05/13/24 Missouri Mondays - URGENT! Final week of MOLeg! Take action TODAY to protect IP and majority rule! Contact MO Senate to vote NO on SJR 74!

Welcome to Missouri Mondays!
It’s the final week of the Missouri Legislature regular session and TODAY the Senate will take up Senate Joint Resolution SJR 74 sponsored by Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman that seeks to trick voters with confusing ballot candy language into voting to make it harder to amend the Missouri Constitution through the citizen’s initiative petition process and ending majority rule.
MO Senator John Rizzo explained, “They know if they have a straight-up fight over this issue, they lose,” Rizzo said. “Which is why they have to contort themselves into all these different shapes and sizes in order to fool people into voting for something that will take rights away from them.” Missouri Independent May 10
We need your URGENT action contacting MO Senators! See Missouri Voter Protection Coalition (MOVPC) Call to Action details below on SJR 74 and find more details on the anticipated “showdown” if SJR 74 is taken up in the Senate today as expected here: https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/10/missouiri-initiative-petition-ballot-bill-freedom-caucus/. Missouri Independent May 10
Also see the League of Women Voters of Missouri Legislative Bulletin May 12 here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AEI9Uh1fzZ3eW4yH21uTw_Ycm7Y1ZUDg/view and additional LWVMO legislative Calls to Action here: https://lwvkc.org/content.aspx?page_id=722&club_id=477430&emtid=249973187005&mtid=580132257397&ht=0
THANK YOU! for staying informed, using your voice to make a difference, and helping us to spread the word by sharing this link to sign up for Missouri Mondays weekly email bit.ly/3pF99Uw.
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GET INVOLVED! ACTIONS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
TAKE ACTION WITH THE MISSOURI VOTER PROTECTION COALITION (MOVPC)
TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE
Join the MOVPC weekly online meeting MONDAYS at 10 AM
Text “MOVPC” to 66866 or register HERE: bit.ly/protectmovoters
We've got work to do to protect our Freedom to Vote! Your help is needed to ensure ALL Missourians are able to make their voices heard! MOVPC is a nonpartisan statewide network promoting access to the ballot and working to remove barriers to voting in Missouri! Register for Monday calls here!
MOVPC 2024 Missouri Legislative Tracker
See a breakdown of elections related bills on MOVPC's Voting Rights Legislative Tracker here: bit.ly/movotingbills
DONATE TO MOVPC
Help the non-partisan Missouri Voter Protection Coalition lead the fight against attacks on our freedom to vote in the statehouse, in the courthouse, in the media, in the streets and at the polls on Election Day. Donate: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/movpc
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LAST WEEK OF MO LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION - YOUR HELP URGENTLY NEEDED TODAY TO PROTECT INITIATIVE PETITIONS AND MAJORITY RULE!
It’s the last week of the regular session of the Missouri Legislature and we expect Senate Joint Resolution SJR 74 attacking the initiative petition process and majority rule will be taken up again TODAY Monday May 13 in the MO Senate.
From Missouri Voter Protection Coalition (MOVPC) May 9, 2024
Last Thursday the House version of Senate Joint Resolution SJR 74 was called up in the Senate for debate and vote. SJR 74, sponsored by Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, seeks to weaken the citizen initiative process for amending the Missouri Constitution and end majority rule. Senate Democrats who have pledged their support of Majority Rule stood up to filibuster to stop this dangerous assault on our democracy. Within a short period of time, the Senate adjourned for the week without further action.
Ends majority rule in Missouri's citizen initiative process through a confusing "concurrent majority" requirement that would allow a minority of Missourians to override the will of the majority. Allows some votes to weigh more than others. This would effectively end "one person, one vote" in Missouri. Read more about the proposed changes to initiative petitions under SJR 74 that would end majority rule–https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/05/as-few-as-1-in-5-voters-could-defeat-initiative-petitions-under-missouri-senate-proposal/ Missouri Independent Feb 5
Includes "ballot candy" designed to trick voters and stoke fear and xenophobia (including "only citizens" can vote; and no foreign funding of IPs - both are already the case). This is designed to trick voters and end majority rule
Missouri voters across the political spectrum have used the citizen initiative process for more than a century to advocate for proposals convective, progressive and everything in between. The citizen initiative process is democracy in its purest form.
CALL TO ACTION ON SJR 74!
THANK SENATORS WHO STOOD UP FOR MAJORITY RULE AND LET THEM KNOW YOU WANT THEM CONTINUE TO DO SO!
Call the following Senators, thank them for standing up to filibuster and urge them to keep up the fight!!
Sen. Lauren Arthur (17) 573-751-5282
Sen. Doug Beck (1) 573-751-0220
Sen. Karla May (4) 573-751-3599
Sen. Tracy McCreery (24) 573-751-9762
Sen. Angela Mosley (13) 573-751-2420
Sen. John Rizzo (11) 573-751-3074
Sen. Steve Roberts (5) 573-751-4415
Sen. Barbara Washington (9) 573-751-3158
Sen. Brian Williams (14) 573-751-4106
Sample message to Senators:
THANK YOU for standing up for majority rule in Missouri.
