06/21/21 - Missouri Mondays - Tell Gov. Parson and MO GOP to stop playing politics with lives!
Gov. Parson and the MO GOP continue to play politics with lives, leaving an innocent man in prison, refusing to expand Medicaid and using threats to Planned Parenthood and contraceptive care as a weapon and holding hostage the funding for the entire Medicaid program. There is so much at stake! TAKE ACTION THIS WEEK!
TELL GOV. PARSON TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION TO PASS THE FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT ALLOWANCE (FRA) TAX!
TELL LAWMAKERS TO STOP POLITICIZING PUBLIC HEALTH AND USING THREATS TO BIRTH CONTROL AND PLANNED PARENTHOOD AS A WEAPON TO PASSING THE FRA!
Phone Gov. Parson: 573.751.3222
Email: https://governor.mo.gov/contact-us
Find your state electeds HERE: https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default.aspx
As we previously reported, the MO GOP majority legislature failed to pass the Federal Reimbursement Allowance tax (FRA) before the end of the 2021 regular session. Passage of the FRA has been routine for decades but stonewalled this year by GOP Sen. Paul Wieland’s amendment to limit Medicaid payments for contraceptives and GOP Sen. Bob Onder’s demand that language be added to stop Planned Parenthood from being a Medicaid provider. Gov. Parson has said if the FRA isn’t passed by July 1 he will be forced to make budget cuts, despite the state sitting on a $2 billion surplus.
“The state Medicaid provider tax (Federal Reimbursement Allowance tax - FRA) is a critical component of Missouri’s revenue structure and serves as a building block upon which all public services, including health and education, are funded,” Missouri Budget Project president and CEO Amy Blouin said. “The loss of this revenue source would create a domino effect, destabilizing the entire state budget. The consequences of failing to renew Missouri’s provider taxes would be dire, affecting services far beyond Medicaid, and they would be felt by Missourians in every community across our state.” Missouri Independent June 18 2021
“These politicians are holding hostage a must-pass bill so they can block patients’ access to common forms of birth control — and they’re willing to risk funding for the entire Medicaid program to do it. Hundreds of thousands of patients rely on Medicaid to access essential health care, including birth control. Decisions about birth control belong to a patient and their provider — not state legislators.” M’Evie Mead, Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri
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TELL GOV. PARSON TO IMMEDIATELY PARDON KEVIN STRICKLAND!
Phone Gov. Parson: 573.751.3222
Email: https://governor.mo.gov/contact-us
“One of the worst crimes any government can commit is to imprison an innocent person.” St.Louis Post Dispatch June 13 2021 Kevin Strickland remains in a Missouri prison after serving 43 years for a crime the judge, prosecutors, witnesses, and defense team all agree he did not commit. Governor Parson recently granted 36 other pardons but says Mr. Strickland is simply not a priority for him. Jackson County prosecutors, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, and 13 Missouri lawmakers both Democrat and Republican have all called for his release. Tell Gov. Parson it is an outrage to leave an innocent man behind bars. Pardon Kevin Strickland NOW!
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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.
Phone Gov. Parson: 573.751.3222
Email: https://governor.mo.gov/contact-us
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.
SIGN UP FOR THESE EVENTS!
MISSOURI VOTER PROTECTION COALITION (MOVPC) MEETING
Mon June 21 at 10AM
Join Missouri Voter Protection Coalition Zoom meeting with statewide advocates working to protect the right to vote in Missouri.
Sign up HERE or text “MOVPC” to 66866 and watch for an email with details and the link to join the meeting
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HELP CREATE FAIR REDISTRICTING MAPS BY THE DEADLINE JUNE 30TH!
Community Mapping Training with the Missouri Open Maps Project
WED JUNE 23 AT 6PM
WED JUNE 30 AT 6PM
RSVP HERE: http://rsvp.openmapsmo.org
Your input by June 30 is CRITICAL to the effort for drawing fair redistricting maps in Missouri! Draw your own Community Map in which you describe the people where you live and what their needs and concerns are and your map will be incorporated into state house and senate district boundaries/maps. PLEASE HELP AND SHARE THIS WITH OTHERS!
COVID RESOURCES
LET’S GET VACCINATED MISSOURI! FIND A COVID-19 VACCINE TODAY!
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 20 The New York Times
38% of Missourians are fully vaccinated
44% have received at least one dose.
Total COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in Missouri
518,966 confirmed cases and 9,230 deaths as of Sat June 19 MO Dept of Health and Senior Services
626,012 total cases and 9,846 deaths as of Sun June 20 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
