05/10/21 - Missouri Mondays - Final week of MOLeg! CALL YOUR ELECTEDS and MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!
On Friday after the Missouri Legislature passed the 2021 state budget on Friday without funding Medicaid, the Missouri House Democrats held a press conference and House Minority Leader Crystal Quade remarked, “We saw this week with the passage of the state budget left over about $7 billion - $8 billion dollars that we did not spend but yet we continue to hear the Republican majority say that we can’t afford to follow the state constitution, that we cannot afford to do what voters overwhelmingly told us to do by fully funding Medicaid as the voters directed.”
Ranking House member Peter Meredith spoke frankly about his frustration, “I am just angry and sad for the people of Missouri. The state GOP legislature essentially just gave them the middle finger today, and they gave their middle finger to the Constitution that they supposedly swore an oath to and that is a shame and it’s putting us in a situation where we are putting in jeopardy all of the dollars for our entire Medicaid program in this state and where we’re about to face expensive lawsuits, spend lots of money on high priced lawyers to fight against the will of the voters.” Rep. Meredith also posted on Facebook about his remarks, “And if we enter a world now where our legislators believe they don’t have to follow the will of voters, the constitution, or the courts, we can say goodbye to our Constitutional Republic, and our democracy.” Here’s the link to watch the entire press conference: https://youtu.be/34ADC-oupdQ)
KEEP UP THE PRESSURE! TAKE ACTION IN THESE FINAL DAYS OF MOLEG!
Ignoring the will of the voters and their duty to uphold the Missouri constitution, the GOP majority legislature refused to include Medicaid funding in the 2021 state budget. Governor Parson needs to keep his promise to fully fund Medicaid by taking action enrolling those who are now eligible and calling a special session to approve the funding! Parson already included the funding for Medicaid expansion in his budget saying, “I have to represent all Missourians and they voted for it.” KCStar Editorial Board May 2
TELL GOVERNOR PARSON TO KEEP HIS PROMISE TO FULLY FUND MEDICAID!
Gov. Parson Office: (573) 751-3222
Email: https://governor.mo.gov/contact-us
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TELL GOVERNOR PARSON TO VETO HCS HB 349 NO TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION!
Gov. Parson Office: (573) 751-3222
Email: https://governor.mo.gov/contact-us
HCS HB 349 establishes the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program to pay for costs like private school tuition. It “would allow residents to receive a tax credit for donating to certain educational assistance organizations. Those organizations would then provide scholarships to eligible students that could be used toward a variety of costs, like private school tuition, tutoring, transportation and more. The bill may reduce the state’s general revenue by an estimated $50 million in its initial years, according to a fiscal analysis of the program.” Missouri Independent May 6
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MOLEG UNFINISHED BUSINESS THIS WEEK
CALL YOUR ELECTEDS TO VOTE NO ON BILLS THAT WOULD:
Suppress voting with photo ID requirements
Make the initiative petition process much more difficult for voters to effect constitutional change
Make it a felony to block traffic during protests
Shield businesses and religious institutions from COVID-related lawsuits
Limit health departments ability to implement coronavirus-related restrictions
Expanding charter schools; establish open school district enrollment
Prohibit MO from providing funds to Planned Parenthood by including in the renewal bill for crucial medical provider taxes Missouri Independent May 7
Find your state Representative and Senator HERE: senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default.aspx
Check out this excellent overview by St. Louis Public Radio of the key legislation work remaining: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/government-politics-issues/2021-05-09/missouri-legislature-begins-final-week-with-plenty-of-unfinished-business
SAVE THE DATE AND REGISTER FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS!
MISSOURI VOTER PROTECTION COALITION (MOVPC) MEETING
Mon May 10 at 10 AM
Join Missouri Voter Protection Coalition Zoom meeting with statewide advocates working to protect the right to vote in Missouri.
Text MOVPC to 66866 to sign up!
Heartland Alliance for Progress
Fighting Back Against Gerrymandering in Missouri
Guest speaker Sean Soendker Nicholson with GPS Impact
TONIGHT! Mon May 10, 6:00-7:00 PM
RSVP HERE: https://bit.ly/3gxZ70D
Sean will provide an update on REDISTRICTING and how you can fight back against gerrymandering by engaging in the development of COMMUNITY MAPS, after Missouri voters were tricked into returning to unfair and noncompetitive state house and senate districts with Amendment 3 in November 2020.
Stand Up KC Car Parade and Rally
Make McDonald’s Pay Up! - Give us $15 and a UNION!
Wed May 19 at 10:30 AM
St. Mark’s Hope and Peace Church
3800 Troost Ave
KC MO 64109
As McDonald's holds their annual shareholders meeting to celebrate making over $4 billion dollars in profits last year, join fast food workers in Kansas City and take action to remind them that WE, THE WORKERS, ARE THE ONES WHO MADE ALL OF THAT MONEY! We deserve our fair share! We deserve no less than $15 per hour and we need a union and benefits like healthcare and paid sick days! Make McDonald's Pay Up!
JOIN US between 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM at St. Mark's Hope and Peace Church at 3800 Troost Ave. Kansas City, MO 64109 to decorate your car with signs, flags, and car magnets!
PLEASE SHARE THIS EVENT LINK: https://fb.me/e/269NuWdYI
COVID RESOURCES
Vaccine Eligibility - SIGN UP TODAY!
ALL Missourians age 16 and up are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Register here: https://covidvaccine.mo.gov/navigator/
You can also call the COVID-19 hotline at 877-435-8411 for registration assistance.
Missourians Vaccinated - as of Sun May 9 The New York Times
30% of Missourians are fully vaccinated
39% have received at least one dose.
Total COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in Missouri
505,492 confirmed cases and 8,824 deaths as of Sat May 8 MO Dept of Health and Senior Services
605,885 total cases and 9,332 deaths as of Sun May 9 The New York Times
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
