Blog – Missouri Democratic Party

Missouri Democratic Party Denounces Governor Kehoe’s Plan to Shift State Tax Burden to Working Families, Seniors

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 19:39:22 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Denounces Governor Kehoe’s Plan to Shift State Tax Burden to Working Families, Seniors

January 13, 2026

Today, during the 2026 State of the State, Governor Mike Kehoe formally announced a new barrage of attacks on working families and seniors in Missouri, including a tax plan that would eliminate the state individual income tax, worth nearly $8.7 billion of general revenue in 2026, and attempt to replace it with runaway sales taxes. Further alarming, the only sales taxes that Gov. Kehoe, who remains more concerned about special interests and donors than working people in the midst of an affordability crisis, could commit to not raising in his speech were agriculture, healthcare, and real estate.

According to independent analysis from the Missouri Budget Project, this would push combined sales tax rates on everyday purchases to nearly 17 percent or more in many areas. The rate of the general state sales tax would have to soar from 3 percent to, roughly, 11.5 percent. This shift in tax burden would take a much larger share of income from low- and middle-income families and act as a de facto tax-cut for the rich in Missouri.

According to Kehoe’s own state Budget Director Dan Haug, Missouri is already facing a massive half-a-billion dollar budget hole just from Kehoe and his fellow Republicans’ capital gains tax giveaway to the wealthy that they passed last year despite objections from budget experts and Democrats in Jefferson City. Continuing to treat Missouri as a fiscal experiment will lock our economy into a cycle of continued aggressive decline for years to come.

The Missouri Democratic Party (MDP) remains staunchly opposed to Gov. Kehoe’s tax increase plan. Missouri’s government should be working to support working families, not saddle them with taxes at the grocery store. The MDP is committed to electing leaders who will actually do the difficult work of addressing affordability concerns and rebuilding Missouri's middle class.

Replacing Missouri’s income tax with sales tax, like Gov. Kehoe suggests, would result in an average annual tax burden increase for, at least, the bottom 60% of Missourians and an average tax cut of $46,500 for the top 1%.

“Let’s be very clear, an elimination of the state income tax is an attack on Missouri’s working families, seniors, and the most vulnerable of our neighbors,” said Russ Carnahan, Chair of the Missouri Democratic Party. “The Republican Party has held control of this state for decades now, overseeing an aggressive decline in quality of life for Missouri residents built on their backs. We need affordability, not policies that shift tax burdens to the hardest working people in our state. No new taxes should be shifted to working Missourians.”

In his address today, Governor Kehoe described the economic growth over the last decade of Republican control as “average at best.”

“Gov. Kehoe is hellbent on destroying Missouri’s budget and the Republican Party is all too willing to march along,” said Yvonne Reeves Chong, Vice Chair of the Missouri Democratic Party. “Missouri families, our neighbors, deserve real leadership that fights for a more affordable future and economic opportunity.”

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Media Contact:

Tristin Amezcua-Hogan, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Chair Statement on Democratic Sweep

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 23:50:09 GMT

Missouri Democratic Chair Statement on Democratic Sweep

October 31, 2025

Tomorrow, as the Republicans’ government shutdown hits the one-month mark, benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are set to run out for hundreds of thousands of Missourians. This debacle is not just a failure of leadership from Congressional Republicans - it is a crisis of design. The Trump administration could extend SNAP benefits through billions of dollars in contingency funds, but the President refused.

The reason is simple: Republicans in Washington D.C. want everyday Americans, including over 1 million Missourians, to give up their affordable healthcare benefits. If they won’t, Republicans don’t care if people go hungry.

“The choice between lifesaving prescriptions and life-sustaining food is no choice at all,” said Russ Carnahan, Chair of the Missouri Democratic Party, “and yet that is exactly the devil’s bargain that Republican legislators in Washington D.C. hope to force on the American People.”

He continued, “Democrats aren’t having it. We’re going to fight their efforts to starve needy Americans into giving up affordable healthcare, and hold them accountable for this despicable inaction every step of the way.”

It is our sincere hope that Congressional Republicans wake up and realize the damage they are causing to families in Missouri and across the country. Until they do, we urge Missourians to reach out to their Congressional representatives and tell them that enough is enough.

At this time, we also encourage those in need to seek resources from community and charitable partners by heading to feedingmissouri.org/get-help/food-bank-links/

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Media Contact:

Matthew Patterson, Executive Director

press@missouridems.org

MDP Calls on GOP to Stop Playing Games with Peoples' Livelihoods

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 23:40:22 GMT

Missouri Democrats call on Congressional Republicans to Stop Playing Games, Fund Healthcare and Food Benefits for Families in need.

September 12, 2025

Today, Republican State Senators followed earlier Republican House action to sell out Missouri voters by passing legislation to take away their voice in our federal government. Because of this illegal and unprecedented power-grab, the right to representation for hundreds of thousands of everyday Missourians is at risk. Republican Politician’s scheme is to rig the system because they fear voter backlash in the 2026 midterm elections due to their historically unpopular agenda that fails to address raising costs of living, cuts health care and other programs for regular people, and runs up the deficit to pay for more tax breaks for the wealthy. Elected Republicans in Jefferson City think they should have more power over voters and have forgotten that in Missouri VOTERS ARE THE BOSS. Democrats are committed to protecting the power of voters from these attacks.

“I think that the Republican politicians who voted for this illegal gerrymander and to take away Missourian’s power to vote on ballot issues, are sending a very clear message: they just don’t care,” said Russ Carnahan, Chair of the Missouri Democratic Party. “Even after thousands of everyday Missourians came to the Capitol to ask their legislators to stop this insanity,” he continued, “they passed it anyway. They don’t care about the will of the people, or about protecting our voice in government. Now it’s up to us to do what they won’t.”

A poll conducted a week before the special session showed clearly that rising costs, the economy and jobs were the top issues Missourians wanted their legislators to address. Redistricting was ranked at the bottom of other more important issues. And most telling by over a two to one margin 52-22 Missourians favored independent citizens commissions to draw congressional district lines rather than politicians.

Following passage by the Republican Senate, a coalition of community organizations announced an effort to take these rigged maps to a vote of the people. The MDP urges voters from all sides of the political spectrum to come together and resist this attack on the rights of our friends and neighbors, and sign up to get involved in the effort to put this question where it belongs: on a ballot, where the people of Missouri can decide what’s best for our state.

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Media Contact:

Matthew Patterson, Executive Director

press@missouridems.org

MDP Denounces Senate Passage of Mid-Decade Redistricting

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 23:23:51 GMT

Missouri Democrats denounce Republican Legislators passage of illegal gerrymander and unprecedented attacks on Voter’s ballot power, urge voters to organize and overturn their actions

September 9, 2025

Earlier today, politicians in our State House forced through redistricting maps which are intended to silence the voices of tens of thousands of Missourians. This decision came despite bipartisan opposition, and ignored the testimony of thousands of Missourians who voiced concern over the maps.

“What Missourians need right now is leadership that is focused on their needs, not taking away their rights,” said Russ Carnahan, Chair of the Missouri Democratic Party. “It is shameful that politicians in Jefferson City are using this session to attack their constituents instead of doing things that actually matter: fighting rising prices, reducing energy costs, and helping everyday Missourians make ends meet.”

Chair Carnahan and MDP leadership encourage Missourians to join them at the State Capitol tomorrow, where multiple demonstrations are planned to highlight the injustice being committed by members of our state legislature. A press conference will be held by the Missouri House Democrats at 9:30 a.m. , and a rally organized by pro-democracy organizations is planned for 12:00 p.m. The Missouri Democrats will be proud to join in solidarity at both events, and call upon concerned citizens from across our state to do the same.

About the Missouri Democratic Party:

The Missouri Democratic Party fights for fair elections, representative democracy, and policies that benefit all Missouri families — not just the privileged few. We believe every Missourian deserves a government that listens to, respects, and reflects their community’s needs, not one that cuts them out of the process.

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Media Contact:

Matthew Patterson, Executive Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party denounces House passage of illegal gerrymander, calls on Missourians to stand up for their rights

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 23:15:09 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party denounces House passage of illegal gerrymander, calls on Missourians to stand up for their rights

September 5, 2025

On Saturday, September 6th, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar will join with representatives of the Missouri Democratic Party and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver in Kansas City, MO to speak out against illegal gerrymandering efforts led by Governor Mike Kehoe.

“What Missouri Republicans are trying to do to our elections is preposterous,” said Yvonne Reeves-Chong, Vice Chair of the Missouri Democratic Party. “Their proposed maps lump dozens of rural communities like my own in with a downtown metro that is hundreds of miles away. That’s not representation,” she continued. “When you draw maps like that - to support politicians, not people - it’s everyday people that suffer for it.”

Senator Klobuchar and the MDP will also be joined by local labor organizations, the Jackson County Democrats, and elected officials who will add their voices in defense of Missouri’s democracy.

As Governor Kehoe continues to push forward his unconstitutional effort to rob hundreds of thousands of Missourians of fair representation, the MDP will continue to bring attention to this deeply immoral and unpopular gerrymander. Missouri Republicans cannot run from the will of the people forever - and they shouldn’t be allowed to hide from it behind rigged maps.

Details for Saturday's Event:

Time: Saturday, September 6th, 1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Location: Kansas City, MO - For additional details, RSVP here .

About the Missouri Democratic Party:

The Missouri Democratic Party fights for fair elections, representative democracy, and policies that benefit all Missouri families—not just the privileged few. We believe every Missourian deserves a government that listens to, respects, and reflects their community’s needs—not one that cuts them out of the process.

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Media Contact:

Matthew Patterson, Executive Director

press@missouridems.org

Senator Amy Klobuchar to join Congressman Emanuel Cleaver and the Missouri Democratic Party in condemning illegal gerrymandering effort

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 23:12:43 GMT

Senator Amy Klobuchar to join Congressman Emanuel Cleaver and the Missouri Democratic Party in condemning illegal gerrymandering effort

August 29, 2025

The Missouri Democratic Party and its elected officials strongly oppose Governor Mike Kehoe’s calling of a special legislative session to even further gerrymander Missouri’s congressional districts—an effort clearly aimed at benefiting Republican politicians at the expense of fair representation of Missouri citizens. This comes after a long pattern of Missouri Republicans overturning the will of voters.

“This move represents an alarming abuse of power and a blatant attempt to rig the electoral map for partisan gain,” said Russ Carnahan, chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party. “Rather than focusing on the pressing needs of Missourians, Republican leaders are bowing down to Washington politicians, playing political games and working behind closed doors to rig the rules in their favor because they are afraid of voter backlash in the midterm election from their unpopular agenda benefitting billionaires at the expense of working families. Missourians deserve better from the elected officials pushing for these changes.”

At the center of this plan is an effort to dismantle fair representation in Missouri’s communities.

The governor’s lack of transparency, paired with the growing influence of national political operatives in Missouri’s redistricting process, is deeply troubling. Missourians deserve to know what changes are being proposed to their representation—and why. Citizens are not pawns in a partisan power play, and we will not stand by while our democracy is undermined.

Missouri Democrats Demand:

Transparency. The public deserves to see any proposed map in full—not hidden, insider drafts.
Public Input. Missourians should have a seat at the table—not locked out of decisions that shape their political voice.
Respect for Democracy. Redistricting must reflect fair, nonpartisan values—not be weaponized to entrench power.
Veto Session Clarity. The Democratic Party demands assurance that no redistricting plans will be rammed through without open debate.

About the Missouri Democratic Party:

The Missouri Democratic Party fights for fair elections, representative democracy, and policies that benefit all Missouri families—not just the privileged few. We believe every Missourian deserves a government that listens to, respects, and reflects their community’s needs—not one that cuts them out of the process.

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Media Contact:

Matthew Patterson, Executive Director

press@missouridems.org

Governor Kehoe Poised to Undermine Missouri Voters with Partisan Redistricting

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 23:04:54 GMT

Governor Kehoe Poised to Undermine Missouri Voters with Partisan Redistricting

August 29, 2025

At the center of this plan is an effort to dismantle fair representation in Missouri’s communities.

Missouri Democrats Demand:

Transparency. The public deserves to see any proposed map in full—not hidden, insider drafts.
Public Input. Missourians should have a seat at the table—not locked out of decisions that shape their political voice.
Respect for Democracy. Redistricting must reflect fair, nonpartisan values—not be weaponized to entrench power.
Veto Session Clarity. The Democratic Party demands assurance that no redistricting plans will be rammed through without open debate.

About the Missouri Democratic Party:

The Missouri Democratic Party fights for fair elections, representative democracy, and policies that benefit all Missouri families—not just the privileged few. We believe every Missourian deserves a government that listens to, respects, and reflects their community’s needs—not one that cuts them out of the process.

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Media Contact:

Matthew Patterson, Executive Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democrats Celebrate 60th Anniversary of Medicaid and Medicare, Condemn GOP Threats to Healthcare

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:08:29 GMT

Missouri Democrats Celebrate 60th Anniversary of Medicaid and Medicare, Condemn GOP Threats to Healthcare

July 30, 2025

The Missouri Democratic Party celebrates the 60th anniversary of Medicaid and Medicare and condemns Republican attacks on these programs. Since 1965, Medicaid and Medicare have transformed the health and financial security of millions of Americans.

Today, more than 1 million Missourians rely on these programs to access critical care, but instead of celebrating this milestone, Missouri Republicans are working to tear it down. Just this month, Missouri Republicans in Congress joined their party in voting for a federal budget plan that would slash Medicaid funding to pay for tax breaks for the wealthy elite. Their votes directly undermine care for families in every corner of the state.

“Medicaid and Medicare are two of the most successful government programs in American history. They have saved lives, kept rural hospitals open, and provided peace of mind to millions of Missouri families,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan. “Missouri Republicans are trying to rip that away, not because the programs don’t work, but because their wealthy donors want bigger tax breaks. It’s a disgrace.”

Missourians are already seeing the consequences. From rising hospital closures to families scrambling to keep coverage for children with complex medical needs, the Republican agenda is creating real harm. Democrats will continue to defend Medicaid and Medicare against partisan attacks and fight for a future where everyone, no matter their income or zip code, can get the care they deserve.

Background

U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee: 16 Million People Would Lose Health Insurance From Medicaid, ACA Cuts

KCUR: How federal Medicaid changes will affect MO HealthNet and KanCare

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Hawley bends on Medicaid cuts, votes for Trump tax bill

The Atlantic: Why Josh Hawley Is Trying to Reverse Medicaid Cuts He Voted For

KBSI: Proposed Medicaid, SNAP changes spark concerns for recovery efforts

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Republicans Skip Town to Avoid Vote on Releasing the Epstein Files

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 03:55:47 GMT

Missouri Republicans Skip Town to Avoid Vote on Releasing the Epstein Files

July 23, 2025

In response to House Republicans fleeing the Capitol and starting the August recess early to avoid the release of the Epstein files, Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan released the following statement:

“Rather than grow a backbone and stand up for what’s right, Missouri Republicans are fleeing the Capitol to avoid releasing the Epstein files to protect Donald Trump and his elite friends. Missourians elected Republicans to deliver results, not to protect predators and take long, taxpayer-funded vacations,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan . “After passing the biggest wealth redistribution in American history with Republicans’ budget betrayal, Republicans have made it clear their only interest is in protecting the rich and the powerful.”

Background:

Politico: “House Republicans will scrap several votes this week as internal party drama over Jeffrey Epstein derails a key committee that handles legislation on its way to the floor.

“The House Rules Committee came to a standstill Monday night as GOP leaders struggled to contain rank-and-file Republicans and their Democratic allies clamoring for a floor vote to compel the publication of materials related to the late disgraced financier and convicted sex offender. … That means House members will depart for August recess at the week’s end without being able to vote on legislation that would not otherwise be able to pass on the chamber floor with a simple majority vote, including an immigration-related bill that would increase penalties for individuals who enter the country illegally and a water-permitting measure.”

Axios: “House GOP blocks second Dem attempt to release Epstein files”

NewsWire: “Trump is ‘ratioed’ on his own platform as MAGA fury erupts over Epstein scandal.”

Politico: “The Epstein Saga Has Splintered Trump’s Movement Like Nothing Before”

Rasmussen Poll: “Roughly two-thirds of every political category - 68% of Democrats, 66% of Republicans and 69% of unaffiliated voters - reject the idea that the Epstein case is closed and instead believe that there are dozens of powerful and wealthy offenders who need to face justice.”

CNN Poll: “Americans are broadly dissatisfied with how much Epstein info the government has released. … Very conservative Republicans and Republican-leaning independents are far more likely to be dissatisfied than are those who consider themselves somewhat conservative (48% vs. 40%).”

Quinnipiac Poll: “17 percent of voters say they approve of the way the Trump Administration is handling the Jeffrey Epstein files, while 63 percent of voters disapprove…”

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Statement From Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan On The Passing Of Congressman Clay

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 21:00:21 GMT

Statement From Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan On The Passing Of Congressman Clay Sr.

July 17, 2025

The Missouri Democratic Party mourns the passing of Congressman William Lacy Clay Sr., a trailblazer whose legacy forever changed the political landscape of Missouri and the nation.

As Missouri’s first Black member of Congress, Congressman Clay shattered barriers and gave voice to communities too long ignored. For over three decades, he was a fearless champion for civil rights, working families, organized labor, and equal opportunity. He didn’t just talk about justice, he legislated it, fought for it, and inspired a generation to do the same.

Congressman Clay laid the groundwork for so many who came after him. His legacy endures in the laws he helped enact, the leaders he mentored, and the lives he touched. Missouri Democrats extend our deepest condolences to the entire Clay family, especially his son, former Congressman Lacy Clay, Jr., who carried his father’s torch with the same unwavering commitment to public service.

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Celebrates The Successful Return of Camp Carnahan Campaign Training Program

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 17:28:45 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Celebrates The Successful Return of Camp Carnahan Campaign Training Program - July 2025

July 17, 2025

Last weekend, the Missouri Democratic Party hosted over 100 Missourians from across the state for a weekend of campaign training led by top political operatives and organizers. First launched in 1997 by Governor Mel Carnahan, Camp Carnahan has trained over 1,200 Democrats, many of whom have gone on to win elected office or lead successful campaigns. This summer’s two-day program continued that legacy with hands-on instruction, guest speakers, and track-based workshops designed to equip the next generation of Democratic leaders and organizers with the skills to win close races.

“We’re laying the groundwork for success in 2026 by training a new wave of campaigners, organizers, and candidates ready to fight for every corner of Missouri,” said MDP Chair Russ Carnahan. “Camp Carnahan is about investing in people to develop the leaders and organizers who make our Party stronger and move Missouri forward. This year’s class was one of the most impressive yet: driven, diverse, and ready to win tough races across the state. At a time when our values are under attack, this work has never been more important, and I’m proud to see so many Missourians stepping up to lead.”

2025 Camp Carnahan Class By The Numbers:

Over 100 Missourians representing each congressional district attended Camp Carnahan
Our youngest attendee was 16 years old, and our most experienced attendee was over 80 years old.
Attendees traveled from 53 cities across 75 zip codes to attend, including Dixon, Neosho, St. Joseph, and Willard.

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democrats Slam Kehoe for Repealing Voter-Approved Earned Sick Leave

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 16:17:00 GMT

Missouri Democrats Slam Kehoe for Repealing Voter-Approved Earned Sick Leave

July 11, 2025,

Yesterday, Governor Kehoe signed the bill repealing earned sick leave, passed by nearly 60% of voters last November.

“Governor Kehoe and Missouri Republicans just told working families that their health and their vote don’t matter,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan . “This repeal isn’t about what’s best for Missouri, it’s about greed. Republicans sold out working people so their big donors wouldn’t have to offer a single day of paid time off.”

Missouri Democrats fought to defend earned sick leave during the session, holding the line in the Senate for as long as possible. But Republican leadership made it clear: they answer to corporate donors, not Missouri voters.

Background:

Missouri Independent: Missouri Gov. Kehoe signs bill repealing paid sick leave

St. Louis Public Radio: Prop A paid sick leave begins for Missouri workers despite efforts to block it

KSHB: Missouri Supreme Court upholds Proposition A, raising minimum wage and expanding sick leave

KOMU: Democrats filibuster to keep paid sick leave in Prop A one week before it takes effect

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Missouri Democrats again stall GOP bid to repeal new sick leave, minimum wage rules

Missouri Independent: Missouri Democrats filibuster GOP effort to overturn voter-approved paid sick leave

MissouriNet: Missouri Senate might not get to the minimum wage bill in time to revoke paid sick leave

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Blasts GOP for Selling Out Missouri Families in Trump’s Budget Scam

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 19:10:22 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Blasts GOP for Selling Out Missouri Families in Trump’s Budget Scam

July 3, 2025,

Today, the Missouri Democratic Party slammed Ann Wagner, Jason Smith, Eric Burlison, and Missouri Republicans for backing Donald Trump’s billionaire-first budget, a bill that rips away health care, guts food assistance, and kills jobs, all to hand out massive tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy.

“Missouri Republicans just voted to rob their constituents blind,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan. “They sided with Donald Trump and billionaire donors over Missouri families and voted to strip health care from seniors, kick kids off food assistance, and shut down rural hospitals. This budget is a disaster for working people and a goldmine for the ultra-rich. Missouri voters won’t forget who sold them out.”

A vote for the Republican budget means:

Over $1 trillion slashed from Medicaid, the largest cut in U.S. history
Over 250,429 Missourians kicked off health care
At least 1 in 4 nursing homes forced to close, including 39 in Missouri .
Hundreds of rural hospitals pushed to the brink, including 4 in Missouri
5 million Americans at risk of losing food assistance
$79,000 average tax cut for millionaires
Tax hikes on the lowest-income Missourians

While families across Missouri face higher costs and fewer services, Republicans' donors cash in. This vote is a direct attack on the working people she was elected to represent.

“Let’s be clear, this wasn’t just a vote,” Carnahan added. “It was a betrayal. Missouri Republicans chose to punch down on working Missourians so Trump’s billionaire buddies could cash out. They own the consequences, and come Election Day, they’ll pay the price.”

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Hawley & Schmitt Just Voted to Sell Out Missouri

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 18:09:53 GMT

Hawley & Schmitt Just Voted to Sell Out Missouri

July 1, 2025

The Missouri Democratic Party condemned Senators Eric Schmitt & Josh Hawley’ for voting in favor of the 2025 Republican budget bill, widely known as the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which includes deep Medicaid cuts, major cost hikes for working families across Missouri, and risks closing more rural hospitals,

“Josh Hawley & Eric Schmitt just voted to sell out the people of Missouri,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan. “This bill hikes energy bills, guts health care for working families, and will force rural hospitals to close all to send billions in tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy and corporate special interests. It’s a direct betrayal of the people he was elected to represent.” Despite weeks of pretending to be undecided and voicing concerns about Medicaid cuts, Hawley weakly caved to GOP leadership and cast his vote in favor of the bill.”

According to recent reporting and economic analysis:

Missouri households will face $2.1 billion in higher energy costs over the next decade
37,400 jobs will be lost by 2035
Missouri’s GDP will shrink by $27 billion
Up to 250,000 Missourians could lose their health insurance

“This is what politics over people looks like,” Carnahan said . “Josh Hawley put ambition and party loyalty ahead of the health and economic security of Missouri families. Voters won’t forget this vote, and we won’t let them.”

Background:

New York Times Op Ed - Josh Hawley: Don’t Cut Medicaid

U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee: New Congressional District Data, 16 Million People Would Lose Health Insurance From Medicaid, ACA Cuts

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democrats Slam Josh Hawley for Misleading Voters, Backing GOP Bill That Guts Medicaid

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 17:03:27 GMT

Missouri Democrats Slam Josh Hawley for Misleading Voters, Backing GOP Bill That Guts Medicaid

June 30, 2025

Missouri Democrats are calling out Senator Josh Hawley for his misleading public statements and newfound support for Senate Republicans’ sweeping domestic policy bill, which would gut Medicaid, hike home energy costs, and devastate rural hospitals.

Just days after telling Missourians he opposed the legislation because it was ‘morally wrong’ to gut Medicaid, Hawley reversed course and voted in lockstep with Republican leadership to advance the bill.

“Josh Hawley tried to have it both ways by pretending to oppose a bill that he now says he’ll support because he knows it will hurt Missouri,” said Russ Carnahan, Chair of the Missouri Democratic Party. “This bill is a slap in the face to working families. It guts health care, raises costs across the board, and gives more tax breaks to the wealthy and well-connected. Missouri deserves leaders who stand up for them, not ones who lie to their faces and vote the way their rich friends tell them to.”

Reports show the devastating impact of the GOP plan on Missouri:

$2.1 billion in higher home energy costs over the next 10 years
37,400 jobs lost by 2035
$27 billion hit to Missouri’s economy
250,000 Missourians at risk of losing their health coverage

The proposal also threatens to shutter rural hospitals, gut Medicaid, and raise the cost of living for working families across the state.

“Missourians are paying attention and they won’t forget who stood with them and who sold them out,” Carnahan added.

Background:

New York Times Op Ed - Josh Hawley: Don’t Cut Medicaid

U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee: New Congressional District Data, 16 Million People Would Lose Health Insurance From Medicaid, ACA Cuts

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Announces the Return of Camp Carnahan Campaign Training Program in July 2025

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 01:49:03 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Announces the Return of Camp Carnahan Campaign Training Program in July 2025

June 18, 2025

The Missouri Democratic Party is proud to announce the return of Camp Carnahan, the MDP’s premier campaign training program, which provides training to candidates, future campaign staff, and advocacy and issue organizers, to be held on July 12–13, 2025, in the St. Louis region. The registration deadline is July 1, 2025.

First launched in 1997 by Governor Mel Carnahan, Camp Carnahan has trained over 1,200 Democrats, many of whom have gone on to win elected office or lead successful campaigns. This summer’s two-day program continues that legacy with hands-on instruction, guest speakers, and track-based workshops designed to equip the next generation of Democratic leaders and organizers with the skills to win close races.

Camp Carnahan 2025 Details:

Date: Saturday, July 12 – Sunday, July 13, 2025

Location : St. Louis, Missouri (Accepted applicants will receive details on July 2, 2025)

Registration Deadline: July 1, 2025

Tracks Offered:

Candidate Training – For Missourians considering a run for public office

Campaign Management – For those looking to manage or work on campaigns

Issue Advocacy and Organizing – For future grassroots and issue-based leaders

Participants will join teams within their selected tracks and engage in simulations, team competitions, and interactive sessions led by top Democratic professionals from Missouri and across the country. Meals will be provided, and all attendees will receive training materials and access to the MDP’s job bank.

The cost to attend is $35 and includes a one-year membership in the Missouri Democratic Party.

To sign up for Camp Carnahan, visit: https://www.missouridemocrats.org/camp-carnahan

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democrats Slam Republicans on Extreme Measures Taken To Overturn Will of Voters

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Wed, 14 May 2025 21:25:06 GMT

Missouri Democrats Slam Republicans on Extreme Measures Taken To Overturn Will of Voters

May 14, 2025

In a stunning rejection of Missouri voters, Republican lawmakers have directly undermined Missouri voters and effectively shut down debate on Democrats’ attempts to block the attacks on two voter-approved measures: Prop A & Amendment 3 by using the rare “previous question” procedural maneuver. This marks a dramatic departure from recent legislative tradition and an alarming precedent for Missouri’s democracy. Democrats vow to continue fighting to restore these rights and hold Republicans accountable for undermining the voices of the very people who elected them.

“Let’s be clear: Missouri voters made their voices heard. And today, Republicans made it just as clear they don’t care about Missouri voters,” said Keri Ingle, Missouri State Representative for District 35, Lee’s Summit. “They have chosen to side with wealthy donors and political extremists over working families, women, and the will of the people.”

“These are the rights Missourians just voted for. Today’s vote wasn’t about policy—it was about power. Missouri Republicans have made it crystal clear they will override voters, silence debate, and break long-standing norms to force their agenda through.”

Background:

Rep.Keri Ingle is a licensed social worker, mother of two, and dedicated public servant representing Lee’s Summit in the Missouri House of Representatives. She brings a career of frontline experience to the Capitol, having worked in child welfare as an adoption specialist for Jackson County Children’s Division, as well as in schools, hospitals, and mental health facilities.

Raised in a military family, Ingle learned the values of service, discipline, and community early on. She earned her B.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Oklahoma and her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Kansas. Her work has earned statewide recognition, including being named Missouri’s Elected Official of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers in 2021 and Legislator of the Year by Missouri Kids Win in 2022.

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KOMU: New law allowing appeals temporary blocks to state law could have consequences for abortion

Fox 2: Missouri Democrats block vote to repeal Amendment 3

KMIZ: Lawmakers approve ballot measures bill that challenges Amendment 3

Missouri Independent: Missouri Democrats filibuster GOP effort to overturn voter-approved paid sick leave

MissouriNet: Missouri Senate might not get to minimum wage bill in time to revoke paid sick leave

KRCG: Missouri citizens protest overturned ballot measures at the Capitol

St. Louis Public Radio: Prop A paid sick leave begins for Missouri workers despite efforts to block it

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Statement on the Passing of Former Governor and Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Tue, 13 May 2025 19:19:34 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Statement on the Passing of Former Governor and Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond

May 13, 2025,

St. Louis, MO — Today, we mourn the loss of former Governor and Senator Kit Bond, one of Missouri's most influential political leaders. With a career that spanned over four decades, Kit was a tireless advocate for Missouri’s people, serving both as governor and U.S. Senator. His legacy as a statesman, reformer, and dedicated public servant is woven into the fabric of our state's history.

“Kit's service to Missouri was defined by his deep commitment to improving the lives of our citizens, whether through securing vital infrastructure projects or supporting critical economic initiatives. He was a man of principle, integrity, and, above all, love for the people of Missouri. His leadership set a high bar for future generations, and he leaves behind a powerful example of dedication and resilience,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan.

“Kit’s humor, warmth, and willingness to listen made him a friend to many. His unique approach to politics and policy made him a true force in both state and national government. He always put the needs of Missourians first, and he never lost sight of the people he worked for. Kit believed, as I do, that public service is an honor, and he lived that belief daily. Today, I am reminded of what my late mother and former Senator Jean Carnahan wrote of Kit’s service:

'On the national scene, Missouri’s senior senator remains an advocate of family issues. He was a strong supporter of Head Start, Family and Medical Leave legislation, and the Parents as Teachers program. The National Journal labeled him 'a conservative with a soft spot for cities and housing.' Colleagues give him high marks for his gregarious manner and efforts to find solutions that work. One Democratic senator noted, '[Bond] always tries to form alliances in the sensible center'—a trait that has served him well both in the nation’s capital and with his midwestern constituency.' - If Walls Could Talk, Jean Carnahan

“As we reflect on Kit’s remarkable contributions to our state, I join with Missourians from all walks of life in sending my deepest condolences to his wife, Linda, his family, and all who knew and loved him. My thoughts are with them during this difficult time. Missouri has lost a giant, and while we mourn his passing, we also celebrate the enduring impact of his work and the example he set for all who aspire to serve.”

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democrats Thank Senate Dems For Fighting To Protect Voter-Approved Earned Sick Leave, Going Into Effect May 1, 2025

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Thu, 01 May 2025 19:44:58 GMT

Missouri Democrats Thank Senate Dems For Fighting To Protect Voter-Approved Earned Sick Leave, Going Into Effect Today

May 1, 2025

Today, on International Workers’ Day, Missouri workers can now earn paid sick leave, as approved by nearly 60% of Missouri voters last November. Despite the overwhelming support for this measure, Missouri Republicans in the legislature have fought tooth and nail to overturn the law, displaying stunning disrespect for Missouri voters.

Republicans have forgotten who they work for and are trying to overturn a law passed by the people so their rich friends don’t have to provide workers the basic dignity of earned sick leave. Instead of standing with Missouri families, Republican lawmakers are fighting to put corporate interests first, letting the wealthy write the rules while working people pay the price.

“The Missouri Democratic Party sincerely thanks our Senate Democrats for standing strong when needed to successfully block the Republicans’ attempt to take earned sick leave away from millions of working Missourians,” said Jerry Wood, Chair, Missouri Democratic Party’s Labor Caucus .

“Missouri Republicans are terrified of Missouri voters and have consistently worked to undermine, overturn, or restrict the decisions voters make at the ballot box. Missouri Republicans have completely forgotten who they are sent to Jefferson City to represent and openly advocate for the interests of their rich friends on the floor of the People’s House.”

Background:

St. Louis Public Radio: Prop A paid sick leave begins for Missouri workers despite efforts to block it

KSHB: Missouri Supreme Court upholds Proposition A, raising minimum wage and expanding sick leave

KOMU: Democrats filibuster to keep paid sick leave in Prop A one week before it takes effect

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Missouri Democrats again stall GOP bid to repeal new sick leave, minimum wage rules

Missouri Independent: Missouri Democrats filibuster GOP effort to overturn voter-approved paid sick leave

MissouriNet: Missouri Senate might not get to the minimum wage bill in time to revoke paid sick leave

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

ICYMI: Thousands Of Missourians Gather Across The State To Celebrate The LGBTQIA+ Community

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 18:28:35 GMT

ICYMI: Thousands Of Missourians Gather Across The State To Celebrate The LGBTQIA+ Community

March 3, 2025

On Saturday, March 1, 2025, the Missouri Democratic Party’s LGBTQIA+ Caucus led protests in 13 cities across the state, gathering thousands of supporters.

“As the Missouri Democratic Party rebuilds, it is important that members of our LGBTQIA+ community know they are welcome and our humanity is not up for debate. We have heard your calls for action and were thrilled by the community’s response. Now is not the time to retreat or shy away. Instead, we must stand together and make it clear to Missouri that we will not be erased, and we are not going back,” said April Rivera, Chair of the Missouri Democratic Party’s LGBTQIA+ Caucus. “The Missouri Democratic Party proudly champions LGBTQIA+ rights and will continue to fight for equal protection under the law for all Missourians.”

“My wife and I knew our community, Springfield, would show up, but we were pleasantly shocked to see the turnout across the state,” said Brittany Dyer, Community Organizer with the MDP’s LGBTQIA+ Caucus and lead organizer of the statewide protests . “Our rights are constantly under attack by the state and it has never been as bad as it is right now. So, it has never been more important that we stand together and show up for each other as it is now. We are so grateful to everyone who turned out in support.”

Photos

Location Map

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Responds To Gov. Kehoe’s State of the State Address

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 23:56:02 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Responds To Gov. Kehoe’s State of the State Address

January 28, 2025

Following Governor Kehoe’s State of the State address before the Missouri State Legislature, the Missouri Democratic Party released the following statement:

“For the sake of all Missourians, I wish Governor Kehoe well as he begins his first term in office. It is my sincere hope that he will work constructively with Democrats and Republicans where they find common ground for the good of our State. Missouri Republicans have held control of our state legislature for more than 20 years, and their pursuit of power has caused them to leave sight of the values they were elected to uphold: a life free from government overreach and interference,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan.

“The Governor has an opportunity to push back on his Republican Party’s deeply unpopular agenda of stripping away our individual rights and freedoms . It does not matter that Missouri voters decisively passed a constitutional amendment overturning the state's abortion ban last year—Missouri Republicans are actively working to undermine the will of the people and overturn those votes. From stripping local control from our communities and shifting it to the state, or trying to gut voters' ability to reign in their overreach through the initiative petition process, Missouri Republicans won’t stop until they have the power to control every aspect of our lives, right down to our most personal decisions.”

