05/02/22 - Missouri Mondays - Voting Rights Lobby Day at the Capitol May 3rd! Make a difference!
Make a difference this week for voting rights, public education, trans kids, more!
Welcome to another Missouri Mondays and another busy week of important events and actions! Thanks for staying informed and using your voice to make a difference!
MISSOURI LEGISLATURE - ACTIONS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE THIS WEEK!
STOP ATTACKS ON MO PUBLIC SCHOOLS!
HB 1552 CHARTER SCHOOL FUNDING BILL IS UP FOR DEBATE IN THE HOUSE THIS WEEK!
Update from State Representative Keri Ingle–
The Senate on April 20 voted 29-5 to pass compromise legislation that would change how charter schools are funded. The bill– House Bill HB 1552 now returns to the House of Representatives, which approved a radically different version of it more than a month ago. The House can grant final passage to the Senate version or seek to negotiate an alternate version of the bill.
Charter schools are public schools that operate independently of their local school district and are exempt from many state education regulations. At present, they are allowed to operate only in Kansas City and St. Louis. As passed by the lower chamber, HB 1552 would have redirected millions of dollars in state funding from the Kansas City and St. Louis school districts to the charter schools in their jurisdictions.
The Senate compromise for HB 1552 –
Would modify the statutory formula for distributing state funding to local schools so that charter schools would receive additional funding without reducing the amount of money going to the local districts. The plan would cost about $62 million more in funding for the upcoming fiscal year.
Also includes reforms to how charter schools operate, including that they be run by a not-for-profit entity and require board members to be Missouri residents.
Includes changes to how on-line virtual schools must operate.
The Senate compromise for HB 1552 still diverts public dollars to charter schools that lack local and democratically elected bodies so are unaccountable to you, the taxpayer! TELL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO VOTE NO!
Find your state rep using the legislator lookup here: https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default.aspx
Missouri Independent story on HB 1552 here: https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-passes-charter-funding-compromise-moving-bill-step-closer-to-governors-desk/
~~~~~~~~
TELL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO VOTE NO ON “PARENTS’ BILL OF RIGHTS” HCS HJR 110!
HCS HJR 110 proposes an unnecessary and burdensome constitutional amendment relating to the parents’ bill of rights. This bill is up for a final vote this week. If HCS HJR 110 is passed:
Such rights include but are not limited to the following: the parent's right to participate and direct the education of their child
The right to access and view curricula, academic performance, and financial information
The right to choose educational options under a system of open enrollment across district boundaries created and funded by the General Assembly
The right to opt a child out of any content that is disagreeable to the parent.
See the bill summary here: https://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills221/sumpdf/HJR0110C.pdf
Find your representative using the Legislator Lookup here: https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default.aspx
~~~~~~~~
TELL YOUR SENATOR TO VOTE NO ON HB 2140 RESTRICTIVE VOTING AND ANTI-TRANS LEGISLATION! THIS BILL PASSED THE HOUSE AND IS NOW IN THE SENATE!
We should be making access to the ballot easier, not more difficult. Voter ID has remained a top priority for Republicans, despite the Missouri Supreme Court ruling against previous GOP voter ID laws. The bill would also “allow the state to ignore federal election laws, fine election officials who follow federal law without legislative approval and impose a photo voter identification requirement, which the Missouri Supreme Court has twice struck down as unconstitutional.”
GOP Rep. Chuck Basye tacked on an anti-trans amendment to HB 2140 (McGaugh). This Election Omnibus bill is 51 pages of voting restrictions making it harder to vote in Missouri. The anti-trans amendment has no relation to the voting restrictions in HB 2140 and is illegal. Democrat Rep. Ian Mackey spoke passionately against Rep. Basye’s amendment confronting him on the House floor. After 3 hours of debate the anti-trans amendment was approved 89-40. HB 2140 is now in the Senate.
