Legislative Update: April 6, 2022
By the Rev. Dr. Teresa Mithen Danieley
Priest Associate, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, St. Louis
and Champions Organizer for Missouri Jobs with Justice
Tuesday, April 5, was election day throughout Missouri. Many public school districts across the state had School Board Elections. Please see the Missouri Equity Education Partnership's School Board Candidate Equity Grades here. You may find the latest MO Equity Education Partnership Legislative Update here.
With Anti-Trans BIll SB 843 now out of committee, it is imperative to call your Senators. Here is the full Legislative Update from PROMO. If you need talking points from an Episcopal Christian perspective, please see this post & video by Bren O' Connor, the LGBTQIA+ Missioner for the Diocese of Missouri. Our friends at Central Reform Congregation also invite all Missourians, especially religious people of all faiths, to join them for a Trans Seder on Wednesday, April 20, in Jefferson City.
The direct link to RSVP is here: tinyurl.com/CRCTransSeder
The Missouri Voter Protection Coalition is vigilant in their attempt to protect voters and their voting rights in Missouri on Election Day and throughout the year. Here is this week's update from MOVPC, including Legislative Updates & Voter Protection Information for Tuesday, April 5.
And here is an abbreviated Legislative Update from Missouri Jobs with Justice:
It’s another week where we’ll be watching what’s happening “under the dome” in Jefferson City - and gearing up for our Year-Round Voter Engagement Launch this weekend across the state.
RSVP here —-> https://mojwj.org/actions/
- Saturday, April 9th, 11:00 AM in St. Louis, Kansas City, North KC & St. Charles
- Saturday, April 23rd, 11:00 AM in Springfield & Columbia
The biggest news of last week sounds similar to last week's headlines - not much is moving in (or out) of the Missouri Senate.
As a reminder, here's an update on key bills we’re watching - and where they are in the legislative process.
- Unemployment Cuts: SB 665 is a bad bill. How to Take Action: Send a message to your senator and share your story - https://www.mojwj.org/action/
22stop-unemployment-cuts/
- Medicaid Expansion - HJR 117 - a bill to repeal Medicaid Expansion - was heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, March 22nd. The committee did not take a vote on the bill. Most notably, ZERO folks testified in favor of the bill. Testimony against this bill was heard from several MO JWJ members & organizational partners.
Take Action: Contact your senator and share your health care story. https://www.mojwj.org/action/protect-medicaid-expansion/
- Public Education: SB869 & HCS HB1552 are two bills aimed at shifting public funds from public schools to unaccountable charter schools. Our position remains - public money must come with public oversight and accountability.
Take Action: Contact your senator: https://www.mojwj.org/action/protect-public-schools-2022/
- Initiative Petition Defense: Big debates about the state of democracy and how to best represent Missourians run rampant in Jefferson City. We’re in the final six weeks of this (regular) legislative session - and we’re keeping our eyes on any bill that would attack, restrict, and undermine direct democracy & the initiative petition process. Take Action: Email your senator here.
- Unemployment Clawback: Bipartisan bills, including SB 673 and SB 709, have been introduced but not moved for the second straight legislative session. While we support a “clean” bill - we’re keeping an eye on any bill that will mess with unemployment assistance and other essential safety net programs.
- Anti-Protest bills: While we’re still riding high from the wave of newly organized Amazon, Starbucks, and Google workers - we’re reminded how important it is to protect our freedom to protest, come together to unionize, and direct organizing. Bills to restrict these freedoms continue to pop up across the country, including Missouri, but no bills are moving right now.