Background:

Kansas City Star: Missouri Republican lawmakers push to reinstate abortion ban after Amendment 3 passed

Kansas City Star:

“Missouri Republicans have for years attacked the state’s initiative petition process, which has been utilized by voters of both parties to bypass the General Assembly and put measures to a statewide vote. The criticism comes as voters have in recent years passed several progressive policies, including marijuana legalization and Medicaid expansion. Republicans argue that the current process has allowed outside interest groups to influence elections. But this year, as a coalition of abortion rights groups embark on a campaign to put abortion rights on the ballot through an initiative petition, Republicans have doubled down on the effort.”

Missouri Independent : 50-Hour Filibuster Forces More Negotiations On GOP-Backed Initiative Petition Changes

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Statement on 52nd Anniversary of Roe v. Wade Decision

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 02:06:40 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Statement on 52nd Anniversary of Roe v. Wade Decision

January 22, 2025

Today, on the 52nd anniversary of the Supreme Court issuing its landmark decision in Roe v. Wade Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan released the following statement:

“On this day fifty-two years ago, the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling in Roe v. Wade that protected the right to reproductive freedom for people across the country, a right Missouri voters enshrined into Missouri’s constitution this past November. These are deeply private issues around decisions that should be made amongst family and medical professionals, not politicians in Jefferson City. Missouri voters, Democratic, Independent, and Republicans, believe their neighbors should have the fundamental right to make their own, personal medical decisions without cruel interference, and they said so at the ballot box,” Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan said.

“Despite Missouri voters’ issuing what should be the final word on the subject, Republicans have pledged to continue their attacks on these fundamental freedoms. Missouri Republicans in the state legislature have already announced their plans to ignore the will of Missouri voters and to resurrect their failed attempt to attack the ballot process and prevent Missouri voters from circumventing their greed entirely. Missouri Democrats are ready to fight to protect our rights and hold these power-hungry politicians accountable for their gross overreach.”

Background:

According to March of Dimes , 51.6% of Missouri counties are considered maternal healthcare deserts, which do not have a birthing facility or practicing physician. These deserts mean longer drive times for pregnant Missourians to receive the care they need for a healthy pregnancy.

Kansas City Star: Missouri Republican lawmakers push to reinstate abortion ban after Amendment 3 passed

Missouri Independent: Failed Gop Attempt To Keep Abortion Off Missouri Ballot Could Foreshadow Fight To Come

“State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, a Republican from Arnold, is among the anti-abortion activists who sued to keep Amendment 3 off the ballot. She said regardless of what happens in November, there’s a long road ahead. ‘This is not the end all be all,’ Coleman said. ‘And I think you will see efforts, win or lose, for Missourians to get another say in this.’ [...] Coleman said if the amendment passes, it will not be the last time Missourians vote on abortion, adding that an effort similar to the one that undid Clean Missouri is likely. ‘The reason why you’ve seen such passion in the pro-life movement or from elected officials who are pro-life is because that reflects the passion of Missouri citizens who are pro-life,’ Coleman said. "Which is to do anything and everything to protect the most vulnerable.’”

Kansas City Star:

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

ICYMI: Schmitt Too Busy To Prepare For Defense Secretary Nomination Hearing, Apparently

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 19:42:45 GMT

ICYMI: Schmitt Too Busy To Prepare For Defense Secretary Nomination Hearing, Apparently

January 15, 2025

Yesterday, the Senate Armed Services Committee held a dramatic confirmation hearing to consider President Trump’s Defense Secretary pick, Pete Hegseth. Since the announcement, Hegseth’s nomination has been plagued by controversy, as details of his past service have been made public and his character called into question.

Instead of taking the time to carefully question the nominee tapped to lead one of our most important national security posts, Schmitt provided Hegseth a welcome distraction from the very troubling details of his past, including a payment made to a woman accusing Hegseth of rape, by presenting a large sign with the word ‘military’ misspelled.

“At this precarious time in global relations, it is of utmost importance that our national defense leaders be wholly vetted and considered before taking on these top posts. It is very disappointing that Senator Schmitt, Missouri’s representative on the Armed Services Committee, did not carefully consider his task and used his opportunity to rail against the boogeyman,” said Missouri Democratic Party Vice Chair Yvonne Reeves-Chong.

“Our servicemen and women put their lives on the line for our safety every single day and are often separated from their families for months at a time. Senator Schmitt owed the tens of thousands of active duty Missouri soldiers and their families whose lives will depend on Hegseth’s competence more preparation and serious consideration about their futures than this performance demonstrated.”

Background:

Yvonne Reeves-Chong lives in Pulaski County and is serving her second term as Vice Chair of the Missouri Democratic Party. Reeves-Chong is the proud daughter and sister of service-members who dedicated their lives to defending American freedom.

Newsweek: Republican Uses Misspelled Sign During Pete Hegseth Confirmation Hearing

The New Yorker: Pete Hegseth’s Secret History

A whistle-blower report and other documents suggest that Trump’s nominee to run the Pentagon was forced out of previous leadership positions for financial mismanagement, sexist behavior, and being repeatedly intoxicated on the job.

Washington Post: Defense Pick Hegseth Paid Accuser But Denies Sexual Assault

“At some point in the evening, the complaint alleged, Jane Doe received a text from two women at the bar who told her that ‘Hegseth was getting pushy about his interest in taking them upstairs to his room.’ Jane Doe, who was nearby, came over and talked to those two women, and after they left, she ‘remembered sensing that Hegseth was irritated,’ the memo said. What happened next is in dispute. According to the memo, Jane Doe ‘didn’t remember anything until she was in Hegseth’s hotel room and then stumbling to find her hotel room.’ The memo said that her memory of six to nine hours ‘was very hazy,’ and that her husband was searching for her and was relieved when she finally showed up. The following day, the woman returned home and ‘had a moment of hazy memory of being raped the night before, and had a panic attack,’ the memo said. The woman then went to the emergency room, where she received a rape-kit examination that ‘was positive for semen,’ the memo said. The woman gave county authorities a statement about what happened, according to the memo sent to the transition team.”

MissouriNet: Missouri’s Eric Schmitt Supports Hegseth for U.S. Defense Secretary During Heated Hearing

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party On Opening Of 2025 State Legislative Session

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 15:13:56 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party On Opening Of 2025 State Legislative Session

January 8, 2025

Today following the opening of the 2025 Missouri state legislative session, the Missouri Democratic Party released the following statement:

“Last year, the Missouri GOP’s supermajority was so chaotic and dysfunctional, they failed to pass even their own key priorities, leaving the state capitol after the most unproductive session in recent history . Instead of working to solve critical issues, including access to affordable and quality healthcare, public education, and improving the safety of our roads and bridges, this Republican supermajority has decided they would rather focus on pushing their extreme agenda to further strip us of our rights and personal freedoms. Despite Missouri voters passing Amendment 3 to make abortion care legal under Missouri’s constitution, the Republicans in the state legislature have already announced their plans to attack the Amendment and ignore the will of Missouri voters and they won’t stop there,” said Missouri Democratic Party Vice Chair Yvonne Reeves-Chong.

“Extremists also plan to resurrect their failed attempt to attack the ballot process and prevent Missouri voters from circumventing their dysfunction entirely. Missouri Democrats are ready to fight to protect our rights and hold these power-hungry politicians accountable for their gross overreach.”

Background:

Kansas City Star: Missouri Republican lawmakers push to reinstate abortion ban after Amendment 3 passed

St. Louis Public Radio: Missouri legislative session ends in flurry of GOP infighting and Democratic optimism

Kansas City Star:

Missouri Independent : 50-Hour Filibuster Forces More Negotiations On GOP-Backed Initiative Petition Changes

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

MDP Congratulates Congressman Cleaver and New Congressman Bell On Being Sworn Into 119th Congress

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 18:16:23 GMT

MDP Congratulates Congressman Cleaver and New Congressman Bell On Being Sworn Into 119th Congress

January 3, 2025

Today, the 119th US Congress was sworn into office, and the Missouri Democratic Party released the following statement:

“Congratulations to Congressman Emanuel Cleaver and freshman Congressman Wesley Bell on being sworn in today as the Representatives for Missouri's 5th and 1st Congressional Districts. Congressman Cleaver will be serving his tenth term in Congress and has dedicated his life to serving his community. Congressman Bell will be entering his first term previously serving as St. Louis County’s Prosecuting Attorney,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan.

“Both men are strong, pragmatic leaders and Missourians are better off because of their service. Missouri Democrats are proud to be sending Congressmen Cleaver and Bell to represent us in Washington and will be cheering them on as they deliver for Missouri.”

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Mourns The Loss Of President Carter

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 21:21:28 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Mourns The Loss Of President Carter

December 30, 2024

“President Jimmy Carter lived a long inspiring life providing a powerful example of character and public service still relevant to Americans today and to future generations. President Carter’s deep faith and epic love story with his wife and partner Rosalynn shaped his leadership style and long-held ideals. He was a proud Democrat who believed the party and its coalition was a strong tool for everyday people to make government work for them. His life story - a rural farmer who served in the Navy, his first election to the local school board, becoming President and exemplary world citizen - is a worthy example to teach our children and grandchildren. Missouri Democrats thank him for his principled lifetime of leadership,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Russ Carnahan.

“As an 18-year-old, I cast my first vote for Jimmy Carter to be president, and it was a proud moment for our family to see him carry Missouri and win the presidency. Our hearts go out to the Carter family and hope that this time of mourning is also a time of national reflection about the high ideals of genuine public service and giving back to your community. We could all do well with a little Jimmy Carter inspiration in our lives. Let's listen and learn in the days ahead as we remember his legacy.

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Dems Stand In Solidarity With Missouri Workers Fighting To Hold Amazon Accountable To The Law

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 20:09:47 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Stands In Solidarity With Missouri Workers Fighting To Hold Amazon Accountable To The Law

December 19, 2024

Today, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters launched a nationwide strike against Amazon, following Amazon’s repeated refusal to follow the law and bargain with the thousands of workers who organized with the Teamsters. Workers at seven facilities across four states will strike, while Teamsters nationwide will stand up primary picket lines at hundreds of Amazon’s fulfillment centers, including several in Missouri.

“Missouri has long been a proud Union-supporting state, as was made clear in 2018 when Missourians overwhelmingly voted to repeal the so-called ‘right-to-work’ measures enacted by the legislature,” said Teamsters Local 955 President and Chair of the Missouri Democratic Party’s Labor Caucus, Jerry Wood. “Missouri Democrats have long stood alongside Missouri workers fighting for higher wages, better benefits, and safer conditions at work and will only continue to show up for working Missouri families. Amazon’s union-busting campaign is not just anti-worker, it's against the law. The Missouri Democratic Party calls on Amazon to follow the law and get to the bargaining table and urges our colleagues across the aisle to join us in holding Amazon accountable to the rule of law.”

Background:

Associated Press: Amazon Workers Strike At Multiple Facilities As Teamsters Seek Labor Contract

Associated Press: US Labor Regulator Says Amazon Is A Joint Employer Of Subcontracted Delivery Drivers In California

Vox: Missouri Voters Just Blocked The Right-To-Work Law Republicans Passed To Weaken Labor Unions

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic State Committee Congratulates Reelected & Newly Elected Party Leadership

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 01:29:12 GMT

Missouri Democratic State Committee Congratulates Reelected & Newly Elected Party Leadership

December 7, 2024

Today, the Missouri Democratic State Committee met to elect Party leadership to serve over 2025 - 2026 at the committee’s annual meeting.

The Missouri Democratic State Committee reelected Russ Carnahan as Chair and Yvonne Reeves-Chong as Vice Chair. Glenda Bainbridge was reelected as Treasurer and Joshua Dunne was elected as the Committee’s Secretary. Despite a national election that saw Democratic losses across the country, Missouri Democrats held their margins in the state legislature, enshrined abortion rights into Missouri’s constitution, and won the right for Missouri workers to earn sick leave.

“I am honored to have earned the trust and confidence of the State Committee to serve another term,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Russ Carnahan. “This year, Missouri Democrats opened over 20 offices across the state, recruited more candidates than we have since 2008, reorganized at least seven county committees that had not been organized in years past, and for the first time in several cycles, every seat on the state committee has been filled. This cycle was just the beginning, and we still have a lot to do to rebuild a strong Democratic Party infrastructure. But Missouri Democrats are more energized than ever and up to the task."

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Chairman Carnahan Statement On 2024 Election

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 20:17:03 GMT

Chairman Carnahan Statement On 2024 Election

November 8, 2024

“The next administration will inherit the best American economy in recent history, with historically high employment and inflation falling. The massive investments in infrastructure projects made by the Biden Harris Administration will only continue to yield the dividends promised. Our job now is to hold this administration and the Republican Party accountable to continuing this growth and expanding these investments in the American people,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Russ Carnahan.

“While the results of this election were not what we had hoped for, there are plenty of things for Missouri Democrats to be proud of, including protecting the initiative petition process, enshrining reproductive rights into Missouri’s constitution, increasing the minimum wage and allowing Missouri workers to earn sick leave. Despite Democratic losses across the country, we held our numbers in the state legislature, a testament to the excellence of our candidates and their hard work. We must continue the fight and Missouri Democrats will be taking a hard look at the data, listening to our voters, and learning from these outcomes to build a strong coalition that champions progressive values for Missouri families.”

Background:

Wall Street Journal: The Next President Inherits a Remarkable Economy

“Whoever wins the White House next week will take office with no shortage of challenges, but at least one huge asset: an economy that is putting its peers to shame.

With another solid performance in the third quarter, the U.S. has grown 2.7% over the past year. It is outrunning every other major developed economy, not to mention its own historical growth rate.

More impressive than the rate of growth is its quality. This growth didn’t come solely from using up finite supplies of labor and other resources, which could fuel inflation. Instead, it came from making people and businesses more productive.”

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

MDP Launches Voter Protection Unit, Prepared to Litigate St. Charles County Hand Count Audit

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 16:39:27 GMT

MDP Launches Voter Protection Unit, Prepared to Litigate St. Charles County Hand Count Audit

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MO Child Care Crisis Extended Due To Further IT Issues Caused By State Contractor Whose Founder Was Caught Bankrolling Kehoe’s Campaign

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 18:40:06 GMT

MO Child Care Crisis Extended Due To Further IT Issues Caused By State Contractor Whose Founder Was Caught Bankrolling Kehoe’s Campaign

October 23, 2024

Earlier this month, an investigative report raised serious questions around $230,000 in campaign contributions cut to Kehoe and Missouri Republicans made by the founder of a state contractor, World Wide Technologies, which was awarded a $14 million contract to administer a disastrous IT system for the Missouri Department of Education. The IT system’s failure delayed payments to childcare providers, causing several to close and worsening an ongoing childcare crisis across the state.

Now, officials are reporting an additional delay of several weeks before the payments are fully executed, despite a pledge to complete this by the end of October .

The Missouri Democratic Party issued the following statement:

“If a single mom doesn’t pay her bills on time she gets punished, but it pays to be friendly with Lt. Governor Kehoe. Kehoe has been campaigning in a tour bus owned by the only Missouri lobbyist employed by the Chinese-owned Smithfield Foods after previously casting the deciding vote to overturn a veto on selling our farmland to foreign entities. No one should expect Kehoe to hold a campaign donor accountable for worsening this childcare crisis,” said Communications Director Chelsea Rodriguez . “For Mike Kehoe and Missouri Republicans, this behavior is business as usual and Missouri childcare providers and parents are just the latest to be sold out for their political gain.”

Background:

Missouri Independent : Missouri Won’t Meet Deadline For Clearing Months-Long Backlog Of Child Care Subsidies

KSDK: Critics Question Political Donations From World Wide Technology's Founder Amid Ongoing It Issues Plaguing Missouri's Child Care Centers

Kehoe Cast Deciding Votes To Lift The Ban On Selling Missouri Farmland To Foreign Entities At Least Four Times, Including To Override Governor Nixon’s Veto On September 11, 2013. [Missouri State Senate Journal, 2013 Veto Override, Passed 23-10, 9/11/2013 ; Missouri Times, 9/11/2013 ; Missouri State Senate Journal, Conference Committee Adoption, Passed 33-0, 5/16/2013 ; Missouri State Senate Journal, Third Read & Passage, Passed 32-1, 5/16/2013 ; Missouri State Senate Journal, Third Read & Passage, Passed 23-7, 2/18/2013 ]

American Dream PAC : “China is the Enemy” (VIDEO)
Missouri Independent: Kehoe Campaign For Missouri Governor Riding On Bus Owned By Lobbyist For Chinese Pork Producer
Kansas City Star: Mo Governor’s Race Erupts Over Foreign-Owned Farmland After New Restrictions Fail To Pass
KY3: Fact Finders: Did Eric Schmitt Vote Twice To Sell Missouri Farmland To Foreigners?

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Unelected AG Bailey Launches New Attack On MO Women, Writes Quiet Part Out Loud

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 17:03:33 GMT

Unelected AG Bailey Launches New Attack On MO Women, Writes Quiet Part Out Loud

October 23, 2024

In response to unelected Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s latest attack on reproductive freedom with a lawsuit aimed at restricting access to mifepristone, a critical miscarriage management treatment, the Missouri Democratic Party released the following statement:

“For years, Missouri Republicans have been leading a war on Missouri women and girls, and this latest attempt by the unelected Attorney General to limit access to a safe miscarriage management treatment is the latest attack. In this lawsuit, Bailey explicitly exposed his motivation around blocking access to this essential medication as political and argued that teen pregnancy decline in Missouri ‘contributed to a population loss for the states along with diminishment of political representation and loss of federal funds,’ said Communications Director Chelsea Rodriguez .

“The willingness to argue this in writing demonstrates the complete lack of respect Missouri Republicans and the unelected Attorney General have for Missouri families. Instead of working to make life easier for all Missourians, these Republican politicians are only interested in launching their next political attack using our lives as the collateral, no matter how many times they lose in court or at the ballot box.”

Background:

The Missouri Independent: Missouri AG In Abortion Pill Lawsuit Argues Fewer Teen Pregnancies Hurt State Financially

“Missouri’s attorney general has renewed a push to restrict access to the abortion pill mifepristone, arguing in a lawsuit filed this month that its availability hurt the state by decreasing teenage pregnancy.

The revised lawsuit was filed by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, alongside GOP attorneys general in Kansas and Idaho. It asks a judge in Texas to order the Federal Drug Administration to reinstate restrictions on mifepristone, one of two medications prescribed to induce chemical abortions.

The trio of attorneys general were forced to refile the litigation after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the original lawsuit after concluding the original plaintiffs — a group of anti-abortion doctors and medical organizations — did not have standing to sue because they couldn’t show they had been harmed.

In making the case that the states have standing this time, the attorneys general contend access to mifepristone has lowered “birth rates for teenaged mothers,” arguing it contributes to causing a population loss for the states along with “diminishment of political representation and loss of federal funds.”

Kansas City Star: MO Lawmakers Fail To Pass Bill Banning All Child Marriages

KCUR: More Than Half Of Rural Hospitals In Missouri And Kansas No Longer Deliver Babies

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Missouri Among Worst States For Women’s Overall Health, Reproductive Care, Study Finds

Missouri Independent: Missouri Won’t Meet Deadline For Clearing Months-Long Backlog Of Child Care Subsidies

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Kehoe Again Caught Changing His Tone For Political Gain- Now Won't Back 2020 Election Results

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 14:06:53 GMT

Kehoe Again Caught Changing His Position For Political Gain- Now Won't Back 2020 Election Results

October 8, 2024

After new reporting highlighted Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe’s latest about-face: denying the results of the 2020 election, the Missouri Democratic Party issued the following statement:

“Mike Kehoe was decisive after he took office in January 2021, but caved to dangerous extremists in the face of a tough primary challenge and appeared to deny the 2020 election results. Now that he is in a tough general election, he won’t stand by or clarify either of his statements,” said Executive Director Matthew Patterson.

“This is just another example of a two-faced Mike Kehoe. When he was overriding Governor Nixon and democrats in the legislature were proposing rules to fix this problem, he supported Chinese-owned farmland. But now that he’s running for governor, he’s against it. This type of behavior is entirely unacceptable and Missouri deserves better.”

Background:

Kansas City Star: Mike Kehoe Won’t Admit Biden Won The 2020 Election. He Used To Say ‘Accept The Results’

“Five days after supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, spurred by false allegations of a stolen election, Missouri Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe made clear the fight over the election was over. “The time now is for people to accept the results and move forward,” Kehoe told The Star minutes after he took the oath of office in Jefferson City on Jan. 11. “And whether you like who the president is or not, he is the leader of our free world and we need to get behind that person and make sure that we as a country continue to survive.”

"Nearly four years later, Kehoe has sharply changed his tone. As the Republican campaigns for governor ahead of the Nov. 5 election, his position on whether President Joe Biden was the legitimate winner of the 2020 election sounds a lot different today than the conciliatory note he struck after the Capitol riot. Kehoe’s campaign told CNN this summer that Biden has “no business being president.” In a statement, the campaign said Biden “is illegitimate in the eyes of the voters, of his party, and of the world. He should have never stepped foot in the Oval Office, and in November, we are going to right that wrong by overwhelmingly reelecting Donald Trump'.”

American Dream PAC : “China is the Enemy” (VIDEO)
Missouri Independent: Kehoe Campaign For Missouri Governor Riding On Bus Owned By Lobbyist For Chinese Pork Producer
Kansas City Star: Mo Governor’s Race Erupts Over Foreign-Owned Farmland After New Restrictions Fail To Pass

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

New Report: Kehoe Campaign Bankrolled By Founder Of State Contractor At Fault For Statewide IT Failure That Worsened Childcare Crisis

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 04:01:47 GMT

New Report: Kehoe Campaign Bankrolled By Founder Of State Contractor At Fault For Statewide IT Failure That Worsened Childcare Crisis

October 7, 2024

Following an investigative report that raised serious questions around $230,000 in campaign contributions cut to Kehoe and Missouri Republicans made by the founder of state contractor World Wide Technologies, which was awarded a $14 million contract to administer a disastrous IT system for the Missouri Department of Education, the Missouri Democratic Party issued the following statement:

“Lt. Governor Kehoe has been campaigning in a tour bus owned by the only Missouri lobbyist employed by the Chinese-owned Smithfield Foods, so it is not surprising to find out that Kehoe is bankrolled by additional corporate entities with interests being considered by the state,” said Communications Director Chelsea Rodriguez. “For Mike Kehoe and Missouri Republicans, this behavior is business as usual and Missouri childcare providers and parents are just the latest to be sold out for their political gain.”

Background:

American Dream PAC : “China is the Enemy” (VIDEO)
Missouri Independent: Kehoe Campaign For Missouri Governor Riding On Bus Owned By Lobbyist For Chinese Pork Producer
Kansas City Star: Mo Governor’s Race Erupts Over Foreign-Owned Farmland After New Restrictions Fail To Pass
KY3: Fact Finders: Did Eric Schmitt Vote Twice To Sell Missouri Farmland To Foreigners?

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Statement On The Missouri GOP’s Brazen Plan To Undermine Missouri Voters

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 19:19:31 GMT

MDP Statement On The Missouri GOP’s Brazen Plan To Undermine Missouri Voters

September 26, 2024

In response to reporting on failed Secretary of State candidate and ex-Arnold resident Mary Elizabeth Coleman’s admission that the Missouri Republican supermajority plans to continue to undermine the will of Missouri voters and attack our freedoms, the Missouri Democratic Party released the following statement:

“For years, we have watched Missourians band together and successfully work to address issues when the GOP supermajority refuses to act, like expanding Medicaid coverage, rejecting the so-called ‘right-to-work’ initiative that would have shifted even more power from workers to employers, raising the minimum wage, or legalizing Marijuana. Instead of respecting the will of Missouri voters, Missouri Republicans have worked to defund, undermine, or repeal the results of these referendums and have fought tooth-and-nail to take our right to citizen action away from us,” Communications Director Chelsea Rodriguez said.

“This bold admission that these attacks on our rights will not stop even after Missouri voters decide is disrespectful to the hardworking Missouri families who expect these elected officials to show up to work for them. We must understand our job in the voting booth is not complete until we pass Amendment 3 and elect Democrats up and down the ballot to protect our rights from this kind of political interference. Missouri Republicans have a well-established pattern to undermine or completely ignore the will of Missouri voters and they will pay for that gross overreach in November.”

Background:

Missouri Independent: F ailed Gop Attempt To Keep Abortion Off Missouri Ballot Could Foreshadow Fight To Come

Kansas City Star : How Quickly Would Abortion Return To Missouri If Voters Approve Amendment In November

“Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, an Arnold Republican, Sam Lee, an anti-abortion lobbyist in Jefferson City, and Seitz each said that they expect lawmakers to pass legislation to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to strike down Amendment 3 if it passes. ‘That’s certainly going to be a priority of mine,’ said Coleman, who did not offer specifics about what the measure would say. Missouri voters will also decide on Nov. 5 who will become the state’s next governor, a decision that could have significant consequences for access to abortion. Whoever wins will influence how quickly — or slowly — access is restored in the state, including administrative decisions such as approving licenses for abortion providers.”

(LISTEN) The Down Ballot: Missouri Dems Filibuster GOP Into Submission

Springfield News-Leader:

“Missouri was the first state to trigger a near-total abortion ban in 2022 when Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. Abortions are only allowed in extreme cases to save the life of the mother, but doctors are still hesitant to perform abortions due to the strict legal liability associated with doing so in the state.”

Following the launch of the campaign to restore abortion rights with the least restrictions, members of the Freedom Caucus engaged in a filibuster to force Senate leaders to bring the initiative petition legislation to a floor debate, citing the abortion measure as a cause for immediate action.”

Kansas City Star:

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Highlights The Stakes Of This Election And The Importance Of Exercising Our Right To Vote To Protect Our Freedoms

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 22:04:26 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Highlights The Stakes Of This Election And The Importance Of Exercising Our Right To Vote To Protect Our Freedoms

September 17, 2024

On National Voter Registration Day, the Missouri Democratic Party highlighted what is at stake this election and how important exercising our right to vote is to protecting our freedoms.

“Energy and excitement aren’t enough to protect our rights in this election. We all must turn that energy into action and turn out to vote to restore our access to reproductive healthcare without cruel political interference and to elect candidates that will protect those rights after Missouri voters cast their ballots,” said Communications Director Chelsea Rodriguez.

“We have watched Missourians band together and successfully work to expand Medicaid coverage and reject the so-called ‘right-to-work’ initiative that would have shifted more power from workers to employers, among other successful initiatives. That is why Missouri Republicans spent this legislative session attacking our right to check their power at the ballot box in response to 380,000 Missourians signing an initiative petition to reinstate abortion rights. Missouri voters will send the message loud and clear to stop this political overreach and end these attacks on our personal freedoms this November.”

What Is At Stake:

State Senator Denny Hoskins , known for his participation in the far-right “Freedom Caucus” and the disruptive gridlock brought to Missouri’s state legislation, promised to require ballots be paper and hand-counted if he is elected Secretary of State.

Kansas City Star : “Election authorities warn the move would impose substantial burdens, requiring them to hire more workers and delaying results at a time when many Republicans buy into false conspiracies surrounding election administration. Experts on election security say moving to hand counting would feed voter distrust and create periods of uncertainty over election outcomes that candidates or grifters could exploit.”

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

MDP Celebrates Successful 11th Annual Truman Dinner

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 21:27:55 GMT

MDP Celebrates Successful 11th Annual Truman Dinner

September 16, 2024

This past Saturday evening, the Missouri Democratic Party hosted a sold-out crowd of over 400 supporters for our 11th annual Truman Dinner in St. Louis. Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) fired guests up for the upcoming election as the keynote speaker of the program, which also featured gubernatorial candidate Crystal Quade and other Democratic candidates for statewide office, State Senator Doug Beck, and State Representative Kathy Steinhoff.

This year’s annual Truman Dinner presented several awards to Missouri Democrats across the state for their work and service to our Party, including:

Lifetime Achievement Award - John Bowman, St. Louis
Young Democrat of the Year Award - Peter Coyne of Kansas City
Mel Carnahan Rural Democrat of the Year Award - Daniel Tracy of Mid-Missouri
Volunteers of the Year Award - Amanda Kelley and Brynn Palmer of St. Charles

“Missouri Democrats across the state are more energized and organized than we have been in years, and we are ready to bring that energy to the Polls on November 5th. With over 20 offices opened, seven new county committees organized, and candidates running in every congressional district, 15 of the 17 state senate and 135 of 163 state house districts, our Party is excited to see the wins our rebuilding efforts will yield,” said Vice Chairwoman Yvonne Reeves-Chong.

“Missouri has one of the most extreme, near-total abortion bans in the country, which cruelly does not make exceptions in cases of rape or incest, and overturning this ban will be on the ballot in November. Missouri Democratic candidates up and down the ballot have been champions in the fight to protect our rights and freedoms that have been under attack. Heading into November, Missouri Democrats are well-positioned to present a strong case to Missouri voters about what is at stake this election and highlight our solutions to address the critical issues facing our communities.”

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Looking Back: Kehoe’s Bad Voting History Includes Voting To Override A Veto Banning Foreign Land Sales On 9/11

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 15:52:56 GMT

Looking Back: Kehoe’s Bad Voting History Includes Voting To Override A Veto Banning Foreign Land Sales On 9/11

September 12, 2024

In 2013, then-Missouri Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed a GOP bill lifting a near-total ban on foreign ownership of Missouri’s farmland. In September of that year, then-state senator and current Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mike Kehoe cast the deciding vote in overriding the Governor’s veto to sell Missouri’s farmland to the highest foreign bidder. As of December 2023, it was estimated foreign entities own more than 118,762 acres across the state .

Despite this year’s campaign promise to ‘stop China from buying up our farmland ,’ reporting by the Missouri Independent outed that Lt. Governor and GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Mike Kehoe has been campaigning in a bus owned by a lobbyist for Chinese backed interest , which owns a large chunk of Missouri’s farmland. Kehoe and other lawmakers sold out Missouri agriculture with the GOP’s elimination of the ban on foreign ownership of Missouri farmland.

“Yesterday was the anniversary of Mike Kehoe’s fourth vote to sell out Missouri farmers and Missouri farmland to the highest foreign bidder,” said Missouri Democratic Party Rural Caucus Chair Joshua Dunne. “Stunningly and shamelessly, Kehoe lied to Missourians about his record during the primary while he made campaign promises to ‘stop China from buying our farmland’ to serve the people of Missouri.”

“When he was overriding Governor Nixon, Kehoe supported Chinese-owned farmland. But now that he’s running for governor, he’s against it. This type of gross behavior is entirely unacceptable and Missouri deserves better.”

BACKGROUND

American Dream PAC : “China is the Enemy” (VIDEO)
Missouri Independent: Kehoe Campaign For Missouri Governor Riding On Bus Owned By Lobbyist For Chinese Pork Producer
Kansas City Star: Mo Governor’s Race Erupts Over Foreign-Owned Farmland After New Restrictions Fail To Pass
KY3: Fact Finders: Did Eric Schmitt Vote Twice To Sell Missouri Farmland To Foreigners?

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Honors First Responders & Veterans On 23rd Anniversary Of September 11th Terrorist Attacks

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 20:05:19 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Honors First Responders & Veterans On 23rd Anniversary Of September 11th Terrorist Attacks

September 11, 2024

On the 23rd anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the Missouri Democratic Party released the following statement:

“Today will forever be remembered as one of the darkest days in our nation’s history, and we will never forget the 2,977 lives stolen from us in the heinous terrorist attacks 23 years ago. As we reflect on this heartbreaking anniversary, we cannot help but feel deep gratitude for the law enforcement officers and first responders who traveled from across the country to answer the grim call to search for survivors and bring those fallen home to their families,” said Missouri Democratic Party Vice Chair Yvonne Reeves- Chong.

“Our nation is at its best when we come together for each other and to defend the hard-earned freedoms fought for by countless American soldiers and veterans. We owe these heroes who have lost their lives or left pieces of themselves in dark places a great debt for their patriotism and for our comfort here at home.”

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Applauds MO Supreme Court For Right Decision To Keep Amendment 3 On Ballot

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 21:26:33 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Applauds MO Supreme Court For Right Decision To Keep Amendment 3 On Ballot

September 10, 2024

Friday night, Judge Limbaugh of the Cole County District Court issued a decision that would remove Amendment 3, the ballot measure to end Missouri’s cruel, near-total abortion ban from the November ballot And then Secretary of State Ashcroft decertified the measure. Sunday night, the ballot measure campaign, Missourians for Constitutional Freedom filed an emergency appeal to challenge this ruling. Today, the Missouri Supreme Court heard oral arguments from both sides- the same day ballots are due to be printed and rightfully ruled Amendment 3 will be on Missourians’ ballots this November.

“After the far-right wing Supreme Court justices cast the deciding votes to overturn Roe, Missouri was the first state to make every abortion illegal, due to a Republican trigger law. Since that day in June 2022, we have heard countless horrific stories of pregnant women across the country denied lifesaving care and doctors threatened with prosecution for doing their jobs,” Secretary of State Candidate Barbara Phifer said.

“We have watched Missouri Republicans fight for years to undermine Missouri voters and even outright ignore our ballots cast on issues they oppose. This time, they came for a petition signed by nearly 380,000 Missouri voters to restore life-saving rights to care and keep Amendment 3 off of our ballot this November. While we are grateful for this just ruling, we must understand our task is not complete until we pass Amendment 3 and elect Democrats up and down the ballot to protect our rights from this kind of political interference. Missouri Republicans have a well-established pattern to undermine or completely ignore the will of Missouri voters and they will pay for that gross overreach in November.”

Additionally, the Missouri Democratic Party will be providing logistical support and space for a morning gathering to celebrate this ruling, as well as to provide a regional volunteer information and a sign-up site at Shaw Park in Clayton

What: Celebration Rally and Regional Volunteer Kick-Off w/ special guests.

Where: Shaw Park, Clayton, MO

When: Saturday, September 14, 2024; 8:30 AM

More details to follow.

Background:

Secretary of State Candidate Barbara Phifer has been a pastor for more than 40 years and currently serves as a state representative running for Missouri Secretary of State to protect Missouri elections, keep Missouri businesses open and thriving, and support Missouri’s public libraries.

KCTV: Missouri secretary of state decertifies abortion amendment for November ballot

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Slams GOP’s Shameless Attack On MO’s Abortion Rights Petition: Ballot Amendment 3

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 14:54:20 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Slams GOP’s Shameless Attack On MO’s Abortion Rights Petition: Ballot Amendment 3

September 10, 2024

Friday night, Judge Limbaugh of the Cole County District Court issued a decision that would remove Amendment 3, the ballot measure to end Missouri’s cruel, near-total abortion ban from the November ballot. Sunday night, the ballot measure campaign, Missourians for Constitutional Freedom filed an emergency appeal to challenge this ruling and remain confident that Amendment 3 will appear on Missourians' ballots this November. Today, the Missouri Supreme Court will hear oral arguments from both sides- the same day ballots are due to be printed.