We need to protect the citizen initiative process and save Majority Rule in our state.
We need to remove confusing ballot candy designed to trick voters.
I support you standing to filibuster SJR 74 and urge you to keep doing so!!
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LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF MISSOURI LEGISLATIVE BULLETIN - WEEK OF MAY 12 2024
Read the full LWVMO Legislative Bulletin May 12 here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AEI9Uh1fzZ3eW4yH21uTw_Ycm7Y1ZUDg/view
LEGISLATURE PASSES BUDGET BILLS
The House agreed to the Senate Substitute versions of the budget bills on May 10, completing passage of next year's state budget just hours prior to the 6 pm deadline for passing those bills. Those bills will be printed in final form and delivered to the Governor for his consideration. The Governor has line-item veto authority regarding the various items in each of the budget bills. League will report on the highlights of this budget after session as well.
SENATE PASSES FRA HEALTHCARE PROVIDER TAX
The Senate passed SS/SB 748 (Lincoln Hough) on May 9. The bill would extend the healthcare provider tax (also known as federal reimbursement allowance or FRA) for five years. Extension of the FRA provider tax is an essential part of successfully passing the state budget. The combined budget impact of the FRA and federal matching funds is more than $4 billion, and the House and Senate versions of the budget both assume that these funds will be available to fund Medicaid services. This bill now proceeds to the House for its consideration. The House is expected to pass the bill next week.
INITIATIVE PETITION PROCESS
The Senate briefly debated a motion to adopt the House version of SS#4/SJR 74 (Mary Elizabeth Coleman) on May 9. However, the motion was withdrawn before a vote. League OPPOSES the joint resolution which will make it more difficult for Missouri citizens to bring forward and gain approval on measures of interest brought by the initiative petition process.
HJR 86 (John Black) was reported to the floor on May 9. This is another resolution seeking to make it more difficult to amend the Constitution through the initiative petition process and includes similar "ballot candy.” League OPPOSES.
The Senate seems likely to bring up one of these two IP measures next week. Senate Democrats have staunchly opposed this measure, particularly versions with the so-called ballot candy. Meanwhile, "Freedom Caucus" members have blocked Senate progress this session on key issues such as FRA and the budget to leverage a vote on an IP measure. It is unclear how this issue will be resolved next week in the Senate, but the strong positions held on each side might mean that it is the last issue and perhaps the only issue discussed by the Senate next week.
GOVERNOR SIGNS VOUCHER/CHARTER EXPANSION BILL INTO LAW
Governor Parson signed SS#2/SCS/SB 727 (Andrew Koenig) into law on May 7. League opposed this bill which expands the existing tax credit voucher enacted in 2021 and expands charter schools. The bill contains many other provisions, most of which will go into effect on the normal effective date of August 28, 2024. In League’s report after the session is over there will be more details about the many provisions of this bill.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
The anti-DEI language inserted in bills in the House was defeated in the Senate several times.
WOMEN’S HEALTH
HB 2413, the Women’s Health omnibus bill has been widely supported by both parties in the House. Whether it will have time for debate in the Senate is questionable.
TAKE ACTION ON MO LEGISLATION WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS!
Use your voice on issues of importance to you! See all LWVMO CALLS TO ACTION for the week of May 12 from the League of Women Voters of Missouri here: https://lwvkc.org/content.aspx?page_id=722&club_id=477430&emtid=249973187005&mtid=580132257397&ht=0
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EVENTS AND WAYS TO GET INVOLVED!
Missouri House Democrats
End of Session Fundraiser
Wednesday, May 15
6PM - 8PM
Jefferson City, MO
RSVP win@mohousedems.com for more details
You are cordially invited to the Missouri House Democrats End of Session Fundraiser. Help us build Democratic infrastructure in every region of Missouri and flip our state blue! RSVP win@mohousedems.com for more details
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South Kansas City Democrats
May Monthly Meeting
May 18 at 10am
Mid-Continent Library - Red Bridge
453 E Red Bridge Rd.
Kansas City, MO 64131
Email us: southkcdems@gmail.com
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Patty Lewis MO Senate District 7 Campaign Kick-off
Wednesday, May 22
5:30pm - 7:30pm
The Classic Cup
301 W 47th St
Kansas City, MO
I hope you will join me on Wednesday, May 22nd from 5:30-7:30 PM as we kickoff our Senate District 7 Campaign at The Classic Cup Cafe, 301 W 47th St, Kansas City, MO.
FIND EVENTS AND MORE WAYS TO GET INVOLVED HERE: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19AZUdtRH5WXefOC4Q5D9u-HyuzhBEL8rYX9Ospn3n18/edit?usp=sharing
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
THANK YOU! for staying informed and taking action to make a difference!
Invite your friends and neighbors to join us and sign up for Missouri Action Alliance and this Missouri Mondays weekly email at bit.ly/3pF99Uw
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