05/15/23 Missouri Mondays - 2023 MO Legislative session ends but the work to protect democracy...
and freedoms continues!

Welcome to another Missouri Mondays! We made it to the end of the 2023 Missouri legislative session but the work to protect democracy and freedoms continues! We are so grateful for the lawmakers who fought hard for victories for the people of Missouri to make lives better. Your voice through witness testimony, phone calls and emails helped them protect our citizens initiative petition process, reject guns on buses and in churches, expand postpartum Medicaid healthcare coverage from 60 days to one year, and after 12 years finally passed Blair’s Law, common sense gun policy increasing the penalty for celebratory gun fire, to name a few successes this session.
However GOP supermajority priorities in the House, if the Senate had not stepped in, would have defunded our public libraries, kept anti-diversity language in the budget with “wide ranging consequences”, and despite strong opposition from medical organizations, the pleas of parents of trans children, and your public outcry, both chambers passed two anti-transgender bills banning gender affirming care and placing restrictions on student athletes who must now compete according to their sex assigned at birth. We know these bills will do great harm and absolutely nothing to “protect” Missouri children.
“Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo, D-Independence, said he worries that this year’s focus on transgender minors will only mean Republicans will eventually go after adults in order to further to satisfy their political base. “When you throw red meat to rabid people,” he said, “they don’t stop being hungry.” Missouri Independent May 12
This is why our work must continue.
We’ll provide the resources, events, organizations, where you can take action and continue to make a difference! 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.
MISSOURI IN THE NEWS
“Missouri Senate dysfunction leads to gridlock on final day of 2023 legislative session”
“The Missouri Senate held itself together longer than most had expected. But on Friday, hours before the constitutionally mandated adjournment, it went off the rails.
Sen. Bill Eigel, a Weldon Spring Republican running for governor next year, attempted a procedural move to force a vote on personal property tax cut legislation.
Instead, the chamber voted to go to a bill that would legalize sports wagering.
Losing in his bid to force the chamber to take up his bill, Eigel restarted a filibuster he kicked off Thursday night.”
The Independent’s Rudi Keller, Rebecca Rivas, Allison Kite, Clara Bates and Annalise Hanshaw contributed to this story.
Read full story and summary of bills passed and those that failed https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/12/missouri-senate-grinds-to-a-halt-on-final-day-of-2023-session/ Missouri Independent May 12
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“Mom who lost daughter to celebratory gunfire reacts to lawmakers passing Blair's Law”
“Legislation that increases the penalties for celebratory gunfire was passed by lawmakers in both chambers of the Missouri legislature on Thursday.
Lawmakers approved Blair's Law, which is named after Blair Shanahan Lane.
The 11-year-old was struck and killed by a bullet fire during Fourth of July celebrations in 2011.”
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“Missouri House sends bill banning transgender health care for minors to governor”
“The Missouri House sent legislation to the governor’s desk Wednesday morning barring transgender youth from beginning gender-affirming care.
The bill passed 108-50. Only three Republicans joined every Democrat in opposition: House Majority Leader Jon Patterson, a doctor, Rep. Chris Sander, who is gay, and Rep. Gary Bonacker.
Democratic Rep. Peter Merideth of St. Louis asked Patterson, one of the legislature’s only physicians, why he dissented. Patterson commended the bill but said he can “see both sides of the issue.” He said he trusted physicians and patients, but not without some hesitation.”
“Rep. Maggie Nurrenbern, D-Kansas City, said she had “incredible” transgender kids as students when she was a teacher. Now, she has heard of families with transgender kids leaving the state.
“Some of our best and brightest kids that I had are leaving our state,” she said. “So I see this today as I walk in and think about what we’re doing here is that this is a bit of a farewell speech today for some of the families that we’ve come to know and love and respect.”
“After passing the health care bill, the House voted 109-49 to send a bill to the governor restricting student athletes to competing according to their sex assigned at birth. Rep. Jamie Burger, R-Benton, said the legislation was a way to help female athletes.”
https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/10/missouri-house-sends-bill-banning-transgender-health-care-for-minors-to-governor/ Missouri Independent May 10
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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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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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KANSAS CITY MUNICIPAL ELECTION JUNE 20, 2023
IMPORTANT DATES!
