06/07/21 - Missouri Mondays - MO GOP mired in scandal and ignoring the will of the people!
"From the governor on down, they are wading chin-deep right now in just a disaster and mess of their own making.” Rachel Maddow June 3 2021
Last week MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow exposed shocking details regarding three specific Missouri Republican legislators: Rep. Patricia Derges, Rep. Chad Perkins, and former Rep. Rick Roeber recently expelled from the MO House.
Rep. Patricia Derges
Faces federal indictments and 20 felony charges for falsely claiming to have a COVID-19 cure
Collected nearly $200,000 for covid shots administered. Although the ingredients of the shot are unclear, medical professionals have determined there were no stem cells present as Derges claimed.
Indicted for alleged fraudulent CARES ACT fund payments of $296,974 for COVID-19 tests that the patients had already paid her for.
Refusing to resign from the MO House and with no expulsion vote on the horizon, Derges has apparently been assigned a broom closet office.
Rep. Chad Perkins
Reports and a text message prove he received "sexual favors" from an underage and drunk female while on duty as a Bowling Green Police Officer. Despite Frankford Police Chief asking the GOP House Speaker Rob Vescovo to take action against Perkins, there has been no statement from the MO Republican Party or Caucus.
Rep. Rick Roeber
Finally expelled from the Missouri House after months of his own children begging the Speaker to remove him - because he had allegedly physically and sexually abused not only them, but more children growing up.
Missouri deserves better than this!
ACTIONS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE THIS WEEK!
TELL MO HOUSE SPEAKER ROB VESCOVO TO CALL FOR INVESTIGATIONS OF REPS. PATRICIA DERGES AND CHAD PERKINS!
PHONE: 573.751.3607
EMAIL: Rob.Vescovo@house.mo.gov
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KEEP UP THE PRESSURE ON GOV. PARSON!
TELL GOVERNOR PARSON TO KEEP HIS PROMISE TO EXPAND MEDICAID AND KEEP HIS PROMISE TO MORE THAN 275,000 MISSOURIANS WHO STRUGGLE WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE!
Despite promising Missourians that he would uphold the will of voters, on May 13th, Governor Parson made the cowardly announcement that he is denying Medicaid Expansion eligibility set to go up on July 1st and ignoring the constitutional mandate approved by the people!
Missourians voted to expand our Medicaid program because we believe that no matter our race, zip code, or income, we all deserve health care when we’re sick – without going bankrupt. Governor Parson promised health coverage to more than 275,000 so tell him we expect him to follow the law and fully fund Medicaid!
Phone Gov. Parson: 573.751.3222
Email: https://governor.mo.gov/contact-us
Write: Office of Governor Michael L. Parson, P.O. Box 720, Jefferson City, MO 65102
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TELL GOV PARSON TO VETO HCS HB 349! NO PUBLIC DOLLARS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHERS!
The Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program (HCS HB 349):
Allows tax deductible donations to organizations that would pay for costs like private school tuition, tutoring, home schooling costs, transportation and more. CALL OR WRITE GOV. PARSON NOW! This bill would create one of the least regulated voucher programs in the country.
If signed into law HCS HB 349:
DOES NOT protect students with disabilities. Ironically, one category of student permitted to apply for scholarship funds is a student with a disability, but the bill excludes persons with a disability from the list of those protected under the bill. In addition, a disability that would prevent a student from taking a required class would disqualify that student. Also, incredibly, students with a disability MUST WAIVE THEIR LEGAL RIGHT TO SERVICES THEY MAY NEED. If they do not receive needed resources, they then have no legal recourse to pursue those services.
Allows unaccredited schools to receive scholarship funds; schools are NOT required to be accredited.
DOES NOT require background checks for employees of these private schools.
DOES NOT require following basic health and safety measures.
DOES NOT require visits from state authorities.
DOES NOT require MAP test; Although the bill requires testing, the MAP test is not required, making it impossible to compare data with public schools.
Could divert up to $500 million from public schools over the next 10 years.
Phone Gov. Parson: 573.751.3222
Email: https://governor.mo.gov/contact-us
Write: Office of Governor Michael L. Parson, P.O. Box 720, Jefferson City, MO 65102
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TELL GOV. PARSON TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION TO PASS THE FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT ALLOWANCE (FRA) TAX TO PREVENT MEDICAID PROGRAM FUNDING DISASTER!
The Republican majority legislature adjourned May 14 without passing the Federal Reimbursement Allowance (FRA), a tax paid by hospitals, nursing homes, and pharmacies that brings in $2.3 billion per year for Missouri’s Medicaid program. Like other states, Missouri has a voluntary tax on hospitals, nursing homes and other medical providers to help pay for medical insurance for low-income residents. The FRA paid nearly 80% of the Medicaid program last year. Republican Sens. Paul Wieland of Imperial and Bob Onder of Lake Saint Louis prevented passage of the FRA tax in an attempt to block the use of Medicaid dollars for contraceptive purposes or Planned Parenthood.
Kirk Mathews, the acting head of MO HealthNet, Missouri’s Medicaid program, warned of disaster for his agency if Missouri lawmakers don’t renew the FRA. He said “the lack of the tax could result in a massive meltdown in services to low-income enrollees and said the existence of the program will be threatened by the end of the year. “I cannot overstate the impact, the importance of that.”
In addition to potentially having to reduce medical provider reimbursements it could affect the department’s ability to meet payroll. “It is crippling. The absence of the (tax) by the end of December would make it challenging to even pay our employees.” StLouis PostDispatch May 26 2021
Gov. Parson Office: 573.751.3222
Email: https://governor.mo.gov/contact-us
Write: Office of Governor Michael L. Parson, P.O. Box 720, Jefferson City, MO 65102
SIGN UP FOR THESE EVENTS!
MISSOURI VOTER PROTECTION COALITION (MOVPC) MEETING
Mon June 7 at 10AM
Join Missouri Voter Protection Coalition Zoom meeting with statewide advocates working to protect the right to vote in Missouri.
To sign up text “MOVPC” to 66866 to sign up! Watch for an email with details and the link to join the meeting.
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HELP CREATE FAIR REDISTRICTING MAPS WITH THE MISSOURI OPEN MAPS PROJECT!
RSVP for Community Mapping Training on Wednesdays at 6PM: http://rsvp.openmapsmo.org
MO GOP lawmakers tricked voters in 2020 with deceptive language for Amendment 3 and it narrowly passed overturning the 2018 anti-gerrymandering provisions of Clean Missouri. You can help overcome the damage by participating in Community Mapping in which you describe the people where you live and what their needs and concerns are, to incorporate into state house and senate district boundaries/maps. Please share this with others who might be interested.
COVID RESOURCES
FIND A COVID-19 VACCINE
ALL Missourians age 12 and up are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
STATE SUPPORTED VACCINATION EVENTS https://covidvaccine.mo.gov/find/#events
MISSOURI VACCINE NAVIGATOR https://covidvaccine.mo.gov/find/#navigator
FEDERAL VACCINE FINDER / FIND COVID VACCINES NEAR YOU! https://covidvaccine.mo.gov/find/#vaccine-finder
QUESTIONS? CALL 877-435-8411
Missourians Vaccinated - as of Sunday June 6 The New York Times
35% of Missourians are fully vaccinated
43% have received at least one dose.
Total COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in Missouri
512,834 confirmed cases and 9,138 deaths as of Sat June 5 MO Dept of Health and Senior Services
617,909 total cases and 9,737 deaths as of Sun June 6 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
