08/21/23 Missouri Mondays - Had enough of GOP attacks on our fundamental rights and freedoms?
Join pro-Democracy allies fighting back this week!
Welcome to another Missouri Mondays!
We’re so glad you’re here! It’s another jam-packed week of important events and actions with allies and pro-Democracy candidates across the state! Help us spread the word and share this link to sign up for Missouri Mondays weekly email https://bit.ly/3pF99Uw.
UPCOMING EVENTS - WHAT YOU CAN DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
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 the necessary 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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Join Missouri Women’s Political Caucus Spirit Online
An Evening with Jess Piper - How to Organize and Win in Rural Missouri
TONIGHT Monday, August 21, 2023
7:00PM via Zoom
RSVP: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKRXbMWTlm_UWSSNbGgmDRC4p0aq0hYhqewingDmalm2YQSg/viewform
National Women’s Political Caucus Spirit Online is pleased to present a discussion with Jess Piper about how to organize winning campaigns in rural Missouri. A life-long rural Missouri resident, she brings valuable insight for those considering a run. There is hope! Join us for a lively and entertaining hour. To register, please RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScKRXbMWTlm_UWSSNbGgmDRC4p0aq0hYhqewingDmalm2YQSg/viewform
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Webinar: Voter ID and Voters with Disabilities
Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023
12pm CT
Sponsored by VoteRiders, Vot-ER and American Association of People with Disabilities
Register HERE: https://secure.everyaction.com/UdVUlxyq6UKQECatvQvHdA2
VoteRiders is commemorating Civic Health Month by partnering with Vot-ER and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) to discuss the ways voter ID laws can impact access to the ballot for people with disabilities.
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Missouri Senate Democrats
2024 Campaign Reception
Thursday, Aug 24, 2023
6:00PM - 7:30PM
Boulevard Brewing Company
2501 Southwest Boulevard
Kansas City, MO 64108
When it comes to Missouri, Missouri Senate Democrats act as the last line of defense against the most extreme legislation. We have districts to protect, seats to flip and great candidates to elect. Hope to see you on August 24th at Boulevard Brewery!
Donate here -- everything helps! https://bit.ly/sdcc824
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Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus
August Membership Meeting: Affordable Housing
Thursday, August 24, 2023
7:00PM Virtual via Zoom
and click “Go to Link” to register for meeting Zoom link.
Affordable Housing: The Tipping Point for Local Elections
In recent years, the worsening affordable housing crisis has proven to be a major driver in local elections throughout the metro. New players have stepped forward to challenge the political structure and demand that local leaders make affordable housing a front and center issue.
Join us on Thursday, August 24th for a discussion featuring Kansas City Councilwoman Andrea Bough, Johnson County Commissioner Becky Fast to hear about what local governments are doing to create and sustain affordable housing.
We are thrilled to host an incredible panel of women for this discussion - Kansas City Councilwoman Andrea Bough, Johnson County Commissioner Becky Fast, KC Tenants Organizer Jenay Manley and moderated by KC Tenants Leader Maya Neal
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The Women in Politics Foundation
Champagne Brunch to launch the new Smithson Endowment Fund Advocating for Reproductive Rights - "Reclaiming Rights in the Red States"
Saturday, September 9th, 2023
11:00 am
The Simpson House
4509 Walnut St
Kansas City, MO 64111
Please join the Women in Politics Foundation for the launch of the Smithson Endowment Fund with a Champagne Brunch and "Reclaiming Rights in the Red States" program. The Smithson Endowment Fund is in honor of our founder, Rosemary Smithson, and was formed to advocate for reproductive rights.
Keynote Speaker
Hon. Jean Peters Baker, Jackson County Prosecutor
Panelists:
Ophelia Griffen, UMKC Student Body President
Ryana Parks-Shaw, Kansas City MO Mayor Pro Tem
Erin Thompson, General Counsel for Planned Parenthood Great Plains
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VOLUNTEER TO HELP GATHER SIGNATURES!
Missouri Jobs With Justice Voter Action for Fair Wages and Earned Sick Time!
TAKE THE PLEDGE AND VOLUNTEER TO GATHER SIGNATURES HERE:
Missourians for Healthy Families and Fair Wages has launched a ballot initiative to gradually raise Missouri’s minimum wage to $15 by 2026 and allow employees to earn paid time off to care for themselves and loved ones.
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Help Gather Signatures for Abortion Action Missouri!
Volunteer sign up here: http://bitly.ws/Pwxp
Have you heard that Missourians might have a chance to vote on abortion at the ballot box? Every Missourian deserves the right to have their voice heard in our democracy and the power to help shape the laws that govern our lives, bodies and futures.
The Initiative Petition Process (IP Process) is the most effective tool that Missourians currently have to participate in democracy, shape policy, and build a statewide movement for abortion access. Missourians have used this process for years to build a Missouri where every person, family, and community can live with dignity. In the last 6 years alone, Missourians have used the IP process to pass Medicaid Expansion, raise wages, clean up money in politics, and protect union rights.
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ABORTION ACTION MISSOURI IS HIRING!!
Abortion Action Missouri wants you! We are hiring for a range of part- and full-time positions! Slide to check out our open positions and head to our website linked in stories) for position details:
Communications Manager (statewide) - https://abortionactionmissouri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/AAM_Communications-Manager-Job-Posting.pdf
Paid signature gatherers (STL & KC) - https://abortionactionmissouri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Paid-Signature-Gatherer-Role-Description.pdf
Learn more about all positions including full salary info here: https://abortionactionmissouri.org/work-with-US/
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HELP SUPPORT AND ELECT MISSOURI HOUSE DEMOCRATS
Get involved! Join the MO Democratic Legislative Network!