HB 2140 Talking points from League of Women Voters KC:
Allows the State to intrude on Local Elections, giving the SOS power to withhold funds from a local election authority
Prohibits local election authorities from receiving private funds
Imposes registration requirements for volunteers who register voters
Includes a "Missouri Sovereignty Act" which would make Missouri Law more important than Federal law
Imposes photo ID requirements, which would disenfranchise many voters without driver licenses
Find your senator using the Legislator Lookup here: https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default.aspx
THANK DEMOCRAT REP. IAN MACKEY FOR STANDING UP FOR TRANS KIDS IN MISSOURI!
Office: 573-751-0100
Email: Ian.Mackey@house.mo.gov
Watch Democrat Rep. Ian Mackey’s powerful speech confronting GOP Rep. Chuck Basye on the House floor last week over his anti-trans amendment: https://www.youtube.com/watch
Watch MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell interview with Rep. Mackey here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUJZyC1xwL8
~~~~~~~
TELL YOUR STATE SENATOR TO VOTE NO ON HB 1860 CHANGES AFFECTING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS!
The GOP majority continue their assault on families that need Missouri’s support the most. HB 1860 has passed in the House and is now in the Senate.
HB 1860 would cut the amount of support a family can count on from unemployment services by shrinking the amount of time they can remain on unemployment while searching for a new job.
HB 1860 would tie the length of time someone can claim unemployment insurance to the statewide unemployment insurance. Not only does using the statewide numbers ignore that different areas experience different levels of unemployment, the bill would make Missouri one of the states with the lowest amount of time someone can claim unemployment insurance.
Find your state senator using the legislator lookup here: https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default.aspx
~~~~~~~~
MISSOURI BUDGET IN THE NEWS
The constitutional deadline for the Missouri Legislature to complete the budget is May 6, 2022
The Senate reinserted the Governor’s plan to increase the minimum teacher salary in the state to $38,000. However, when the Senate Appropriations Committee discussed the language portion of the line item, they reinserted the Governor’s original “70-30 match” requirement, meaning districts would still be required to fund 30% of salary costs, plus benefits. This would put more of the burden on small and struggling districts.
“The spending plan for the year that begins July 1 has some big differences from the House version. Major items for negotiations to come include:
$214 million added to fully fund the state’s 75% share of school transportation costs
$2.5 billion shifted into Medicaid service lines such as hospital care or office visits that represents the projected cost of covering working-age adults under Obamacare. The House put it in a single budget line.
$500 million requested by Gov. Mike Parson as a deposit to the Missouri State Employees Retirement System. The Senate approved it while the House set up a five-year plan to build up the fund.
$100 million for early retirement of state debt. The House increased it to $276 million.”
Read more on MO budget:
Missouri Senate approves record budget, adds $1.2B to House spending
https://missouriindependent.com/2022/04/26/missouri-senate-approves-record-budget-adds-1-2b-to-house-spending/ Missouri Independent April 26
“Picture looks brighter for better starting teacher pay, school transportation as Missouri legislators wrangle over budget - Missouri ranks 50th in the nation for starting teacher pay, according to the National Education Association.”
https://thebeacon.media/stories/2022/04/27/senate-education-budget/ - The Kansas City Beacon April 27
~~~~~~~~
“Federal COVID Relief is Driving the State’s Economy and Budget “Surplus”
“Missouri ended calendar year 2021 with $11.2 billion in the bank – an extraordinary amount. Although much of the balance is federal funding or earmarked state funds, $2.8 billion of the total was state general revenue. By comparison, that amount was nearly six times the average amount of state general revenue in the bank at the end of a normal year.
This “surplus” was largely made possible due to the Federal COVID response. Through a series of legislation including the Families First Act, CARES Act, American Rescue Plan and additional appropriations measures, the U.S. Congress provided significant financial assistance to states and localities, companies and nonprofit organizations and individuals. This assistance is bolstering Missouri’s economy and state revenue. Although Missouri is currently maintaining a significant general revenue balance, the extraordinary economic dynamics created by the Federal COVID response may be temporary and Missouri could at some point see a “normalization” or decrease in state revenue.”
