04/17/23 Missouri Mondays - Keep fighting MO GOP’s extreme agendas silencing our voices...
...threatening democracy!
Welcome to another Missouri Mondays! Last week the MO GOP supermajority put our state in the national spotlight once again for all the wrong reasons. During a hearing on his bill to “protect” trans kids by banning their gender-affirming care, Republican Senator Mike Moon defended his previous vote against making it illegal for children as young as 12 year to marry and even celebrated those marriages. This video clip from the hearing went viral: https://twitter.com/aaroncrossley/status/1646137563134951424.
We expect in these final few weeks the Republican supermajority will keep pushing their extreme agendas forward, continuing attacks on trans kids, books and libraries, diversity education, voting rights and initiative petitions, making it easier for anyone including kids to buy and carry guns everywhere instead of enacting common sense safety reforms that the majority of Missourians support.
We know this is not about protecting Missourians or making lives better. It’s about power and control and we need your help fighting back! Join us!
Find everything you need to take action from home or in Jefferson City. Help us spread the word to others to get involved and share our link to sign up for Missouri Mondays: https://www.moactionalliance.com/signup.
TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT THE CITIZEN’S INITIATIVE PETITION PROCESS!
For more than 100 years Missourians have utilized the initiative petition process to expand Medicaid coverage, overturn the right to work law harming unions, and legalize medical and recreational marijuana. Now the GOP majority is desperate to make it harder if not impossible to place a measure on the ballot through the initiative petition process and pass it statewide.
CALL YOUR STATE SENATOR TO VOTE NO ON HCS HJR43 AND OPPOSE ANY EFFORTS TO UNDERMINE THE CITIZEN-LED INITIATIVE PETITION PROCESS!
Senate Democrats held the Senate floor for almost four hours filibustering HCS HJR 43 and as a result Senate Republicans sat the bill aside. WE KNOW THIS FIGHT IS NOT OVER!
HCS HJR 43
Increases threshold for passage of constitutional amendments from a simple majority to 60%.
Statutory initiatives would pass with a simple majority.
Defines "eligible voters" as only US citizens and residents of Missouri.
Requires the Secretary of State to provide voters in each Congressional district with a period in which to review and comment upon all initiative petitions proposing amendments to the Constitution
Find your senator using the Legislator Lookup here: https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default
Or
Call 1-833-491-0334 MO Jobs with Justice initiative petition patch-through line to leave a voicemail for your State Senator!
Find detailed legislation information on HCS HJR 43 and more in MOVPC’s Legislative Tracker here: bit.ly/movotingbills
HOUSE REPUBLICANS USING MISSOURI’S BUDGET AS A POLITICAL WEAPON! TAKE ACTION!
Republican Rep. Doug Richey of Excelsior Springs sponsored amendments to House budget bills with sweeping language barring every state agency and contract from spending tax dollars on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives (DEI). Democrats say Rep. Richey’s amendment with the DEI ban language threatens to close charter schools, interrupt delivery of medical services and could even force the Capitol Building to go dark.” All the bills were passed despite efforts by Democrats to remove the DEI language before sending to the Senate.
TELL YOUR STATE SENATOR TO REMOVE LANGUAGE BANNING DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION (DEI) FROM THE BUDGET!
Find your senator using the Legislator Lookup here: https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default
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TELL YOUR STATE SENATOR TO RETURN STATE FUNDING FOR MO PUBLIC LIBRARIES TO THE BUDGET!
House Budget Chair Rep. Cody Smith (R-Carthage) stripped all state funding for Missouri public libraries from the House budget in retaliation for an ACLU lawsuit on behalf of the Missouri Library Association and the Missouri Association of School Libraries that seeks to overturn a state law that bans sexually explicit material from schools and has resulted in school districts pulling books from their shelves.
The House budget is now in the Senate. Tell your Senator to return state funding for our public libraries!
Find your senator using the Legislator Lookup here: https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default
Watch Democrat Rep. Peter Meredith and Katie Earnhart, the director of the Cape Girardeau MO Public Library on MSNBC with Jonathan Capehart discussing the GOP majority voting to cut funding for Missouri public libraries in retaliation to a lawsuit targeting a law that has led to hundreds of books being banned. https://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/-straight-out-of-a-dystopian-novel-missouri-dem-blasts-state-gop-for-defunding-libraries-170367557950 MSNBC April 14
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TELL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO VOTE NO ON HB 282 CARRYING GUNS ON BUSES AND IN CHURCHES!
This bill allows a concealed carry permit holder to lawfully carry firearms on buses and churches
Lowers the age requirement from 19 to 18 years of age for concealed carry permits.
Radical gun laws pushed by Republicans over the last 20 years have made Missouri the fourth most lethal state for firearm deaths in the country.
Tell your Representative to vote NO on HB 282!
Find your Representative using the Legislator Lookup here: https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default
MISSOURI IN THE NEWS
Missouri Republican Senator Mike Moon pushing to ban gender-affirming care doubles down on support for legal marriage for kids as young as 12
“During a hearing on a bill to ban gender-affirming care for trans youth on Tuesday, Rep. Peter Merideth, a Democrat, confronted Republican State Senator Moon about his previous vote opposing a bill that would have prevented children as young as 12 from getting married to adults.”
