07/12/21 - Missouri Mondays - Veto Vouchers! - Medicaid Expansion before MO Supreme Court!
MO #2 COVID Hotspot - Actions to make a difference!
There’s a lot to cover in this week’s Missouri Mondays so let’s jump right in!
LAST CHANCE TO TELL GOV. PARSON TO VETO HCS HB 349! NO PUBLIC DOLLARS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHERS!
Phone Gov. Parson: 573.751.3222
Email: https://governor.mo.gov/contact-us
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.
“From Missouri’s smallest rural communities to our state’s most populous urban centers, more than 90 percent of Missouri children attend traditional public schools. HB349 threatens the viability of those schools and the promise of a quality public education that all of our children need to succeed and thrive. THIS BILL THREATENS ALL MISSOURI KIDS—NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE.”
HCS HB 349 The Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program--
Would create one of the least regulated voucher programs in the country.
“This legislation would impact every district in the state by limiting the amount of state revenue available to fund public education that serves all students across the state.” MOPTA
DOES NOT protect students with disabilities.
Students with a disability MUST WAIVE THEIR LEGAL RIGHT TO SERVICES THEY MAY NEED.
Allows unaccredited schools to receive scholarship funds.
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 the MAP test.
Could divert up to $500 million from public schools over the next 10 years.
THIS BILL WILL AUTOMATICALLY BECOME LAW IF GOV. PARSON DOES NOT VETO THIS BILL BY JULY 14TH! CALL OR EMAIL TODAY!
Phone Gov. Parson: 573.751.3222
Email: https://governor.mo.gov/contact-us
Tell Gov. Parson to authorize complete forgiveness of unemployment overpayments made in error to hardworking Missourians!
Phone Gov. Parson: 573-751-3222
Missourians who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic and received unemployment assistance are being targeted and harassed by Governor Parson's administration.
Missourians need Governor Parson to forgive not just the federal portion of overpayments, but all overpayments. Missourians shouldn't need to worry about what portion of the benefits they received, through no fault of their own, is going to be withheld from their paychecks.
Despite bi-partisan support for forgiveness, Governor Parson continues to act in a cold and callous manner. Missouri has a record surplus of revenue, and Governor Parson's administration is imposing liens and withholding tax returns to make up for his administration's mistake.
Call Governor Parson at 573-751-3222 and use the script below:
"Governor Parson, you have the power and authority to authorize the complete forgiveness of unemployment overpayments made in error to hardworking Missourians. You must recognize the harm that forcing repayment can and will cause for Missouri families, and immediately ensure the Department of Labor stops collections on both the federal and state portions of unemployment overpayments."
MEDICAID EXPANSION CASE BEFORE MISSOURI SUPREME COURT-- ARGUMENTS BEGIN TUES JULY 13 AT 11:00 AM
The Missouri Supreme Court will hear arguments in the Medicaid Expansion lawsuit filed against the state after Gov. Parson and the GOP majority Legislature refused to allocate funds for expansion. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of three women who were denied access to Medicaid services they would have been eligible for on July 1 when expansion went into effect. On Friday 12 Federally Qualified Community Health Centers (FQHCs) joined the lawsuit. In their brief, they called on the Missouri Supreme Court to order Medicaid expansion to proceed under voter approved Amendment 2.” “The Medicaid expansion enacted by Missouri voters, to the extent it is funded by appropriations, will allow the federal grant dollars that flow to Missouri’s Community Health Centers to go further in serving others,” he writes. “Those centers will be able to serve more patients, and to offer their patients more essential medical services.” MSN The Center Square
Listen to Supreme Court of Missouri arguments - Click the red button labeled “LIVE Audio Streaming” https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=1975
Read the Docket Summary for the Medicaid Expansion case here: https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=171834&year=2021&month=07&day=13&splitdocket=No
HELP PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN MISSOURI!
MISSOURI VOTER PROTECTION COALITION (MOVPC) MEETING
Monday July 12 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
From Missouri Jobs with Justice
The workers at Highway Trailer Sales Inc. are on strike until Owner & President Terry Leigh bargains a fair contract for a fair return on work, with better pay and benefits. Instead of coming to the table in good faith, Terry expects workers to take a 10% pay cut.
These workers are on the strike line every day from 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM until Terry agrees to respect their labor and negotiate in good faith. As Missouri Jobs with Justice, members like you are blowing up Terry's phone and showing up on the picket line - and it is making a difference!
Will you join us on Tuesday, July 13th from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM? https://www.facebook.com/events/352228699840386
While these workers are on the line every day - let's show up and show out with a big presence on Tuesday, July 13th so they know the community has their back!
COVID UPDATE
AS HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS DELTA VARIANT SPREADS, MISSOURI BECOMES COVID HOTSPOT WITH 2ND HIGHEST RATE OF NEW COVID CASES PER CAPITA AND AMONG THE LOWEST ADULT VACCINATION RATES IN THE U.S.
“I feel like we’re on an island, all alone in the COVID fight, but I know others in the state are feeling the same way,” Laclede County Health Department Administrator Charla Baker wrote to a DHSS official in late June. “With our community leaders and residents not wanting to take any remedial actions to protect themselves and others, we are just very frustrated and concerned with our current situation.” “We’ve alerted our local elected officials and decision makers with very little interest in discussion of mitigation measures,” Taney County Health Director Lisa Marshall wrote to health officials across the state on June 17. This week, Taney, which includes the tourist destination of Branson, was among the top 10 counties in the United States for new cases per capita.”
COVID RESOURCES
Find COVID-19 Vaccines statewide & KC Metro, COVID-19 Testing & Recovery Treatment KC Metro HERE: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i1vCikZiGfMulA8tFCDSJbEKV5N37S1JU_TSlgs699A/edit?usp=sharing
PLEASE SHARE THIS LINK! LET’S GET VACCINATED MISSOURI!
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Missourians Vaccinated - as of Sunday July 11 The New York Times
40% of Missourians are fully vaccinated - (48% in the U.S.)
46% of Missourians have received at least one dose - (55% in the U.S.)
~~~~~~~~~~ Total COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in Missouri
534,646 confirmed cases and 9,387 deaths as of Sat July 10 MO Dept of Health and Senior Services
647,448 total cases and 10,016 deaths as of Sun July 11 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 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
In solidarity,
Missouri Action Alliance
