2.21.2022
JCRC ADVOCACY ALERT

Greetings!

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 ExpansionHJR 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 EquityHCS 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
  • Share your name, your address and your role, either as an individual, community member, or business leader. Make sure to mention you are a constituent!
  • Share why you oppose or support the bill you are writing about. Choose up to 3 points and state them clearly.
  • Include a personal story. Tell the legislator why it affects you directly.
  • Tell your representative to vote Yes or No!
CONTACT THE COMMITTEE:

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,
Cheryl Adelstein
JCRC Deputy Director
JCRC Testimony This Week
Oppose HJR 117 - Repeal Medicaid Expansion
Oppose HB 1698 & HB 1912 - Guns in Houses of Worship
Oppose SJR 31 & SJR 37 - Voting Rights
Take Action - Missouri General Assembly
‣‣‣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. 28th 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.

Submit testimony and let the committee know how you would feel about congregants and guests carrying guns into your synagogue and the impacts it would have on your worship community.
‣‣‣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.
Upcoming Programs
The Impact of Controlling the K-12 Curriculum
Monday, February 28
7 pm | Virtual
Missouri Equity Education Partnership Lobby Day
Thursday, March 3
Jefferson City

JCRC is pleased to join as a co-sponsor for this Lobby Day for Education sponsored by the Missouri Equity Education Partnership.
Advocacy 101: Meet the Reps!
Thursday, February 24
6:30 pm | Virtual
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!
The purpose of this training is to prepare attendees to meet with their representatives and discuss issues that are important to them; to continue to demonstrate the process of making change at the state legislative level; to practice and improve skills of speaking about your values and experiences in this setting. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen to call a meeting with your representative.