ELECTION DAY: JUNE 20, 2023
LAST DAY TO REGISTER: MAY 24
IN PERSON ABSENTEE VOTING BEGINS: MAY 9
NO EXCUSE IN PERSON ABSENTEE (EARLY) VOTING OPENS: JUNE 6
For more information: https://www.kceb.org
Current ballot: https://www.kceb.org/elections/ballot/
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SOUTH KANSAS CITY DEMOCRATS
MAY MEETING (3rd Saturdays)
SAT MAY 20
10 AM
IBEW 124
301 E 103rd Terr
Kansas City, MO
At this meeting we will hear from elected officials and also go over our proposed organizational by-laws, as well as discuss plans for the June 20th election activities. PLEASE join us!!!
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthKCDems
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Missouri Women’s Political Caucus
Building power for pro-choice women in Southwest Missouri
Sunday, May 21st
10am @ Doubletree Hotel by Hilton
2431 N Glenstone Ave in Springfield, Missouri
• Single tickets: $40; 2 for $70
• Sponsor table of 8: $280
• Students: $20
Tickets on sale now:
The Missouri State Women's Political Caucus is joining local women leaders for our first in-person event in Springfield. MOWPC is proud to have Advance PAC, Joan Gentry, and Kai Sutton as our Honorary Co-hosts.
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Sarah Starnes and Heartland Alliance for Progress
Kansas City Council Candidate Forum
Monday, May 22
Begins at 5:30pm
ArtsKC, 106 Southwest Blvd, KCMO 64108
Email RSVP to: heartlandallianceforprogress@gmail.com
Meet the Kansas City, MO City Council Candidates who made it through the primary and will be on the June 20 ballot. The Honorable Judy Morgan former MO State Rep HD 24, will moderate. All candidates running at-large and in-district, both north and south of the MO River, have been invited. Please arrive by 5:15 so we can begin at 5:30 pm.
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“League of Women voters hosts Kansas City council candidate forums in May”
Ahead of the June election for Kansas City City Council and mayor, the League of Women Voters of Kansas City, Jackson, Clay and Platte counties will host a series of online candidate forums to educate voters on where candidates stand on issues impacting them. A portion of Kansas City, including parts of District 2 and 4 and District 1 are located in Clay County.
In the June 20 election for Kansas City mayor and city council members, voters will decide who sets the overall policy for the city, including approving budgets, for the next four years.
“LWVKC is a nonpartisan organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. The league never endorses or opposes candidates or political parties,” said league Communications Director Judy-Anne Goldman.
On the ballot, each Kansas Citian will vote for mayor and seven city council members — one from the voter’s district and six at-large.
Forums will be livestreamed with replays available at YouTube.com/@LWVKC. A forum for Districts 1, 2 and 4 will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 24. The forum for at-large seats in Districts 1, 2 and 6 will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 25. A forum for at-large seats in Districts 3, 4 and 5 will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 30.
https://www.mycouriertribune.com/news/election_news/league-of-women-voters-hosts-kansas-city-council-candidate-forums-in-may/article_262225f6-f01b-11ed-adbd-b3424e65d195.html Courier Tribune May 11
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MAY IS ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN, AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month -- a celebration of Asian, Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander people in the United States.
A rather broad term, Asian/Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island).
Like most commemorative months, AANHPI month emerged from Congress. In 1977, Representative Frank Horton of New York and Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawai'i introduced House Joint Resolution 540 to proclaim the first ten days in May to commemorate the history and contributions of Asian American communities here in the United States.
The week's observance eventually became a month. The month of May was chosen to commemorate the first Japanese immigrants who came to the United States on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.
Find more information here:
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THE HEARTLAND POD
INTERVIEW WITH MISSOURI ACTION ALLIANCE
Marsha Lerenberg from Missouri Action Alliance joins Adam Sommer for a chat about how with just a simple sign up you too can be informed, engaged, and involved with State politics in the heartland.
Listen on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IESESihHx8
Find more information about The Heartland POD and how you can support their work lifting up heartland voices: https://heartlandpod.com/the-heartland-pod
You can also find more Heartland POD podcasts on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHeartlandPOD
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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
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