The Democratic Insider: April 2, 2023

Friends,

On Thursday, Russ sent every Democrat across the state a personalized message meant to connect and energize our Party.

“The Republican strategy is to win by division, disinformation, and distraction. Today’s extreme MAGA Republicans (not your grandfather’s Republican party) are hell bent on keeping power by taking your rights and freedoms away!

Missouri Republicans are attacking your freedom to vote, assaulting the rights of women, minorities and LGBTQ. They are restricting health care, limiting what you can read or what history you can teach. They are keeping our teachers the lowest paid in the country and choosing not to fund our public libraries. They even want to weaken the very popular Missouri referendum process because it dares to put a check on their powers.”

A friend of mine recently told me that in these challenging times we all have an obligation to “budget for Democracy”.

I am honored to begin this journey as Chairman and am excited about progress we can make together.

Read the full statement on Missouridemocrats.org

Diversity debate dominates House action on Missouri state budget

Democrats say amendment banning ‘diversity, equity and inclusion’ initiatives in every state agency and contract endangers schools, Medicaid and other services

Missouri Democrats argued Thursday that restrictive language barring the state from spending tax dollars on diversity and inclusion initiatives threatens to close charter schools, interrupt delivery of medical services and could even force the Capitol Building to go dark.

Each of the 13 bills spending $45.6 billion to run state government in the year beginning July 1 includes the language, as does the supplemental budget bill spending $2 billion to maintain state operations through the end of the current fiscal year.

Democratic filibuster blocks vote on bill making it harder

to amend Missouri Constitution

Senate Democrats seized control of the Missouri Senate floor Wednesday afternoon to block a Republican proposal making it harder to change the state constitution.

The measure that would impose a 60% threshold as the minimum majority for amendments has already passed the House and, if approved in the Senate, would go before voters in 2024. Republicans pushing the measure argue that groups from outside the state have funded campaigns that enact measures their legislative majority has rejected, including Medicaid expansion and marijuana legalization.

Democrats argue that the initiative process has worked well since it was enacted in 1908 and no changes are needed. After nearly four hours of debate, Republicans sat the bill aside for the night. Even among Republicans who support making it more difficult to pass initiatives, there is no agreement on exactly how to do that.

Democratic Legislative Network!

We’re excited to team up with Missouri House Democrats to build a stronger Democratic Legislative Network!

We invite you to join us on Mondays at 7:00 p.m. to hear from legislators, get #MoLeg updates, and action items for you to take to make a difference. Sign up here

JOIN THE PARTY

Become a Missouri Democratic Party Member today!

We need you to invest in our Party! With your support we can build our county parties, foster relationships with community organizations, support our legislators in Jefferson City as they fight for us, and provide candidates with training and resources. Click here to join!

For more information, email Info@missouridems.org.

Missouri Republicans use state budget to block diversity initiatives, cut library funding

Missouri lawmakers are using the state’s roughly $50 billion spending plan to wade into culture war battles over diversity programs and to cut public library funding as part of a battle over book content. The budget, approved by the Missouri House on Thursday, includes Republican-led amendments to every state agency’s budget that prevent state money from paying for staff, vendors, consultants and programs “associated with diversity, equity (and) inclusion.”

Thanks to President Biden’s economic plan, our economy continues to make progress in the fight against inflation.

How President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is delivering for Americans in all 50 states and territories

Since President Biden took office in 2021, companies have committed over $435 billion in private sector investments across the country. These investments are creating good-paying jobs, including union jobs and jobs that don’t require a four-year degree in industries that will boost U.S. competitiveness, rebuild infrastructure, strengthen supply chains, and help build a clean energy economy.

FDA Approves First Over-the-Counter Naloxone Nasal Spray

On Wednesday, the FDA approved the first nonprescription, over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray, Narcan – a medication that is a critical tool to prevent fatal overdoses, connect more people to treatment for substance use disorder, and save lives.

This important action by the Biden-Harris Administration will pave the way for Narcan to be sold directly to consumers online and in places like drug stores, convenience stores, grocery stores, and gas stations, saving more lives and reducing the burden of opioid overdose on individuals, families, and communities.

Josh Hawley called ‘fraud and coward’ over response to Nashville shooting

Far-right Missouri senator accused of selectively invoking hate crime laws after characterizing shooting as an attack on Christians. A Democratic opponent of Josh Hawley labelled the Republican “a fraud and a coward” after the far-right Missouri senator demanded the killing of three nine-year-old children and three adults at a Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee, be investigated as a federal hate crime. Less than two years ago, Hawley was the only senator to vote against a bill to crack down on hate crimes against Asian Americans during the Covid pandemic. Read more at: TheGuardian.com

UPCOMING EVENTS

The St. Louis County Democrats Annual Gala

The St. Louis County Democratic Central Committee is proud to announce our 42nd Annual Gala. This year we’ll be holding it at the beautiful LiUNA Event Center, Saturday July 15, 2023.

Location

LiUNA Event Center

4532 S Lindbergh Blvd

Sunset Hills, MO 63127

Sponsorships

Be a sponsor! Sponsors will get special recognition on the Gala website and at the Gala.

For tickets, visit: St. Louis County Democrats