"I've heard you talk about parents' rights to raise their kids how they want. In fact, I just double-checked, you voted no on making it illegal for kids to be married to adults at the age of 12 if their parents consented to it. You said actually that should be the law because it's the parents' rights and the kids' rights to decide what's best for them, to be raped by an adult," Merideth said. "That was the law, you voted no to change it."
Moon replied: "Do you know any kids who have been married at age 12? I do. And guess what? They're still married."
“Merideth told Newsweek that "a twelve-year-old isn't old enough to sign a contract, to smoke, to drink, to drive" but Moon thinks "they're old enough to get married and to buy a gun. It's amazing he continues to dig in on this, but he keeps making the point clearer."
"Defending child marriage as an individual freedom and 'parent's right,' when there is zero reason to think a twelve year old should ever be married," he said. "But wanting government to ban medical care that is supported by the parents and doctors that know a child best, and broadly accepted by the medical community and research."
“Similarly, the entire MO House GOP has voted repeatedly this year against ANY minimum age for a child to carry a firearm in public unsupervised (currently there is no minimum age in MO). Guns are, of course, the number one cause of death for kids now," he said.
"They've fought red flag laws begged for by the kids and teachers where a school shooting happened in my district in October. But they want to ban drag storytime, end social and emotional learning programs at schools, and pass book bans at libraries. I'm so over these radicals claiming they are 'protecting kids.'"
Newsweek April 14
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“Emergency rule seeks to limit access to certain procedures for transgender Missourians”
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey released details of an emergency rule Thursday seeking to make it harder for transgender children and adults to access certain medical procedures, calling them “experimental” and arguing they need “substantial guardrails.”
The rule, once filed with the Secretary of State, would be in effect from April 27 to Feb. 6, 2024.
Citing the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act — a law intended to prosecute fraudulent business practices — Bailey’s office prescribed a multi-faceted disclosure and screening process for physicians offering gender-affirming care.
The attorney general’s rule mandates that anyone receiving puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones or gender-transition surgery must first receive 15 hourly sessions with a psychologist or psychiatrist over at least 18 months.
The rules also include a provision that bars physicians from prescribing puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones unless a patient has three “most recent, consecutive years” of medical documentation showing gender dysphoria.
Newsweek April 14
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!
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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PLANNED PARENTHOOD GREAT PLAINS VOTES
MO RIGHTS, MO LOVE - MISSOURI LOBBY DAY
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19
1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
MO STATE CAPITOL ROTUNDA
We know all Missourians, and right now especially our gender-diverse neighbors, deserve MO Rights, MO Love. We are partnering with nine incredible organizations to rally for MO Rights, MO Love! Join us April 19 as we table, network, listen to speakers, and lobby!
WE NEED YOU to show up and urge your representatives to protect gender-affirming care, support centers that provide vital health services, and stand for a world that is diverse, equitable, just, and inclusive. This is the time to show our full force.
All are welcome! You'll have a chance to connect with several organizations, and hear a lineup of speakers highlight various issues affecting our right to bodily autonomy in Missouri. We'll also offer a brief lobbying training to build your confidence discussing legislation with elected officials.
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SUPPORT MISSOURI'S CITIZEN INITIATIVE PROCESS WITH MOVPC AND THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE COALITION
Thanks to all of you who have testified, called and written your legislator - and thanks to lawmakers who stood up against HJR 43! While we've slowed movement, we're not out of the woods yet! To show statewide support for Missouri's Initiative Petition process, the Will of the People Coalition and MOVPC are planning rapid response simultaneous pop up regional press conferences/support actions across the state - St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia and Jefferson City. These will occur at 11am the day after any final vote in the legislature passing legislation to gut Missouri's IP process.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please help plan ahead for these solidarity actions by choosing: (1) a leadership role, (2) helping, (3) supporting (4) endorsing or (5) volunteering at local IP press events in your region.
SIGN UP to participate in initiative petition actions HERE: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdEDAnY6HfiWep7_7dfmHB1Xfsi6GtYeYzSsRnO1ApVRV9fSQ/viewform
IP Actions Planning Meetings
Tuesday 10:30 AM
Join Zoom Meeting HERE
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MISSOURI VOTER PROTECTION COALITION (MOVPC)
VOTING RIGHTS DAY AT THE MO STATE CAPITOL
TUESDAY MAY 2ND
9:00AM-1:00PM
RSVP HERE: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEfi18ZySN1u4k73WnBbDSPMy60iBsL_kxjEwGCnUekUILZA/viewform
On Tuesday. May 2, 2023, 9 am - 1pm, Missouri voter advocates will hold a Voting Rights Day at the Missouri State Capitol Rotunda to draw attention to pending voting bills in Missouri - including moving proactive voter access measures as well as continue to call on lawmakers to stop the attacks on the citizen initiative process. 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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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
