Four priority issues this week - two for direct communication to your Legislator and two for committee action. Guns in Houses of Worship is a new issue and needs your action now!

Medicaid Expansion – HJR 117 will soon come to the floor. Tell your Representative to vote NO on HRJ 117. This bill would create a ballot measure to roll back Medicaid expansion . The people have voted and the courts have ruled. Expanded Medicaid is the law in Missouri and legislators should not be attempting to roll it back.

Education Equity – HCS 1995 will soon come to the floor for perfection and debate. Tell your Representative to vote NO on HCS 1995. This bill controls what can be taught in the classroom. JCRC will be hosting a Town Hall on this issue on Feb. 28th and co-sponsoring a lobby day in Jefferson City on March 3. All the details are below.

‣‣‣Weekly Advocacy How-To: What to Say When You Contact Your Legislator

Guns in Houses of Worship - HB 1698 & HB 1912 would allow firearms to be carried in houses of worship, against the will of the clergy or congregation. Submit written testimony against these pieces of legislation.

The attack on the Citizen Initiative Petition has not gone away. The House passed HJR 79 and the Senate Elections Committee took up two similar bills last week. Contact the members of the Senate Election Committee and see below for all the actions you can take to protect this important avenue for citizen advocacy

Thank you for your advocacy,

JCRC Deputy Director

Oppose HJR 117 - Repeal Medicaid Expansion

Oppose HB 1698 & HB 1912 - Guns in Houses of Worship

Oppose SJR 31 & SJR 37 - Voting Rights

‣‣‣Contact your Legislator to oppose HJR 117

‣Topic: Repeal Medicaid Expansion

‣Deadline: THIS WEEK

This resolution calls for a ballot initiative to repeal Medicaid expansion. The provisions of this measure would not only undercut Medicaid expansion, but would also make all Medicaid eligibility and services subject to appropriations of the General Assembly, placing at risk eligibility and services for kids, seniors, people with disabilities, and adults.

Contact your legislators and tell them that Missourians have spoken, the Supreme Court has ruled and Medicaid Expansion is law. Stop trying to make it more difficult for thousands of Missourians to access healthcare.

Missouri Jobs With Justice has set up an Action Alert to help you craft a personalized email to your legislator.

‣‣‣Contact your Legislator to oppose HCS 1995

‣Topic: Education Equity

‣Deadline: THIS WEEK

Tell your Representative to vote NO on HCS 1995. This bill aims to ban anything “divisive or controversial” from being mentioned in a Missouri classroom and would allow parents to opt-out of lesson plans based on their personal beliefs. JCRC will be hosting a Town Hall on this issue on Feb. 28^th and co-sponsoring a lobby day in Jefferson City on March 3. All the details are below.

‣‣‣Submit testimony in opposition to HB 1698 & HB 1912

‣Topic: Guns in Houses of Worship

‣Deadline: Wednesday, February 23 at 7 am

The House General Laws Committee will hold public hearings on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 8 am on allowing the concealed carrying of firearms in churches and other places of worship by a person with a valid concealed carry permit.

The JCRC is opposed to this legislation. This is a clear violation of the separation between Church and State, and as expressed by Rabbi Daniel Bogard, the cost of keeping our houses of worship safe from people carrying guns is akin to forcing a Second Amendment Tax on religious communities.

‣‣‣Contact the Senate Elections Committee to oppose SJR 31 & SJR 37

‣Topic: Voting Rights

‣Deadline: THIS WEEK

The Senate Local Government and Elections Committee held a public hearing on two resolutions last week relating to Citizen Initiative Petitions and Constitutional Amendments. Please contact members of the committee and ask them to vote NO on moving these Resolutions out of committee.

Like the bills heard in the House, these bills change the signature and passage requirements for Citizen Initiative Petitions. They also add a new twist, creating a double standard for Ballot issues proposed by citizens as compared to ballot issues generated by the General Assembly.

JCRC was a co-sponsor of a program last week that discussed these issues. You can watch it here.

Missouri Jobs With Justice is leading the statewide coalition to protect the Citizen Petition Initiative process. Here are actions you can take to help.

Join IFCLA & Missouri Faith Voices for a 90-minute virtual workshop on how to conduct meetings with your representative. This training is free to all; Spanish interpretation will be provided. Register today!