“We have watched Missouri Republicans fight tooth-and-nail to override the will of at least 380,000 Missourians who signed the petition to restore life-saving rights to care and keep Amendment 3 off of our ballot this November, and this last-minute attack is no different and will fail. Taking away Missouri voters’ opportunity to weigh in on a duly certified measure is a gross overreach and misuse of power in an era marred by public mistrust of government. A judicial branch invalidation of Missouri citizens’ efforts would be the latest attack of a well-established pattern by the Missouri GOP to undermine or completely ignore the will of Missouri voters and they will pay for that audacity in November.”

Background:

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones is a history-maker on a mission. Jones previously served two terms in the Missouri House of Representatives and was selected as the first African American woman in Missouri history to hold the position of Assistant Minority Floor Leader. Mayor Jones was also the first African American woman elected to serve as Treasurer of St. Louis from 2013-2021.

(WATCH) NBC News: Record-Breaking Filibuster By Missouri Lawmakers

Kansas City Star: Missouri Senate Democrats Force Negotiations On Plan To Weaken Direct Democracy

Missouri Independent : 50-Hour Filibuster Forces More Negotiations On GOP-Backed Initiative Petition Changes

(LISTEN) The Down Ballot: Missouri Dems Filibuster GOP Into Submission

Springfield News-Leader:

“Following the launch of the campaign to restore abortion rights with the least restrictions, members of the Freedom Caucus engaged in a filibuster to force Senate leaders to bring the initiative petition legislation to a floor debate, citing the abortion measure as a cause for immediate action.”

Kansas City Star:

Missouri Independent: Democrat Filibuster Forces Removal Of ‘Ballot Candy’ From Senate Initiative Petition Bill

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Slams GOP’s Latest Attempt To Undermine Voters & Attack MO’s Abortion Rights Petition: Ballot Amendment 3

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 21:22:30 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Slams GOP’s Latest Attempt To Circumvent Voters & Attack MO’s Abortion Rights Petition: Ballot Amendment 3

September 9, 2024

Friday night, Judge Limbaugh of the Cole County District Court issued a decision that would remove Amendment 3, the ballot measure to end Missouri’s cruel, near-total abortion ban from the November ballot. Sunday night, the ballot measure campaign, Missourians for Constitutional Freedom filed an emergency appeal to challenge this ruling and remain confident that Amendment 3 will appear on Missourians' ballots this November. Tomorrow, the Missouri Supreme Court will hear oral arguments from both sides- the same day ballots are due to be printed.

“After the GOP-appointed Supreme Court justices cast the deciding votes to overturn Roe, Missouri was the first state to effectively make every abortion illegal, due to a Republican trigger law. Since that day in June 2022, we have heard countless horrific stories of pregnant women across the country denied lifesaving care and doctors threatened with prosecution for doing their jobs. For years, Missourians have suffered the consequences of extreme government overreach.” State Representative Stephanie Hein said .

“Missourians across the political spectrum -Democratic, Independent, and Republican- believe our neighbors should have the fundamental right to make our own, personal medical decisions without political interference. This state legislative session, Missouri Republicans voted against allowing abortion exceptions in cases of rape or incest and against protecting contraceptives and IVF services . These are deeply private issues around decisions that should be made amongst family and medical professionals, not politicians in Jefferson City. We are confident the court will side with Missouri voters and will continue forward.”

Background:

State Representative Stephanie Hein was born in southwest Missouri and raised in a family of public educators, and strongly believes in the saying “Show me your budget, and I’ll show you your values.” Hein governs with the understanding that our state’s budget serves as a moral contract with our citizens. Every year, it is up to the state government to allocate the tax dollars you pay to maintain and improve our quality of living.

(WATCH) NBC News: Record-Breaking Filibuster By Missouri Lawmakers

Kansas City Star: Missouri Senate Democrats Force Negotiations On Plan To Weaken Direct Democracy

Missouri Independent : 50-Hour Filibuster Forces More Negotiations On GOP-Backed Initiative Petition Changes

(LISTEN) The Down Ballot: Missouri Dems Filibuster GOP Into Submission
Springfield News-Leader:

Kansas City Star:

Missouri Independent: Democrat Filibuster Forces Removal Of ‘Ballot Candy’ From Senate Initiative Petition Bill

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Statement On Certification Of Reproductive Rights Initiative Petition

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 20:43:30 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Statement On Certification Of Reproductive Rights Initiative Petition

August 13, 2024

Following the Missouri Secretary of State’s certification of Missourians for Constitutional Freedom’s initiative petition to restore abortion rights, Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan released the following statement:

“After the Trump-appointed Supreme Court Justices cast the deciding votes to overturn Roe, Missouri was the first state to effectively make every abortion illegal, due to a Republican trigger law on our books. Since that day in June 2022, we have heard countless horrific stories of pregnant women across the country denied lifesaving care and doctors threatened with prosecution for doing their jobs,” Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan said.

“Missouri Democrats have long championed reproductive freedom and we know the majority of Missouri voters- Democratic, Independent, and Republicans- believe their neighbors should have the fundamental right to make their own, personal medical decisions without political interference. This state legislative session, Missouri Republicans reaffirmed their commitment to cruelty, voting against allowing abortion exceptions in cases of rape or incest and against protecting contraceptives and IVF services . These are deeply private issues around decisions that should be made amongst family and medical professionals, not politicians in Jefferson City. We look forward to talking to voters about what matters most to our communities this fall.”

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democrats Officially Certify Harris Walz To Appear On Ballot

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 21:59:34 GMT

Missouri Democrats Officially Certify Harris Walz To Appear On Ballot

August 9, 2024

Today, Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Russ Carnahan officially certified Vice President Harris as the Democratic nominee for President to appear on the November ballot.

“Vice President Harris and Governor Walz have shot a lightning bolt of energy across our country, generating an outpouring of support, volunteers, and small-dollar donations. We are excited to officially have certified their nomination with the Secretary of State’s office ahead of the Democratic National Convention next week,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Russ Carnahan.

“Missouri has one of the most extreme, near-total abortion bans in the country, which cruelly does not make exceptions in cases of rape or incest, and overturning this ban will be on the ballot in November. Republican politicians reaffirmed their commitment to their cruelty this legislative session by blocking a Democratic amendment to Missouri’s near-total abortion ban that would have carved out exceptions for victims of rape and incest. Every Republican voted against this amendment.”

“Missouri Democratic candidates up and down the ballot have been champions in the fight to protect our rights and freedoms that have been under attack. Heading into November, Missouri Democrats are well-positioned to present a strong case to Missouri voters about what is at stake this election and highlight our solutions to address the critical issues facing our communities. The excitement the Harris Walz ticket has generated will only propel us forward.”

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

MDP Congratulates Democratic Candidates On Successful Election Night

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 13:36:26 GMT

MDP Congratulates Democratic Candidates On Successful Election Night

August 7, 2024

The Missouri Democratic Party is proud of the slate of Democratic candidates who were nominated to run for their respective offices in last night’s statewide primary election, and thank you to every candidate for their courage and willingness to seek the nomination.

Missouri Republicans have controlled majorities and supermajorities in the state legislature for more than two decades, and Missouri families are worse off for it. Missourians are exhausted by the GOP’s constant politicizing of any issue - from beer to Disneyland - to boost their campaigns, while Missouri families suffer under the failure of their elected representatives.

Missouri Democrats are energized heading into the November general election season and have a powerful message to draw a strong contrast between our vision for our communities and the Missouri Republicans' record of division and chaos: Get the politics out of our personal lives and get to work for Missouri.

The Missouri Democratic Party is excited to support our statewide slate of candidates as we make our case to Missouri voters:

US Senate Candidate Lucas Kunce , a 13-year Marine veteran, born and raised in Missouri, running to replace extremist Josh Hawley.

Gubernatorial Candidate Crystal Quade , the first in her family to graduate high school and the sitting Missouri State House Minority Leader seeking to continue her fight for Missouri families to the Governor’s mansion.

Lieutenant Governor Candidate Richard Brown , a sitting state representative, lifelong Missourian, and retired public school teacher running to bring common sense to the Lieutenant Governor’s office.

Attorney General Candidate Elad Gross , a proven government transparency attorney and former Assistant Attorney General running to sue scammers, protect our families, and crush corruption.

Secretary of State Candidate Barbara Phifer , a pastor for more than 40 years and sitting state representative running to protect Missouri elections, keep Missouri businesses opening, and support Missouri’s public libraries.

Candidate for State Treasurer Mark Osmack , a US Army combat veteran from a Fenton trailer park running to keep Missouri’s money in Missouri.

Additionally, TODAY at 11:30 AM, the Missouri Democratic Party will host members of the media on zoom to discuss the 2024 statewide primary election results and preview our path forward into November. This event requires pre-registration by TODAY, Wednesday, August 7th at 10:30AM .

Event : Missouri Democratic Party Post- Primary Media Call
Date : Wednesday, August 7th
Time : 11:30 AM CT
Venue : Zoom

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Congratulates Governor Tim Walz On Being Selected As Harris’ Running Mate

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 13:52:26 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Congratulates Governor Walz On Being Selected As Harris’ Running Mate

August 6, 2024

The Missouri Democratic Party could not be more thrilled with Vice President Harris’ choice as her running mate and offers a big congratulations to Governor Tim Walz.

“The Vice President had a tough choice with many excellent candidates to consider as her running mate and the display of Democrats’ deep bench across the country only generated more excitement around Harris’ candidacy,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Russ Carnahan. “I had the great privilege of serving with Governor Walz in Congress for six years, two on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and know personally how deep his commitment to our country runs.”

“Growing up in a rural small town, Governor Tim Walz’s midwest sensibility and proven pragmatic leadership make him an excellent addition to our Democratic ticket. Governor Walz’s joy and optimism are infectious and are exactly what the country needs at this critical moment. Democrats are heading into the November election season with an exciting ticket and a strong message and we are excited to share our vision for our communities with our neighbors.”

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

DEBATE PREVIEW: GOP Gubernatorial Candidates Ashcroft and Eigel Demonstrate Why They Would Be Disastrous For Missouri

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 00:03:53 GMT

DEBATE PREVIEW: GOP Gubernatorial Candidates Ashcroft and Eigel Demonstrate Why They Would Be Disastrous For Missouri

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One Question We’d Ask Lt. Gov Mike Kehoe If He Showed Up To A Debate: What Do You Stand For?

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 23:46:54 GMT

One Question We’d Ask Lt. Gov Mike Kehoe If He Showed Up To A Debate: What Do You Stand For?

July 25, 2024

Last night, while the two other GOP gubernatorial candidates demonstrated why they would be disastrous for Missouri during a taped debate, Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe declined to show- again. Hiding from his record, Kehoe has declined to join either of his opponents in a live debate to avoid answering serious questions about his current and former positions.

The question the Missouri Democratic Party would ask: What exactly do you stand for?

Last week, reporting outed that Kehoe’s campaign tour bus was owned by Jewell Patek , the only Missouri lobbyist employed by the Chinese-owned Smithfield Foods, which owns a large chunk of Missouri’s farm land. Kehoe and other lawmakers sold-out Missouri agriculture by eliminating the ban on foreign ownership of Missouri farm land in order to help sell Smithfield, an American business, to a Chinese conglomerate back in 2013, while Kehoe was serving in the state senate.

Since beginning his run for Governor, Kehoe has attempted to distance himself from the four times he voted to sell an American business and Missouri’s farm land to China or the highest foreign bidder. Kehoe praised Governor Parson’s executive order restricting certain foreign land ownership and said, “China is our nation’s most hostile foreign adversary, and Missouri cannot allow individuals and companies associated with the Chinese Communist Party to buy and exploit Missouri land.”

“It is clear that Mike Kehoe says one thing on the campaign trail and another thing to his dark-money buddies bankrolling his campaign,” Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Matthew Patterson. “Mike Kehoe voted four times to sell our farmland to China and other countries, so it is not shocking that Kehoe is run by the very people that benefited from those votes the most- lobbyists and foreign interests. The complete shamelessness of riding around in a tour bus owned by the only Missouri lobbyist employed by the Chinese-owned Smithfield Foods while he is campaigning to serve the people of Missouri is stunning. No one should be surprised that Kehoe is hiding these questions.”

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic State Committee and MO Biden Delegation Endorse Kamala Harris for President

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 13:30:40 GMT

Missouri Democratic State Committee and MO Biden Delegation Endorse Kamala Harris for President

July 23, 2024

Last night by zoom meeting, just hours after President Biden passed the torch to Vice President Harris, the Missouri Democratic Party State Committee unanimously endorsed and all Missouri Biden Delegates endorsed Kamala Harris for President.

“First, we’d like to thank President Biden for listening to the American people and making this selfless decision to put America first. The conversation we will continue to have around our Democratic values as we nominate our candidate will only continue to generate excitement and enthusiasm and will re-engage voters. Vice President Kamala Harris is exactly the candidate we need at exactly the moment we need her to beat Donald Trump and his Project 2025 Agenda,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Russ Carnahan.

“President Biden believed that choosing Kamala Harris as Vice President was one of the best decisions he made. His decision to endorse Harris for President has shot a lightning bolt of energy across our country, creating an outpouring of support, volunteers, and small dollar donations. With only 104 days until the election, it was both urgent and critical for Missouri Democrats to unify quickly, and we did that enthusiastically, becoming one of the earliest Democratic State Parties to do so.”

“Missouri has one of the most extreme, near-total abortion bans in the country, which cruelly does not make exceptions in cases of rape or incest, and overturning this ban will be on the Ballot in November. Republican politicians reaffirmed their commitment to their extremism and cruelty this legislative session by blocking a Democratic amendment to Missouri’s near- total abortion ban that would have carved out exceptions for cases of rape and incest. Every Republican voted against this amendment.”

“Heading into November, Missouri Democrats are well positioned to present a strong case to Missouri voters about what is at stake this election and highlight our solutions to address the critical issues facing our communities. The excitement this conversation and a Harris candidacy brings will only propel us forward.”

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Shameless: Kehoe Campaign Bus Owned By Chinese Pork Producer Lobbyist

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 19:57:30 GMT

Shameless: Kehoe Campaign Bus Owned By Chinese Pork Producer Lobbyist

July 22, 2024

In a stunning slap in the face to Missouri farmers and voters, recent reporting by the Missouri Independent outed that Lt. Governor and GOP Gubernatorial candidate Mike Kehoe has been traveling the state in a bus owned by Jewell Patek, the only Missouri lobbyist employed by the Chinese-owned Smithfield Foods, which owns a large chunk of Missouri’s farm land. Kehoe and other lawmakers sold-out Missouri agriculture by eliminating the ban on foreign ownership of Missouri farm land in order to help sell Smithfield, an American business, to a Chinese conglomerate back in 2013, while Kehoe was serving in the state senate.

“Mike Kehoe voted four times to sell our farmland to China and other countries, so it is not surprising that Kehoe is bankrolled by the very people that benefited from those votes the most- lobbyists and foreign interests,” said Missouri Democratic Party Communications Director Chelsea Rodriguez. “What is stunning, is the complete shamelessness of riding around in a tour bus owned by the only Missouri lobbyist employed by the Chinese-owned Smithfield Foods while he is campaigning to serve the people of Missouri.”

“This is yet another example of a two-faced Mike Kehoe. When he was overriding Governor Nixon and democrats in the legislature were proposing rules to fix this problem, he supported Chinese- owned farmland. But now that he’s running for governor, he’s against it. This type of gross behavior is entirely unacceptable and we deserve better.”

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Condemns Political Violence Following Shooting at Trump Rally

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 00:24:51 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Condemns Political Violence Following Shooting at Trump Rally

July 13, 2024

Following the shooting at former President Donald Trump’s political campaign rally in Pennsylvania, Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Russ Carnahan released the following statement:

“Violent political acts and rhetoric have no place in America. This is a time for leaders of all parties to resolve to bridge our deep and dangerous divisions. Our hearts go out to all the victims and their families, and we express our deep thanks to the Secret Service and related law enforcement for their prompt response.”

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Dark Money Sock-Puppet Will Scarf Decries Dark Money, Unelected AG Bailey Too Chicken To Show Up To Federalist Society Forum

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 03:18:31 GMT

Dark Money Sock-Puppet Will Scarf Decries Dark Money, Unelected AG Bailey Too Chicken To Show Up To Federalist Society Forum

The Missouri Democratic Party congratulates Democratic candidate Elad Gross for clearly demonstrating why he is the best candidate to serve as Missouri’s Attorney General during a candidate forum hosted by the Federalist Society in St. Louis. Gross presented himself as a competent professional with a strong understanding of the issues impacting Missouri families, successfully demonstrating a sharp contrast between himself and a dark money sock-puppet. Unelected Attorney General Andrew Bailey was not brave enough to join the discussion and skipped the forum entirely.

Over the course of the forum, Scharf repeated widely dispelled falsehoods around the 2020 election results, attacks on IVF and reproductive health freedom, among other popular GOP propaganda touch points. Scharf went as far as to decry “Antifa dark money groups,” but failed to disclose that just TODAY Club for Growth, a known dark money group, dropped over $525k into Scharf’s candidate PAC account , following a $465k drop from the group on June 20th . Scharf’s commitment to spreading misinformation is only matched by his dedication to finding ways to undermine our Democracy to implement his Party’s deeply unpopular, extreme agenda.

“Missourians are fed up with the constant chaos intentionally created by these politicians who are only in this for themselves and want their elected officials to show up for work focused on making their lives better. Unfortunately, Republicans have turned Missouri’s Attorney General’s office into a campaign vehicle only interested in finding ways to spend more Missouri tax dollars on frivolous lawsuits or interfere in our personal lives to score political points. Missourians want their Attorney General's office to work for them, and we have a great choice in Elad to serve as our Attorney General, as he demonstrated on stage this evening,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan .

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Statement on the Second Anniversary of Roe Being Overturned

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 14:18:22 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Statement on the Second Anniversary of Roe Being Overturned

June 24, 2024

On the second anniversary of the Trump Supreme Court’s extreme decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, ripping away nearly 50 years of reproductive rights and unleashing extreme abortion bans in states across the country, Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan released the following statement:

“After the Trump-appointed Supreme Court justices cast the deciding votes to overturn Roe, Missouri was the first state to effectively make every abortion illegal, due to a Republican trigger law on our books. Since that day in June 2022, we have heard countless horrific stories of pregnant women across the country denied lifesaving care and doctors threatened with prosecution for doing their jobs. Instead of working to solve critical issues, including access to affordable and quality healthcare, public education, and improving the safety of our roads and bridges, Missouri Republicans have only continued to attack our right to reproductive healthcare access,” Carnahan said.

“Over this year's state legislative session, Republicans have reaffirmed their commitment to cruelty, voting against allowing abortion exceptions in cases of rape or incest and against protecting contraceptives and IVF services . These are deeply private issues around decisions that should be made amongst family and medical professionals, not politicians in Jefferson City. We know the majority of Missouri voters, Democratic, Independent, and Republicans, believe their neighbors should have the fundamental right to make their own, personal medical decisions without cruel interference. This is why Republicans spent this legislative session attacking our right to check their power at the ballot box in response to 380,000 Missourians signing an initiative petition to reinstate abortion rights. Missouri voters will send this message loud and clear to stop these attacks on our most personal freedoms this election season.”

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Celebrates Supreme Court Rejection Of The Hawley Family’s Latest Attack On Reproductive Freedom

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 20:34:04 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Celebrates Supreme Court Rejection Of The Hawley Family’s Latest Attack On Reproductive Freedom

June 13, 2024

Today, the United States’ Supreme Court unanimously upheld access to a safe and effective miscarriage management medication, throwing out Josh Hawley’s wife, Erin Hawley’s sham lawsuit to ban the medicine entirely. More than 6 million people have safely used this medication since it was approved by the FDA in 2000.

Earlier this year, Hawley himself was revealed to be one of the pioneers of a nationwide push to restrict access to in vitro fertilization care . Republicans in the Missouri State Legislature followed Hawley’s leadership and voted against protecting contraceptives and IVF services this legislative session in their crusade against reproductive and family planning freedom. These relentless attacks on basic healthcare services have had dire consequences in our communities as more than half of rural hospitals in Missouri no longer deliver babies and fewer and fewer future doctors are selecting Missouri to complete their residencies .

“Despite, Missouri being home to one of the most extreme and cruel, near-total abortion bans in the country, which makes no exceptions for rape or incest, the Hawleys have made attacking our rights to plan our families in private their business venture, and Missouri families are paying the price,” said Missouri State Representative and Secretary of State Candidate Barbara Phifer. “The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision to protect this medication is a major win, but extremist politicians, like the Hawleys, have demonstrated they are hell-bent on continuing these attacks. Instead of working to improve access to quality, affordable healthcare, Missouri Republicans have been working relentlessly to attack our freedom and gut access to basic care and have shown no signs of stopping.”

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Brownback Advisor That Bankrupted Kansas's Public Schools Throws Support Behind Kehoe, Rebuking Ashcroft’s Courtship

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 14:30:00 GMT

Brownback Advisor That Bankrupted Kansas's Public Schools Throws Support Behind Kehoe, Rebuking Ashcroft’s Courtship

Despite having been publicly courted by Republican Secretary of State and Gubernatorial Candidate Jay Ashcroft for months, tonight, former Brownback advisor Art Laffer will be the featured guest at a fundraiser for Gubernatorial Candidate Mike Kehoe .

In March, Ashcroft released his tax “ plan ,” which enlisted “some of the well-known conservative economists and low-tax advocates that advised then-Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback on a massive tax cut enacted in that state in 2012,” which helped result in “Republicans losing the Kansas governorship in the 2018 election,” the Missouri Independent reported.

Art Laffer was named as an “expert” that Ashcroft plans to “appoint” to a “task force” to “make recommendations” on Missouri’s budget and economy. Laffer was one of the architects of former Kansas Governor Sam Brownback’s dangerous and reckless “tax experiment” that tanked Kansas’s economy, underfunded public schools, and robbed the state’s highway fund to cut taxes for the most wealthy. Brownback’s disastrous “tax experiment” was so destructive and unpopular that the state’s Republican-controlled legislature came together to reverse it, and paved the way for Democratic Governor Laura Kelly to win her election.

“It is nonsensical but unsurprising that two of our Republican candidates for Governor would fight for the support of someone with such a disastrous reputation for mismanaging Kansas’s finances,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan . “We watched as Brownback gutted our neighbors’ public schools and tanked the economy to slash taxes for his wealthy donors and friends. We won’t let Jay Ashcroft or Mike Kehoe do the same here in Missouri.”

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Hawley Led Extreme Effort To Block Passage of The Right to Contraception Act

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 17:25:04 GMT

Hawley Led Extreme Effort To Block Passage of The Right to Contraception Act

June 6, 2024

Yesterday, Josh Hawley & Eric Schmitt voted to block the passage of the Right to Contraception Ac t, despite Missouri being home to one of the most extreme and cruel, near-total abortion bans in the country, which makes no exceptions for rape or incest. Led by Hawley, Missouri Republicans have consistently doubled- down on their war against reproductive and family planning freedom since Roe was overturned in June 2022.

This year, Hawley himself was revealed to be one of the pioneers of a nationwide push to restrict access to in vitro fertilization care , while his wife worked to outlaw a reliably safe miscarriage management medication . Over this year's state legislative session, Republicans reaffirmed their commitment to cruelty, voting against allowing abortion exceptions in cases of rape or incest and against protecting contraceptives and IVF services .

“Access to contraception is essential for Missouri families to ensure control of their lives and their ability to plan for their futures,” said State Representative Jamie Johnson (Kansas City, District 12). “Extremist politicians, like Josh Hawley, know that voters across the political spectrum want the government to stay out of their personal healthcare decisions and support access to contraception. Instead of working to improve access to quality, affordable healthcare, Missouri Republicans have been working relentlessly to attack our rights and gut access to basic care.”

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Announces Congressional District and Party Leader & Elected Official Delegates To The Democratic National Convention

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 13:00:49 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Announces First Delegates To The Democratic National Convention

June 3, 2024

The Missouri Democratic Party congratulates our diverse group of Congressional District and Party Leader and Elected Official (PLEO) Delegates elected by their peers to represent Missouri at the Democratic National Convention. Over 600 Missourians across the state have participated in the Missouri Democratic Party’s 2024 delegate selection process, and we cannot thank our congressional, county committee, ward, and township leadership, paid staff, and volunteers enough for their work.

We look forward to joining our newly elected national delegation and state delegates in Columbia on June 22 at our State Convention, where we will elect the remaining At-Large and Alternate Delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

MO Senate Democrats Defeat Republican Attack On Direct Citizen Action

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Fri, 17 May 2024 20:13:15 GMT

MO Senate Democrats Defeat Republican Attack On Direct Citizen Action

The Missouri Democratic Party sincerely thanks our Senate Democrats for standing strong for over 50 hours to successfully block the Missouri GOP’s attempt to make it harder for voters to bypass a dysfunctional legislature and take direct action. Extremist Republicans in the Missouri State Senate spent the entirety of this legislative session fighting to make it harder for voters to hold their elected officials accountable at the ballot box by changing the rules for citizen-driven initiative petitions. Because of the Senate Democrats’ hard fight against this attack on our Democracy, the resolution was ultimately defeated.

Missouri’s initiative petition process has allowed Missourians frustrated by the lack of progress on key issues by a dysfunctional Republican supermajority to take their own action and make change in their communities. This failed attack on our right to take citizen action by the GOP was driven by the hundreds of thousands of Missourians who have decided to stand against their extreme and cruel abortion ban and send a message that their constant attacks on our reproductive freedom have gone too far.

“We have watched Missourians band together and successfully work to expand Medicaid coverage and reject the so-called ‘right-to-work’ initiative that would have shifted more power from workers to employers, among other successful initiatives, and that is why the Republican supermajority wants to take our right to take citizen action away from us. Instead of allowing Missourians to make their voices heard and protect their right to make their personal family planning decisions in private, Republicans in the state legislature simply tried to take our voice away,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan.

“Because Democrats in the state senate fought for over 50 hours, the GOP’s brazen attack on our Democracy failed. Instead of fighting to solve critical issues, including access to affordable and quality healthcare, public education, and improving the safety of our roads and bridges, this Republican supermajority spent the entire legislative session pushing their extreme agenda and how they could further strip us of our hard-earned rights and freedoms. They pushed so hard, that they ultimately couldn’t get their own priority across the finish line. Missourians will send a strong message to these politicians in November to stop these attacks and get to work for our communities.”

Background:

(WATCH) NBC News: Record-Breaking Filibuster By Missouri Lawmakers

Kansas City Star: Missouri Senate Democrats Force Negotiations On Plan To Weaken Direct Democracy

Missouri Independent : 50-Hour Filibuster Forces More Negotiations On GOP-Backed Initiative Petition Changes

(LISTEN) The Downballot: Missouri Dems Filibuster GOP Into Submission

Springfield News-Leader:

Kansas City Star:

Missouri Independent: Democrat Filibuster Forces Removal Of ‘Ballot Candy’ From Senate Initiative Petition Bill

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Democratic Candidate Elad Gross Demonstrated He Is The Best Choice To Serve As Missouri’s Next Attorney General

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Wed, 15 May 2024 01:49:55 GMT

Democratic Candidate Elad Gross Demonstrated Why He Is The Best Choice To Serve As Missouri’s Next Attorney General

The Missouri Democratic Party congratulates Democratic candidate Elad Gross for clearly demonstrating why he is the best candidate to serve as Missouri's Attorney General during a Springfield candidate forum. Over nearly two hours, Gross presented himself as a competent professional with a strong understanding of the issues impacting Missouri families, demonstrating sharp contrasts between himself and an appointed attorney general using the office for his own political gain and a Club for Growth sock-puppet.

Since being appointed by Governor Parson in 2023, Andrew Bailey has used the Attorney General's office to score political points with the most extreme faction of the Republican Party in a desperate bid to keep his seat. Recently, Bailey announced his office would represent three state senators being sued for defamation after they published social media posts on their personal or campaign accounts falsely claiming that an Olathe native, was an undocumented immigrant and a shooter in the fatal February shootin g at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory rally.

“Missourians are exhausted by the constant chaos intentionally created by these politicians who are only in this for themselves and want their elected officials to show up for work focused on making our lives better. Unfortunately, the appointed attorney general only seems interested in finding ways to spend more Missouri tax dollars on frivolous lawsuits or interfere in our personal lives as a political stunt. Missourians have a great choice in Elad to serve as our Attorney General, as he demonstrated on stage this evening,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan .

Background:

Kansas City Star: Parson Pushes Back On Missouri’s Defense Of Senators Sued For False Posts On KC Shooting

“Politicians have to be responsible and have to be held to a higher standard when you start attacking citizens in our state,” Governor Parson said. “You don’t get a free pass just because you’re a politician.”

Missouri Independent: Freedom Caucuses Push For Conservative State Laws, But Getting Attention Is Their Big Success

St. Louis Post-Dispatch Editorial: Missouri AG's Action On Behalf Of A Contributor Deserves Official Scrutiny

Missouri Independent: Will Scharf Gets $2.9 Million Boost To His Campaign For Missouri Attorney General

St. Louis Post-Dispatch Editorial:

“A PAC supporting Bailey accepted a $50,000 campaign contribution from a New York-based LLC in September 2023. Just two months earlier, Bailey had filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the LLC’s Missouri-based subsidiary in an environmental lawsuit stemming from the lead poisoning of children in Peru.”

“Late last year, the co-owner of a marijuana company that was in the midst of a legal battle with state regulators — with Bailey’s office representing the state in that legal fight — hosted a political fundraiser in his Ladue home in support of Bailey.”

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Governor Parson Signs Bill Attacking Family Planning and Essential Health Services, Limiting Care Options for Thousands

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Thu, 09 May 2024 13:54:34 GMT

Governor Parson Signs Bill Attacking Family Planning and Essential Health Services, Limiting Care Options for Thousands

May 9, 2024

Today, Governor Parson signed Republican State Representative Cody Smith’s HB2634, which will defund essential healthcare clinics that provide access to “ contraceptive care, STI testing, cancer screenings and wellness checks ,” among other health services. This is despite the fact that Missouri already has a near-total abortion ban, including with no exceptions for rape or incest. This bill passed with every Republican state legislator voting in favor, including state Senator and Republican candidate for governor Bill Eigel. Zero Democrats supported this bill.

Missouri Republicans have consistently doubled- down on their war against reproductive and family planning freedom this legislative session, voting against allowing abortion exceptions in cases of rape or incest and against protecting contraceptives and IVF services . Instead of working to improve access to quality, affordable healthcare, Republicans in the state legislature have been working relentlessly to attack our rights and gut access to basic care.

“This bill is just another harsh attack on reproductive freedom deployed by the Missouri Republican Party, despite watching voters across the country repeatedly reject this extreme government overreach at the ballot box. Missouri has one of the most extreme abortion bans on the books, and Missouri Republicans want to go further,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan. “Extremist politicians in Jefferson City know that voters across the political spectrum want the government to stay out of their personal healthcare decisions, which is why they aren’t stopping at our right to plan our families privately and are coming for our ability to check their power at the ballot box through the initiative petition process.”

Background:

Earlier this year, while debating amendments to add exceptions for rape and incest to Missouri’s current near-total ban, Sen. Eigel claimed he was opposed because “ a 1-year-old could get an abortion under this .” Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and Lieutenant Gov. Mike Kehoe also both oppose exceptions for rape and incest.

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services , 1,327,155 Missourians were enrolled in Medicaid as of December 2023. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that 8.4 percent of Missourians , 11 percent of Missouri women, did not have health insurance coverage in 2022.

Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri reported serving over 25,000 Missourians at over 40,000 patient visits to access STI screenings (39,754 screenings), birth control and family planning services (14,007 Birth Control dispensed or prescribed), and nearly 3,000 cancer screenings between July 2021 and June 2022. Nearly 20 percent of Planned Parenthood’s patients receive Medicaid. Planned Parenthood does not currently provide abortion services at any clinic in the state of Missouri.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ 2024 Report , Missouri’s pregnancy-related death rate for Missouri mothers from 2018-2020 was 32 deaths per 100,000 live births, a significant increase from 25.2 per 100,000 as reported in the previous multi-year report for 2017-2019. Pregnancy-related death rates among Black mothers were three times higher than for white mothers.

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri GOP Doubles Down on Extreme Party Platform

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Wed, 08 May 2024 16:19:13 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Statement on Missouri GOP’s Doubling Down on Extreme Party Platform

May 8, 2024

This past weekend, the Missouri Republican Party held their State Convention, at which their signature deep dysfunction was on full display, and so much chaos ensued that they were unable to adopt a 2024 party platform. Instead, the Missouri Republican Party announced they have readopted the 2020 party platform currently in place , doubling down on their extreme, toxic agenda to strip rights away from Missouri families and push for more government interference in our everyday lives.

The 2024 Missouri GOP Platform, which Republican candidates across the state will run on this November, reaffirms the Party’s staunch support of Missouri’s current cruel abortion ban, which does not include any exceptions for rape or incest and jeopardizes certain contraceptive use, as well as their full support of a Missouri law that puts in vitro fertility treatments at risk.

“Neither the inability of the Missouri Republican Party to come together and pass a party platform nor the reaffirmation of their extremist crusade into our personal lives should be shocking to anyone paying attention,” said Dr. Robert Cesario, Vice-Chair of the Missouri Democratic Party’s 2024 Platform Committee. “Missouri Republicans have demonstrated their cruel commitment to attacking women’s reproductive rights even after a near-total abortion ban went into effect following Trump’s Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Roe vs. Wade, and that they are unable to properly function as a governing body.”

“This legislative session, the GOP supermajorities in the state house and senate have only managed to send a handful of bills to Governor Parson’s desk, one of which would defund an essential healthcare services provider that does not perform abortions in our state. Missourians are sick of this kind of cruel dysfunction and will be sending a strong message to get out of our lives and get to work this November.”

Background:

LakeExpo: High Drama At Missouri Republican Convention As Grassroots Boots Leadership

The Guardian: Republican Josh Hawley’s Anti-Abortion Arguments Echoed In Alabama IVF Case

“Anti-abortion arguments made in the recent controversial Alabama supreme court decision, which led to the shut down of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in nearly half of the state’s clinics, echo those made by the Republican US senator Josh Hawley.

The Missouri lawmaker made similar arguments in 2013 and when he worked on the legal team arguing the ‘Hobby Lobby’ case on contraception before the US Supreme Court.”

Kansas City Star: Is IVF At Risk In Missouri? Experts Say Abortion Rights Vote Would Protect The Procedure

KFVS 12: Abortion Rights Initiative Blows Past Signature Threshold, Garnering Twice The Required Minimum

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Congratulates Coalition on Collecting Over 380,000 Signatures to Put Abortion Rights on the Ballot in November

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Mon, 06 May 2024 11:42:54 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Congratulates Coalition on Collecting Over 380,000 Signatures to Put Abortion Rights on the Ballot in November

May 6, 2024

Following Missourians for Constitutional Freedom’s submission of over 380,000 signatures to put abortion rights on the ballot and end Missouri’s near-total, cruel abortion ban, Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan released the following statement:

“The Missouri Democratic Party congratulates Missourians for Constitutional Freedom and the coalition of community organizers, students, union members, parents, and the many Missourians across the political spectrum who worked hard over the last 80 days to gather nearly 400,000 signatures to put reproductive rights on the ballot. This is a deeply personal issue around decisions that should be made amongst family and medical professionals, not extremist politicians in Jefferson City. We know the majority of Missouri voters, Democratic, Independent, and Republicans, believe their neighbors should have the fundamental right to make their own, personal medical decisions without cruel interference. With signatures from every county in Missouri, the coalition has demonstrated loud and clear that Missouri voters want our elected officials to stop these attacks on our freedom,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan.

