05/23/22 - Missouri Mondays - Take action NOW! Tell Gov Parson to veto photo ID & voter suppression!
Welcome to another Missouri Mondays! Thanks for staying informed and taking action! YOUR VOICE makes a difference!
TELL GOV. PARSON TO VETO STRICT PHOTO ID & VOTER SUPPRESSION BILL HB 1878!
Missouri Republicans passed HB 1878, an elections omnibus bill that has been delivered to the Governor for his signature.
Among many things HB 1878 if signed into law would–
Disenfranchise voters by enforcing voter photo ID, something Missouri courts have repeatedly ruled to be unconstitutional.
Give the Secretary of State the power to purge voter rolls across the state.
Place severe restrictions on voter registration
Open the door to sham election audits
Return Missouri to a caucus state for the Presidential Primary, forcing voters who want to participate in a primary to wait hours in caucuses across the state, instead of allowing voters to simply cast a ballot.
Ban anybody from giving out absentee ballot applications and restricts Missourians’ ability to help other Missourians navigate a confusing system.
Grant the secretary of state the power to withhold state funding from local election officials.
As a concession HB 1878 would also create a two-week period prior to an election for no excuse absentee voting but voters would have to do so in person at the election authority (typically during working hours) and only for those with state issued photo ID. Early voting would be eliminated altogether if the unconstitutional photo ID provision is struck down in the courts.
The MO GOP majority has been trying to enact a photo voter ID requirement for more than 15 years in order to reduce turnout among racial minorities and other groups that tend to support Democrats and are most likely not to have a government-issued photo ID. However, the Missouri Supreme Court has struck down previous efforts for placing an unconstitutional restriction on the fundamental right to vote. A lawsuit challenging the latest photo ID requirement is expected.
CALL GOV. PARSON (573) 751-3222 NOW AND TELL HIM TO VETO HB 1878!
Read the bill HB 1878 here:
https://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills221/hlrbillspdf/4557S.05F.pdf
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MISSOURI IN THE NEWS
Under current Missouri law, access to birth control in Missouri would not be affected if Roe v. Wade is overturned.
But reproductive rights advocates expect it to be an area lawmakers will try to limit (Robin Bravender/States Newsroom).
“‘Anything’s on the table’: Missouri legislature may revisit contraceptive limits post-Roe”
“By the time state lawmakers return to the Capitol next year, nearly all abortions could be illegal in Missouri. With a trigger ban already on the books that would go into effect if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, the GOP supermajority that controls the Missouri legislature is already mulling what types of policy changes they hope to pursue in a post-Roe world. Reproductive rights advocates worry the next fight could be over access to contraceptives, which a group of conservative state senators unsuccessfully pushed to limit for Medicaid recipients last year. “There are some that I think are okay and some that I don’t believe in,” state Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, said of contraceptives, “especially the morning after pill and things that come after conception. So I think anything’s on the table.” Under current Missouri law, access to birth control in Missouri would not be affected if Roe v. Wade is overturned. Sam Lee, a longtime lobbyist with Campaign Life Missouri, said he has heard little desire of passing limits on access to birth control. “I don’t see a ban on the use of contraceptives having any chance of passing in Missouri,” Lee said.”
Read the full story here: https://missouriindependent.com/2022/05/20/anythings-on-the-table-missouri-legislature-may-revisit-contraceptive-limits-post-roe/ Missouri Independent May 20
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“Missouri Attorney General files six new lawsuits against school mask rules”
“Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced Thursday that his office has filed six new lawsuits challenging school masking requirements. Schmitt’s office hinted during a hearing in Columbia earlier this week that more lawsuits were forthcoming. The lawsuits challenge rules school districts established allowing mask mandates to be reimposed if COVID cases reach a certain threshold. For example, the Clayton School District has a policy that requires masks for two weeks if a COVID infection rate reaches 1.5% of the school’s total population for three days. The lawsuits come just weeks ahead of many schools’ dismissals for the year and follow a wave of 47 lawsuits Schmitt embarked on earlier this year — with all but three of the lawsuits getting dismissed.”
