Newsletter of the Platte County Democratic
 Central Committee
Volume 12 No. 6                                    June 2020
Calendar    

June 23 – First day of absentee voting for the August 4 th election. Request your ballot here .

July 4 - Independence Day

July 8 - Last day to register for August 4 Primary Election

July 13 - Platte County Federated Women's Club - Virtual meeting. Members who want to join in should contact Rita McGuire:   ritakay638@gmail.com  , 816-225-4506. 
 
July 16 - Platte County Democratic Central Committee - Virtual meeting. 7:00 pm. Contact  dems@plattedems.org  for Zoom link. 

July 22 - Last day to request an absentee (mail) ballot for August 4 Primary Election

August 4 – Election Day: State and County primary, Medicaid Expansion on the ballot!

 
 
Other Events:
 
Clay County Democrats - click  here . 
Jackson County Democrats - click  here . 
Indivisible Kansas City - click  here .
Greater KC Women's Caucus - click  here .
Heartland Alliance for Progress - click  here . 
Northland Progress - click  here .
ResistHate KC - click  here .
Buchanan County Democrats - click  here . 
New Voting Information for August 4 and November 3 Elections
Absentee voting requirements have been eased for 65+ voters. Dates for registration, absentee and mailing ballots have been set. For all voter information, click here .

Remember Medicare Expansion is on the August 4 ballot!
Information on 2020 Democratic Candidates
Information on our local, state and national candidates is available on our website. Click  here . 
 
This includes websites, Facebook and Twitter connections. Remember they need your help  now  with their campaigns and  donations  to fuel the fire. 

What’s on the August 4th Ballot

Democratic Candidates for 6 th United States Congressional District
Ramona Farris (D) - withdrawn
Gena Ross (D)
Charles West  (D)

Democratic Candidates for Governor

Democratic Candidates for Lieutenant Governor of the State of Missouri


Democratic Candidates for Attorney General


Questions on the Platte County Ballot

State of Missouri Constitutional Amendment No. 2
Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to: adopt Medicaid Expansion for persons 19 to 64 years old with an income level at or below 133% of the federal poverty level, as set forth in the Affordable Care Act; prohg greater or additional burdens on eligibility or enrollment standards, methodologies or practices on persons covered under Medicaid Expansion than on any other population eligible for Medicaid; and require state agencies to take all actions necessary to maximize federal financial participation in funding medical assistance under Medicaid Expansion?
State government entities are estimated to have one-time costs of approximately $6.4 million and an unknown annual net fiscal impact by 2026 ranging from increased costs of at least $200 million to savings of $1 billion. Local governments expect costs to decrease by an unknown amount.

Platte County

Question
Shall the County of Platte, Missouri, impose a renewal of the existing county-wide sales tax at the reduced rate of one-quarter of one percent (0.0025) on all retail sales made in the County for the purpose of providing dedicated funding for local parks and storm water control for the County for a period of ten (10) years?
Question
Shall the County of Platte, Missouri, impose a countywide sales tax at the rate of one-quarter of one percent (0.0025) on all retail sales made in the County for the purpose of providing dedicated funding for the operation of Platte County law enforcement for a period of ten (10) years? The proceeds of this sales tax shall not be used for construction of a new jail facility.
Views on Platte County Government by David Park
PLATTE COUNTY AT RISK OF SUBSTANTIAL PAYBACK?

T his is what is at stake if Platte County Commissioners do not properly administer the $12 million received through the CARES Act. These are Federal funds passed through the state to the county. I am not concerned about the commissioners’ capacity to spend the funds and remain in compliance with Federal grant requirements.

The funds were received as a result of H.R. 748, the CARES Act passed by Congress in March. The language within the law says the County can use the funds to cover only those costs “that are necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)”.

The IRS has issued official guidance that interprets this statement to include “expenditures related to the provision of grants to small businesses to reimburse the costs of business interruption caused by required closures.” The funds can also be shared with towns, cities, school districts and other units of local government located within the county for expenditures related to COVID-19 that they incurred. So far, the commissioners have only focused on making grants to small businesses. I believe they should also ensure that other local taxpayer-supported government entities are assisted with covering their COVID-19 related costs.