“The Missouri Democratic Party has long championed abortion rights and is proud to have endorsed this petition early and to have closely collaborated with the coalition to support this work. Leaders across the Missouri Democratic Party trained over 500 signature gatherers from over 48 counties to host more than 60 events and collect thousands of signatures. Together we made more than 30,000 calls, sent more than 40,000 text messages, and knocked hundreds of doors to see this effort across the finish line and will continue these efforts until we have made abortion care accessible to Missourians who need it.”

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Bill Eigel Led Hard-line Republicans In Holding Senate Hostage Until Demands Were Met (They Weren't)

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Thu, 02 May 2024 04:11:58 GMT

Bill Eigel Led Hard-line Republicans In Holding Senate Hostage Over 40 Hours Until Demands Were Met (They Weren't)

May 2, 2024

Tuesday afternoon, a group of hard-line Republicans, led by candidate for governor Sen. Bill Eigel, seized control of the Senate floor bringing legislative proceedings to a screeching halt and preventing the legislature from addressing key legislation like funding for rural hospitals and nursing homes or passing the state budget. Eigel and his cronies refused for over 40 hours to end their filibuster until their extreme demands were met before ultimately ending the filibuster without them.

Eigel’s faction was demanding that legislators approve a resolution that asks Missouri voters to limit their own power to check their elected officials at the ballot box and that Governor Parson sign their bill to defund an essential health services provider. These are further attacks on reproductive freedom and family planning in response to the current efforts to put reproductive rights on the ballot this November. These demands showcase the lengths that Missouri Republicans will go to further their extreme agenda.

Eigel has not been acting alone in this destructive crusade. His fellow Republican candidates for governor, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, and Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe, have enabled and emboldened this culture of dysfunction and of putting partisan interests above the needs of working families in Missouri. Ashcroft has used his position to push misinformation to mislead voters on a ballot amendment that aims to protect reproductive freedom in the fall.

"While Missouri families are grappling with real challenges on healthcare, education, and economic opportunity, Bill Eigel and his fellow extremists are busy playing political games to attack our rights and freedoms and obstructing progress," said Missouri Democratic Party Rural Caucus Chair Joshua Dunne. "It's clear they care more about scoring cheap political points in their run for higher office than improving the lives of Missouri families. Missourians deserve a governor who will always prioritize our best interests, not someone who’d rather obstruct progress at every turn.”

Background:

Kansas City Star: Missouri Capitol Grinds To A Halt As Hard-Right Senators Block Billions For Medicaid

“Members of the hard-right Missouri Freedom Caucus have for more than 28 hours held the Senate floor hostage, halting all action until a laundry list of their demands are met. The hours-long filibuster has sparked chaos among lawmakers who fear that it could blow up the session with less than three weeks left.”

A chorus of Missouri healthcare groups and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday also issued a stark warning: The Freedom Caucus is “endangering the well-being of millions of Missourians.”

The filibuster has blocked the Senate from taking up the renewal of a crucial series of taxes that would keep the state’s Medicaid program operating. The program provides health coverage to roughly 1 million residents. Failure to renew the taxes called the Federal Reimbursement Allowance or FRA, would result in a loss of billions in state and federal Medicaid funds.”

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Hard-Line Republicans Stall Action In Missouri Senate, Find Little Traction On Issues

Springfield News-Leader: “Missouri was the first state to trigger a near-total abortion ban in 2022 when Roe v. Wade was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. Abortions are only allowed in extreme cases to save the life of the mother, but doctors are still hesitant to perform abortions due to the strict legal liability associated with doing so in the state. Following the launch of the campaign to restore abortion rights with the least restrictions, members of the Freedom Caucus engaged in a filibuster to force Senate leaders to bring the initiative petition legislation to a floor debate, citing the abortion measure as a cause for immediate action.”

Missouri Independent: One-Third Of Missouri’s Rural Hospitals At Risk Of Closure, New Data Shows

According to the Missouri Hospital Association, as of August 2023, 19 hospitals, including 12 rural hospitals have closed since 2014 due to funding issues.

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democrats Slam GOP Vote to Attack Voters' Power at the Ballot Box

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 18:54:57 GMT

Missouri Democrats Slam Republican State Legislature Attack on Voters' Power at the Ballot Box

April 29, 2024

Following Missouri House Republicans' vote to attack Missourians' right to check the power of their elected officials at the ballot box, Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Russ Carnahan released the following statement:

“The Republican supermajority in the Missouri State Legislature has made one of their biggest priorities this year a shameless power-grab and attack on our Democracy with the express purpose of preventing their constituents from checking their overreach at the ballot box through the initiative petition process. Missouri’s initiative petition process has allowed Missourians frustrated by the lack of action on key issues by a dysfunctional Republican supermajority to take their own action and improve their communities themselves. For years, we have watched Missourians band together and successfully work to address issues like expanding Medicaid coverage, rejecting the so-called “right-to-work” initiative that would have shifted even more power from workers to employers, raising the minimum wage, or legalizing Marijuana, and that is why the Republican supermajority wants to take our right to take citizen action away from us.

“The urgency of this particular attack on our rights at the ballot box is being driven by the thousands of Missourians that have decided to take action against the GOP’s extreme and cruel abortion ban and send a message that their constant attacks on our reproductive freedom have gone too far. Instead of allowing Missourians to make their voices heard and protect their right to make their intimate family planning decisions in private, Republicans in the state legislature have simply decided to take our voice away. Instead of working to solve critical issues, including access to affordable and quality healthcare, public education, and improving the safety of our roads and bridges, this Republican supermajority has decided they would rather focus on pushing their extreme agenda and how they can further strip us of our hard-earned rights and freedoms. Missourians are exhausted by these attacks and will send a message in November to remind these politicians that they work for them,” Carnahan said.

Background:

On April 25, 2024, Mary Elizabeth Coleman's SJR74 passed the State House with zero Democratic votes, every single Republican present voted for the bill, except Rep. Jon Patterson.

Kansas City Star: “Missouri Republicans have for years attacked the state’s initiative petition process, which has been utilized by voters of both parties to bypass the General Assembly and put measures to a statewide vote. The criticism comes as voters have in recent years passed several progressive policies, including marijuana legalization and Medicaid expansion. Republicans argue that the current process has allowed outside interest groups to influence elections. But this year, as a coalition of abortion rights groups embark on a campaign to put abortion rights on the ballot through an initiative petition, Republicans have doubled down on the effort.”

Missouri Independent: Democrat Filibuster Forces Removal Of ‘Ballot Candy’ From Senate Initiative Petition Bill

Missouri Independent: GOP Senator Urges Missouri House To Reinstate ‘Ballot Candy’ Into Initiative Petition Bill

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democrats Hit Republican Legislature For Attack on Essential Healthcare Providers and Family Planning Services

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 19:45:35 GMT

Missouri Democrats Hit Republican Legislature’s Attack on Essential Healthcare Providers and Family Planning Services

April 24, 2024

Following the Missouri State Legislature’s passing of Representative Cody Smith’s bill to bar reproductive health clinics from receiving public funding, Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Russ Carnahan released the following statement:

“It is unbelievably frustrating but unsurprising that one of the only pieces of legislation the Republican supermajority in the Missouri State Legislature has been able to pass this session was another attack on reproductive and family planning freedom, despite watching voters across the country reject this exact type of extreme overreach at the ballot box. Since June 2022, when the Trump-appointed Supreme Court struck down Roe vs. Wade and Missouri became the first state to effectively make every abortion illegal due to a Republican trigger law, we have heard countless horrific stories of pregnant women across the country denied lifesaving care and doctors threatened with prosecution for doing their jobs.

“Despite the heartbreaking stories of the impacts the cruel abortion ban has had on Missouri mothers, Missouri Republicans have consistently doubled- down on their war against reproductive and family planning freedom this legislative session, voting against allowing abortion exceptions in cases of rape or incest and against protecting contraceptives and IVF services . Instead of working to improve access to quality, affordable healthcare, the Republicans in the state legislature have been working relentlessly to take more and more rights away from hard-working Missourians.

"Extremist politicians in Jefferson City know that voters across the political spectrum want the government to stay out of their personal and intimate healthcare decisions, which is why they aren’t stopping at our right to plan our families privately and are coming for our ability to check their power at the ballot box through the initiative petition process,” Carnahan said.

Background:

On April 24, 2024, the Missouri House of Representatives passed Rep. Cody Smith’s HB2634, which barred Planned Parenthood from receiving public funding despite not performing abortions in Missouri. Every Republican legislator supported this bill, zero Democrats supported this bill.

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services , 1,327,155 Missourians are enrolling in Medicaid as of December 2023. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that 8.4 percent of Missourians , 11 percent of Missouri women, did not have health insurance coverage in 2022. According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ 2024 Report , Missouri’s pregnancy-related death rate for Missouri mothers from 2018-2020 was 32 deaths per 100,000 live births, a significant increase from 25.2 per 100,000 as reported in the previous multi-year report for 2017-2019. Pregnancy-related death rates among Black/African American mothers were three times higher than for white mothers.

Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri reported serving over 25,000 Missourians at over 40,000 patient visits to access STI screenings (39,754 screenings), birth control and family planning services (14,007 Birth Control dispensed or prescribed), and nearly 3,000 cancer screenings between July 2021 and June 2022. Planned Parenthood does not currently provide abortion services at any clinic in the state of Missouri.

###

Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Celebrates Success of Progressive Candidates, Rebuke of Extreme, Anti-Freedom Candidates at Ballot Box

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 21:43:49 GMT

April 3, 2024

On Tuesday, April 2, 2024, local elections were held across the state which resulted in major wins for Progressive and Democratic-leaning candidates, including 83 percent of the school board candidates endorsed by the Missouri chapter of the National Education Association. The widespread rejection of right-wing candidates issued a strong rebuke of the radical, anti- Freedom platforms that have become a hallmark of Missouri conservatives.

“Missouri voters are exhausted by the relentless attacks on our freedoms and Democratic institutions driven by manufactured outrage and extremist politicians. Missourians want their kids to have access to a well-funded public education and their roads and bridges to be safe and free of potholes. Unfortunately, today’s Republican Party has been focused on stripping more rights away from our fellow Missourians and increasing the power of their politicians.

From controlling what books our children can read and rolling back child labor protections to how we can plan for a family, these power-hungry politicians are set on implementing their agenda that is divisive, dysfunctional, and dangerous to our very Democracy and fails to address the needs of Missouri families. Missourians value our democracy and freedoms and want them strengthened, not attacked. Missouri voters want our elected officials to show up to work for them,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan.

Background:

CNN: Emails Show How A Right-Wing Group Steers Gop Leaders On Major Policy Issues

KCTV: Missouri Senators Debate Bill To Remove, Ban Restrictions On Child Labor

Springfield News-Leader: Parents, Education Groups Raise Concerns About Missouri Education Bill

KSDK: House Gop Advances $50 Billion Missouri Budget, Rejecting Dozens Of Democrat Amendments

Jefferson City News Tribune: Four New Members Win Jefferson City Council Seats

Springfield Daily Citizen: Three Women Win Seats to Springfield Board of Education

St. Joseph News-Press Now: Williams, Chesney, Moore Prevail For School Board

St. Joseph News-Press Now: Library Tax Levy Reset Passes With Ease

MNEA: Students Win as Educator-Endorsed Candidates Triumph Across Missouri

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

National Organization of Women President Christian F. Nunes and Author David Pepper to Headline 102nd Annual Democrat Days of the Ozarks

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 20:07:47 GMT

National Organization of Women President Christian F. Nunes and Author David Pepper to Headline 102nd Annual Democrat Days of the Ozarks

April 2, 2024

On Saturday, April 6th at 6:30 PM, National Organization of Women (NOW) President Christian F. Nunes and Former Ohio Democratic Party Chair David Pepper will keynote Greene County Democrats’ 102nd annual Democrat Days of the Ozarks banquet. The Saturday evening banquet closes a weekend of Democratic political and progressive community events being organized by the Greene County Democrats, one of the largest Democratic Party-organized events in the area.

This year, Missouri voters have the opportunity to reject Missouri’s cruel abortion ban and put an amendment to restore reproductive rights on the ballot, as we have watched our neighbors accomplish. Hard fought campaigns to protect reproductive rights have been won in Ohio, Kansas, Kentucky, and most recently Alabama, and those fights could not have been won without a coalition of support from groups like the NOW and leaders like Christian F. Nunes and David Pepper.

Event : Greene County Democrats’ 102nd Annual Democrat Days of the Ozarks Banquet

Date : Saturday, April 6, 2024
Time : 6:30 PM; Media availability beginning at 6 PM
Venue : DoubleTree by Hilton Springfield, 2431 N. Glenstone Ave. Springfield, MO

Background:

Christian F. Nunes, MBA, MS, LCSW,  became NOW president in August 2020. She was previously appointed Vice President by the board in May 2019. As the second African American president in the organization’s history, the youngest person of color, and the youngest president in more than 40 years, Nunes is leading the organization through an intersectional lens, bringing a diverse coalition of grassroots activists to work against structural sexism and racism.

David Pepper, Vice President ASDC is a lawyer, writer, political activist, former elected official, and adjunct professor, and served as the Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party between 2015 and 2021. In that role, he was engaged in numerous fights and extensive litigation over voter suppression and election laws in the Buckeye State. Stemming from that work, David appeared in “All In”—the documentary highlighting Stacey Abrams’ nation-wide fight for voting rights.

###

Media Contact:

Sam Smith, Executive Director Greene County Democratic Party

execdirector@gcmodemocrats.org

(417) 983-9962

Missouri Democratic Party Receives National Recognition for Successful Candidate Recruitment Efforts

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 19:00:14 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Receives National Recognition for Successful Candidate Recruitment Efforts

March 27, 2024

The Missouri Democratic Party congratulates the over 200 Democratic candidates across the state who stepped up to run for office in their communities and the incredible recruitment effort organized to support them.

“We are unbelievably proud and excited to see so many strong Democratic candidates decide to run for office and serve their neighbors. Running for office is tough and often thankless, but these Missourians are determined to help leave their communities better than they found them. The dramatic increase in Democratic candidates this election cycle could not have been possible without the tireless organizing and recruitment efforts led by the leadership of the Missouri State House and Senate Democrats, who have committed to investing in building party infrastructure to support candidates across the state,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan.

“Ensuring there is a Democratic candidate on the ballot in districts across Missouri does not happen overnight and requires investing in a strong staff, like our incredible Field Director Alex Johnson, who fielded over 6,000 calls to potential candidates across the state to fill seats until candidate filing officially closed. MO House Democrats have made investing in this kind of infrastructure that operates year-round, not just close to an election, supporting candidates and helping them run professional campaigns, a core piece of our rebuilding strategy and we are thrilled to see it begin to pay off. Democrats are fired up and ready to break the Republican supermajority on our way to take back our state,” added House Democratic Leader Crystal Quade.

Background:

Missouri Democrats’ recruitment efforts earned national attention and recognition by DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison , who has included Missouri on his short- list to receive a candidate recruitment challenge grant.

By the Numbers:

100% of Statewide and Congressional seats filled with candidates
88% (15 of 17) of State Senate seats filled with candidates
83% (135 of 163) of State House seats filled with candidates, an increase from 97 candidates in 2022.
Represents the best presidential year recruiting number since 2008

###

Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Biden Decisively Wins Missouri Democratic Party’s Party-Run Presidential Primary

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 16:46:23 GMT

Biden Decisively Wins Missouri Democratic Party’s Party-Run Presidential Primary

March 26, 2024

The Missouri Democratic Party has announced the final results of the party-run presidential preference primary, held on Saturday, March 23:

With nearly 20,000 total votes cast in the Missouri Democratic Party’s party-run presidential preference primary, President Biden won with 85.3 percent of the vote, winning 61 of 64 pledged delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

“The Missouri Democratic Party congratulates President Biden on his decisive victory in our party-run presidential preference primary last weekend. President Biden’s Administration has been focused on investing in the people and communities who need it most and has a long list of accomplishments to tout heading into November. From capping the cost of insulin at $35 for Missouri seniors to the over $2.8 billion in funds for infrastructure projects in Missouri communities, including $122 million to replace Chester Bridge in Perry County, $31 million to replace the bridge over Table Rock Lake, and $7.8 million to repave MO 53 in Butler County from Business 67- Route 25, Missourians are feeling the real impacts of the Biden Administrations’ investment on their daily lives,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan.

“In spite of the attack on our voting rights by the Republican State Legislature, turnout in the Missouri Democratic Party’s party-run presidential primary exceeded that of the Republican caucus event, and Democrats used this election as an opportunity to start organizing early and generated grassroots enthusiasm across the state as we head into the 2024 election cycle. Over 450 Missouri Democrats volunteered to organize a statewide election with nearly 100 in-person voting locations to ensure as many of their neighbors could cast their vote for their preferred Democratic nominee for president as possible. Missouri Democrats are fired up and ready to fight in 2024.”

Background:

Spreadsheet of results by county & congressional district

Memo covering results of the MDP’s party-run presidential primary

Memo covering delegate allocation in the MDP’s party-run presidential primary

Biden investment projects mentioned above

In 2022, the Republican-controlled legislature passed HB 1878, which eliminated Missouri’s state-run presidential preference primary election and designated a party-run system for choosing presidential nominees. This was another attack on free and fair Democratic elections that made it harder for people to exercise their voting rights. The Missouri Democratic Party adamantly opposed this change, and none of the Democrats serving in the Missouri State House or Senate at the time voted for this bill. 120 Republican members supported the measure.

###

Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Biden Leads Big in Preliminary Results of Party-Run Presidential Preference Primary

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 15:03:05 GMT

Biden Leads Big in Preliminary Results of Party-Run Presidential Preference Primary Announced by Missouri Democratic Party

March 23, 2024

The Missouri Democratic Party has announced the preliminary results of the mail ballot portion of the party-run presidential preference primary, which opened in early February and closed on March 12:

Nearly 20,000 Missourians participated in the Missouri Democratic Party’s party-run presidential preference primary either by mail or in person. With 63 percent of the votes counted, President Biden currently leads with 90.75 percent of the vote, uncommitted at 7.3 percent. The final results will be announced as early as Monday morning, by Thursday, March 28th at the latest.

“Eliminating the state-run presidential primary election was one of several measures enacted by the Republican legislature in 2022 to strip another right away from Missourians and intentionally disenfranchise voters. In spite of this attack on our voting rights, turnout exceeded that of the Republican caucus event, and Democrats used this election as an opportunity to start organizing early and generated grassroots enthusiasm across the state as we head into the 2024 election cycle. Over 450 Missouri Democrats volunteered to organize a statewide election with nearly 100 in-person voting locations to ensure as many of their neighbors could cast their vote for their preferred Democratic nominee for president as possible. Missouri Democrats are fired up and ready to fight in 2024,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan.

###

Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Jay Ashcroft’s Tax “Plan” Will Blow Up Missouri’s Budget Like Brownback Did to Kansas’

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 21:00:17 GMT

March 21, 2024

Candidate for governor and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft released his tax “ plan ,” which enlists “some of the well-known conservative economists and low-tax advocates that advised then-Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback on a massive tax cut enacted in that state in 2012,” which helped result in “Republicans losing the Kansas governorship in the 2018 election,” the Missouri Independent reported.

Stephen Moore , Jonathan Williams , Grover Norquist , and Art Laffer were all named as “experts” that Ashcroft plans to “appoint” to a “task force” to “make recommendations” on Missouri’s budget and economy. All four men played a role in former Kansas Governor Sam Brownback’s implementation of the dangerous and reckless “tax experiment” that tanked the state’s economy, underfunded public schools, and robbed the state’s highway fund.

Former Gov. Brownback’s plan slashed the state’s income tax and allowed for major tax cuts for the wealthy, blowing up Kansas’ budget . This left Kansas’ middle and working-class families behind to pick up the pieces, schools without the resources they needed for students to thrive, and roads and bridges without the necessary infrastructure updates they needed to ensure safe travel across the state.

Brownback’s disastrous “tax experiment” was so damaging and unpopular that the state’s Republican-controlled legislature came together to reverse it, and, after campaigning on restoring fiscal responsibility and balancing the budget, helped Gov. Laura Kelly sail to victory in 2018 and again in 2022 against two Brownback acolytes.

“If Jay Ashcroft thinks Missourians will let him take our state to the brink of economic collapse like Brownback and his cronies did to Kansas, he is mistaken,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan . “We watched as Brownback gutted our neighbors’ public schools and tanked the economy to slash taxes for his wealthy donors and friends. We won’t let Jay Ashcroft do the same here in Missouri.”

###

Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

[Guidance] Missouri Grassroots Voter Registration 2024

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 00:41:33 GMT

Overview

For this election cycle, the Missouri Democratic Party put together this guidance to reach voter registration goals.

Background:

In 2022, the Republican-controlled legislature passed HB 1878, which among many attacks on voting rights, prohibited anyone who helps residents register to vote from being paid to register voters and banned any effort to “solicit a voter” into requesting an absentee ballot.

This was another attack on free and fair Democratic elections that made it harder for people to exercise their voting rights. The Missouri Democratic Party adamantly opposed this change, and none of the Democrats serving in the Missouri State House or Senate at the time voted for this bill. Nearly every Republican member supported the measure.

Options For Groups Integrate Voter Registration Into Programs

Voter Education

Providing an unregistered voter with the information they may not have previously had constitutes voter education. Missouri now offers eligible Missourians the option to register 100% online if they are using a touchscreen phone or tablet.

QR Codes & Links

Providing an unregistered voter with a link to or a QR code they can scan with their personal phone or tablet or they can scan with a provided touch screen device to complete their registration themselves does not constitute a solicitation and does not trigger a chain of custody issue with a voter registration application.

Ready to Use QR Codes Available Here

Language and Presentation

To ensure any voter registration effort remains compliant in the voter education lane, voter registration communications will be separated from any other program communications. This will be accomplished as simply as presenting a separate page to an unregistered voter after one learns the voter is unregistered, for example.

Suggested Language

“Did you know that you can register to vote online in seconds using a touch screen? Here is a Link/ QR Code if you’d like to register now.”

Missouri Democratic Party Announces Locations to Serve as In-Person Voting Sites for Party-Run Presidential Primary, March 23, 2024

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 13:56:59 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Announces Locations to Serve as In-Person Voting Sites for Party-Run Presidential Primary, March 23, 2024

March 7, 2024

After Republicans in the state legislature eliminated Missouri’s state-run presidential primary, the Missouri Democratic Party worked to design the best party-run process possible given the barriers of the new law and is ready to announce the locations that will serve as in-person voting sites for the Party-run presidential primary election scheduled on Saturday, March 23, 2024, and has released the following statement:

“Keeping Black and Brown communities from exercising their right to vote has been the strategy of those in power since Reconstruction, and the elimination of the state-run presidential primary election is one of the many tactics used by this extreme Republican Party to disenfranchise voters across the state. Missourians have watched the Republicans in the legislature come after our fundamental rights and personal freedoms session after session, and this move was no different. The goal was to suppress voter participation and not one Democrat voted for the bill that made this change. We hope the Republican supermajority will consider voters' dissatisfaction across the state and address this,” said Senator Karla May (D-St. Louis).

“I grew up on a cotton farm in the Bootheel, I am all too familiar with the barriers rural communities face due to Republicans making one bad decision after another. Barriers to accessing basic services like having a hospital that is still open, high-speed broadband, and rural roads that are well maintained. And now, they are making it much harder for Missourians in rural areas to vote. Here’s the reality: Republicans who run our government made rural Missouri’s ability to vote and to have their voices heard much, much harder, and that was intentional. This dysfunctional Republican Party is determined to take away Missourians’ voices and they have no intention of stopping until they have restricted every Missourian’s ability to question and overrule their complete stranglehold on power. That power belongs to the people,” said State Senator Greg Razer (D-KC).

Background:

In 2022, the Republican-controlled legislature passed HB 1878, which eliminated Missouri’s state-run presidential preference primary election and designated a party-run system for choosing presidential nominees. This is another attack on free and fair Democratic elections that makes it harder for people to exercise their voting rights. The Missouri Democratic Party adamantly opposed this change, and none of the Democrats serving in the Missouri State House or Senate at the time voted for this bill. 120 Republican members supported the measure. More information can be found here .

Senator Karla May has represented the 4th Senatorial District, covering parts of St. Louis City & County since 2019, and formerly served as the vice chair of the Missouri General Assembly’s Black Legislative Caucus. Senator May served as the Region XI chair for the National Black Caucus of State Legislators from 2012-2018, serving Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, formerly serving on the Executive Committee as chaplain and currently serving as an at-large member.

Senator Razer serves State Senate District 7, in Kansas City, covering a portion of Jackson County. Razer is the grandson of a farmer, the son of a public school teacher, and a graduate of the University of Missouri. Senator Razer was raised on a cotton farm in the Missouri Bootheel, one of the most impoverished parts of our state. Senator Razer was elected to the State Senate in 2020.

###

Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Celebrates Opening of 2024 Candidate Filing Period

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 20:27:55 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Celebrates Opening of 2024 Candidate Filing Period

February 28, 2024

Following the opening of the candidate filing period for Missouri’s August 6, 2024, statewide Primary Election, Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan released the following statement:

“We were proud to see so many Democrats from across the state show up yesterday and file to run for office, including several Camp Carnahan graduates or candidates staffed by Camp Carnahan graduates. Stepping up to run to serve your community as an elected official is a noble and worthy cause, and making sure potential candidates in every corner of the state have what they need to run is critical in ensuring diverse candidate slates. The Missouri Democratic Party is committed to rebuilding our statewide infrastructure to empower Democrats who want to step up and run for office. We are excited and getting organized as we head into the 2024 election cycle,” Carnahan said.

Background:

Over the past weekend, the Missouri Democratic Party hosted over 80 participants in Jefferson City at a revival of the successful Camp Carnahan training course offered to Democrats interested in running for office, working on campaigns, or community organizing across the state. Respected campaigners from across the state and country came in to train participants and participants were welcomed by a video from DNC Chair Jaime Harrison. The original Camp Carnahan was a highly successful training program that was started in 1997 by Governor Mel Carnahan, as a series of eight regional camps, which trained over 800 participants in the fundamentals of winning elections.

Missouri’s candidate filing period to run in the statewide August 6th Primary Election opened on Tuesday, February 27th, and closes on March 26th.

###

Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Statement of Support of Democratic State Legislative Members’ Efforts to Address Gun Violence

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 22:51:34 GMT

February 20, 2024

Today, following the filing of multiple House Joint Resolutions by members of the Missouri House Democratic Caucus in response to the tragic shooting that took place at the celebration of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory, Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Russ Carnahan and Missouri State House Representative Maggie Nurrenbern, D-Kansas City, released the following statement:

“For too long we have allowed our communities to be held hostage by the argument that there is nothing that can be done to address the senseless gun violence that continues to ravage communities across the country and last week devastated our Kansas City Community. These Joint Resolutions filed by many of our Democratic Statehouse members would give Missouri voters the opportunity to put the power of addressing this urgent issue into the hands of local leaders and law enforcement in the communities they serve, not politicians in Jefferson City.

“Missouri Republicans have worked hard to take more and more power away from our local communities, but Missourians across the political spectrum know that these decisions are best left to local experts who know their communities and keep them safe every day. These resolutions are a good first step in putting the power back into the hands of those local leaders and first responders to allow them to respect the rights of their constituents to own firearms and implement common-sense gun safety measures.” Carnahan finished.

“As a mom, a teacher, and now a survivor of a mass shooting, I am angry that we have not addressed the senseless gun violence that is impacting our communities and scarring our children. These resolutions are meant to send a message to dysfunctional politicians holding us hostage in a violent hellscape that something must be done. They rightfully put the power of protecting our communities back into the hands of local leaders and law enforcement who wake up every day ready to keep us safe,” said Nurrenbern.

Background:

In 2021, the Missouri General Assembly passed the Second Amendment Preservation Act , which penalized local law enforcement $50,000 per infraction if they were found to be working with federal agencies like the ATF and the FBI on gun-related crimes. In March 2023, a federal judge overturned the Second Amendment Preservation Act, ruling that it “exposes citizens to greater harm.” Every Republican member present supported the measure signed by Governor Parson.

###

Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Statement on Governor Parson’s Deployment of Missouri Resources to Southern Border

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 22:45:06 GMT

February 20, 2024

Following Governor Mike Parson’s announcement of his plan to fulfill his promise to perpetuate the crisis at the southern border by sending Missouri resources to Texas, Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Matthew Patterson and Missouri State House Minority Whip Ashley Aune released the following statement:

“Governor Parson’s decision to double down his political theater at the southern border instead of urging his Republican colleagues in Congress to support the bipartisan border agreement is not surprising but is deeply shameful. Missouri Republicans have demonstrated time after time that they will always choose to play political games over doing their jobs no matter who is put at risk.” Patterson said.

“I am sick and tired of self-serving politicians playing political games with our lives—whether we’re talking about immigration reform or common sense gun legislation. The bipartisan bill that was blocked by Republicans in Congress would have addressed this crisis, but Missouri Republicans would rather send Missouri resources to another state than do their jobs. To these politicians, our pain is their political strategy, and America will continue to feel the consequences of their dysfunction as long as it scores them political points. Governor Parson should urge his Republican colleagues to set aside campaigning from office and do the hard work of governing,” said Missouri State House Minority Whip Ashley Aune.

Background:

Bipartisan negotiators in the US Senate, including Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), worked for months to craft a comprehensive legislative package to address the immigration crisis at the southern border that was killed by former President Trump, who bragged about his efforts to kill the bipartisan deal by urging his supporters in Congress to reject the deal outright before the legislation has been considered by the body.

Missouri State House Minority Whip Ashley Aune is the first Latina elected to serve in Missouri State House leadership and is only one of two Latino state legislators currently serving in the Missouri State House, alongside Representative Robert Sauls. Missouri’s Latino population continues to be among the fastest-growing populations in the state. According to the US Census, the number of Missourians who identify as Hispanic increased by 42.6% from 2010 to 2020.

###

Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Statement on Governor Parson’s Visit to Texas to Distract from GOP Blocking Bipartisan Border Bill

Sun, 04 Feb 2024 22:45:55 GMT

February 4, 2024

Following Governor Mike Parson’s participation in Texas Governor Abbott’s press conference to brief the media on

his refusal to solve the crisis at the southern border for political gain, Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director

Matthew Patterson issued the following statement:

“It is shameful but unsurprising that Governor Parson and other national leaders of the Republican Party have

chosen to call a press conference in Eagle Pass instead of calling on their colleagues in Congress to pass the

bipartisan border deal that would address this national security crisis. These power-hungry politicians have no

intention of working together to find solutions, only to perpetuate crises. Instead, they should call on the MAGA

extremists who are blocking a bipartisan bill to secure the border, and tell them to do their jobs,” Patterson said.

Missouri State House Minority Whip Ashley Aune added, “Missourians are tired of self-serving politicians who

would rather participate in a circus than do the hard work of governing. To these politicians, our pain is their

political strategy, and America will continue to feel the consequences of their dysfunction as long as it scores them

political points. Governor Parson should call on the Missouri Republican delegation in Congress to end the political

theater and pass this bipartisan border deal.”

Background:

Bipartisan negotiators in the US Senate, including Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Chris Murphy

(D-Conn.), have been working for months to craft a comprehensive legislative package to address the immigration

crisis at the southern border that is nearly finalized. Former President Trump has recently bragged about his efforts

to kill the bipartisan deal by urging his supporters in Congress to reject the deal outright before the legislation has

been considered by the body.

Missouri State House Minority Whip Ashley Aune is the first Latina elected to serve in Missouri State House

leadership and is only one of two Latino state legislators currently serving in the Missouri State House, alongside

Representative Robert Sauls. Missouri’s Latino population continues to be among the fastest-growing populations

in the state. According to the US Census, the number of Missourians who identify as Hispanic increased by 42.6%

from 2010 to 2020.

###

Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Announces Opening of Mail-Ballot Request Period for 2024 Democratic Party-Run Presidential Primary

chelsea@missouridems.org (Chelsea Rodriguez) — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 21:32:52 GMT

February 1, 2024

The Missouri Democratic Party is announcing the opening of the mail-ballot request period to vote in the presidential

primary election scheduled on Saturday, March 23, 2024. Registered Missouri voters can request a ballot online here

at https://request.mrgvote.com/Missouri or call 855-433-8683 to request their mail ballot.

Additionally, the Missouri Democratic Party announced the Democratic National Committee has fully approved MDP’s

plan for Missouri’s 2024 Democratic Presidential Primary. The following details are confirmed with more information

available soon:

■ Missouri’s Democratic presidential primary is scheduled for Saturday, March 23, 2024.

■ The Democratic presidential primary will be a hybrid election, offering Missouri Democrats an

opportunity to cast their vote by mail or at an in-person voting site from 8 AM until noon on the day of

the primary.

■ Pending final availability, at least one in-person voting site will be held in each county, with additional

sites in larger counties.

■ Missourians registered to vote by February 21, 2024 , with the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office will

be eligible to vote in the Missouri Democratic presidential preference primary election, so long as the

voter is not registered as a Republican.

■ The mail ballot request period will close on March 12.

■ Ballots must be returned to the MDP by 10 AM on March 23, 2024.

■ Votes will be counted by March 25 , with the announcement to be made by March 28, 2024

Background:

In 2022, the Republican-controlled legislature passed HB 1878, which eliminated Missouri’s state-run presidential

preference primary election and designated a party-run system for choosing presidential nominees. This is another

attack on free and fair Democratic elections that makes it harder for people to exercise their voting rights. The

Missouri Democratic Party adamantly opposed this change, and none of the Democrats serving in the Missouri

State House or Senate at the time voted for this bill. Nearly every Republican member supported the measure.

###

Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Message of Condolence on the Passing of Trailblazing Former Senator Jean Carnahan

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 22:21:52 GMT

January 30, 2024

Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Matthew Patterson issued the following statement of condolence

regarding the death of former Senator and First Lady Jean Carnahan:

“Senator Carnahan was a fierce and brilliant public servant who spent her lifetime dedicated to working for

Missouri families. Jean was a trailblazer and served as a champion to children, education, and our military

personnel in the US Senate and at home. Missouri is a better state because of Jean’s compassionate service, and

her legacy will be felt by Missourians for generations to come. Our thoughts and condolences are with Party Chair

Russ Carnahan and the entire Carnahan family tonight and to all who had the great privilege of knowing her.”

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party State Committee Endorses Abortion Rights Initiative Petition

Sat, 27 Jan 2024 22:52:46 GMT

January 27, 2024

On Saturday, January 27th, the Missouri Democratic Party convened a special meeting to consider a full

endorsement of the Missourians for Constitutional Freedom coalition’s initiative petition that would restore

abortion rights for Missourians. Following the endorsement of the abortion rights initiative petition by the

Missouri Democratic State Committee, Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan released the following

statement:

“With this unanimous endorsement by the Missouri Democratic State Committee, I am confident Missouri

Democrats across the state will come together and advance this initiative petition and restore abortion rights

stripped away by Donald Trump’s activist Supreme Court and the extremists in the state legislature,” Carnahan

said.