“COVID cases have been rising nationwide as a subvariant spreads rapidly, prompting federal health officials to encourage masks be considered indoors. Rising cases have prompted some schools to return to temporary masking — which Schmitt argues are unlawful health orders districts do not have the authority to impose. School districts have previously pointed to a variety of state laws that give them the authority to set rules for their districts. As Schmitt pursued litigation against districts, he simultaneously worked with legislators in the hopes they would change the state law he’s been citing as a basis for his lawsuits. Schmitt wanted to clarify that the law does pertain to school districts. The proposed changes never gained traction before the legislative session ended earlier this month.”
“The Lee’s Summit School District has filed a counterclaim of its own and is asking a judge to declare the attorney general overstepped the limits of his authority by ordering schools to end masking requirements.”
Full story here: https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-attorney-general-files-six-new-lawsuits-against-school-mask-rules/ Missouri Independent May 19
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS
TAKE ACTION WITH THE MISSOURI VOTER PROTECTION COALITION (MOVPC)
TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE
Using false claims of voter fraud, the MO GOP majority spent the 2022 legislative session attacking voting rights and ultimately passed a restrictive photo ID bill sitting on the Governor’s desk that contains many provisions suppressing our vote and our voice!
Join the MOVPC meeting
MONDAY May 23 at 10 AM
Text “MOVPC” to 66866 or register HERE: https://wustl.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYoceyuqTsqGN1NlXOMKb88rSExyr-kWjbt
MOVPC is a nonpartisan statewide network promoting access to the ballot
and working to remove barriers to voting in Missouri!
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Lee's Summit Democrats Endorsement Meeting
May 24th | 7:00 PM
East Branch Library
2240 SE Blue Pkwy, Lee's Summit, MO 64063
More information about Lee’s Summit Democrats here: https://www.lsdems.com/
Find current endorsements here: https://www.lsdems.com/endorsements
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Democrat Day of Action: Springfield MO Greene County
Saturday, June 4, 2022 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Phelps Grove Park, 950 E BENNETT St, Springfield, MO 65807
More information here: https://www.mohousedems.com/calendar/democrat-day-of-action-greene-county/
Join the Missouri House Democrats on Saturday, June 4th to kickoff our 2022 Campaign Season! Help support our Springfield Democrat House Candidates as we talk to voters in our communities about the issues they care about. We'll be eating some BBQ, hot dogs, burgers and sides, as we listen to each of our candidates talk about their campaigns! We hope to see you there!
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May is Asian/Pacific American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
PBS / Kansas City PBS
Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month | May 2022
Documentaries and programs that celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage.
https://www.pbs.org/articles/celebrate-asian-american-and-pacific-islander-heritage-month-may-2022
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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/
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MORE UPCOMING ACTIONS AND EVENTS
Find more upcoming actions and events here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/19AZUdtRH5WXefOC4Q5D9u-HyuzhBEL8rYX9Ospn3n18/edit?usp=sharing
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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/
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MISSOURI COVID UPDATE
Missourians Vaccinated vs U.S. as of May 22 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 22 - The New York Times
An average of 1,096 cases per day were reported in Missouri in the last week. Cases have increased by 35 percent from the average two weeks ago.
Deaths have decreased by 44 percent.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 1 in 4 residents have been infected, a total of 1,461,548 reported cases. At least 1 in 298 residents have died from the coronavirus, a total of 20,620 deaths.
January 2022 was the month with the highest average cases, while November 2021 was the month with the highest average deaths in Missouri.
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MORE COVID-19 VACCINE, TESTING RESOURCES AND INFORMATION HERE: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i1vCikZiGfMulA8tFCDSJbEKV5N37S1JU_TSlgs699A/edit?usp=sharing
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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