Read more here: https://www.mobudget.org/federal-covid-state-surplus/ - Missouri Budget Project
__________________________________________________________________
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 May 2 at 10 AM
Text “MOVPC” to 66866 or register HERE: https://wustl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYoceyuqTsqGN1NlXOMKb88rSExyr-kWjbt
Help protect the right to vote in Missouri with the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition! The Missouri Voter Protection Coalition (MOVPC) is a nonpartisan statewide network working to protect the right to vote in Missouri, promoting access to the ballot and working to remove barriers to voting.
__________________________________________________________________
MISSOURI VOTER PROTECTION COALITION (MOVPC)
MISSOURI VOTING RIGHTS LOBBY DAY
TUES MAY 3, 2022
10 AM
Missouri State Capitol Rotunda
Jefferson City, MO
SIGN UP: https://bit.ly/May3Lobby
Join advocates to hear what’s at stake for democracy in Missouri and thank legislators who are defending our freedom to vote.
__________________________________________________________________
May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America's history and are instrumental in its future success.
Events, exhibits, collections and more here: https://asianpacificheritage.gov/
__________________________________________________________________
MORE UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS
Find more upcoming actions and events here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/19AZUdtRH5WXefOC4Q5D9u-HyuzhBEL8rYX9Ospn3n18/edit?usp=sharing
__________________________________________________________________
CRISIS IN UKRAINE - HOW YOU CAN HELP
HOW TO HELP
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN - Help us provide fresh meals to communities in need. On Feb 24, Russia launched a large-scale attack on neighboring Ukraine, invading the country on several fronts. As a result, millions have fled their homes in search of safety. Working at a 24-hour pedestrian border crossing in southern Poland, WCK began serving hot, nourishing meals immediately. Now, we've expanded our efforts to serve people across the region in Romania, Moldova, and Hungary. WCK is also partnering with restaurants inside of Ukraine to get hot meals to anyone in need. Make a donation to WCK here: https://donate.wck.org/give/393234#!/donation/checkout
UNICEF - UNICEF is currently on the ground in Ukraine, helping children with water, health and education services. You can give a one-time or recurring donation here: https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/unicef-children-are-bearing-brunt-intensifying-crisis-ukraine/39481
RED CROSS - The International Committee of the Red Cross is supporting the Ukrainian Red Cross right now. The groups are supporting food-producing initiatives, repairing infrastructure, and helping hospitals, schools, mental health facilities and community centers. You can make a one-time donation or a monthly contribution here: https://www.icrc.org/en/donate
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS - American-based nonprofits as well as international organizations are collecting donations for supplies such as first aid backpacks, clothes, diapers, food, cots and other necessities. Donate here: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/what-we-do/countries/ukraine
SUNFLOWER OF PEACE - Sunflower of Peace Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to helping Ukrainians affected by the Russian military invasion. Donate here: https://www.sunflowerofpeace.com/
__________________________________________________________________
Kansas City Metropolitan Area COVID Metrics at a Glance
Source: The Kansas City Beacon – last update April 21 https://thebeacon.media/stories/2022/03/04/kansas-city-beacon-covid-data-dashboard/
Editor’s note: As of April 1, 2022, Missouri stopped updating some of its daily COVID metrics at the county level. The Kansas City Beacon has adjusted which metrics it reports as a result. For more information on the changes and to access historical data, please visit our data download & FAQ page.
~~~~~~~~~~
Missourians Vaccinated - as of May 1 The New York Times
66% of Missourians have received at least one dose - (78% have received at least one dose in the U.S.)
56% of Missourians are fully vaccinated - (66% are fully vaccinated in the U.S.)
Latest COVID Trends in Missouri as of May 1 - The New York Times
An average of 229 cases per day were reported in Missouri in the last week. Cases have increased by 58 percent from the average two weeks ago.
Deaths have decreased by 46 percent.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 1 in 4 residents have been infected, a total of 1,433,608 reported cases. At least 1 in 304 residents have died from the coronavirus, a total of 20,199 deaths.
January 2022 was the month with the highest average cases, while November 2021 was the month with the highest average deaths in Missouri.
~~~~~~~~~~
MORE COVID-19 RESOURCES AND INFORMATION HERE: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i1vCikZiGfMulA8tFCDSJbEKV5N37S1JU_TSlgs699A/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