“The Democratic Party is joining groups across the political spectrum to say MO’s abortion ban goes too far

and must be ended. This is a deeply personal issue around decisions that should be made amongst family and

medical professionals, not MAGA politicians in Jefferson City. We know the majority of Missouri voters,

Democratic, Independent, and Republicans, believe their neighbors should have the fundamental right to make

their own, personal medical decisions without cruel interference. This initiative petition will provide an

opportunity for Missouri voters to send the message loud and clear to stop these attacks on our most intimate

freedoms.”

“The Missouri Democratic Party has been collaborating with other states where similar efforts have been

recently successful to learn best practices and gain insight into where the MDP can be most helpful in

supporting the coalition’s effort. We are looking at opportunities to support these efforts around our party-run

presidential primary on March 23 and will announce an action plan in the coming weeks.”

Missouri Democrats who want to get involved in the Missouri Democratic Party’s organizing efforts around this

abortion initiative petition can sign up here.

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Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Announces 2024 Democratic Presidential Candidates To Appear On March Primary Ballot, Overviews Primary Election Process

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 21:46:48 GMT

January 23, 2024

The Missouri Democratic Party, pursuant to our presidential selection process, is announcing that the period for

presidential candidates to file to appear on the Missouri Democratic presidential primary ballot closed at 5 PM,

January 22, 2024. The following candidates filed and will appear on the ballot for the presidential primary election

scheduled on Saturday, March 23, 2024:

Joseph R Biden, Jr

Dean Phillips

Stephen P Lyons

Armando Perez-Serrato

Marianne Williamson

Jason Michael Palmer

Uncommitted

“Uncommitted” shall automatically appear on the ballot. Write-ins are not allowed per DNC Rules (Rule 11.C, Rule 14.A, Rule 14.C,

Rule 14.D, Rule 14.E, & Rule 15.H)

On the Republican Legislature’s change requiring state parties to run their presidential preference primary

election, Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan released the following statement:

“After the Missouri Republicans eliminated our state-run presidential primary, the Missouri Democratic Party

worked to design the best party-run process possible given the barriers of the new law. The old fashioned

caucus-only election makes it hard to participate in our free and fair Democratic elections and disenfranchises

too many senior citizens, military personnel, those with disabilities, and work or childcare obligations from

exercising their right to vote.” Carnahan said.

“Missouri Democrats sought to make lemonade with these lemons and maximize voter participation by offering

a mail-in and an in-person voting option to Democratic presidential primary voters. It has long been the belief of

the Democratic Party that greater participation in our Democratic elections is what is best for everyone, and the

Missouri Democratic Party will continue to advocate for policies that expand access to voting and fight against

these attacks on our Democratic process and restore Missouri’s state-run presidential primary for future

elections.”

Additionally, the Missouri Democratic Party announced the Democratic National Committee conditionally

approved MDP’s plan for Missouri’s 2024 Democratic Presidential Primary. The following details are confirmed

with more information available soon:

■ Missouri’s Democratic presidential primary is scheduled for Saturday, March 23, 2024.

■ The Democratic presidential primary will be a hybrid election, offering Missouri Democrats an

opportunity to cast their vote by mail or at an in-person voting site from 8 AM until noon on the day of

the primary.

■ Pending final availability, at least one in-person voting site will be held in each county, with additional

sites in larger counties.

■ Missourians registered to vote by February 21, 2024 , with the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office will

be eligible to vote in the Missouri Democratic presidential preference primary election, so long as the

voter is not registered as a Republican.

■ Ballots will be available for request beginning February 1st via the Missouri Democratic Party’s

Website, with distribution beginning Feb 17th . This request period will close on March 12 .

■ Ballots must be returned to the MDP by 10 AM on March 23, 2024 .

■ Votes will be counted by March 25 , with the announcement to be made by March 28, 2024 .

Background:

In 2022, the Republican-controlled legislature passed HB 1878, which eliminated Missouri’s state-run

presidential preference primary election and designated a party-run system for choosing presidential

nominees. This is another attack on free and fair Democratic elections that makes it harder for people

to exercise their voting rights. The Missouri Democratic Party adamantly opposed this change, and

none of the Democrats serving in the Missouri State House or Senate at the time voted for this bill.

Nearly every Republican member supported the measure.

###

Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Statement on the Anniversary of January 6th Insurrection

Sat, 06 Jan 2024 22:30:35 GMT

January 6, 2024

Today, on the three-year anniversary of U.S. Senator Josh Hawley running away like a coward from the violent rioters he

and Donald Trump incited to participate in an insurrection on the United States Capitol, Missouri Democratic Party Chair

Russ Carnahan released the following statement:

“Three years ago, Missourians watched as Josh Hawley encouraged a violent mob to storm the United States Capitol and

attack law enforcement in an attempt to overturn the results of the presidential election and subvert the will of the

American people. We later learned that Hawley did not even have the courage to stand with his insurrectionists, and fled

the scene after firing up the crowd with his fist held high in the air. Hawley’s continuous assaults on the foundations of our

country drove our democracy to the brink on January 6, 2021, and he only plans to continue.”

“Josh Hawley's now infamous raised fist in support of January 6th rioters, followed by his frightened running out of the

Capitol when under attack, is the very definition of hypocrisy and cowardice. He is a national embarrassment to Missouri.

Missourians deserve better and we know it. It's no surprise that Hawley is one of the least popular Senators in the

country.”

“What used to be the Republican Party of Bush and Reagan has been taken over by MAGA extremists. Power hungry

Republicans stood by as MAGA fanatics, like Hawley, with an agenda that is divisive, dysfunctional and dangerous to our

very Democracy took control of their party. This dysfunction is rampant in our own state legislature where it is a daily

contest among Republicans to see who can be the most extreme in attacking the rights and freedoms of Missourians. And

by doing so they are failing to address the needs of everyday people. As long as Hawley and other leaders of the

Republican Party continue to work to upend our democracy, we will continue to see extreme candidates emulate their

tactics.”

“Former Republican U.S. Senator John Danforth said it plainly the day after the January 6th insurrection in 2021:

‘Supporting Josh and trying so hard to get him elected to the Senate was the worst mistake I ever made in my life,’

Danforth said in a phone interview to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. ‘Yesterday was the physical culmination of the long

attempt (by Hawley and others) to foment a lack of public confidence in our democratic system. It is very dangerous to

America to continue pushing this idea that government doesn’t work and that voting was fraudulent.’ ”

“Missourians value our democracy and freedoms and want them strengthened, not attacked. Missouri voters want our

elected officials to show up to work for them and know how high the stakes are this November. We have an opportunity to

#fireJoshHawley this November and Missouri Democrats are working hard to ensure that happens.”

###

Media Contact:

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Statement on the Passing of Betty Cooper Hearnes

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 15:22:34 GMT

KANSAS CITY, MO - The Missouri Democratic Party is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former First Lady Betty Cooper Hearnes, a devoted public servant and Democratic Party leader. She was her husband’s, Warren E. Hearnes, political partner, and sound advisor through his two terms as Missouri’s 46th Governor from 1965 to 1973. She married Hearnes, a recent West Point graduate, on July 2, 1948, while he was on leave from the United States Army.

In a 1979 special election, she was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives from Charleston and was re-elected four times. In 1987, she was elected chair of the Missouri Democratic Party. In 1988, she was the Democratic nominee for Governor following an overwhelming victory in the Democratic primary.

Jean Carnahan, former Missouri First Lady and Senator said the following, "There's no First Lady of Missouri that I admired more than Betty Hearnes," said Carnahan. "Her do-it-all, have fun, and never-give-up attitude served her well throughout her extraordinary life of service to her community and state."

According to the Southeast Missourian Newspaper, Mrs. Hearnes was the first woman to be appointed to the Missouri Baptist Convention, named along with “Mrs. George Hammond of Festus, Missouri, according to newspaper archives.

Former Missouri State Representative, Gracia Backer, who was a personal friend of Mrs. Hearnes said, “Betty Hearnes was the epitome of a public servant. As first lady, as a State Representative from Mississippi County, or a private citizen, Betty never stopped serving the people of this state.” Backer was the first woman elected Majority Floor Leader in Missouri, said she learned a great deal from Mrs. Hearnes, “She was my mentor and my leader.”

Missouri Democratic Party statement on Passing of Jim Kreider

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 18:56:01 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party statement on Passing of Jim Kreider

James "Jim" A. Kreider

June 24, 1955 - Aug 1, 2023

The Missouri Democratic Party expresses its deepest condolences to the family of the late Jim Kreider, former Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives (2001-2003), who passed away Tuesday, August 1.

Kreider was born in Nuremberg, Germany. He graduated from Nixa Public High School in 1973 and received a degree in agricultural business and economics from Missouri State University. “Speaker Jim Kreider will long be recognized as a great example of rural Democratic leadership. He provided a voice for rural Missouri and a hand of partnership to urban areas on many common ground issues for the betterment of all Missourians,” said Russ Carnahan, Chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party.

He was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives after redistricting in 1992, defeating longtime Republican legislator. He was the first Democrat to represent Christian County, Missouri, since 1904. “Speaker Kreider was a wonderful, kind leader who made southwest Missouri proud,” said Crystal Quade, Missouri House Democratic Minority Leader. “He fought for decades for so many important issues, but most notable was his passion for public education. I’m so grateful for his friendship and mentorship. His legacy and advice can not be understated and will never be forgotten.”

“Jim was one of rural Missouri’s greatest champions,” said Joe Maxwell, former Missouri Lieutenant Governor. Maxwell presided over the Missouri Senate when Kreider was House speaker. “His love for his community and state was always a driving force in his life both professionally and personally. We will all miss his positive guidance and powerful optimism. My sincere condolences to his family and his community.” Former Governor Bob Holden remarked, "Jim was always mindful of the citizens he represented in Southwest Missouri."

In 2021, after 18 years, Kreider stepped down as the executive director of the Missouri Retired Teachers Association and Public School Personnel , known as MRTA. The association was created to protect and enhance the pension benefits of former educators in Missouri. It tracks and weighs in on budget and legislative proposals in Jefferson City. The association grew significantly under Kreider’s leadership with more than 30,000 members. In the Missouri Legislature, Kreider helped author, and voted for, the Oustanding Schools Act of 1993.

“Jim Kreider was a champion for everyday Missourians, and we are grateful for his life of public service,” said Steve Gaw, D-Moberly, former Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives. “He was proud to be from Christian County, never failing to remind us it was the “fastest-growing county (at the time) in the State of Missouri.”

Kreider will be sincerely missed, but his legacy will continue in the Missouri Democratic Party. “Jim honored and respected the “people’s House” of our State Legislature. I had the honor to serve with him and witnessed first-hand that public service was in his blood as he believed the role of ‘Representative’ was a true calling. He leaves a great example for a new generation of Missouri leaders.

Paid for by the Missouri Democratic State Committee, Glenda Bainbridge, Treasurer. www.missouridemocrats.org . Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

MDP Celebrates Announcement of Chicago as Host of 2024 Democratic National Convention

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 00:43:33 GMT

Chicago will be the host of the next Democratic National Convention on August 19-22, 2024!

Office: 573-777-1364

Address: 4218 Roanoke Rd., Ste 304, Kansas City, MO 64111

Information: info@missouridems.org

MDP Celebrates Announcement of

Chicago as Host of

2024 Democratic National Convention

Kansas City, Mo - The Democratic National Committee today announced Chicago will host the 2024 Democratic National Convention at the United Center from August 19 to 22. “I’m happy to know the National Democratic Convention will be returning to the heart of America to our neighbor in Illinois,” said Russ Carnahan, Chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party.

Chicago’s convention bid was supported by a wide range of midwestern Democrats who represent the diversity of the party, demonstrating the formidable coalition that will help re-elect President Biden and Vice President Harris, and elect Democrats up and down the ticket. The region will showcase President Biden’s economic agenda which is rebuilding our roads and bridges, unleashing a manufacturing boom, and creating good-paying middle-class jobs. Chicago has already felt the impact of Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including $144 million to rehabilitate the four Illinois International Port Calumet River Bridges, with billions in investments to expand economic opportunity around the region.

“Missouri will be crucial in the 2024 general elections,” said Carnahan. "I believe we have some amazing assets on our side. Our diversity is our strength and our unity is our power. We have a deep bench of experienced current and former Democratic leaders with records of service to be championed. We have a talented and passionate new generation of leaders who are energized to move Missouri to a brighter future beyond the backward policies coming out of the one-party Republican rule in Jefferson City--policies that regularly put Missouri in the national news in ways that are nothing short of cringe-worthy. I encourage you to join me as we look forward to 2024!”

Paid for by the Missouri Democratic State Committee, Glenda Bainbridge, Treasurer. www.missouridemocrats.org . Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Working Together to build Our Party

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 18:37:38 GMT

I believe we have some amazing assets on our side. Our diversity is our strength and our unity is our power.

I'm writing my first letter as Chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party to ask for your help. Missouri has always been better with strong Democratic Leadership and a stronger Democratic Party. So, when I was elected as the new Chairman just days ago, I committed to build our party organization and network so our great candidates and powerful message of competence over chaos can reach every corner of the state. I also pledged to reach out to Democracy loving Americans across the country to help Missourians fire Josh Hawley and his Republican enablers in 2024.

I believe we have some amazing assets on our side. Our diversity is our strength and our unity is our power. We have a deep bench of experienced current and former Democratic leaders with records of service to be championed. We have a talented and passionate new generation of leaders who are energized to move Missouri to a brighter future beyond the backward policies coming out of the one-party Republican rule in Jefferson City--policies that regularly put Missouri in the national news in ways that are nothing short of cringe worthy.

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.

If you have had enough and think Missouri is better than this, will you join me by supporting the Missouri Democratic Party? Will you join me with a recurring monthly or one time contribution that fits your budget?

I personally started a recurring monthly contribution to the Missouri Democratic Party. It's easy and fast CLICK HERE TO DONATE . I hope you can help us meet our end of March deadline.

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.

Sincerely,

Russ

MDP Chairman

Chairman Carnahan Testifies in Favor of Returning Missouri Presidential Elections Back to Primaries

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 15:33:20 GMT

Chairman Carnahan Testifies in Favor of

Returning Missouri Presidential Elections Back to Primaries

Kansas City, Mo - In his first week as chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party (MDP) Chairman Russ Carnahan testifies before the Missouri House of Representatives in favor of HB 347, which aims to Reinstate Presidential Primaries. “The national momentum has shifted away from caucuses for a reason,” said Carnahan. “Caucuses can create barriers for people to vote who may have additional circumstances to overcome. The fewer people who participate in our elections the more it decreases the confidence in our democracy.”

According to the Missouri House Democratic Caucus, only Iowa, North Dakota, and small US territories like Guam and the Virgin Islands still hold caucuses. (Wyoming Dems hold caucuses; Wyoming Republicans vote at their state convention).

The Missouri Democratic Party strongly supports returning to primaries, because caucuses are inherently undemocratic because they limit participation in the political process. While presidential primaries encourage voters to make their voices heard on who will best represent their party on a national ticket, caucuses only allow the most devoted party members to participate in the political process.

MDP also supports HB 347 for the following reason:

Caucuses limit the participation of working Missourians. Since caucuses occur at scheduled places and times, they lack the flexibility of primaries where voters have all of Election Day (and now the preceding weeks with no-excuse absentee) to cast their ballot. This quality of caucuses hurts participation for people who cannot make their local meeting if they’re working, sick, or unable to attend that specific meeting for other reasons.
Caucuses often leave behind attendees who need special accommodations.
Caucus participation also may not accurately reflect the make-up of the electorate.

MDP also questions the logistics of running caucuses; as State Party officials are not as good at conducting elections as professional, full-time election officials like the Secretary of State and county clerks. As we saw in 2020 in Iowa and Nevada, a lack of experience breeds problems that eroded public trust in the election process.

In addition, political parties lack the transparency, oversight, and regulations that local and state election authorities are required to have. Caucuses organized and run by private political parties would not be subject to the same requirements as county clerks or the Secretary of State, allowing them to completely control the process.

Missouri has not held a caucus since the 1996 presidential election; that’s 27 years of experience that will be erased and will confuse voters on both sides of the aisle. That’s why the Missouri Democratic Party strongly urges lawmakers to vote in favor of HB 347.

Paid for by the Missouri Democratic State Committee, Glenda Bainbridge, Treasurer. www.missouridemocrats.org .

Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. {{OrganizationAddress}}

Russ Carnahan Elected Chair of Missouri Democratic Party

Sat, 18 Mar 2023 15:27:57 GMT

MDP Turns Page Looks to Future Electing Russ Carnahan as Chair

Office: 573-777-1364

Address: 4218 Roanoke Rd., Ste 304, Kansas City, MO 64111

Information: info@missouridems.org

Missouri Democratic Party Turns Page

Looks to Future Electing Russ Carnahan as New Chair

Kansas City, Mo - At Saturday’s State Committee Meeting in Jefferson City, The Missouri Democratic Party sent a strong message by electing Russ Carnahan as its next chair. “The encouragement from rural and urban party leaders on the State Committee and from many of our top Federal, State, and Local elected leaders has convinced me that together we can do this. My first job is to listen. And I'm a good listener. Then, build our bottom-up organizing and networking to deliver the Democratic message from local candidates and leaders in every district. From the top down, we can put that organization to work and market it across Missouri and the country. I believe supporters will want to INVEST in a smart unified plan for the Missouri Democratic Party.” Carnahan immediately assumes duties as chair.

A former Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Russ Carnahan most recently was an early prominent leader for the 2020 Biden campaign where he served as an outside adviser. From 2005-2013, Carnahan represented Missouri’s 3rd Congressional District, including urban and rural areas in the St. Louis region. He served in a number of leadership roles, including as Senior Democratic Whip from 2009-13 and Co-Chair of the bipartisan Center Aisle Caucus focused on common sense solutions for both political parties. Carnahan was selected as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations and received a Presidential Appointment from the Obama/Biden Administration as Congressional Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly. He also served on the U.S. House of Representatives committees for Transportation & Infrastructure; Science & Technology; and Veterans Affairs. Carnahan began his career in public service when he was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2000. He was Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and Deputy Majority Whip.

In addition to electing Carnahan as chair, the State Committee elected Yvonne Reeves Chong as the Vice Chair. The vice-chair position became vacant after the resignation of Michael Butler on March 1, 2023. Reeves-Chong is “We are a united party! I am ready to move our Party forward and will by decision and determination,” Reeves Chong said. “Our differences are our strengths.” Yvonne is a strong rural Democrat who lives in Pulaski County, near Fort Leonard Wood. She is a 35-year sales manager at a motorcycle dealership. Reeves-Chong smiled saying “she doesn’t ride, only sales!”

Paid for by the Missouri Democratic State Committee, Glenda Bainbridge, Treasurer. www.missouridemocrats.org .

Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Missouri Democratic Party Bids Farewell to Chairman Butler Ahead of Chair and Vice Chair Special Election

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 16:24:44 GMT

The State Committee Meeting and the special election will be held on Saturday, March 18, beginning at 12:00 p.m., at the DMC Building, 404 Tiger Lane, Columbia, Mo 65203

Missouri Democratic Party Bids Farewell to Chairman Butler

Ahead of Chair and Vice Chair Special Election

Kansas City, Mo - The Missouri Democratic Party will hold its first State Committee Meeting, following the resignation of Michael Butler, former chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party. Butler announced his resignation by email to Committee members citing personal business reasons. In his letter, Butler offered his support for the Party for continued success, and assured the transition to the next Chairman will be “effortless.”

With the resignation of Butler, State Committee members will vote on a new chair and vice chair. According to the MDP Bylaws, the vice chair position becomes vacant upon the chairman's resignation. MDP Secretary Jonathan Kessler will preside over the Democratic State Committee until a new chair is elected on March 18. “ I would like to thank Michael Butler for his leadership over the past two years,” said Kessler. “Butler led our Party through a hard-fought redistricting mapping which helped lead to the net gain of three critically important Missouri House seat pickups in the 2022 election cycle.”

Despite this resignation, the Missouri Democratic Party is united towards a common goal that when we work together, we can deliver for hardworking Missourians. From now through 2024, it is up to all of us to build on our momentum.

The State Committee Meeting and the special election will be held on Saturday, March 18, beginning at 12:00 p.m., at the DMC Building, 404 Tiger Lane, Columbia, Mo 65203.

Paid for by the Missouri Democratic State Committee, Glenda Bainbridge, Treasurer. www.missouridemocrats.org . Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Despite Missouri Republicans Voting Against It, Biden to Sign Marriage Equality Bill

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 16:27:02 GMT

Republicans Vote Against Marriage Equality Bill

Kansas City, MO. - Today, despite five Missouri Republicans in Congress voting against the Respect for Marriage Act , President Joe Biden will sign the landmark marriage equality bill into law, enshrining marriage equality protections for Americans.

The five Missouri Republicans were among the 169 GOP representatives and 36 GOP senators who voted against the Respect for Marriage Act – despite more than 70% of Americans supporting same sex-marriage, including a majority of Republicans.

“While President Biden and Democrats are enshrining into law Americans’ freedom to marry who they love, the fact that the majority of Republicans in Congress – including five Republicans from Missouri – refused to support these protections for marriage equality is yet another reminder of just how out of touch and extreme Republicans’ MAGA agenda is,” said Michael Butler, Chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party.

One Year Later, Biden Delivered Where Trump Failed: Infrastructure Law Rebuilding Missouri

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 16:33:27 GMT

One year ago today, President Biden and Democrats delivered what Donald Trump and his Republican Congress never could: a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s roads, bridges, railroads, ports, airports, water systems, and high-speed internet

Kansas City, Mo - Missouri Democratic Party Chair Michael Butler released the following statement on the one year anniversary of President Biden signing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill into law.

“While Donald Trump and his Republican Congress talked a big game about an infrastructure week that they ultimately failed to deliver, President Biden and Democrats have delivered an infrastructure decade – no thanks to Mike Parson, Eric Schmitt, Josh Hawley, Scott Fitzpatrick, Caleb Rowden, or Dean Plocher. Here in Missouri, we’re already starting to see progress on delivering safer roads, bridges, and drinking water, more affordable and accessible high-speed internet, good-paying jobs, and more — all because Biden succeeded where Trump failed.

While President Biden and Democrats’ leadership made the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law possible, every elected Congressional Republican voted against the law, which is already starting to benefit Missouri. For a full breakdown of what the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is already doing for Missouri and the investments that will come to the state in the future, SEE HERE

Some projects in Missouri that have already been allocated funding include:

Upper Mississippi River System Navigation-Ecosystem Sustainability Program
Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport New Terminal
Bi-State Development Agency of the Missouri-Illinois Metropolitan District
US 69 Safe Streets & Sidewalks
Port Improvement and Expansion Project
Superfund Sites Cleanup, Vienna Wells and Valley Park TCE

Statement on Central Visual and Performing Arts High School Shooting from Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Michael Butler

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 15:27:58 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party (MDP) Chairman Michael Butler released the following statement today (October 24, 2022) regarding Monday’s shooting at Central VPA High School in Saint Louis, Missouri.

The Missouri Democratic Party is devastated to learn of Monday’s school shooting at Central VPA High School in Saint Louis, Missouri. Our prayers go out to all affected by this senseless tragedy. According to the Saint Louis Police Department, eight people in total were taken to the hospital with injuries. MDP learned a teenage girl was pronounced dead at the school, and another woman died at the hospital.

“Missouri Democrats are saddened by the acts of violence in St. Louis, and vow to keep fighting gun violence with legislation and action moving forward,” said Butler, following news of the shooting.

MDP will continue to monitor reports of this situation and offer any help and support to those affected.

Rep. Aldridge Files Bill to Slash Tax on Diapers, Period Products #DemocratsDeliver

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 20:31:29 GMT

State Rep. Rasheen Aldridge, D-St. Louis, filed legislation Thursday to end the luxury status of diapers, adult diapers, and menstrual health products. Aldridge’s bill would reduce the sales tax on these products from the current rate of 4.225 percent to 1.225 percent, the same rate as food.

Aldridge succeeded in amending Senate Bill 3 to include his language during the House Budget Committee hearing Wednesday with bipartisan support, but a procedural move Thursday morning removed it from the bill. The representative denounced the removal of his language, which would have helped women, new families, and seniors.

"If we're holding a special session to case the tax burden on Missouri families, we should pass focused, narrow legislation that helps them while allowing Missouri to remain fiscally responsible," Aldridge said. "Bringing the tax rates on these essential goods down to the same level as food would put money into the pockets of Missourians who need it."

He filed the bill previously in 2021 and 2022 in the past and plans on filing it in 2023 as well. Aldridge has also garnered support for the legislation from stakeholders in his community. Muriel Smith, the executive director of the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank, says her organization supports the legislation. Smith says that 13 other states have exempted diapers from the luxury tax, and she believes Missouri should follow their example.

"Diapers are a basic hygiéne item for babies, "That is a fact," Smith said. "Missouri families are struggling right now to afford them and other hygiene items. We support a bill that will provide families with some relief."

The legislation is House Bill 16

The Missouri Democratic Party State Committee Releases Positions on State Constitutional Amendments and State Constitutional Convention Questions on the November Ballot

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 20:21:45 GMT

The Missouri Democratic Party (MDP) State Committee released its positions on four State Constitutional Amendments and the calling for a State Constitutional Convention on the November 8, ballot. The State Committee debated and voted on each item during September 10, 2022, State Committee Meeting. The recommendations of the State Committee and explanations for those recommendations can be found below:

Amendment 1: (Official Ballot Language) To amend the Missouri Constitution to grant the General Assembly statutory authority to invest state funds and also expand the treasurer's investment options. The State Committee’s Recommendation is to: VOTE NO

○ Explanation of recommendation: Passage of Amendment 1 would remove legislative oversight and give more power to the office of the State Treasurer. Additionally, estimated savings are not significant enough to change the lives of Missourians to justify amending the constitution.

Amendment 3: (Official Ballot Language) A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to remove state prohibitions on the purchase, possession, consumption, use, delivery, manufacture, and sale of marijuana for personal use for adults over the age of twenty-one. The amendment would also allow individuals with certain marijuana-related offenses to petition for release from prison or parole and probation and have their records expunged; along with imposing a six percent tax on the retail price of recreational marijuana. A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution and the sale and use of marijuana for recreational purposes will remain prohibited under current law. Medical marijuana would remain unchanged. The State Committee’s Recommendation is to: The Missouri Democratic Party supports the legalization of marijuana but does not have an official position on Amendment 3.

○ Explanation of recommendation: Democrats support the legalization of recreational marijuana use. However, as written Amendment 3 may negatively impact minorities, people of color, and low-income earning Missourians. Democrats have concerns about the expungement provisions laid out in the amendment, as well as making it difficult for those who do not currently have a license to enter the industry.

Amendment 4: (Official Ballot Language) A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to allow the general assembly by law to increase the minimum funding for a police force established by the state board of police commissioners to ensure such police force has additional resources to serve its communities. Currently, the only police force established by the state board of police commissioners is found in Kansas City, Missouri. A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution regarding the funding for a police force established by the state board of police commissioners. If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes. The State Committee’s Recommendation is to: VOTE NO

○ Explanation of recommendation: Amendment 4 is another example of Republican overreach and highlights their hypocrisy when it comes to local control. Local communities should be able to determine how their own budgets are allocated and not have MAGA Republicans who have shown disregard for law enforcement determining how to allocate their budgets.

Amendment 5: (Official Ballot Language) A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to create the Missouri Department of the National Guard as a new state agency, headed by an adjutant general appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the governor by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution regarding the National Guard. If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes. The State Committee’s Recommendation is to: VOTE NO

○ Explanation of recommendation: Voting yes for Amendment 5 would create a chain-of-command issue throughout the Missouri National Guard. Republicans claim to be the party of small government, but voting yes for Amendment 5 would come with a cost. That’s why the fiscal note for this amendment has not been released to the public.

Constitutional Convention Question: (Official Ballot Language) A “yes” vote will require the governor to call an election of delegates to serve at a convention for the purpose of revising or amending the Missouri Constitution. Any revisions or amendments will then be put to a vote of the people for their consideration. The State Committee’s Recommendation is to: VOTE NO

○ Explanation of recommendation: Passing this Constitutional Question would allow extreme MAGA Republicans unfettered control to amend Missouri Constitution to push their extreme agenda without input from Missourians. We’ve already seen the hypocrisy of Missouri's anti-choice abortion ban when the GOP-controlled legislature signed off on measures that made life worse for children and survivors of rape in our state.

○ Democrats remain committed to fighting rising inflation with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will combat the existential threat of climate change and build a clean energy future that creates jobs, advances environmental justice, and lowers costs for families. The call for a Constitutional Convention would threaten the progress made on this front.

○ Democrats continue to push for safer schools and have asked for Bipartisan support to adequately fund school resource officers (SRO) in every school district. Teachers should educate our children, and law enforcement should protect our schools. Republicans want to turn our schools into virtual prisons, we cannot allow that to happen.

Congresswoman Bush To Lead Roe The Vote: Reproductive Freedom Tour Across Missouri

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 19:54:43 GMT

ST. LOUIS—Congresswoman Cori Bush (D-MO), alongside the Missouri Democratic Party and partner organizations, announced the Roe The Vote: Reproductive Freedom Tour. The statewide tour across Missouri—which will take place this weekend beginning on October 8th, 2022—will focus on the fight for reproductive rights within the frontline state as well as GOTV and voter registration efforts ahead of the 2022 general election. The announcement comes in the months following the decision by state Republicans to ban abortion care for Missourians—a violation of international human rights law .

Congresswoman Bush will be joined by the following partner organizations: Missouri Democratic Party, Pro-Choice Missouri, Advocates of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, and the Missouri House Democratic Campaign Committee. “At 17 years old I was raped and became pregnant, then I had an abortion; now, in states like Missouri—the first to ban abortion care—Republicans would force me to birth the child of my rapist,” Congresswoman Bush said . “The fight for reproductive freedom begins in Missouri where just minutes following the draconian decision by the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v.Wade, Republicans in our state legislature, and Attorney General Eric Schmitt made the decision to enact the nation's first ban on abortions, taking away the basic human rights of millions of people. As a nurse, mother, pastor, and activist who knows the struggles we face on a daily basis, it is clear that Democrats need to send a direct message to people in every corner of the country that we are the pro-human rights, pro-bodily autonomy, pro reproductive freedom party fighting to protect and expand fundamental rights for all.”

“I am proud to be leading rallies for reproductive rights across Missouri alongside our activist partner organizations, current elected officials, and candidates for public office, and welcome with open arms and love in our hearts for every person and organization who wants to stand by us saying that our reproductive freedom is not up for debate,” Congresswoman Bush continued.

The Missouri Democratic Party (MDP) believes reproductive health care decisions should be made between a person and their doctor, not the government. Missouri Democrats have and will continue fighting to protect bodily autonomy, their right to make our own health care decisions and to ensure medical professionals can provide critical and lifesaving practices like abortion care. MDP is happy to join Congresswoman Cori Bush and Democrats across the state for Roe The Vote: Reproductive Freedom Tour, Missouri Democratic Party.

“Our work to rebuild reproductive freedom, including abortion access in Missouri, hinges on our collective power, collaborative action, and coordinated voice. We call on all activists, advocates, and community members to meet us on the Roe The Vote: Reproductive Freedom Tour as we rally for our bodily autonomy and dignity. Our votes this November can begin the change Missourians deserve. Let’s ensure our voices are heard. It’s time to reclaim our rights and freedoms in Missouri,” Yamelsie Rodríguez, President and CEO, of Advocates of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri.

“Pro-Choice Missouri is honored to join the Roe The Vote: Reproductive Freedom Tour with Congresswoman Cori Bush. As a mother, survivor, and abortion storyteller, advocating for abortion access is personal for the Congresswoman, and it shows. Since the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade and Planned Parenthood v Casey in June, Congresswoman Bush has rolled up her sleeves and led on the frontlines of advocating for equitable abortion access. We look forward to joining her and pro-abortion champions across the state to rebuild liberated abortion access in Missouri,” Mallory Schwarz, Executive Director, NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri.

The Roe The Vote: Reproductive Freedom Tour will take place from Saturday, October 08, through Monday, October 10, 2022. Locations include St. Louis, West St. Louis County, St. Charles, Columbia, Rolla, Springfield, Clay County, and Kansas City. In July, Congresswoman Cori Bush released a Reproductive Justice Hub inclusive of a 20-point roadmap to protecting reproductive freedom.

Press RSVP here .

The Missouri Democratic Party Stands with DACA Recipients #DefendDACA

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 19:39:30 GMT

The Missouri Democratic Party vehemently disagrees with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court’s decision that the implementation of DACA is illegal. The ruling questions the legality of DACA, which stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, and sends the case back to a lower Texas court.

The ruling is a far cry from inclusivity, as our nation celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 - October 15. This ruling is in direct opposition to supporting our Hispanic and Latino communities and all immigrant Dreamers.

According to Justin Bradley Reyes, the new Missouri Latino Democratic Caucus Chair, by 2050, 50 percent of the workforce in this country will be Latino. Despite Latinos accounting for nearly 20% of the US population, we continue to experience a lack of US Latino representation at all levels.

Wednesday, President Biden released a statement on the decision saying in part, “I am disappointed in today's Fifth Circuit decision holding that DACA is unlawful. The court’s stay provides a temporary reprieve for DACA recipients but one thing remains clear: the lives of Dreamers remain in limbo.”

This challenge to DACA is just another example of the extreme Republican state-wide agenda that could sweep across the country. This is even more reason why the November midterm election is about the principal values of decency, integrity, and accountability.

Missouri Democrats Joint Statement on SCOTUS Ruling

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 16:06:22 GMT

Missouri Democrats Joint Statement on the SCOTUS Ruling

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"Let Us Vote": MDP on Signing of 1878

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 15:58:17 GMT

"Let us Vote": MDP on Signing of HB1878

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2022

KANSAS CITY, MO. –The Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Randy Dunn has released the following statement following Governor Parson signing HB1878 into law on Wednesday:

“I have one thing to say to Governor Parson: Let us vote. To Missourians, there is so much more to say. HB1878 guts voting rights in our state for each and every one of us. The thought that someone could be jailed for registering their neighbors to vote is unconscionable. The idea that the Secretary of State could just dump voter rolls when he feels like it is dangerous. There is another lesser talked about piece in HB1878 – the removal of presidential primaries. This severely limits the ability for many to cast a vote; instead of going to our polling location and filling out a ballot, Missourians will have to attend caucuses, like Iowa and New Hampshire. Not only are caucuses inconvenient, they are truly discriminatory to working families and more.

The signing of this bill is a continuation of the GOP attack on voting rights, significantly impacting communities of color, senior citizens, and young voters from exercising their constitutional right to vote,” said Dunn.

MDP Secures DNC Funds for LGBTQ+ Outreach

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 15:16:42 GMT

MDP Secures DNC Funds for LGBTQ+ Outreach

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DNC Funds Expansion of MDP's Field Program Ahead of 2022 Midterms

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 19:54:58 GMT

DNC Funds Expansion of MDP's Field Program Ahead of 2022 Midterms

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 3, 2022

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Missouri Democratic Party are announcing that the DNC has granted the state party’s request to fund additional field staff ahead of the 2022 elections to help Democrats compete in legislative races all across the state.

The MDP’s field program will focus on registering and motivating voters in the urban and suburban areas in Kansas City, Columbia, and St. Louis. Through the voter registration program, Missouri Democrats plan to increase voter turnout in young, black, and the growing Latino and AAPI communities.

