-2210
Rep. Adam Schwadron 573-751-2949
Rep. Justin Sparks 573-751-0562
Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch 573-751-1169
Rep. Ken Waller 573-751-4451
Find additional legislation information in the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition (MOVPC) Legislative Tracker here: bit.ly/movotingbills
STOP GOVERNMENT OVERREACH! SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENT ON MISSOURIANS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOM ABORTION PROTECTION BALLOT MEASURES!
Missourians for Constitutional Freedom has filed 11 ballot measures that would add abortion protections to the Missouri Constitution.
From Missouri Independent –
“Eleven versions of a proposed initiative petition seeking to roll back Missouri’s ban on abortion by adding protections for the procedure to the state constitution were filed Wednesday with the Secretary of State’s office.
Filed by a St. Louis doctor on behalf of a political action committee called Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, the proposals would amend the constitution to declare that the “government shall not infringe upon a person’s fundamental right to reproductive freedom.” That would include “prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion care, miscarriage care and respectful birthing conditions.” Penalties for both patients seeking reproductive-related care and medical providers would be outlawed.
But there are key differences on a range of topics between the 11 different proposals.
Each version of the proposed amendment says there must be a “compelling governmental interest” for abortion restrictions to be put in place. But while some allow the legislature to regulate abortion after “fetal viability,” others draw the line at 24 weeks of gestation. Some versions make it clear the state can enact parental consent laws for minors seeking abortions. Others leave the topic out entirely.”
“The next step is for the Secretary of State’s office to accept public comments on the 11 versions of the proposed amendment. A summary will be written and supporters can then begin gathering signatures to place the issue on the 2024 ballot.”
SEND PUBLIC COMMENTS TO SECRETARY OF STATE JAY ASHCROFT!
Go to https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2024comment to find full petition text for 11 petitions submitted by “Anna Fitz-James” with Missourians for Constitutional Freedom and click “Submit Comment” button.
Full story on Missourians for Constitutional Freedom’s ballot measures here: https://missouriindependent.com/2023/03/09/group-files-ballot-measures-adding-abortion-protections-to-missouri-constitution/
CHECK OUT OUR 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/13cokjWlCh2EkY5K6bM357rjVPizZDzxlMqjAuoBQfoI/edit?usp=sharing
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 MOVPC weekly meeting MONDAYS at 10 AM
Text “MOVPC” to 66866 or register HERE:
bit.ly/protectmovoters
Our work to protect the vote requires our continued attention! So we hope you'll join our next MOVPC call where we will discuss next steps in our fight to protect the right to vote in Missouri. MOVPC is a nonpartisan statewide network promoting access to the ballot and working to remove barriers to voting in Missouri!
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Jackson County Conversion Therapy Ban Vote
County Ordinance 5711
TODAY Monday March 20
3:00PM
Jackson County Courthouse
2nd Floor
415 E 12th St.
Kansas City, MO 64106
TODAY Monday March 20th, the Jackson County legislature will vote on whether or not to ban the barbaric practice that is conversion therapy after a 73 day process. This meeting is open to the public and we urge anyone that has capacity to show up for this historic moment.
CONTACT Jackson County Legislators and tell them to vote to ban conversion therapy!
Jalen Anderson (1st District At-Large) - anderson@jacksongov.org
Donna Peyton (2nd District At-Large) - dpeyton@jacksongov.org
Megan Marshall (3rd District At-Large) - mmarshall@jacksongov.org
Manny Abarca (1st District) - mabarca@jacksongov.org
Venessa Huskey (2nd District) - vhuskey@jacksongov.org
Charlie Franklin (3rd District) - cfranklin@jacksongov.org
DaRon McGee (4th District) - dmcgee@jacksongov.org
Jeanie Lauer (5th District) - jlauer@jacksongov.org
Sean Smith (6th District) - sesmith@jacksongov.org
Locate your Jackson County in district legislator on the map here: https://jacksoncomo.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=00aea7b613ee4421b4d37fa2d71c06c9
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UPCOMING APRIL 4 PRIMARY MUNICIPAL ELECTION IMPORTANT DATES
TUESDAY MARCH 21 NO EXCUSE IN PERSON ABSENTEE (EARLY) VOTING OPENS!
For more information about registering to vote, checking your voter status, requesting an absentee ballot, and more visit:
Missouri Secretary of State - https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/goVoteMissouri
League of Women Voters Vote411 - https://www.vote411.org/
Vote 411 Personalized ballot and candidate information - https://www.vote411.org/ballot
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Democratic Legislative Network Monday Night Call
Every Monday night at 7pm
Want to stay up to date on what's happening in Jefferson City and how YOU can help secure Democratic victories for Missouri? Sign up below to join the Democratic Legislative Network and be a part of our Monday night messaging calls.
Sign up here: Bit.ly/MissouriDLN
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VOTING RIGHTS FORUM
Sponsored by Sigma Pi Phi
Saturday, March 25
12:00 -2:00 pm
Atterbury Student Success Center
UMKC, Pierson Auditorium
5000 Holmes Street
KC MO 64110
Join us for a robust discussion on voter’s rights in America broadly and more specifically voter’s rights in Missouri, past and present. Where do we go from here?
Featuring Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II, MO State Sen. Barbara Washington, Prof. Mikah Thompson, NAACP Pres Rod Chapel and Missouri Voter Protection Coalition (MOVPC) Director Denise Lieberman
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Missouri Action Alliance
“How to Effectively Engage with MO Lawmakers”
Sunday March 26 - 11:00am
Kansas City Oasis
UMKC Royall Hall 111
800 E 52nd St
Kansas City, MO 64110
Also available on Kansas City Oasis Facebook Live https://www.facebook.com/KCOasis
Join Diana Kornfeld and Marsha Lerenberg with Missouri Action Alliance at Kansas City Oasis to find out why our state legislature in Jefferson City matters and learn the most effective ways to use your voice and your power to engage with lawmakers on issues of importance to you.
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March is Women’s History Month
“Women's History Month honors and celebrates the struggles and achievements of American women throughout the history of the United States. American women have fought throughout our history to gain rights not simply for themselves, but also for many other underrepresented and disenfranchised groups in America.”
Find Women’s History Month events and more:
Library of Congress: https://womenshistorymonth.gov/
National Women’s History Museum: https://www.womenshistory.org/womens-history/womens-history-month
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FIND MORE UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19AZUdtRH5WXefOC4Q5D9u-HyuzhBEL8rYX9Ospn3n18/edit?usp=sharing
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