The Democratic Legislative Network is building a community of dedicated activists to support our ideals, our message and our candidates in Missouri. Get involved in your area: https://www.mohousedems.com/get-involved
Make a donation!
Every. Election. Matters. Every gift can help.
Donate today and help us keep building the infrastructure needed to recruit, train, and support local candidates in Missouri.
Organizing efforts require year-round work, not just when there is an upcoming election, and your donation will help build the groundwork needed to bring real change benefitting all Missourians.
Donate here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/mhd-donate-now
FIND EVENTS AND MORE WAYS TO GET INVOLVED HERE: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19AZUdtRH5WXefOC4Q5D9u-HyuzhBEL8rYX9Ospn3n18/edit?usp=sharing
Missouri in the News
“Paperwork issues meant more than 16,000 Missourians lost Medicaid coverage in July”
“In June and July, the first two months of resumed Medicaid eligibility checks, nearly three-quarters of those who lost coverage lost it for procedural reasons rather than determined ineligibility.”
“As Missouri and all states begin reassessing the eligibility of every Medicaid participant on their rolls, one major concern is that many are losing coverage due to paperwork issues rather than a lack of eligibility.”
“Missouri’s process of evaluating all 1.5 million Medicaid recipients on its rolls began with renewals due in June and will take a year. Of those who lost coverage in June and July, three-quarters lost it for what are called procedural reasons rather than being determined ineligible.”
https://missouriindependent.com/2023/08/18/paperwork-issues-meant-over-16000-missourians-lost-medicaid-coverage-in-july/ Missouri Independent Aug 18
National News
“Ruling deals blow to access to abortion pill mifepristone — but nothing changes yet”
“A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that mifepristone, one of two pills used in medication abortions, should not be prescribed past seven weeks of pregnancy or via telemedicine. However, a previous stay by the Supreme Court means this won't go into effect right away.
The pills will remain on the market in states where abortion is legal and available by telemedicine and mail for the time being.
In a 93-page ruling, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans sided with plaintiffs that want to restrict use of mifepristone, a pill used in medication abortions.”
The Alliance Defending Freedom, which brought the case, cheered the opinion. "This is a significant victory for the doctors and medical associations we represent and, more importantly, the health and safety of women," says Erin Hawley, the senior counsel with the Alliance Defending Freedom. Erin Hawley is married to Republican Sen. Josh Hawley (MO).
“The federal Department of Justice is defending the Food and Drug Administration in the case. A spokesperson for DOJ said the department strongly disagrees with the ruling and is looking for the Supreme Court to review it. The Supreme Court could decide to hear the case in the fall, possibly with another case from Washington state that seeks to expand access to the medicine. If it decides not to hear the case, the 5th circuit's decision could stand.
The case is an unprecedented challenge to the authority of the FDA to approve medications.”
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“Kansas newspaper raid draws plenty of attention, but journalists defy threats across U.S.” In 2021 Missouri Gov. Mike Parson pushed for prosecution of journalist who uncovered state website security flaw.
“After Kansas Reflector reported on the ignominious and unconstitutional raid of the Marion County Record on Aug. 11, news outlets and commentators from across Kansas and the nation followed suit throughout the weekend. The voices of those who value a free press and free expression were overwhelming in their force and intensity.”
“We still need answers and consequences in the case itself. More broadly, the egregious overreach in Marion and the good faith of journalists at the Record made this a perfect national story. Few would think that authorities got this one right. The problem — as journalists across the States Newsroom network told us — is that attacks on a free and fair press are not rare at all. Indeed, such attacks have become distressingly commonplace.”
“Let’s look at outrages big and small from across the United States. Editors from other States Newsroom outlets sent their own accounts, columns they ran and links to other stories.”
“Missouri
Missouri Independent editor Jason Hancock writes:
In Missouri, few elected officials have had a more combative relationship with the press than Gov. Mike Parson. He regularly lashes out with baseless attacks on the media, and during his tenure in office he cut the number of statehouse parking spaces designated for reporters and revoked Capitol building passes for the press.
But all that pales in comparison to his push to prosecute a St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter who uncovered a security flaw in a state website.
Top officials in Parson’s administration initially wanted to thank the reporter. But instead, Parson convened a news conference to call the reporter a hacker, accuse the Post-Dispatch of trying to embarrass a Republican governor and to push for the reporter to face a criminal investigation.
Even after prosecutors and local law enforcement concluded no crime was committed, Parson refused to accept reality and continued to insist the reporter engaged in wrongdoing.”
See full list of freedom of the press attacks across the country: https://missouriindependent.com/2023/08/20/kansas-newspaper-raid-draws-plenty-of-attention-but-journalists-defy-threats-across-u-s/ Missouri Independent Aug 20
Reporting on the Aug 11 raid of the Marion County Record here: https://kansasreflector.com/2023/08/11/police-stage-chilling-raid-on-marion-county-newspaper-seizing-computers-records-and-cellphones/ Kansas Reflector Aug 11
In 2021 St. Louis Post Dispatch reporter who discovered a security flaw in a state website was accused of criminal hacking by MO Gov. Mike Parson.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2021/10/14/mike-parson-st-louis-post-dispatch-hacker/ Washington Post Oct 14 2021
https://missouriindependent.com/2021/10/21/parson-doubles-down-on-push-to-prosecute-reporter-who-found-security-flaw-in-state-site/ Missouri Independent Oct 21 2021
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
THANK YOU! for staying informed and taking action to make a difference!
Invite your friends and neighbors to join us and sign up for Missouri Action Alliance and this Missouri Mondays weekly email at https://bit.ly/3pF99Uw.
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