“As a former state party chair, I know firsthand how critical it is to organize in every corner of the country all year,” said DNC Chair Jaime Harrison. “That’s why we’re committed to providing unprecedented resources to help Missouri Democrats elect strong leaders across the state—from Columbia to Kansas City and St. Louis. The DNC is thrilled to support Missouri Democrats’ work to build the critical organizing infrastructure necessary to be successful in November and beyond.”

“We need people on the ground—and with this additional funding, more field staff can join our team and the fight. We want to thank DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison and the entire DNC team,” said Missouri Democrats Chair Michael Butler. “Missouri voters consistently show us that they support Democratic ideals such as Medicaid expansion, 'Right to Work,' and expanding voter access. The Party works for the entire state, and we can’t wait to go out there and continue to show Missourians the possibilities for our great communities if they elect Democrats up and down the ballot."

This grant is part of the DNC’s Red State Fund, which was established last year under the leadership of DNC Chair Jaime Harrison to put Republicans on defense and build tailored programs in traditionally Republican states.

# # #

Missouri GOP Votes Against Addressing Baby Formula Shortage

Thu, 19 May 2022 19:46:03 GMT

Missouri GOP Votes Against Addressing Baby Formula Shortage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 19, 2022

KANSAS CITY, MO. – Late Wednesday night five of the six Missouri Republican representatives voted against the Infant Formula Supplemental Appropriations Act , which would provide emergency funding to address the shortage of infant formula in the United States. Vicky Hartzler, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Jason Smith, Billy Long and Sam Graves voted against the bill. Both Congressman Emanuel Cleaver and Congresswoman Cori Bush voted for the bill.

This “no” vote is the latest in a long pattern of Republicans actively working against solutions. Earlier this year, 193 House Republicans, including all Missouri Republicans, voted against capping the cost of insulin at $35 a month, while both Missouri Democrats supported the bill. Additionally, every congressional Republican voted against the American Rescue Plan, which has saved Missourians money on everything from their health care premiums to rent or mortgage to child care costs .

Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Randy Dunn released the following statement regarding the deeply disappointing “no” votes on the Infant Formula Supplemental Appropriations Act:

“As Democrats, we are moving quickly to pass legislation that would help families and address the shortage of baby formula, but once again, the majority of Missouri Republicans are all talk and no action when it comes to making sure we have the resources necessary to deal with this shortage, let alone anything else. Republicans aren’t interested in preventing this from happening again – they’re more interested in using Missouri families’ struggles for their own political gain and pushing their radical, ultra-MAGA agenda. One person standing up and doing the right thing isn’t enough. While they are pointing fingers and voting against solutions, Democrats are laser-focused on providing the resources to help our state address the infant formula shortage and working to lower costs on everything from gas to groceries. We are steadfast in our support of all American working families,” said Dunn.

MDP Secures DNC Funds for Regional Offices

Wed, 11 May 2022 19:40:15 GMT

MDP Secures DNC Funds for Regional Offices

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAY 11, 2022

KANSAS CITY, MO. – The Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Michael Butler and Executive Director Randy Dunn announced Wednesday the Party now has the funding to support six regional offices around the state.

The MDP has been in talks with the Democratic National Committee regarding assistance with establishing and maintaining 10 regional offices for nearly a year. This week, the MDP received a total of $50,000 through the DNC Red State Fund to go toward paying staff at the following Phase One offices:

-Jackson County

-Clay County

-Greene County

-St. Charles County

-Southwest Missouri Democrats

-St. Louis County

Assistance payments will be received monthly through October. Additional fundraising is planned to extend payments to the following Phase Two offices:

-Boone County

-Buchanan County

-Southeast Missouri Democrats

-St. Louis City

Chairman Michael Butler and Executive Director Randy Dunn released the following statement on the new Party support available across Missouri:

“We are thrilled to finally offer more assistance to existing, establishing and new regional offices across our state. We want to thank DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison and the entire DNC team. This has been a priority goal of ours since we took leadership positions in 2020. While the total amount isn’t as much as we asked for, we must start somewhere and prove to the DNC that Missouri is worth more resources - we already know that. Summer fundraisers are being planned to get us the remaining funding needed to complete both Phase One and Two. The Party works for the entire state, and we can’t wait to go out there and continue to show Missourians the possibilities for our great communities,” said Butler and Dunn.

Ketanji Brown Jackson Confirmed, Offers Hope for the Future of Justice

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 21:41:34 GMT

Ketanji Brown Jackson Confirmed, Offers Hope for the Future of Justice

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 7, 2022

KANSAS CITY, MO. – The United State Senate confirmed today a historic nominee for The Supreme Court, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who will fill Justice Stephen Breyer’s seat when he retires later this year. Judge Brown Jackson will be the first Black female and public defender to sit on The Supreme Court. The final vote was 53-47.

During her confirmation hearing, Judge Jackson demonstrated that she is unequivocally qualified for the Supreme Court. She also had a proven track record of attracting bipartisan support in the Senate - she’s been confirmed three times on a bipartisan vote. Some on the committee tried to mischaracterize Judge Jackson’s record and views and were combative in their questioning. Judge Jackson showed the poise and temperament required for a Supreme Court justice.

To no one’s surprise, Missouri’s two sitting Senators voted against this historic nomination.

Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Michael Butler released the following statement on the

“Today is more than historic. It is a sign of hope. We watched Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson show incredible grace under pressure for over more than 20 hours of questioning by members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Some of the Senators, including Missouri’s Junior Senator, were combative and frankly, ill-informed and ignorant. But today, they do not celebrate. We do. Judge Brown Jackson is a Justice now,” said Butler.

In addition, Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Randy Dunn released the following statement:

“The Democratic Caucus in the U.S. Senate gave our country a huge gift today: the return of general hope for a respectful, educated and non-politicized Supreme Court. We sat and watched the last two nominees talk about their love of beer leading to credible allegations of sexual assault and a woman who is determined to legislate her fellow women’s bodies. Ketanji Brown Jackson is unequivocally qualified for this prominent and extraordinary Supreme Court Justice seat. We aren’t happy because we think she is a Democrat – we are elated that the Supreme Court will move in the direction of integrity and honor with the historic confirmation of Justice Brown Jackson,” said Dunn.

Missouri Medicaid Still at Risk on 12th Anniversary of ACA

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 21:29:12 GMT

Missouri Medicaid Still at Risk on 12th Anniversary of ACA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 23, 2022

Twelve years ago today, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law, which lowered health care costs for millions and made it easier for Americans with pre-existing conditions to get coverage. Since then, President Biden and the Democrats’ American Rescue Plan has built on the success of the ACA. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, over 250,000 people in Missouri

who get insurance through the marketplaces established by the ACA are now seeing reduced health care costs by 16% – no thanks to every single Republican member who unanimously voted against the American Rescue Plan.

This March anniversary falls during the continued Medicaid Expansion battle in Missouri, waged by Republican legislators. In 2020, Missourians voted to expand Medicaid to over 300,000 more people through the citizens’ initiative process. Since then, the Republican state leadership has fought the will of the people at every turn, including just this week in Jefferson City.

“The ACA brought hope to so many Americans, and the ARP is a promise to build on that success. Missourians have an obstacle though – the Republican led State Legislature. For two years they have fought tooth and nail to withhold funding for Medicaid Expansion, even after court decisions demanding otherwise. Missourians are not receiving the level of care they

deserve or were even promised,” said Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Randy Dunn.

“A federal law states that any state must respond to a Medicaid coverage request within 45 days. Today, the average wait time for Missourians is 119 days. In the middle of a health crisis, 119 days can mean life or death - 119 days of not knowing if your family will be bogged down by medical bills for their rest of their lives. This is happening for one reason and one reason only the flippant discourse and actions of the Republicans in charge. The state infrastructure should be able to handle the expansion process, but they aren’t being given the resources to do so. Twelve years ago today, Democrats passed the Affordable Care Act amid unprecedented Republican opposition. This week, Missouri Republicans stood on the State House Floor and

emphasized their plans to ditch Medicaid Expansion. The contrast could not be more clear: While Democrats are still fighting to lower costs for families, Republicans are still running on an agenda of higher premiums and reduced health care options for all of us."

Another Promise Kept: Black Woman Nominated to SCOTUS

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 22:37:19 GMT

Another Promise Kept: Black Woman Nominated to SCOTUS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 25, 2022

KANSAS CITY, MO. – President Joe Biden announced on Friday that he will nominate U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to succeed her retiring mentor, Justice Stephen Breyer.

Judge Jackson would not only be the first Black female to sit on the Supreme Court, but the first public defender. She graduated from Harvard University and Harvard Law School and has extensive experience as a defense lawyer and judge in the state of Washington. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has a proven track record of attracting bipartisan support in the Senate. She’s been confirmed three times on a bipartisan vote – and there’s no reason to not expect the same as she is now considered for the Supreme Court.

President Biden promised to nominate a Black woman exactly two years ago during his campaign, doubling down on that promise when Justice Breyer announced his plan to retire. This decision was made after a thorough and rigorous process with input from Senators of both parties and legal experts in a bipartisan tradition to ensure the richness of our country is represented in its leadership and on the highest Court.

Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Randy Dunn released the following statement on the historic announcement:

“This nomination is extraordinary and will be celebrated for decades to come – not just by legal minds and intellectuals, but by me and the Black communities across our country. Judge Jackson is one of the brightest legal minds in the US, which of course makes her a qualified candidate. But, she is also a person. A woman who has faced structural, ignorant and destructive discrimination. A woman who has witnessed both the positives and negatives of our U.S. justice system, after growing up in a family of police officers but also working to commute a family member jailed for a nonviolent drug offense. She is a well-rounded nominee not just in legal accomplishments, but in her ability to understand and interpret the Constitution to benefit everyday Missourians and Americans.”

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Mug Wars

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 22:24:40 GMT

Hawley's Infamous Mug: We fixed it!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 17, 2022

KANSAS CITY, MO – In honor of Mug Wars 2022, the Missouri Democratic Party released a new product today, one that may look familiar to Senator Josh Hawley.

Earlier this week, the junior Senator from Missouri sent a campaign email also announcing a new mug for sale, one that pictured his infamous fist pump to the insurrectionists on January 6 ^th , 2021. After Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Randy Dunn stopped laughing, he released the following statement:

“Josh can celebrate his seditious behavior all he wants, but he never addresses the real issues. He has yet to acknowledge what actually happened on January 6 ^th last year, and let’s be honest, he’s not going to. Instead, he will pose for pictures, scream unintelligent things during hearings and make mugs for the purpose of filling it with ‘liberal tears.’ We don’t have any time to waste tears on him. We are working each and every day to make sure his choices don’t ruin our state, especially his recent endorsement of Vicky Hartzler. Josh needs to leave Washington, and return to Virginia, in 2024. Hartzler and the other Republican primary candidates can’t be allowed to get to D.C. in the first place. If you truly desire a cup with Josh’s face on it, ours is much more accurate.”

Our mug can be purchased on our website, www.missouridemocrats.org . Also, it is union-made in America, Billy.

AG Schmitt's intimidation sweep endangers MO children, schools and communities

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 19:48:10 GMT

PRESS RELEASE: AG Schmitt Endangers Missouri Children

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DECEMBER 16, 2021

KANSAS CITY, MO. – The Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has fought tried and true COVID-19 mitigation tactics since the pandemic began, and in the past week his efforts have escalated dramatically.

On December 8 ^th , Schmitt tweeted from the AG account asking parents to help his office identify schools enforcing mask mandates by submitting “videos, pictures or any other documentation” to an official government email account. He also asked that the media have “Proper Lighting + Horizontal Orientation.” Schmitt is running for the Senate in the 2022 GOP Primary.

Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Randy Dunn released the following statement regarding Schmitt’s initial outreach to parents last Wednesday:

“Everyone in Missouri should be alarmed by Schmitt’s request for help identifying schools that are keeping our children safe. He is asking for someone to take photos of your children at school without not only their permission, but yours as the parent. It is unfathomable - The top legal voice in our state is encouraging adults to take secret photos of minors at school. And he didn’t mention this part, but that collection of images won’t just sit at the AG’s office. The proper lighting and horizontal orientation detail screams his actual intent - a campaign commercial. Not only is the ask dangerous and ridiculous, but he is also using his office for campaign purposes.”

Over the past week, Schmitt sent many letters to health departments and school districts demanding they cease all quarantine and mitigation efforts or risk backlash and lawsuits. Director Dunn continued his statement on the larger impact of Schmitt’s actions:

“Eric Schmitt’s recent moves are a continuation of a dangerous COVID-19 misinformation campaign that will ultimately cost more Missouri lives, including our children’s. School districts and health officials are tasked with keeping Missourians safe, educated, and healthy. The Missouri Attorney General is asking them to stop all three. For Schmitt, it’s about 2022 votes. For the rest of us, it’s about the lives of our families, friends and neighbors.”

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MDP Welcomes President Biden to Missouri

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 22:46:41 GMT

MDP Welcomes President Biden to Missouri

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 7th, 2021

KANSAS CITY, MO. – President Biden will visit Kansas City, Missouri on Wednesday as MDP and all Missourians celebrate the major infrastructure investments to come due to the successful passage and signing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal last month.

Missouri Democratic Chairman Michael Butler released the following statement regarding President Biden’s planned trip to Missouri Wednesday:

“We are excited and honored to welcome the President to Missouri just weeks after the historic passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. Missouri will gain critical investments to improve our roads, bridges, broadband and more thanks to President Biden and Congressional Democrats. We are on our way to recovery and Biden’s leadership is paving the way.”

The Infrastructure Deal is essential to Missouri’s future and will prepare our state to grow and advance. Missouri will receive the following over five years:

· $6.5 billion for highway repairs

· $484 million for bridge replacement and repairs

· $674 million to improve public transportation options across the state

· $99 million for the expansion of EV chargers across the state

· $100 million for broadband expansion

· $866 million to improve water infrastructure, including lead pipe replacement

· $246 million for airport development

See a detailed list here.

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Missouri Democratic Party Celebrates House Passage of The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Sat, 06 Nov 2021 21:50:23 GMT

KANSAS CITY, MO. - Last night, the United States House of Representatives passed President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, bringing the country another step closer to a once-in-a-generation investment in our infrastructure. In response, Missouri Democratic Party Chair Butler released the following statement:

“As he promised, President Biden and Democrats worked across the aisle to forge consensus and deliver results. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal is now one step closer to creating good-paying jobs, growing our economy, and making much-needed improvements to critical infrastructure like Missouri roads and highways, bridges, and transit; drinking water systems; and broadband. Thanks to President Biden and Democrats, our country is primed to position American workers, farmers, and businesses to compete and win in the 21st century,” said Chairman Butler

Based on funding formula alone, the state of Missouri would expect to receive:

$6.5 billion to improve highways and $484 million for bridge replacement and repairs over five years.

$677 million over five years to improve public transportation options across the state.

A minimum of $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across the state, including providing access to the at least 300,000 Missourians who currently lack it. $XX to protect against cyberattacks.

Communities Speak Up at Redistricting Commission Public Hearings: “Count Everyone”

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 22:05:53 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, MO. – The Senate and House Bipartisan Redistricting Commissions held their first set of public hearings in St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield this week. Missourians were able to attend in person to show support, testify or submit written testimony though the Redistricting Office website. A common theme throughout testimony was to count everyone.

Republicans are attempting to hide behind the slogan of “one person, one vote,” so those aged 17 or younger are not counted. This misrepresentation of Missouri threatens fair redistricting.

Commissioner Keena Smith released the following statement after the meeting on Thursday:

“I think the hearings are going well and are informative to the public, but also us, the Commissioners. I’m excited the public is showing up and testifying,” said Vice Chair of the House Bipartisan Redistricting Commission Keena Smith. “Missouri residents are taking part in their community’s future and as Democrats, their feedback is invaluable and important. Children 17 and under are residents of this state and it’s not just every vote that matters, it’s every person and every voice. Missourians know what they want and how to build fair district lines. The Republican Commissioners just have to listen.”

The House Commission has announced the details of their remaining meeting. The Senate Commission has not.

Thursday, November 4th - Jefferson City at the Redistricting Office

Tuesday, November 9th – Cape Girardeau at the Drury Plaza Hotel

Wednesday, November 10th – Kirksville, location TBD

First Missouri Latino Caucus announces members and allies

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 21:53:32 GMT

KANSAS CITY, MO. – On the last day of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Missouri Democratic Party Secretary Manny Abarca announced the founding members and allies of the Missouri Latino Caucus, the first one created in the state of Missouri.

Members and Allies

Rebecca & Tristin Amezcua-Hogan, Kansas City

Rep. Ashley Aune, District 14

Bill Caldwell, Dearborn

Rudy Chavez, Kansas City

Paula Diaz, Raymore

Christina Garmendia, St. Louis, Tower Grove

Rachel Gonzalez, Independence

Patricia Hernandez, Kansas City

Lori Lamprich, St. Louis, Tower Grove

Susan Lopez, Kansas City, Lee’s Summit

Yolanda Lorge, Springfield

Rep. Robert Sauls, District 21

Michael Sosa, Kansas City, Northland

“I’m excited to announce the appointment of a great mix of folks for the Missouri Latino Caucus. Our goal was to include all types of people and we proudly formed a group of around half elected officials and half supporters with wide ranging interests from running for office, voter registration, policy work and party building. This is just our first wave of appointments and I look forward to our first meeting and expanding our caucus even more,” said MDP Secretary Manny Abarca.

For those still interested in joining the Missouri Democratic Latino Caucus as a member or ally, please contact Secretary Manny Abarca at manny@missouridems.org .

MDP to form first Missouri Latino Caucus at start of Hispanic Heritage Month

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 21:52:06 GMT

KANSAS CITY, MO. – The Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Randy Dunn and Secretary Manny Abarca released the following statements on the creation of the Missouri Democrats Latino Caucus in the coming weeks. This announcement comeson the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize the strength of Missouri’s Latino community, increase outreach and the need for more representation. Members of the caucus will be announced later this month.

“It’s long overdue that the Missouri Latino community has a permanent caucus. This working group will prioritize empowering the voices of all Latinos throughout the state, advocate for more just and humane treatment of Latino children, families and workers and to share the values of our collective cultures, customs and traditions,” said Manny Abarca.

“Democrats are about representation, and we are excited to further and deepen our representation of Missouri’s Latino communities. This caucus will be geographically and culturally diverse, we aren’t just looking at urban and developed communities. Hispanic Heritage Month is a reminder for all of us on the importance of these communities and culture, but we don’t want to do it for just one month. Manny and I are honored to start this caucus,” said Randy Dunn.

Hispanic Heritage Month continues through October 15th.

For those interested in joining the Missouri Democratic Latino Caucus as a member or ally, please contact Secretary Manny Abarca at manny@missouridems.org .

Biden Returns Soldiers Home After 20 Years, Afghan Refugees Welcome in Missouri

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 21:42:02 GMT

ST. LOUIS, MO. – Today marks the official end of the War in Afghanistan, the longest war in U.S. history, thanks to President Biden and the brave American service men and women who facilitated the withdrawal. Four different presidents have presided as the Commander in Chief over this two-decade war that started in 2001 following the September 11th terrorist attack in New York City and continued ten more years after the capture of Osama Bin Laden and the destruction of Al Qaeda.

The fear among Afghans as the Taliban retakes the country is palpable - especially for people who helped or worked with the various American Forces over the past 20 years, women and children.

120,000 people were evacuated leading up to the August 31st withdrawal and many of them are now global refugees, distraught to leave their homes but anxious for safety and stability. Both St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas have vowed to accept incoming Afghan refugees into their cities.

Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Randy Dunn released this statement Tuesday following President Biden’s national address:

“Today is a remarkable day in our history, even if we don’t realize it yet. In the decades to come, President Biden will be remembered for bringing Americans back home. Now, there are more people in need of a new home – the Afghan people who became refugees overnight. Our entire state, along with the metro areas of Kansas City and St. Louis, will benefit from Afghan resettlement in our communities. These people coming have helped our service men and women in Afghanistan for 20 years, have technical skills, speak English and believe in the right to freedom just like any American. Our state, our non-profits and our people are willing and able to welcome these Afghans into our homes while we help them build their own.”

Missouri AG Schmitt Puts our Children in Danger & Overburdens Schools

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 22:07:19 GMT

ST. LOUIS, MO. – Missouri Democratic Chairman Michael Butler released the following statement regarding Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s suit against mask mandates in schools Tuesday. Most public schools across the state reopened their doors for in person class on Monday, many mandating mask use for students, teachers and staff. Between June and July, the rate of positive childhood cases increased by 113% in Greene County, one of the hardest hit in Missouri. Right now, across the state there are 3,054 cases in Missouri children aged 0-9 and even worse, more than 13,000 in ages 10-19.

“Eric Schmitt is suing Missouri’s schools. Now our schools have to take dollars that would go to children and spend money on lawyers. Our children and their schools need to focus on protecting and educating kids every day, not a frivolous lawsuit by our Attorney General. As a father of two, I cannot imagine how Schmitt came to this decision knowing kids could die. That is the bottom line, if our Republican leaders don’t want to accept science, then children will be at risk of death as a result. Masks prevent and slow the spread of the virus, which decreases infection rates and deaths. He cited the fact that the virus is not hitting children as hard. While this was the case during parts of the pandemic, the rapid spread of the Delta variant is a different story. Eric Schmitt knows those numbers. Since June, parts of our state have seen increases of over 100% in COVID positive kids. That was still summer – now we are sending them back to school. We support our schools and will continue to protect our kids because the Republicans won’t.”

First Redistricting Commissions meet, Democrats fight for democracy and transparency

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 11 Aug 2021 21:49:04 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, MO. – Both the Missouri House and Senate Bipartisan Citizens Commissions met for the first time Tuesday at 10:00am. The House Commission was in session until 6:30pm Tuesday evening with Democrats standing strong and fighting for fairness, transparency and democracy.

Executive Director Randy Dunn was in the hearing rooms and released the following statement regarding Tuesday’s events:

“I am proud of our Democratic Commissioners who fought to ensure that we provided ample opportunity for public input via six public hearings while the Republicans wanted to do the bare minimum by having only three. Missouri citizens deserve the opportunity to voice their opinion and to be heard in this once a decade process.

I sat in those committee rooms all day and night and it became abundantly clear that as Democrats, we were focused on a process that will result in fair maps through a transparent and open process, Republicans were only focused on trying to rig the game in their favor to grab and retain power.

This is supposed to be a bipartisan process – and by numbers, it is. A total of 20 members from both parties serving on these Commissions. Democrats look forward to hearing feedback from Missouri residents and experts to help inform their decisions on developing maps that will be based on data and not to serve the ambitions of politicians and the desire of a political party to stay in power.

While some of yesterday’s moves were just another example of power-hungry Republicans trying to divide our state, we have to band together to ensure our communities thrive for the next decade and generations to follow.”

The Commissions will meet on October 18th, 19th, 21st and November 4th, 9th and 10th. Times are yet to be determined.

AFL-CIO

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 21:44:52 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Michael Butler released the following statement after learning of AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka’s passing.

“I was devastated to see the news of Rich Trumka’s passing today. He was and will remain one of the most powerful voices for workers, families and Americans. Rich never stood back when he saw something that was not right – he stood up tall and devoted himself to working people. He was determined to protect laborers against corporate America and keep our middle class strong. With his unparalleled leadership and the entire AFL-CIO, we know courageous voices and new leaders will continue his devoted work. Labor unions, the state of Missouri and the county have so much to thank Trumka for.”

Criminal Justice Failure in Missouri, Parson Pardon Choices are Proof

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 22:10:35 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Governor Parson once again showed he does not respect the rule of law by pardoning Mark and Patricia McCloskey yesterday, the couple who plead guilty to criminal charges after brandishing a semiautomatic gun and pistol at peaceful protestors. Among his list of 12 pardons and 2 commutations, there were two noticeably missing: Kevin Strickland and Lamar Johnson.

Kevin Strickland was charged with murder in 1979 and the prosecutors of his case have apologized for wrongly convicting him. Lamar Johnson was convicted of murder in 1994, without any evidence whatsoever. The top prosecutor in St. Louis filed a motion for his release yet he remains in prison. Governor Parson has the ability to pardon wrongly convicted people but he has yet to do so despite overwhelming evidence and loud calls for justice from Missourians, criminal justice advocates and the prosecutors themselves.

Executive Randy Dunn released the following statement regarding Governor Parson’s pardons on Tuesday.

“The entire country is asking ‘What is going on in Missouri?’ Well, let’s ask Kevin Strickland and Lamar Johnson. Not only is Missouri leading in COVID-19 cases right now, but Governor Parson is also refusing to release two innocent men from prison in our state while pardoning McCloskeys. This appalling situation shines a light on the many reforms needed in our criminal justice system. This is what the country sees when they look at Missouri. The prosecutors of the Strickland and Johnson’s cases have admitted their mistakes and called for their release themselves. Yet, these men, one who has served 43 years and the other 25, are stuck in the system. This shameful situation can be fixed immediately if the Governor just did the right thing and pardoned these men instead of buddying up with now Senate candidate Mark McCloskey. Those of us supporting Mr. Strickland and Mr. Johnson will keep fighting until these men are free.”

Criminal Justice Failure in Missouri, Parson Pardon Choices are Proof

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 21:58:29 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Governor Parson once again showed he does not respect the rule of law by pardoning Mark and Patricia McCloskey yesterday, the couple who plead guilty to criminal charges after brandishing a semiautomatic gun and pistol at peaceful rotestors. Among his list of 12 pardons and 2 commutations, there were two noticeably missing: Kevin Strickland and

Lamar Johnson.

Executive Randy Dunn released the following statement regarding Governor Parson’s pardons on Tuesday.

St. Louis Reimposes Mask Mandate, Parson on the Wrong Side of Public Health

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 22:08:38 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party Michael Butler released the following statement after Governor Parson and the rest of Republican leadership spoke out against the St. Louis mask mandate. Amid a devastating COVID-19 state outbreak, St. Louis City and St. Louis County announced they will reimpose indoor mask mandates starting Monday, July 26.

“Mike Parson’s recent rebuke of the St. Louis’ new mask mandate is just another example of him flip flopping on the health of Missouri’s citizens. First, he was for Medicaid Expansion if the people voted for it, now he is against it. Last year, he was for local communities making local decisions to protect people, now he’s against it.

Democrats like Mayor Tishaura Jones and County Executive Sam Page have remained consistent in their results-driven approach. They’ve used strong leadership values to demand preventative measures to avoid the death of more Missourians.”

HELP IS HERE: Missouri Families to Start Receiving Monthly Child Tax Credit today

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 21:47:36 GMT

ST. LOUIS, MO. – Missourians will start receiving a monthly tax credit today of up to $300 per child, or $3,600 per year, as part of the American Rescue Plan. Thanks to President Biden and Democrats, and no thanks to Republicans in Congress or Missouri who unanimously opposed the relief plan, this tax credit will provide additional relief to the families of 1,262,000 children in Missouri, helping lift 73,000 of those children out of poverty.

Missouri Democratic Party Chair Michael Butler released the following statement highlighting this much needed relief.

“The Child Tax Credit is a huge win for working families across Missouri. These monthly credits can help cover expenses like childcare and preparing for back to school. COVID-19 exasperated issues with the country’s childcare system and working parents have been hit especially hard. Over 1.2 million Missouri families will get this aid – that is incredible. 73,000 of our children, the future of Missouri, will be lifted out of poverty because of this Child Tax Credit. This is proof that President Biden and Democrats are delivering relief and hope to Missouri families.”

Twenty Democrats appointed to Bipartisan Citizens Commissions

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 22:04:24 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, MO. – Governor Parson publicly announced his appointments to the Bipartisan Citizens Commissions for House and Senate redistricting Friday. Among the 40 total appointees are 20 highly qualified Missouri Democrats dedicated to developing fair and equitable legislative maps and working to end the GOP’s gerrymandered districts designed to silence our voices based on what we look like, where we come from and how much money we have.

Senate

Farrakhan Shegog

Nicole Greer

Mike Frame

Kevin Rusnak

Andrea Flinders

Joni Wickham

Randy Alberhasky

Lee Asher

Matt Dameron

Susan Montee

House

Keena Smith

Harvey Ferdman

Mark Schoeperkkoetter

Jason Ludwig

Mellissa Paterson-Hazley

Penny Adams

Laura Cox

Mike Moroni

Rick Shang

Kay Mills

This group of appointees will collectively work together recognizing that the districts drawn will determine how we will be represented and how funds for schools, hospitals, and other essential services will be allocated. We come together every decade to draw new district lines that give each of our votes equal weight, each of our voices equal stature, and each of our communities equal resources. Republicans are attempting to hide behind the slogan of “one person, one vote,” so children (17 and under) are not counted. This misrepresentation of the population negatively impacts minority communities and threatens not only fair redistricting, but our democracy. As Democrats we respect the wishes of the voters who passed “Clean Missouri” in 2018 with the backing of 62% of us, yet the Missouri Republicans overrode the will of the voters to preserve their power.

The 20 Democratic appointees draw the line with power-hungry politicians trying to divide our communities in an attempt to silence us and will band together across race and place to ensure our communities thrive for the next decade and the generations to follow.

Federal unemployment benefits cut short for Missourians, the first in the country

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 22:12:32 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, MO. – Governor Parson pulled Missouri out of an agreement to continue to fund the federal unemployment benefits last month, despite $770 million in federal funding still available to our state. Tomorrow we will see the consequences of this shortsighted decision.

The American Rescue Plan extended the program through September 6th. Yet, after June 12th, 2021, federal unemployment benefits checks will cease in Missouri for 147,000 workers, the first state to do so in the country. Currently, the payments are $363 weekly.

Executive Director of the Missouri Democratic Party Randy Dunn released the following statement on the reckless end to federal unemployment benefits:

“The Republican decision to withhold extra federal unemployment benefits that nearly 150,000 Missouri workers are entitled to is just wrong. This costs the state absolutely nothing. The federal government has already set aside this money and the governor is just walking away from it, walking away from the Missouri people. The pandemic has highlighted the disparities in our economy and this decision will send our working families backward. The President extended the federal unemployment benefits to September 6th for a reason.”

The Future and Goals of MDP

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 21:55:10 GMT

KANSAS CITY, MO. - As a state party, we are excited for the potential of the 2022 and 2024 election cycles in Missouri. We welcome the passion not only from staff, but countless community members. The determination exists for the Missouri Democratic Party to thrive in our state and together we can make that happen. That being said, we know we have work to do.

We are taking the unusual step today of releasing a statement from our staff directly to the community. We hear and see your voices and hope to engage you as we rebuild. There has been disappointment about the recent announcement of a signage campaign the Party is starting, requesting input on where to set-up messaging across our state. We assure you; this is only one prong of our 2021/22 and beyond approach.

We hear your calls and are already preparing for deep canvassing and authentic relationship building throughout Missouri. MDP has created a new Missouri Playbook that we will roll-out in the next few weeks. Below we outline some of the strategies included:

We are applying for a grant from the DNC to open regional offices across the state, including in our rural counties. The goal is ten offices, and the DNC grant will help fund creation and staffing. Currently, we have staff in Kansas City, Columbia and St. Louis.
We are fostering relationships with new media outlets, newsletters and rural communications like radio. We are also developing a project to create an MDP podcast focused on rural issues and doing more to support our important Rural Caucus.
We are visiting counties across the state already and are excited to get back to successfully and safely canvassing after COVID-19.
We will bolster our existing volunteer programs by providing additional training and resources, but also build new volunteer recruitment and training procedures utilized in other parts of the country.
We are actively working to recruit candidates who truly understand the needs of Missourians for races up and down the ballot. We are focusing ourselves on serving those candidates in the best way we can.
We have hired new staff with diverse skills and experience with successful Democratic caucuses, campaigns and state parties. This will help us pivot in a different direction in canvassing, messaging, and fundraising. They came on staff May 31st.

As mentioned above, our new Missouri Playbook will include more details on our next steps and outlines our path forward with our base and new voters. We will release our plan in the following weeks.

We welcome further outreach and are happy to share more information if desired. This energy is just what Missouri needs, we just need to be in it together.

Chairman Butler on State GOP Turmoil and National Coverage of Missouri

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 21:46:27 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Chair of the Missouri Democratic Party Michael Butler released the following statement on the progress Missouri has made with COVID-19 relief while the State GOP is rattled with controversy. MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow aired a 20-minute segment titled ‘ Missouri Republicans, Are you OK?” on Thursday, highlighting the turmoil within the Missouri Republican Party and their lack of focus on Missouri constituents.

“Rachel Maddow’s analysis of the current state of Missouri Republicans is spot on, and it’s something we have known for a long time. Democrats are focused on getting people back to work while acknowledging and working through our COVID-19 pandemic recovery. The federal government just today announced impressive job numbers for the month of May, as over 500,000 new jobs were created in one month during a pandemic. Republicans are focused on fake COVID-19 cures, sexual assault allegations, legislative expulsions and protecting police misconduct; and that’s just the Missouri Republicans. Democrats in Missouri need to use this national exposure to pressure the bad elected officials in our state into making better decisions for all of us, instead of a few scandalous legislators. As Democrats we are concentrated on getting Missouri families back on their feet and fixing this inequitable economy that the pandemic has only highlighted.”

Sen. Hawley votes no on Mayorkas, puts safety and security of Missourians at risk

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 10:39:26 GMT

St. Louis, MO – Today, Senator Josh Hawley voted no on the confirmation of Alejandro Mayorkas as the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Michael Butler released the following statement:

“Once again, Josh Hawley has put political ambitions before the safety of Missourians. The Department of Homeland Security is crucial to keeping Missourians safe, especially during this pandemic, and members of both parties agree that Alejandro Mayorkas’ leadership will be imperative to DHS’ success.

Unfortunately, Hawley doesn’t care about Homeland Security, and he doesn’t care about Missouri — just political stunts that he thinks will shore up support from the members of Donald Trump’s base, who he riled up with lies that led them to storm the Capitol.”

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Hawley Continues to Endanger Missouri with Needless Delay in Confirming Homeland Security Head

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 10:38:04 GMT

St. Louis, MO – Senator Josh Hawley’s latest partisan stunt has thrown a major Missouri employer and source of funding for the state into chaos, thanks to his delay of the confirmation for President Biden’s Secretary of Homeland Security.

Hawley blocked consideration of Alejandro Mayorkas, President Biden’s nominee to run the Department of Homeland Security, following a Senate Committee hearing last Tuesday. The hold has prevented an incoming President from having a Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) in place on day one for the first time in the department’s history. It also continues DHS’ stretch without a permanent leader in place that dates back to April 2019.

DHS is the nation’s third biggest department and plays a crucial role in keeping Missouri safe in the face of a pandemic that has taken the lives of nearly 7,000 Missourians and numerous security threats both at home and abroad. The department is also, however, a substantial contributor to the state’s economy, and its headlessness has handicapped its ability to engage in long-term planning and protection for the state.

The department has provided crucial funding to Missouri over the last two decades, especially through the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), which has come to the state’s aid numerous times following natural disasters. Since 2003, FEMA has distributed more than $1 billion to Missouri. Notably, the agency was expected to spend roughly $150 million in Jasper and Newton Counties alone helping them recover from the 2011 Joplin tornado. FEMA has also played a crucial role helping Missouri combat the coronavirus epidemic — a role that is set to grow during the Biden administration .

