The Democratic Insider

Friends,

It’s no surprise Jay Ashcroft has joined the Republican extremism contest for Governor. He will continue to pander to the hard-right fringe minority instead of focusing on the needs of all Missourians.

Missouri has a long record of better government with common sense Democratic leaders who focus on delivering for the needs of everyday people. Today’s Republican party is obsessed with bizarre extreme policies that are not good for Missouri families, workers, or businesses.

Ashcroft’s primary “accomplishment” as Secretary of State has been to restrict Missourian’s freedom to vote. He pushed for the legislature to pass Photo ID that disenfranchises seniors, minorities, people with disabilities, low-income voters, and students. Ashcroft also supported pulling out of the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC). A program that was created to improve the accuracy of state voter registration rolls and boost access to voter registration for all American citizens.

For those who believe our great state deserves better, Missouri Democrats will have strong candidates who provide a clear alternative to the far-right Republican agenda.

Missouri’s Jay Ashcroft on list of officials who met with right-wing groups that spread election denial lies and advocated for restrictions on voting rights.

Led by the Washington-based conservative thinktank the Heritage Foundation, the groups have created an incubator of policies that would restrict access to the ballot box and amplify false claims that fraud is rampant in American elections. The unstated yet implicit goal is to dampen Democratic turnout and help Republican candidates to victory.

Read more at: TheGuardian.com

On Thursday, the Missouri General Assembly today passed the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) $10 billion budget, which includes:

Funds to increase teacher pay, including:
Fully funding Governor Parson’s recommendation to increase the baseline teacher salary from $25,000 to $38,000 through a matching grant program.

The state will provide local school districts with funds to support 70 percent of the salary costs associated with the program; local school districts would provide the remaining 30 percent.
Just over $37 million to restart the Career Ladder program currently in state law, which allows teachers with at least five years of experience to earn extra money for participating in additional activities in the school setting.
A one-time increase of $214 million to support transportation in public schools, fully funding the maximum 75 percent of reimbursable costs for the first time since 1991.

Missouri Senate reaches deal on GOP tax cut for guns,

Democrat tax cut for diapers and tampons

SB 143, sponsored by Sen. Doug Beck, D-Affton, is a combination of tax credits and exemptions pushed for by Democrats. The bill raises the tax credit limit for food pantry donations, exempts diapers and feminine hygiene products from sales tax and gives tax credits for consumers buying groceries in food deserts.

Read more at: MissouriIndependent.com

Missouri Senate set to restore funds to public libraries cut from House spending plan

The chief Senate budget writer said he plans to restore state funding for Missouri’s public libraries that was stripped out of the House version of the state’s spending plan. Sen. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, said Tuesday that the panel will place $4.5 million back in the budget, which covers spending for the fiscal year beginning July 1. House Republicans completely defunded public libraries in the Missouri’s state budget. Senate Democrats will put that money back in. We will not let Republicans continue their MAGA War on Books™. #moleg Read more at: SaintLouisPostDispatch.com

The economy added 236,000 new jobs in March and unemployment dropped to 3.5% – near historic lows.

236,000 new jobs created in March — the 27th straight month of job growth. An unemployment rate near historic lows. Wages increasing.

President Joe Biden economic agenda continues to deliver for working families.

On behalf of the entire Missouri Democraty Pary, our hearts and prayers go out to all those affected after the Missouri State Highway Patrol confirms there are deaths and injuries in Bollinger County near Glenallen. Information from Fox2 News.

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