I fully support helping our local businesses that have suffered during the shutdown, but I am concerned about the lack of clarity in the law and official guidance. For example, what is a small business and how do you measure the cost of business interruption? What documentation will be required to prove those costs? The lack of clarity increases the possibility of mistakes being made.

An independent audit, called a Single Audit, is required whenever the County receives over $750,000 of Federal funds. These audits check for compliance with the laws that provide the funding and with other Federal accounting requirements spelled out in the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR 200). If the audit finds “questioned costs” due to noncompliant spending, improper recordkeeping, etc. those funds must be paid back using general revenue funds.

And it appears our commissioners do not have experience with Federal grants of this size and nature. And they are not including the County Auditor in most of the discussions on how to proceed with spending the funds. I am concerned that we would be faced with having to pay back funds as a result.
Information From The Missouri Democratic Party 
Democratic Insider - June 27
From MDP. Click  here . 
 
New Voting information for August 4 and November 3 - from MDP - Click here .
 
#AdoptAvote 
Increase voter registration. From Missouri Democratic Party.  Info .   
 
TO GET CURRENT MDP UPDATES DIRECT TO YOUR MAILBOX - CLICK  HERE  
Medicare Expansion is on the August 4th ballot. Missourians finally get a chance to implement this important health program. And thumb their noses to the Republican controlled Legislature that has ignored it for years. 
 
Summary:
A "yes" vote is a vote in favor of
·    expanding Medicaid eligibility in Missouri to adults that are 19 years old or older and younger than 65 whose income is 133% of the federal poverty level or below, which would effectively expand Medicaid to those with incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty level under the Affordable Care Act;
·    prohibiting any additional restrictions or requirements for the expanded population to qualify for Medicaid coverage than for other populations that qualify for Medicaid coverage; and
·    requiring the state to seek maximum federal funding of Medicaid expansion.
 
A "no" vote is a vote against this constitutional amendment to expand Medicaid eligibility in Missouri under the Affordable Care Act.
Platte County Federated Women's Democratic Club
The Women’s Club met via Zoom for the second time on June 8. It was a good turnout! The July and August meetings will also be via Zoom. Charles West, Candidate for the 6 th Congressional District and Ashley Aune, Candidate for the Missouri State Legislature, District 14 attended as guests at the June 8 meeting.  

Club dues are due July 1st. Checks payable to "Women Democrats" or PCFWDC should be sent to: Helen Weigman, Treasurer, 21330 Burrus Rd, Weston MO 64098. Club dues are used to support Democratic Candidates. Please join us!
Platte Country Democratic Central Committee
The Platte County Democratic Central Committee met on June 18 th via Zoom. Rich Finerman and Elad Gross Democratic candidates for Missouri Attorney General who will be on the August 4 th primary ballot attended.

Paula Willmarth who has been elected as a Biden Delegate representing Missouri’s 6 th Congressional District at the Democratic National Convention August 17 to 20 th in Milwaukie, Wisconsin gave a report from the State Committee and State Convention. The Convention is expected to be virtual - details to be announced.

The July 16th meeting will be held via Zoom. Contact Wanda Park ( totheparks@gmail.com ) for meeting information and assistance with Zoom. 
Parkville March For Unity
On June 14 th, many Platte County residents attended the Parkville March for Unity at the Parkville City Hall. It was a good crowd. Most people were wearing masks to protect each other. It was a great success.
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Biden Yard Signs


Be the first on your block to proudly put a Biden Yard Sign in your front yard!


A $10 contribution to Platte County Democrats
will get a Biden Yard Sign DELIVERED to your home!
All proceeds will be used to help Platte County candidates
in the 2020 Fall election.

HURRY! Only 40 signs available.

FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE

Click HERE to donate
2020 US Census
Here’s Why an Accurate Census Count Is So Important, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/27/us/politics/census-citizenship-question.html

If you have not filled out your 2020 CENSUS - Do it now!