The Department is also a major employer of Missourians, who currently are lacking a boss. DHS employs more than 240,000 people nationwide, and Missouri has more than its fair share of job-creating facilities, including four ports of entry staffed by Customs and Border Patrol and Transportation Security Administration members.

Members of both parties can’t understand why Hawley has delayed Mayorkas’ nomination. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) has said that it is critical that Mayorkas’ nomination be expedited “because the job is so important,” while Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) has said that Hawley’s stunt has put the “country’s security at risk.”

“Josh Hawley’s partisan grandstanding is hurting our national security, as well as Missouri’s workers, Missouri’s budget and Missouri’s public safety,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Michael Butler. “He needs to stop embarrassing himself and his state, and that starts by joining the bipartisan effort to confirm Secretary Mayorkas today. We can’t afford to wait any longer.”

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Missouri Democratic Party on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 10:35:55 GMT

As we commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Michael Butler released the following statement:

“This Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we must reaffirm our belief that Black lives matter. We must commit ourselves to making sure that every American’s rights to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness are protected.

What we’ve seen across our country, protesting the disproportionate attacks on those same rights of Black Americans by systemic racism and outright white supremacy, and the vilifying done towards those protests, shows how far we still have to go to achieve equity and equality for all.

From the criminal justice system to healthcare inequities that have been even further exaggerated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the systemic inequalities facing Black Americans must be addressed.

We cannot stand by and let white supremacy reign, and we must take action to ensure it is no longer tolerated.”

Missouri Democratic Party Statement on Senator Hawley’s Latest Stunt to Cast Doubt on Election Results

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 10:32:12 GMT

St. Louis, MO (December 30, 2020) – Today, after Senator Josh Hawley announced he’ll object to the certification of President-Elect Joe Biden’s victory, Missouri Democratic Party Chair Michael Butler released the following statement:

“President-Elect Joe Biden won a fair and free election, winning both the popular vote and the Electoral College. It’s past time to stop with the malarkey and move forward with a peaceful transition of power. Refusing to listen to the will of Americans and slowing this transition or refusing to work with the Biden transition team is dangerous and irresponsible.”

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Missouri Democratic Party Statement After House Ethics Committee Report

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 10:30:53 GMT

Kansas City, MO (December 17, 2020) – Regarding yesterday’s Ethics Committee report, Missouri Democratic Party Chair Michael Butler released the following statement:

“We want to thank the House Ethics Committee for investigating these allegations. The full House should determine appropriate actions after reconvening and examining the evidence.”

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Missouri Democratic Party Statement After Government Oversight Committee Hearing

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 10:29:38 GMT

Kansas City, MO (December 15, 2020) – After a contentious hearing for the Special Committee on Government Oversight featuring a conspiracy theory filled testimony by Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Missouri Democratic Party Chair Michael Butler released the following statement:

“Today, I’d like to congratulate President-Elect Joe Biden after electors from across the country cast their ballots. It’s beyond disturbing that on the same day the electoral college voted, Republicans in Missouri brought in Rudy Giuliani, allowing him to testify virtually, something generally not afforded to everyday Missourians, to cast aspersions, peddle conspiracy theories, and outright lie about America’s fair and free elections. Democrats stood with democracy, and I am extremely proud of State Representatives Crystal Quade, Peter Merideth, Wiley Price IV, Jon Carpenter, and Keri Ingle for fighting so that every vote is counted and respected.”

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Missouri Democratic Party Elects New Officers

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 10:28:23 GMT

Kansas City, MO (December 12, 2020) – Today, members of the Missouri Democratic Party State Committee elected officers for the 2020-2022 term. Michael Butler of St. Louis was elected Missouri Democratic Party Chair, Genevieve Williams of Neosho was elected Missouri Democratic Party Vice Chair, Cydney Mayfield of Pilot Grove was re-elected Missouri Democratic Party Treasurer, and Manny Abarca IV of Kansas City was elected Missouri Democratic Party Secretary.

Missouri Democratic Party Chair Michael Butler said the following:

“Democrats across this state will continue the work to move Missouri into the future. I am excited to lead the over 1 million Missouri Democrats for the coming years in our journey to improve our State.”

Officers of the Missouri Democratic Party from top left, clockwise: Secretary Manny Abarca IV, Treasurer Cydney Mayfield, Vice-Chair Genevieve Williams, Chair Michael Butler.

Chair Michael Butler

Michael Butler is the Recorder of Deeds for the City of St. Louis, Missouri. A native of St. Louis, Michael was first elected to Recorder in August of 2018. Prior to his time in City Hall, he represented part of St. Louis City (District 79) in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2012-2018.

Prior to his political success, Butler gained valuable work experience in the legislature while serving as the Legislative Aide in the office of State Senator Robin Wright-Jones, and as the Legislative Assistant to State Rep. Mary Wynne Still. During his 2012 campaign, he worked as an educator in the St. Louis Public School System. In addition, Rep. Butler has valuable private sector experience while employed as a manager at the home office of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Butler holds a bachelor’s degree in Business from Alabama A&M University, where he also served as Student Government President and as a Board of Trustee member. While working in the legislature, he also obtained a master’s degree in Public Affairs from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He has also served in several leadership positions including Missouri House Democratic Caucus Chair and St. Louis City Democratic Central Committee Chair.

Michael lives in the Gate District Neighborhood with his wife Erin and they have one daughter, Kimber.

Vice-Chair Genevieve Williams

Genevieve Williams, a member of the Chickasaw Nation, is both a former and current Vice-Chair of the Missouri Democratic Party (2016-2018), rural organizer, and Chairwoman of the Newton County CentralCommittee. She has served on the Missouri Democratic Party State Committee for the past 7 years representing the 32nd Senatorial District and has served on the Executive Board of MDP for the past 4 years.

Genevieve served her community during the 2011 Joplin tornado by building JTI, an information clearinghouse and needs to resources connection. This Disaster Info Model continues to be used by communities, in academia, and by emergency management agencies to this day. Her efforts allowed emergency response action to meet community engagement for months and serve as a historical record of the event and recovery.

Genevieve continues to build engagement in the Democratic Party through organizing rural votes, advocating for Indigenous communities, and standing with communities devastated by illegal and immoral practices by police.

Treasurer Cydney Mayfield

Cydney Mayfield is an attorney in mid-Missouri representing municipal entities across the state. She has served the Missouri Democratic Party previously as the Chair of the Rural Caucus and a member of the Missouri State Democratic Committee. This will be Cydney’s second term as Treasurer for the State Party and she hopes to continue her efforts to bring transparency to the financial position of the party as well as guidance on campaign finance and compliance. In addition to her work for the party, Cydney enjoys helping out on her family’s farm in rural Cooper County and is active in everything her son participates in, including being the loudest cheerleader for him at basketball games.

Secretary Manny Abarca IV

Manny Abarca IV currently serves as the Treasurer of the Kansas City Public School Board and the Jackson County Democratic Committee. He has spent his entire life in the Kansas City Metropolitan area, born in the urban core, graduating from Grandview High School-a KC suburb, and currently living in one of the most diverse communities in the State, the Historic Northeast portion of KCMO. Manny will be the first Latinx person to serve on the Missouri Democratic Party’s Executive Board and is honored to represent his Mexican heritage and embrace all of the many diverse Latinx communities across the state.

Manny prides himself on his working-class upbringing, as the son to a 30-year, Union Teamster father and dedicated and loving mother of three who worked her whole life setting an example of perseverance and the value of education. In addition to his service to Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II, as his Deputy District Director, Manny is also pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri.

He currently holds a B.A. in Political Science and M.S. in Occupational Safety Management with an emphasis in Environmental Sustainability from the University of Central Missouri. Previously, he served on the Guadalupe Center Educational Systems Board of Directors and services on the Board of Directors for: MoKan Goodwill, ReDiscover Mental Health Clinics, Samuel Rodgers Health Center, Healing House Inc., the Northeast Chamber of Commerce and the Indian Mound Neighborhood Association.

Missouri Democratic Party on the Noose Displayed in Stone County Election Office

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 10:24:27 GMT

Kansas City, MO (October 30, 2020) – Today, the Missouri Democratic Party became aware of a noose –– a symbol most strongly associated with our nation’s legacy of racism, particularly the violent lynchings of Americans of color –– on display directly next to voting booths in Stone County. Acting Chair Clem Smith released the following statement:

“For a noose to be displayed next to voting booths is clear intimidation targeting Black voters. This symbol’s purpose is to stoke the fires of racial prejudice and strike fear in the hearts of people of color. It is a painful reminder of the murders and lynchings of Black Americans. To see one next to a voting booth is offensive, inappropriate, and outrageous. It should be obvious to anybody that a noose does not belong at anybody’s election booth. It must be taken down immediately.”

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During a Campaign Stop This Morning, Governor Mike Parson Parson Violated Cape Girardeau’s Mask Mandate

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 10:23:17 GMT

Kansas City, MO — With less than one week until Election Day, Governor Parson continues to campaign maskless, this time egregiously violating Cape Girardeau’s mask mandate . Today, at a campaign visit to My Daddy’s Cheesecake in Cape Girardeau, Parson completely ignored Cape Girardeau’s mask mandate that explicitly states masks must be worn inside public businesses and when speaking to others less than six feet away. Even when a mask mandate was instituted at the local level like he claims he supports , the Governor doesn’t follow it.

“Today, Governor Parson egregiously violated Cape Girardeau’s mask mandate– even going so far as to post pictures publicly of him inches from supporters without a mask. Missouri deserves a governor who leads by example– Parson should be wearing a ‘dang mask,’ especially while Missouri hospitals are overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients,” said Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford.

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State Senator Lauren Arthur Responds to United Missouri’s Sexist Attacks

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 10:19:35 GMT

Kansas City, Mo. — Today, following Governor Parson’s campaign allies’ sexist attacks on Auditor Galloway, State Senator Lauren Arthur released the below statement:

“As a woman in public service, I’m deeply frustrated watching Mike Parson’s allies launch sexist attacks against Auditor Galloway. She has proven to be one of the most successful state auditors — and her record of uncovering taxpayer waste and taking on corruption is unmatched. United Missouri’s ads reinforce and weaponize sexist double standards. The GOP’s strategy is predictable and gross. These ads need to come down now.”

BACKGROUND : Yesterday, Uniting Missouri, Governor Parson’s PAC, released a digital video that attacked Auditor Galloway as unqualified to be Missouri’s next governor. The PAC made the same attack in a new TV ad this morning.

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Missouri Democratic Party on Governor Parson’s claim he’s unaware of Rick Roeber details

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 10:17:43 GMT

Kansas City, MO (October 27, 2020) – Following news that, after weeks of silence, Governor Parson had claimed he wasn’t aware of the allegations of sexual and physical assault made by the children of Rick Roeber, Missouri Democratic Party spokesperson Andrew Storey made the following statement:

“For Governor Mike Parson to admit he is unaware about the credible accusations by Republican House Candidate Rick Roeber’s children of sexual and physical assault is implausible. Mike Parson is asking for Missourians to trust his leadership, but he has shown he won’t even stand up to those accused of child abuse in his own party. After weeks of calls for Governor Parson and the Missouri Republican Party to denounce alleged child abuser Rick Roeber, it’s inexplicable that Governor Parson simply ‘wasn’t aware’ regarding the allegations.”

“Despite bi-partisan calls to withdraw from his campaign, it seems like the $13,661.82 that Rick Roeber donated to the House Republican Campaign Committee from his deceased wife’s committee was enough to buy indifference from Governor Parson and the Missouri Republican Party.”

Background:

Missouri Independent: “Missouri FOP revokes endorsement of Republican whose children say he abused them”

Key Excerpts:

“Democrats have called on GOP leaders, most notably Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, to join in the call for Roeber to step aside.

They note that the Missouri Republican Party publicly denounced the candidacy of Steve West, the party’s nominee for a state House seat in Clay County with a long history of espousing racist, homophobic and anti-Semetic views .

‘Republican Party leadership has refused to do what is morally right — to denounce the candidacy of a man credibly accused of physically and sexually assaulting his children,’ Missouri Democratic Party Acting Chair Clem Smith said in a statement last week.

Asked about Roeber at a campaign event on Tuesday in Columbia, Parson said he wasn’t aware of the details of the allegations, but if they are true ‘I would never support anybody like that. I will just put it right that way.’.”

Donation to HRCC:

Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford on Uniting Missouri’s Sexist New Attack Ads Against Nicole Galloway.

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 10:14:13 GMT

Kansas City, Mo. — Today, Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford released the following statement on Governor Parson’s campaign allies’ sexist attacks on Auditor Galloway. Yesterday, Uniting Missouri, Governor Parson’s PAC released a digital video that attacked Auditor Galloway as not qualified to be Missouri’s next governor. The PAC made the same attack in a new TV ad this morning:

“Let’s be clear: Uniting Missouri’s latest ad is sexist and has no place in Missouri politics in 2020. Missouri voters actually elected Nicole Galloway to her current position and, as State Auditor, she has uncovered $370 million in wasted taxpayer money and helped bring 63 criminal counts against corrupt public officials. To call her inexperienced or unqualified is demeaning to every woman who works in public service. This ad reinforces toxic tropes and should immediately be taken down.”

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MDP Statement on Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 10:12:44 GMT

Kansas City, MO (October 26, 2020) – Today, after Senate Republicans pushed Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation through the Senate, a mere eight days before the General Election, Missouri Democratic Party Acting Chair Clem Smith released the following statement:

“For all the non-answers Judge Amy Coney Barrett has given, there’s an issue we know exactly where she stands. We’ve got a written track record of her disagreeing with the Supreme Court’s decision that upheld the Affordable Care Act.”

“It speaks volumes that the Republicans in the Senate have failed to live up to their past words, rushing through a nominee eight days before an election, and one who will have a hand in dismantling the Affordable Care Act at a time when Missourians are suffering through a continued health and economic pandemic. Republicans have long said they have a plan. But it’s been four years and we’ve yet to see any comprehensive plan that will actually help Missourians. The ability to get affordable healthcare, protections for patients with pre-existing conditions, those are the reasons Missourians will be supporting Joe Biden on November 3rd.”

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Missouri Democratic Party Raise 3x That of GOP, Heads Into GOTV Strong

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 10:10:52 GMT

October 21, 2020 (Kansas City) – With just 13 days until Election Day, the Missouri Democratic Party announced a huge haul of $1,534,198.41 raised during the third quarter between July 1 and September 30. The fundraising was fueled by more than 2,630 donors last quarter and 5,700+ donors this election cycle. Similar to how Democrats have seen a surge of grassroots support in 2020 for Nicole Galloway’s campaign for Missouri Governor and in competitive campaigns across the country, the Missouri Democratic Party has also doubled it’s grassroots donor program in 2020 compared to any past election cycle.

The Missouri Democratic Party raised 3 times as much as the Missouri Republican Party in the third quarter, and has raised 2.5 times as much as the MO GOP for the election cycle. This success is attributed to having 13,000+ individual donations compared to the MO GOP’s publicly reported 1,300. The Missouri Democratic Party heads into the final crunch with 2.5 times as much cash on hand as the GOP.

“13 days out from Election Day, the Missouri Democratic Party and our Show Me Change Coordinated Campaign are supporting Democrats up and down the ballot, and have the momentum and grassroots support to get Auditor Galloway over the finish line, flip the 2nd Congressional District, and flip swing State Senate and House districts,” said Lauren Gepford, Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director. “This surge of grassroots support complements the extraordinary leadership, energy, and fundraising success from our Democratic candidates who are behind our Party that is fired up, united, and banded together for a historically strong finish. Our key races are all polling in a dead heat – Governor, MO-2, and key flippable State Senate and State House races.”

Key numbers from the Party’s fundraising include:

94% of individual donors (5,771) made a grassroots contribution of $250 or under with an average contribution of $110.

$3,219,764.29 raised thus far this cycle. 75% of individual donations have been raised online; almost two times as many grassroots supporters as the Missouri Democratic Party has seen in past election cycles.

Missouri’s top tier Gubernatorial race, considered one of, if not the most, competitive in the nation, along with a top-tier Congressional race have brought in significant support to Missouri Democrats despite not having a U.S. Senate race or being a battleground Presidential state.

Missouri Democrats are competing in the first elections without a statewide federal candidate on the ballot since state campaign finance rules went into effect

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Missouri Republican Party, Governor Parson still mum on Rick Roeber

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 05:00:11 GMT

Kansas City, MO (October 19, 2020) – It has now been 20 days since the Kansas City Star published accusations of physical and sexual assault made by the children of House candidate Rick Roeber. There has been bi-partisan support calling for Roeber to stop campaigning due to the seriousness of these accusations. Republican State Representatives Bill Kidd, Sheila Solon, Jack Bondon, and Shamed Dogan have signed a declaration asking Roeber to withdraw. Yet, the Missouri Republican Party, Governor Mike Parson and the House Republican Campaign Committee have refused to address these allegations or call on Roeber to suspend his campaign. Missouri Democratic Party Acting Chair Clem Smith made the following comment:

“It’s been 20 days, nearly three weeks, since allegations of physical and sexual assault made by Rick Roeber’s children were published by the Kansas City Star. Despite these allegations, Republican Party leadership has refused to do what is morally right, to denounce the candidacy of a man credibly accused of physically and sexually assaulting his children. Even by the standards of today’s extremist-led Republican Party, this is a shocking and horrific stance. Their silence is complicity. The idea that Rick Roeber could represent Missourians in Jefferson City is chilling. Yet again, we call on Governor Mike Parson, the Missouri Republican Party, and the House Republican Campaign Committee to denounce Rick Roeber, and, if elected, refuse to seat this man credibly accused by his children of sexual and physical assault.”

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Background:

Missouri House candidate’s adult children say he physically and sexually abused them: https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article246067965.html

Missourians Don’t Need Another Trump Administration Photo Op

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 04:58:14 GMT

In response to William Barr’s photo op in St. Louis today, Missouri Democratic Party Acting Chair Clem Smith released the following statement:

“Barr can’t spin Donald Trump’s failures. From lying about the severity of COVID-19 and botching our pandemic response to using his bully pulpit to divide us, Trump has endangered Missourians’ health, lives, and livelihoods time and again. Missourians don’t need another photo op, and we can’t afford four more years of this chaos and divisiveness. We need competent, unifying leadership in the White House, and we’re going to get it with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.”

BACKGROUND ON TRUMP’S FAILED PANDEMIC RESPONSE

Promise : “We have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China. We have it under control. It’s going to be just fine.” [CNBC Interview, Jan. 22, 2020 ]

Reality : With more than 217,000 Americans dead and nearly 8 million infected, the United States has 4 percent of the world’s population but 20 percent of infections and deaths. In Missouri alone, more than 150,000 people have contracted the virus, and more than 2,400 have lost their lives.

Reality : St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Missouri COVID-19 hospitalizations reach dangerous peak . “‘Whether we’re in a second wave, or the second crest of the first, our current situation is critical, especially outside of the well-resourced metro areas,’ said Dave Dillon, spokesman for the Missouri Hospital Association. The association’s weekly update on Wednesday showed the biggest increases were seen in the northern and southern regions of the state.”

Reality : CNN: Covid-19 has killed more law enforcement officers this year than all other causes combined . “More police officers have died from Covid-19 this year than have been killed on patrol. That’s according to the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP), a nonprofit organization that tracks law enforcement fatalities in the line of duty.”

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Missouri Democratic Party Statement Following Gubernatorial Debate

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 04:56:23 GMT

Kansas City, Mo. (October 9, 2020) - Following today’s gubernatorial debate, Missouri Democratic Party Acting Chair Clem Smith released the following statement:

“There couldn’t have been more of a contrast on the debate stage today. Missourians are ready for a new way, not the same career politicians who cater to their lobbyist pals, not the heartless insiders who brag about the savings from kicking over 100,000 kids off their healthcare, and certainly not those so-called leaders who can’t take the advice of medical experts in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Auditor Galloway proved, once again, why her campaign has so much momentum. While Governor Parson has spent his career in the swamp, Auditor Galloway has fought to uncover government waste and end corruption — and build a government that finally delivers for working families. Mike Parson can ignore scientists, doctors, and nurses, but he won’t be able to ignore the Missourians voting him out of office in November.”

Missouri Democratic Party Files Complaint Calling Secretary Ashcroft to Investigate All Statewide Office Holders

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 04:53:04 GMT

Kansas City, Mo. (October 9, 2020) – Today, Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford filed a complaint making the argument that if Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is going to investigate Auditor Galloway he must also investigate other statewide officeholders including Governor Mike Parson, Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe, Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick, and the Secretary of State himself, Jay Ashcroft for the same activity. Executive Director Lauren Gepford released the following comment:

“The investigation of Auditor Galloway is nothing more than a partisan political attack by the Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft. The Auditor’s office has already made publicly available nearly 140,000 pages of responsive documents responsive to Sunshine Law requests. For Secretary Ashcroft to launch a partisan attack using the power of his office weeks before the election is a gross misuse of power and violates the very law at issue. We expect Secretary Ashcroft to take our complaint seriously and immediately open investigations into his and Governor Parson’s use of taxpayer resources to help their campaigns.”

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Background: Full complaint

Missouri Democratic Party calls on Representative Ann Wagner to call president back to bargaining table

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 04:51:02 GMT

Kansas City, MO (October 6, 2020) – After the president ordered COVID-19 relief negotiations to stop until after the election, Missouri Democratic Party spokesman Andrew Storey released the following statement:

“Today, thousands of Missourians just saw the President of the United States holding much needed relief hostage, with the ransom being his re-election. And where is Ann Wagner? While Representative Wagner hides from her constituents and ignores the impacts of the pandemic, she claims to be disappointed the negotiations have turned into a “political football” . Instead of abandoning her constituents and neglecting her most basic duty as a member of Congress, Rep. Wagner should immediately call on the president to come back to the negotiating table with a realistic offer that will help Missourians and small businesses suffering from this pandemic. Missouri’s Second District is sick of Congresswoman Wagner’s empty promises. If she truly doesn’t “like playing politics on this issue,” then perhaps she can finally stand up for the people she represents.”

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Missouri Democratic Party Calls on Governor Parson to Reimburse Taxpayers For Personal Use of State Aircraft

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 04:49:09 GMT

Kansas City, Mo. (October 6, 2020) – Following a damning report from the St. Joseph News-Press Now , Missouri Democrats are calling on Governor Parson to reimburse taxpayers for his use of the state airplane as a personal shuttle to his home in Bolivar and for campaign related travel.

“Governor Parson has treated the state aircraft as a personal shuttle service, racking up hundreds of thousands of dollars on the taxpayer dime,” said Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford. “He should reimburse taxpayers for his personal use of the aircraft, including every trip to his home in Bolivar since we already provide him a mansion in Jefferson City. No one elected him to have these perks and the shocking disregard for taxpayers in the midst of a budget crisis is totally unacceptable.”

According to the report from the St. Joseph newspaper, Parson has racked up more than a quarter-million dollars in taxpayer expense flying on the state aircraft. Most egregiously, he has used the aircraft at least 20 times to fly to his second home in Bolivar:

Flight records reveal Parson has been picked up or dropped off more than 20 times at the Bolivar airstrip, all while the airplane and its crew return to the hangar in Jefferson City. Bolivar is where Parson maintains a home and ranch.

In one day alone, Parson and his security detail flew from Jefferson City to Bolivar and back to Jefferson City for a one-hour trip. About four hours later, the governor took the same round-trip flight from Jefferson City to Bolivar back to Jefferson City. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the same-day double trip cost taxpayers $2,610.

In one day, Governor Parson spent more on a trip home to Bolivar than many starting teachers in the Bolivar schools make in a month.

Shortly after ascending to the Governor’s office, Parson spent more than $9,000 in taxpayer money to fly to have lunch with President Trump:

Away from Missouri, another trip involved the governor and his entourage using the state’s plane to fly to Virginia, less than a month after he was sworn in as Missouri’s new governor. That round-trip flight was charged to the governor’s office for $9,116.80.

The governor’s office said the two-day trip involved meetings in Washington D.C, including having lunch with President Donald Trump.

This one trip cost more than five-times the monthly earnings of a minimum wage worker.

Governor Parson should be more focused on addressing the historic economic and budget crisis brought about by the coronavirus pandemic that is surging throughout Missouri. Instead, he’s lavishing in the taxpayer-paid luxuries that fell into his lap when he accidentally became Governor. He should reimburse the taxpayers immediately.

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Background

In addition to his at least 20 trips home to Bolivar, Governor Parson also used the state plane to travel to and from the Missouri GOP’s Lincoln Days events in Springfield – purely campaign related travel:

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N83MP/history/20200221/2030Z/KJEF/KSGF

The next morning, Parson was back at Lincoln Days activities.

In the afternoon, Parson was campaigning in Springfield with Scott Walker at Lincoln-Days

https://twitter.com/mikeparson/status/1231030929205886976?s=20

In the 8pm-hour, Parson was speaking in Kansas City to the Builders Association on the official-side:

https://twitter.com/GovParsonMO/status/1231047869337133056

At approximately 9pm he was in a downtown Kansas City coffee shop before “making the trip back to Southwest Missouri.”

https://twitter.com/GovParsonMO/status/1231052939021750272

He clearly overnighted in Bolivar and then, the next morning was back on the campaign-side at Lincoln Days events.

https://twitter.com/mikeparson/status/1231257122589069312

On Feb 7, 2020 , the Governor’s Office advised visits to Joplin and Springfield.

First, the Governor did a tour in Joplin.

https://twitter.com/GovParsonMO/status/1225819192076767233?s=20

Then, the Governor and First Lady travelled to Springfield for a 3M tour.

https://twitter.com/GovParsonMO/status/1225849352855355393?s=20

Then, the Governor and First Lady attended basketball games for their grandkids in the Springfield-area

https://twitter.com/GovParsonMO/status/1225983401917845504?s=20

The state aircraft flew six legs this day, for two official events.

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N83MP/history

It appears that the aircraft flew the Governor’s office to the two events in Joplin and Springfield then returned to Jefferson city. Either the Governor and First Lady stayed in Springfield to attend the basketball games, OR the flew back to Springfield for the basketball games. Either way, the state aircraft returned to Springfield exclusively for a personal event.

Missouri Democratic Party Calls on Governor Mike Parson to Denounce Rick Roeber

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 04:44:56 GMT

Today, Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford released the following statement on Governor Parson’s failure to denounce Rick Roeber:

“The allegations against Rick Roeber are horrific and over the past day, leaders in both parties have made clear that Mr. Roeber is unfit for office. Yet even as other Republican leaders have spoken out against Mr. Roeber, Governor Mike Parson has been silent. As the leader of the Missouri Republican Party, Governor Parson should immediately denounce Rick Roeber and make clear that Mr. Roeber has no place in Missouri politics. The Governor has a moral obligation to speak out — and his silence over the past day has been deeply disappointing.”

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Missouri Democratic Party statement on KC Star Editorial on Rick Roeber

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 04:43:32 GMT

Kansas City, MO (September 29, 2020) – After the editorial printed in the Kansas City Star detailing claims of alleged abuses made by children and the former spouse of candidate Rick Roeber, Missouri Democratic Party Acting Chair Clem Smith released the following statement:

“The alleged acts of abuse are truly horrific. Our thoughts are with the survivors, we hope they have been able to get the help needed to heal from these traumas.”

“An elected official is supposed to take responsibility for their actions. The stories of Rick Roeber’s family detailed by the Star tell a consistent pattern of behavior. Behavior unfit for office. The alleged acts of abuse cannot be taken lightly or cast aside. Rick Roeber owes his family, the survivors, and his potential constituents a full explanation, not sidestepping these serious matters. The House Republican Caucus and Missouri Republican Party must do what is right, to denounce Rick Roeber and refuse to seat him if he is elected in November.”

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Background:

KC STAR: “Missouri House candidate’s adult children say he physically and sexually abused them”

“But Anastasia Roeber of Lee’s Summit, Roeber’s adopted daughter, says he made improper sexual advances toward her in 1990, when she was 9 years old.”

“A sibling, Samson Roeber of New York City, said he suffered physical abuse from Roeber as a child. He was not sexually molested, but ‘my father’s always been physically abusive,’ he said. ‘He had a temper.’”

“A third sibling, Gabrielle Galeano, says she was aware of the alleged abuse while living with Anastasia, Samson and another sibling. That fourth sibling later claimed sexual maltreatment from Roeber, an allegation investigated by the state of Missouri.”

“Their memories are clear and consistent. The claims were examined in a sworn deposition almost two decades ago, long before Roeber, a Republican, decided to pursue elective office.”

“Keller said the fourth sibling, who did not agree to speak to The Star on the record, claimed sexual abuse by Roeber. In that case, after an investigation had been completed, the Jackson County office of the Division of Family Services in 2001 found probable cause that “sexual maltreatment” of the child had occurred.”

Missouri Democratic Party statement on President Trump’s tax returns

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 04:38:34 GMT

Kansas City, MO (September 28, 2020) – Missouri Democratic Party Acting Chair Clem Smith released the following statement after the New York Times report on Donald Trump’s tax returns:

“Donald Trump’s tax returns show exactly why he has fought so hard to hide them. They paint a picture of a man who literally looks down at the working class from a golden penthouse at the top of his tower. Paying only $750 in federal income taxes, while signing tax bills that double down and benefit the wealthy and corporations instead of working families shows exactly what Donald Trump cares about: his wallet. By contrast, in 2018, the average Missourian paid nearly 7 times more in federal income taxes than the President of the United States did the year he was elected.”

“Joe Biden is running for president to help people, to help our country overcome a health and economic crisis made worse by Donald Trump lying to the American people in an attempt to save face. Americans deserve a president who is looking out for their best interests, not conning them.”

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Background:

CNBC: Here’s how much Americans pay in taxes in every US state :

CNBC reported that in 2018 the average Missourian paid:

Total amount of taxes paid on average: $9,280.30

Average amount of federal income taxes: $5,122.96

Average amount of state income taxes: $2,025

Average amount of property taxes: $1,460.82

Missouri Democratic Party statement on grand jury indictment in Breonna Taylor shooting

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 04:37:23 GMT

Kansas City, MO (September 23, 2020) – Following the results of the grand jury hearing on the death of Breonna Taylor, Missouri Democratic Party Acting Chair Clem Smith released the following statement:

“The grand jury’s decision to only indict one officer for charges unrelated to the death of Breonna Taylor isn’t justice for her family and loved ones. It shows the lack of accountability created by our justice system. Not until we hold everyone to the same standard of accountability can we truly feel like progress has been made. We stand with those calling for criminal justice reform, calling for policing reform. Across the country, we cannot stop pursuing justice for every single person to be able to sleep safely in their bed at night, to jog through their neighborhood, to go grab a drink and Skittles at a convenience store. We must stand up and say: Black Lives Matter.”

Missouri Democratic Party Statement on Governor Parson’s Failed Special Session

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 04:36:20 GMT

St. Louis, MO (September 16, 2020) – After today’s adjournment of session, Missouri Democratic Party Acting Chair Clem Smith released the following statement:

“Governor Parson’s special session was a cynical and desperate effort to prop up his flailing election year campaign. No wonder it failed. The truth is for years the Governor has done nothing to address the rise of violent crime. When local leaders and lawmakers pleaded for him to take action last year, he refused to do anything.”

“After calling the session and stripping away the ability of St. Louis voters to decide on the November ballot if the residency rule for the city’s police department should stay, Governor Parson decided to attack the first Black woman elected Circuit Attorney in St. Louis, Kim Gardner, and strip away local control once again. Parson’s extremist attacks on St. Louis were a bridge too far and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle pushed back. We cannot take another four years of Parson’s incompetent leadership that cares more about insider interests than responsible governing.”

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Andrew Wheeler Can’t Spin Trump’s Disastrous Environmental Record

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 04:35:06 GMT

Andrew Wheeler Can’t Spin Trump’s Disastrous Environmental Record

In response to Andrew Wheeler’s photo op in St. Louis today, Missouri Democratic Party Acting Chair Clem Smith released the following statement:

“Donald Trump has spent nearly four years endangering our environment and threatening essential public health programs, including Superfund clean-up projects. Andrew Wheeler can’t spin that record with a photo op less than 50 days to Election Day. Missourians deserve a president who will fight for public health and safety — that leader is Joe Biden.”

BACKGROUND ON TRUMP’S DISASTROUS ENVIRONMENTAL RECORD:

For four consecutive years, Trump has proposed massive cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Newsweek : “For the fourth year in a row, the administration has proposed slashing funding for the EPA (in this case by 26 percent) while seeking to get rid of programs focused on improving water quality, reducing air pollution, protecting drinking water, promoting the safe use of pesticides and toxic substances and cleaning up contaminated land, according to the Environmental Protection Network (EPN)—a bipartisan organization whose membership is comprised of former EPA officials.”

Trump’s budget puts communities and public health at risk by slashing funds for toxic Superfund clean-up projects, air quality programs, and basic water and sanitation infrastructure.

Associated Press : “President Donald Trump called Monday for slashing funding for the Superfund hazardous waste program, even as the backlog of clean-ups has grown around the country for lack of money. The $113 million in Superfund clean-up cuts are part of Trump’s proposal for a $2.4 billion, or 26%, cut in overall funding for the Environmental Protection Agency.”

E&E News : “The budget asks Congress for a total of $437 million for EPA’s air quality work overall, down from the current funding level of $813 million. That includes reduced budgets for enforcement, science and technology, and other programs.”

Newsweek : “Furthermore, the budget proposes 94 percent cuts to two programs that support basic drinking water and sanitation infrastructure, such as flushing toilets and running water, for poor, remote Alaska Native rural villages and low-income communities along the U.S.-Mexico border, which disproportionately lack these kinds of services.”

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Missouri Democratic Party calls on Missouri GOP to return Louis DeJoy donation: Congresswoman Ann Wagner was Chair of the Missouri GOP at the time of the donation

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 04:32:38 GMT

Kansas City, MO (September 10, 2020) – Before his time working to undermine the United States Postal Service, Louis DeJoy was allegedly reimbursing employees for donations he pressured them into giving to Republicans across the country, illegally. While he was allegedly taking part in the illegal scheme, DeJoy made a donation of $1,801.25 to the Missouri Republican State Committee in 2004, when Congresswoman Ann Wagner was Chair of the Party. Missouri Democratic Party spokesperson Andrew Storey made the following statement:

“Louis DeJoy writing a check to the Missouri Republican Party is more of what we’ve come to expect. While allegedly orchestrating an illegal system of pressuring his employees into making donations then illegally reimbursing them, DeJoy enjoyed the benefits of becoming a close ally to powerful Republicans, like Ann Wagner, who was the Chair of the Missouri Republican Party at the time of the donation. Congresswoman Wagner has a long history of rubbing elbows with the elite insiders like Louis DeJoy.

The Missouri Democratic Party is calling on the Missouri Republican Party to return the donation Louis DeJoy made while allegedly illegally reimbursing employees for campaign donations he pressured them into making. Former Missouri GOP Chair, Congresswoman Ann Wagner and the Missouri Republican Party should immediately denounce DeJoy’s alleged scheme and do what is right.”

Missouri Democratic Party Statement on Trump’s ‘Play It Down’ Comment On Coronavirus Threat

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 04:30:30 GMT

Kansas City, MO (September 9, 2020) – In response to President Trump’s on-the-record admission that he wanted to conceal and downplay the true threat of the coronavirus, Missouri Democratic Party spokesperson Andrew Storey released the following statement:

“Donald Trump made clear what we’ve long suspected: He and his administration have downplayed the true threat of the coronavirus pandemic to American lives for his own political gain. Instead of providing accurate information to the public, Trump hid the realities, failed to prepare the country, and lied to our faces.”

“Today’s revelations prove Americans can’t trust the Trump administration to do what is in the best interest of the public. Leaders like Governor Parson, who take their cues from Trump’s downplaying of the threat of coronavirus, should immediately reassess where their priorities are, take a stand, and hold the president accountable for his lies.”

RELEASE: Missouri Democratic Party Statement on Governor Parson’s Proposed Concurrent Jurisdiction

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 04:29:15 GMT

(August 10, 2020) – Today, Governor Parson announced his intention to broaden the special session to include legislation that would allow the Attorney General to insert himself into the duties of another elected official. This is a blatant attack on Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner. Missouri Democratic Party Acting Chair, Hon. Clem Smith, released the following statement:

“This is a shameful and obvious attack on Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, the first Black woman elected to the position. By significantly expanding Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s power over one specific jurisdiction, while Missouri faces rising gun violence across the state, it signals Parson’s true intention. Governor Parson has taken a page from President Trump’s playbook, dog-whistling about cities where Democrats lead. Governor Parson is working to divide us against each other by blaming poor, Black, and Brown people for our problems so Republicans can rig the rules in their favor, to benefit themselves and greedy lobbyists, insiders, and special interests. Governor Parson and Attorney General Eric Schmitt should listen to their constituents, who, overwhelmingly, have endorsed Ms. Gardner’s record by voting for her in the recent primary. It is the constituents of St. Louis who hold their Circuit Attorney accountable, not politicians in Jefferson City.

This is yet another political stunt in an election year that will give Jefferson City more power over the City of St. Louis. If Governor Parson and the Republicans were serious about gun violence, they would have listened last year to the calls to address gun violence, and they could have listened for many years as violence has grown under the Republican control. As a longtime politician, Governor Parson has had ample opportunities in his tenure as an elected official to work on finding solutions to gun violence. Yet, instead of addressing criminal justice reform and gun violence, Governor Parson and Republicans just want to score political points and distract voters from the lack of leadership they’ve shown during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Missouri Democratic Party Statement on Celebration of Juneteenth

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 04:27:20 GMT

St. Louis, MO (June 19, 2020) – Today, on Juneteenth, Missouri Democratic Party Vice Chair Clem Smith and Secretary Rev. Darryl Gray released the following statement:

“Juneteenth is a time of remembrance, acknowledgement, and learning. The Declaration of Independence proclaimed that “all men are created equal” and “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. That among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Written in 1776, that statement did not apply to the hundreds of thousands of Black slaves in this country and it would be nearly a century before Black Americans would be freed. And even after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, slavery still existed in the United States. It would be two and a half years after Lincoln gave his famed address that slaves in Texas would learn of their freedom.

In the 150 years since the end of slavery we have made a lot of progress, but there is still a long way to go towards true equality.

With protests against police brutality and systemic racism taking place across not only America, but the world, we are yet again reminded that justice does not come automatically. COVID-19 laid bare the racial health disparities, environmental injustice, and the wealth inequity that plagues Black communities.

As we celebrate this Juneteenth, we are reminded that there are still many obstacles our people face in the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.

While today we can celebrate how far we’ve come, we must acknowledge how far we have yet to go. Black Americans cannot truly be free until we’re free to jog, free to enter our own homes, free to sleep at night, without the worry we’ll be killed for the color of our skin.”

Missouri Democratic Party Statement on DACA Ruling

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 04:25:34 GMT

Kansas City, MO (June 18, 2020) – This morning the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the Trump Administration’s attempt to dismantle the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program was done illegally. Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford released the following statement:

“Take time today to celebrate the victory of humanity over hate. While the Supreme Court admonished the President’s illegal scheme to take aim at the rights of Dreamers, we must continue to fight for a system that’s worthy of this nation of immigrants, securing a pathway to citizenship.

Dreamers are members of our communities, they’re our neighbors, our friends, our loved ones. They are building a better America. Nearly 30,000 Dreamers are working in health care, fighting COVID to make America safe. The Trump administration’s attempts to take away the only place they’ve ever known shows the consistent inhumanity of this administration.”

Missouri Democratic Party on US COVID-19-Related Deaths Surpassing 100,000

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 27 May 2020 01:20:50 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party on US COVID-19-Related Deaths Surpassing 100,000

Kansas City, MO (May 27, 2020) – As news broke that the United States has surpassed 100,000 COVID-related deaths, Missouri Democratic Party Chair Jean Peters Baker issued the following statement:

“We are devastated to learn that more than 100,000 Americans have died as a result of the COVID pandemic, and we extend our most profound sympathies to those who have lost a loved one to this virus. That so many of these deaths could have been prevented by a proactive, science-based approach on the part of President Trump compounds the tragedy of losing so many lives in such a short time. Had the President heeded advice from experts in the fields of health and science, and had there been large-scale social distancing measures in place just a week earlier, it is believed 36,000 lives could have been spared. The president was made aware of the virus back in January – it’s impossible to know where we’d be today had he acted with more urgency and proactive leadership.

The coronavirus has infected and killed a disproportionate percentage of the Black community, the consequence of decades of inequalities coming to fruition. Black Missourians are dying from COVID-19 at a rate that is six times higher than white Missourians. Lack of affordable healthcare has helped worsen the spread and deadliness of the disease in Black communities, and we must work to rectify those inequalities, by expanding access to healthcare, not dismantling protections for those with pre-existing conditions through the ACA as Trump and his Republican colleagues continue to do during this pandemic. This November, we must elect leaders who will fight inequality, not exacerbate it.”

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Background: U.S. Could Have Saved 100,000 Lives If Social Distancing Started 1 Week Earlier: Study

Missouri Democratic Party Statement on Passing of Senator Chuck Graham

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 20 May 2020 01:17:37 GMT

Kansas City, MO (May 20, 2020) – After learning of the tragic passing of former Missouri state senator Chuck Graham, the Missouri Democratic Party released the following statement:

“Senator Chuck Graham was a tremendous advocate for research, science, and knowledge even at a time when those ideas were under siege. Especially now, as the need for research and science is needed more than ever, Chuck’s advocacy will be greatly missed. His legacy will be his work on behalf of those with disabilities and chronic health challenges that are now living better lives.”

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Missouri Democratic Party on California v. Texas

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 06 May 2020 01:16:21 GMT

Kansas City, MO (May 6, 2020) – As opening briefs are submitted in California v. Texas, Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford released the following statement:

“Attorney General Eric Schmitt is more worried about chasing headlines than serving the best interests of Missourians. To continue to press forward with this suit, especially during a global health pandemic, is immoral and illogical. Eric Schmitt would be responsible for at least 169,000 Missourians losing their health care. The protections for Missourians with pre-existing conditions would throw 2.4 million Missourians into disarray, putting them at risk of losing lifesaving coverage. The cruelty of overturning the ACA cannot be understated, without it COVID-19 could be used by an insurer to deny coverage as a pre-existing condition. We need an Attorney General who will spend tax dollars to help the people of Missouri, not one whose main goal is to score an interview on Fox News.”

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Rep. Vicky Hartzler Has Put Herself Ahead of Her Constituents

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 01:14:52 GMT

Rep. Vicky Hartzler Has Put Herself Ahead of Her Constituents

Kansas City, MO (April 29, 2020) – Yesterday, it was reported that Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler’s family businesses had applied for and received Paycheck Protection Program loans. With the overwhelming interest in the program, legislation had been passed that would bar members of Congress or their family members from receiving the money intended for hard-hit industries. Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford made the following comment:

“One would hope Congresswoman Hartzler knew that Congress had passed legislation barring themselves and their families from receiving funding intended to help the industries hardest hit by COVID-19 survive the pandemic.. Hartzler took her hypocrisy to the next level by voting against the creation of a bi-partisan oversight committee to watch over the PPP funds. We need politicians who will put their constituents first, not themselves. Congresswoman Hartzler should return the funds she received so struggling Missouri businesses can have their fair shot – even if they aren’t owned by D.C. politicians.”

BACKGROUND:

Columbia Daily Tribune: Hartzler-owned firms receive disaster loans

Like many businesses, those owned by U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler and her husband, Lowell Hartzler, applied for and received Paycheck Protection Program loans to stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Paycheck Protection Program was created in the relief bill approved March 27 and given $349 billion for loans to businesses that kept employees on the payroll. The money may also be spent on expenses such as rent, mortgages and utilities, and if spent within eight weeks of receipt does not have to be repaid.
Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, voted for the original legislation and last week voted to add $310 billion to the loan fund. She opposed a proposal to create a special Congressional oversight subcommittee to monitor spending of federal aid and the overall response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
There are provisions of the bill that bar federal officials from participating in programs created by the legislation.
In the legislation signed March 27 by President Donald Trump, conflict of interest provisions bar the president, vice president, heads of executive branch departments, members of Congress or their spouses, children, or son- or daughter-in-law, “as determined under applicable common law,” from receiving money set aside for hard-hit industries such as airlines or hotels.

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Missouri Democratic Party to hold virtual State Convention

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 01:11:51 GMT

Kansas City, MO (April 28, 2020) – The Missouri Democratic Party will be holding its 2020 Democratic State Convention virtually, a first for the oldest Democratic Party west of the Mississippi. The online convention will kick off on June 13 with a live digital event, and voting will occur by online and mail-in balloting until June 19. Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford said the following:

“This is an unprecedented time in our state’s history and as such, we’re taking unprecedented measures to ensure the health and safety of Missourians. Leadership requires innovative and proactive planning, and our team is proving that despite COVID-19, Democrats are ready to organize however we can. While some restrictions on large events may have been lifted, we believe holding an in-person event that would see thousands of Democrats from across Missouri would be reckless and irresponsible. Missourians have lost much already, and we’re doing what we can to ensure that nobody has to choose between their health and participating in our democratic systems.”

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Odd Man Out: Parson Refuses to Join Midwestern States Pact, Work with Republicans and Democratic Governors to Reopen the Economy

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 01:10:32 GMT

At Today’s Press Conference, Parson Struggled to Explain Why He Wasn’t Working with Other Midwestern Governors

During his presser today, Mike Parson was asked about why he had refused to join a bipartisan pact of Midwestern governors on reopening the economy. His response? “What everybody else is doing? I can’t worry to see what they’re doing .”

It’s a bizarre answer from a governor whose state borders — and whose rural, urban, and suburban communities are deeply tied to — eight others.

The comments came after Illinois Governor JB Pritzker told reporters that Parson has been essentially missing in action — and impossible to work with on addressing the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Belleville News-Democrat :

When asked if he has had “any luck” working with Parson, Pritzker said, “No.”

“We reached out to Missouri and they are not interested in joining that pact,” the governor added. “Because we have no national strategy that everybody is following that works for everybody, the individual governors are making their own decisions.”

Parson’s refusal to join the pact — which includes the Republican governors of Ohio and Indiana and the Democratic governors of Wisconsin, Michigan, Kentucky, Illinois and Minnesota — has raised concerns. According to the News-Herald, “Metro-east leaders have expressed concern about community spread of COVID-19 from Missouri” and are deeply worried that Parson’s “‘piecemeal’ approach to restrictions during the pandemic could result in a resurgence of the virus.”

“Parson’s refusal to work with other Midwestern governors is just the latest example of him failing to protect Missourians’ health,” MDP spokesperson Kevin Donohoe said. “Working with Republican and Democratic governors to defeat coronavirus should be a no-brainer. Instead of doing what’s right, Parson only offers half-steps, half-baked talking points — and inaction.”

Belleville News-Democrat: Here’s how a quick end to coronavirus rules in Missouri could hurt southwest Illinois

KEY EXCERPTS:

A “piecemeal” approach to restrictions during the pandemic could result in a resurgence of the virus, St. Clair County Chairman Mark Kern said at a news conference in late March.
“Unfortunately, when you have a piecemeal effort going on in some states, that’s a problem,” Kern said. “What we don’t want to happen is to have an area that all of a sudden becomes a hotspot and reinfects the region .”
Pritzker said there’s nothing he can do about how neighboring governors decide to reopen businesses. Last week, Illinois joined a pact with the governors of Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Kentucky to develop a plan for reopening.
When asked if he has had “any luck” working with Parson, Pritzker said, “No.”
“We reached out to Missouri and they are not interested in joining that pact,” the governor added. “Because we have no national strategy that everybody is following that works for everybody, the individual governors are making their own decisions.”

Missouri Democratic Party Slams Parson’s Stimulus Working Group for Lack of Diversity

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 01:04:53 GMT

Mike Parson’s Secretive Stimulus Working Group Includes Zero Doctors, Zero Women, Zero People of Color, and Zero Members of the Business Community

Kansas City, MO (April 21, 2020) – Today, the Missouri Democratic Party called on Governor Mike Parson to immediately add much-needed diversity to his stimulus working group.

Yesterday, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch revealed that Parson’s “working group” — which is responsible for overseeing federal funds aimed at addressing the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic — currently does not include any women, people of color, medical professionals, Democrats, local elected officials, or members of the business community. Instead, the group is only made up of Republican men who work in government. A similar panel put together in 2009 by Governor Jay Nixon included members of both parties.

“Governor Parson has excluded those on the frontline of this crisis — communities of color, women, and health care workers — from having any say in how we rebuild our state,” said Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford. “An all-white panel of male political staffers from Jefferson City is simply unacceptable — and the governor needs to immediately fix this by appointing a panel that reflects the rich diversity of our state. It’s outrageous that in 2020, women, people of color, medical professionals, and business leaders are being excluded from helping determine how our state recovers from this crisis.”

Parson’s stimulus panel has been mired in secrecy and controversy since being announced last week. The group’s membership and meetings were not even public until yesterday — after Democrats helped put pressure on Parson.

BACKGROUND:

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Parson directs economic stimulus ‘working group’ to meet in public

KEY POINTS:

An “informal working group” tasked with providing recommendations on how to best spend billions of dollars in federal stimulus money will hold public meetings, a spokeswoman for Gov. Mike Parson told the Post-Dispatch on Monday.

“The Republican governor’s office announced the working group on April 10, saying it would ‘help make recommendations on the best use of the federal funding.’”

“But little else was known before Monday about the working group except for its
membership, which does not include women or Democrats. Whether its meetings would be public was unclear.”

Missouri Democratic Party on the 10-year anniversary of the ACA

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 00:58:59 GMT

Kansas City, MO (March 23, 2020) – Today marks the 10-year anniversary of President Barack Obama signing the Affordable Care Act into law. Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford released the following statement:

“With the country and world fighting the spread of COVID-19, today is a reminder of the importance of health care. Over the past ten years, millions of families have been able to access health care through the Affordable Care Act. The stark difference in leadership between President Obama and President Trump illuminates the contrast between parties. Health care is a human right, and Democrats are working to ensure access for all. Republicans, on the other hand, continue to press forward with their attempts to dismantle protections for people with preexisting conditions, without offering a plan for what’s next. Health care is on the ballot in 2020, and Missourians will be electing leadership who they can trust to protect it.”

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Missouri Democratic State Committee Approves Emergency Measures to Protect Against Coronavirus

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 00:56:34 GMT

Kansas City, MO (March 31, 2020) – Missouri Democratic Party Approves Additional Emergency Measures to Protect Against Coronavirus: Electronic and Vote By Mail for Delegate Selection

In light of the recent news that it could be two more months of restrictions (as of 3/30/2020), the Missouri Democratic Party has now adopted a definite electronic and by-mail voting program to select state and district-level national delegates.

MASS MEETING CAUCUSES, CONGRESSIONAL CONVENTIONS & 2ND QUARTER STATE COMMITTEE MEETING AT WHICH PLEOS ARE SELECTED

All caucuses and conventions (county, ward, and township mass meetings and congressional conventions) will be conducted via a google form or other electronic online balloting system to complete the essential party business of electing state and national delegates.

The online balloting systems ( example here ) will be administered by the Missouri Democratic Party staff who will be responsible for reporting results back to the local committees.
Delegate Candidate Qualifying Form s are due by 5pm on April 30, 2020 . This form will be used for filing for all state delegate candidates representing their ward, township, or county, as well as national district-level delegate filing, at-large delegate filing, and PLEO delegate filing. This must be filled out to qualify to run as any type of delegate to the State and National Conventions. Anyone who previously filed Form MM, Form F, PLEO, or any other form will be automatically filed for the position they filed for.
Digital and mail ballots to vote for state delegates will be able to be requested by the delegate or Democratic voters primarily via the website but can also be requested through mail, phone, or text.
Voters will be required to vouch that they voted in the March 10 presidential preference Democratic primary in order to participate, and will be verified will voter history rolls as available. An affidavit of being a Democrat and a registered voter remains.

MASS MEETING CAUCUSES – STATE-LEVEL DELEGATES

State level delegate filing period will last until 5pm on April 30, 2020 . Local Committees will be responsible for ensuring those in their respective political district area file the qualifying form to run as a state delegate. Nominees for state delegate to the state and congressional conventions must all fill out the online qualifying form.
Beginning April 2, 2020 and ending by 5pm on May 2, 2020 any sworn Democrat in the state of Missouri will be able to request a ballot be sent to them via email or mail. Local Committees will be responsible for ensuring those in their respective political district area fill out the ballot request form. Once the request is received from the voter, we will data-match them to the voter file and ballots will only be emailed or mailed as long as their address on their request form matches the address on record with the Secretary of State in order to verify their identity. Ballots can be requested online through MissouriDemocrats.org, by calling our office, or emailing a special email address.
The Local Committees and Delegate Selection and Affirmative Action Committee will advertise widely the processes for filing for state delegate and requesting a ballot and empower candidates to outreach to their networks to vote by requesting a ballot.
Balloting will occur over a 10 day period: May 9th – 18th . Ballots requested to be mailed will be mailed on May 9 (or prior) and must be received back via mail or other means by May 18. We suggest ballots be postmarked by 3pm on March 15th. Ballots requested to be emailed will be emailed out by the Missouri Democratic Party directly to the requestee. During the balloting period, local committee leadership (chairs & vice chairs of county committees, or ward or township committee people for St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and Jackson County) will have access to a regularly updated list of which voters have completed their ballots. It will be incumbent upon the local committees to follow up with voters and delegates to ensure ballots are completed within the allotted time frame. Lists of those who have requested state delegate ballots will be made available to delegate candidates for campaigning purposes.
Local committees may use reasonable means to reach out and help with getting ballots submitted. This can include helping facilitate voting via phone and text messages as long as the local committee helper is creating a receipt of the conversation for auditing purposes. Local committees shall not persuade voters to vote for one delegate candidate over another while helping facilitate their voting.
Candidates for ward, township, and county mass meetings state delegates must be gender balanced and will be decided by plurality at-large voting. All candidates for delegate for each respective candidate in their respective subdistrict (county, ward, township) will run against each other for m number of positions and each voter selects up to m candidates on the ballot (voters will have m votes, however they are unable to vote for the same candidate more than once). Voters will only be able to cast their ballot within the caucus of one presidential candidate. The m candidates with the most votes are the winners with providing for gender balance.
All unfilled state delegate spots at the ward, township, or county state delegate level will be automatically filled by the next highest vote getters from other candidates who filed to run as delegate in the same congressional district but were not elected at their ward, township, or county level. For example, if in Jackson County Ward 1, only 2 candidates file to run for the 4 total delegate spots, the remaining 2 spots will be filled by someone in a pool of those who also ran in Jackson County at their ward or township level and didn’t secure enough votes in their ward or township. All state delegate counts are available here.

CONGRESSIONAL CONVENTIONS – DISTRICT-LEVEL NATIONAL DELEGATES

District-level national delegate filing period will last until 5pm on April 30, 2020. Local Committees will be responsible for ensuring those in their respective political district area file the qualifying form to run as a national delegate. Ballots for district-level national delegates from their congressional district will be finalized by May 19, following the selection of the state-level mass meeting delegates, who will then vote on the district-level national delegates. The current delegate selection plan calls for having been elected a state delegate in order to run as national delegate, which this updated process adheres to. Nominees for district-level national delegates selected by the congressional conventions must all fill out the online qualifying form.
Presidential candidates who have not waived their candidate right of refusal will have the opportunity to review the list of nominees for national delegates and must certify the ballot by May 7.
Electronic ballots will be emailed out by the Missouri Democratic Party directly to the state delegates representing their ward, township, and county from the state delegate selection process aforementioned for selection of the district-level national delegates from each congressional district. State delegates will have the option to request a mail ballot.
Balloting will occur over a 10 day period, May 20 – May 30 . Ballots requested by state delegates to be mailed will be mailed on May 20 and must be received via mail or otherwise by May 30.
During the balloting period, Congressional District leadership (chairs and vice-chairs of congressional committees and county chairs within the district) will have access to a regularly updated list of which delegates have completed their ballots. It will be incumbent on the local committees to follow up with delegates to ensure ballots are completed within the allotted time frame. Lists of state delegates will be made available to those running as national delegates, for campaigning purposes.
Local committees may use reasonable means to reach out and help with getting ballots submitted. This can include helping facilitate voting via phone and text messages as long as the local committee helper is creating a receipt of the conversation for auditing purposes. Local committees shall not persuade voters to vote for one delegate candidate over another while helping facilitate their voting.
Candidates for national convention delegate must be gender-balanced and will be decided by plurality at-large voting. All candidates for delegate for each respective candidate in their respective congressional district will run against each other for m number of positions and each voter selects up to m candidates on the ballot (voters will have m votes, however they are unable to vote for the same candidate more than once). Voters will only be able to cast their ballot within the caucus of one presidential candidate. The m candidates with the most votes are the winners with providing for gender balance.
Nominees for National Delegate will have the opportunity to write a statement of candidacy. They must include gender identity and candidate preference.

2ND QUARTER STATE COMMITTEE MEETING – PLEO SELECTION

PLEO national delegate filing period will last until 5pm on April 30th, 2020. The State Party, Democratic committees and caucuses will be responsible for advertising that the Pledged Party Leaders and Elected Officials (PLEOs) file the qualifying form to run as a national PLEO delegate.
The previously scheduled May 9 State Committee meeting will be rescheduled for June 6.
The meeting will be held virtually via webinar or conference call regardless of CDC recommendations due to the expectation that the following weekend is the in-person State Convention and not wanting to burden State Committee Members with two weekends in a row of travel.
The meeting is being moved from May 9 to June 6 due to the rescheduling of the district-level national delegate selection to conform to the DNC’s National Convention Rule 10.A that requires that PLEO delegates be elected following the election of district level delegates.
During the June 6 State Committee Meeting, State Committee Members will select the PLEO delegates and temporary national convention standing committee members (9 members, 3 each for credentials, platform, and rules standing committees).
Any Democrat may apply for the position as a temporary member of the standing committees by submitting an application to Missouri Democratic Party with their name, contact information, for what temporary Convention Standing Committee they wish to be considered, and presidential preference or uncommitted status, no later than May 20, 2020 at 5pm. Applications may be via email to conventions@missouridems.org .
State Committee Members will select PLEO delegates and temporary standing committee members via google forms or other software which will be mailed out between 12pm to 10pm on June 5. During the June 6 virtual meeting, PLEO national delegate candidates will be given one minute to address the state committee members. Electronic ballots will be due to be submitted by State Committee Members by 10pm on June 6.
All rules concerning the election of temporary standing committee members from the delegate selection plan will remain, such as presidential right of review, requirements for a separate election for membership on each committee, proportionality to represent presidential preference, and the male and female membership (determined by self-identification) of each standing committee shall be as equally divided as possible under the state allocation, i.e. the variance between men and women on any committee, or among the three committees in aggregate, shall not exceed one.
Votes on PLEO national delegates and temporary standing committee members will be decided by a plurality vote.
As a reminder, individuals shall be eligible for the pledged Party Leader and Elected Official delegate positions according to the following priority set by DNC Rule 10.A.1 & Reg. 4.16: big city mayors and state-wide elected officials (to be given equal consideration); state legislative leaders, state legislators, and other state, county, and local elected officials and party leaders. Automatic delegates who choose to run for PLEO delegate will be given equal consideration with big city mayors and state-wide elected officials.

STATE CONVENTION – AT-LARGE DELEGATES, DNC MEMBERS, RESOLUTIONS

At this point the State Convention is still being planned as an in-person event for June 13th at the Columbia Convention Center, though we may need to change those plans based on further guidance from federal, state, and local officials and public health agencies. If we must not hold an in-person state convention, we will move balloting for at-large delegates, resolutions, and DNC members to be digital with a mailed voting option.

DNC Member filing and Resolutions Submission forms will be required by May 20, 2020 at 5pm via an online webform. The Missouri Democratic Party will make the DNC filing form and Resolutions Submission forms available by April 15.

If the State Convention is held in-person, delegates to the state convention will be allowed to carry up to (1) proxy vote for delegates who are unable to attend in-person. These proxies must be instructed as to the vote preferences of the delegates not in attendance. Proxy instructions should be ranked whenever possible. Proxy votes will only be allowed for delegate selection and not for selection of DNC members. Proxies must be held by a delegate who is in the same congressional district as whom the proxy is for, in order to ensure respective political district fairness.

RULES & BYLAWS & PROCEEDINGS

The MDP will limit the business of all delegate selection proceedings to only essential items: Election of delegates and alternates, election of standing committee members, election of DNC members, and voting on resolutions. The Chair may rule non-essential business as out of order or add essential business to the proceedings.
Loosening the requirements on party notification of events: forgo notification requirements for party meetings regarding delegate selection when reason and justification is provided.
Allow party state and local committees to conduct conventions, meetings, and proceedings via telephonic, internet, or other electronic means.
In consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of any Congressional District, the officers of the Democratic State Committee are authorized to make alterations that may be necessary to achieve the purposes of the Delegate Selection.
The MDP will prohibit any official MDP in-person sponsored event or gathering from occurring from March 16th – May 30th. This includes fundraisers, party meetings, social events, trainings, delegate selection proceedings, etc.
The MDP offices will not be available for the public until further notice. Only credentialed personnel will be permitted to access our offices on an as-needed basis. All MDP staff implemented a teleworking policy as of Friday, March 15th. MDP has also cancelled all staff out-of-state until further notice.
We recommend our campaigns and local committees to only have meetings held virtually using Google Hangouts, Zoom, and conference calls and we will help facilitate the use of online technology for our committees and campaigns to use to organize and carry on. We have developed recommendations on virtual and online organizing tactics for our campaigns to utilize, as well as health, medical, and other guidance via our Campaigning During Coronavirus Guide at http://www.missouridemocrats.org/campaigningduringcoronavirus
In regards to canvassers, the MDP recommends that all canvassing stops until further notice. In order to win majorities in November, we have a lot of persuadable voters we need to connect with. The best way to do that is phones, email, digital apps, and other internet communications. Don’t stop campaigning. This election is as critical as any in our lifetimes, but let’s begin to change the nature of our campaign efforts to consider the public health reality.

TIME TABLE

Kansas City, MO (March 15, 2020) – This afternoon, the Missouri Democratic Party State Committee met and approved a slate of emergency measures to combat the spread of COVID-19.

Jean Peters Baker, Chairwoman of the Missouri Democratic Party released the following statement:

“The Missouri Democratic Party is committed to doing everything we can to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health and well-being of Missourians. Today, the Missouri Democratic Party approved significant changes to our convention schedule which will allow us to conduct essential party business while lowering the risk of coronavirus transmission.

The Missouri Democratic Party will immediately postpone all delegate selection proceedings by seven weeks, to begin on May 30th, and will reorganize our process to limit the number of meetings. These meetings are still planned to be in-person on May 30th, but we have passed provisions to allow for virtual meetings if we later need to offer that option. We have additionally provided provisions to allow for delegates to fill delegate spots if they are not in attendance, which will help remedy potential future low attendance and ensure we allow the process to be Democratic. The Missouri Democratic Party will continue to monitor the situation carefully and may make future changes in consultation with public health experts.

This was not an easy decision to make, however we are currently in the middle of one of the worst public health crises in the past century and the MDP is committed to doing our part to keep our party members, candidates, elected officials, and the public at large safe during this difficult time.”

Below is a more detailed explanation of the changes adopted by the Missouri Democratic State Committee. These changes are set to expire after the Missouri Democratic State Convention:

On Delegate Selection Proceedings:

MASS MEETINGS: All mass meetings scheduled on April 6th are cancelled and the delegate selection plan will be updated to have all state delegates, which under the prior plan would have been elected at the mass meetings, to be elected at the congressional conventions instead.

Previously, the state delegates elected at mass meetings on April 6th would then move on to the April 30th congressional convention and June 20th state convention. We are collapsing the first step of mass meetings to instead elect all state delegates at the congressional district conventions (postponed to be held on May 30th), and then those delegates will immediately proceed to elect the national convention delegates. This is to reduce the number of meetings held for safety purposes, and it still fulfills the process of electing state delegates who vote in congressional conventions and go onto the state convention to vote on resolutions, at-large national delegates, and DNC members.
The total state delegation size will remain the same. The calculations for delegate apportionment and allocation will be done in accordance with how the current delegate selection plan details.
The previous role of mass meeting chairs – county chairs, and ward and township committeepeople in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and Jackson County – will be modified in accordance with moving state delegates to be elected at the congressional conventions. The Congressional Conventions will have an officer of a county committee that falls within the congressional district serve as the Secretary for the Congressional Convention meeting, rather than the Secretary of the Congressional District Committee.
Form MM (filing to run for a state delegate) may now be filed in advance by May 15th so that state delegate candidates who do not attend in person may still be considered to fill vacancies. They may still be filed in-person at the Congressional Conventions on May 30th so that those coming in person, who have not pre-filed, may still run as state delegates. The pre-filing forms will be used to fill vacant state delegate positions. Those who have already prefiled their Form MM will remain valid.
Public calls for all meetings will be due to be disseminated 30 days prior to any meeting.

CONGRESSIONAL CONVENTIONS: All congressional conventions scheduled on April 30th are postponed to May 30th.

State delegates will be elected as the first step at the May 30th congressional conventions, and then will immediately proceed to elect the national district-level delegates from each congressional district.
The congressional district chair will act as the meeting chair during the entirety of the in-person meeting, from electing state delegates to electing national delegates. Caucuses will still be formed for each respective candidate, which will have caucus chairs that report results to the meeting chair. The Congressional Conventions will have an officer of a county committee that falls within the congressional district serve as the Secretary for the Congressional Convention meeting, rather than the Secretary of the Congressional District Committee.
In the event that in-person congressional conventions are not recommended by federal, state, and local public health authorities, the MDP will officially chair each congressional convention in order to run teleconferencing and/or video conferencing software to conduct the convention.
Delegates elected to the state convention will be elected in the same proportion as the original delegate selection plan indicated, granting the same number of delegate positions to each county, ward, or township as was allocated in the original delegate selection plan. Any vacancies not filled by state delegates afterward will be filled by those in attendance at the congressional convention and then those who pre-filed and will be selected by random drawing.
District-Level national delegates may pre-file by May 15th and will be considered to run as national delegates if they are first elected as state delegates at the beginning of the congressional convention, or they may file and run in person at the Congressional Convention on May 30th.

2ND QUARTER STATE COMMITTEE MEETING & PLEO ELECTION: The 2nd quarter state committee meeting scheduled for May 9 will be held virtually via webinar or conference call. The business of electing PLEO delegates will be done via the webinar or conference call. PLEO delegates must still file online to run in advance by May 1st.

STATE CONVENTION: The State Convention, currently scheduled to be held on June 20th in Kansas City, will be relocated to a mid-Missouri location in Columbia, Jefferson City, or the Lake Ozarks area and potentially will have the date changed.

The MDP bylaws provision on the state convention date are suspended to allow for a date change, as to be determined by MDP staff determining venue availability. This is to ease attendee’s travel and make contingency plans for date changes determined by MDP bylaws.
Allow delegates to the state convention to carry up to (1) proxy vote for delegates who are unable to attend in-person conventions. These proxies must be instructed as to the vote preferences of the delegates not in attendance. Proxy instructions should be ranked whenever possible. Proxy votes will only be allowed for delegate selection and not for selection of DNC members. Proxies must be held by a delegate who is in the same congressional district as whom the proxy is for, in order to ensure geographic fairness.
Allow unfilled state delegate positions after the congressional conventions to be automatically filled by those who filed in advance to run as a state delegate, which will accommodate those who want to run and are unable to attend their congressional convention. Random selection will be used to fill vacant delegate spots in order to ensure fairness.

The MDP will limit the business of all delegate selection proceedings to only essential items: Election of delegates and alternates, election of standing committee members, election of DNC members, and voting on resolutions. The Chair may rule non-essential business as out of order or add essential business to the proceedings.

Contingency measures for virtual meetings, remote balloting and/or voting and mail-in ballots will be developed as contingency plans for congressional and state conventions in the event that in-person gatherings are still a risk at those later dates. The Delegate Selection plan will be amended to allow for general virtual voting measures.

On General Proceedings, Office Protocol, Events, and Recommendations:

The MDP will prohibit any official MDP in-person sponsored event or gathering from occurring from March 16th – May 1st. This includes fundraisers, party meetings, social events, trainings, delegate selection proceedings, etc.
The MDP offices will not be available for the public from March 16th until May 1st. Only credentialed personnel will be permitted to access our offices on an as-needed basis. All MDP staff implemented a teleworking policy as of Friday, March 15th, until further notice. MDP has also cancelled all staff out-of-state travel until May 1st.
We recommend our campaigns and local committees to only have meetings held virtually using Google Hangouts, Zoom, and conference calls and we and our partners in the House Caucus will help facilitate the use of online technology for our committees and campaigns to use to organize and carry on. We and our House Caucus partners are developing a series of recommendations on virtual and online organizing tactics for our campaigns to utilize, as well as health, medical, and other guidance.
In regards to canvassers, the MDP recommends that all canvassing stops until further notice. In order to win majorities in November, we have a lot of persuadable voters we need to connect with. The best way to do that is phones, email, digital apps, and other internet communications. Don’t stop campaigning, this election is as critical as any in our lifetimes, but let’s begin to change the nature of our campaign efforts to consider the public health reality.
We have developed a Coronavirus FAQ , a campaigning while coronavirus guide , and Mass Meeting and Congressional Convention Chair Guidance , which will be updated daily to reflect new information and guidance and found at www.missouridemocrats.org/coronavirus

On Rules & Bylaws:

Loosening the requirements on party notification of events: forgo notification requirements for party meetings and conventions when reason and justification is provided.
Allow party state and local committees to conduct conventions, meetings, and proceedings via telephonic, internet, or other electronic means.
In consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of any Congressional District, the officers of the the Democratic State Committee are authorized to make alterations that may be necessary to achieve the purposes of the Delegate Selection.

Missouri Democratic Party encouraged by early findings in Presidential Primary results

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 00:36:47 GMT

Kansas City, MO (March 10, 2020) – Today’s Presidential Primary election illustrates several positive findings for the Missouri Democratic Party. Lauren Gepford, Executive Director, commented:

“We feel positive and excited that what we’ve heard through on-the-ground conversations with our base is shown in today’s data – Missouri Democrats are united to defeat Donald Trump and Republicans up and down the ballot this November. ABC News exit polls found the vast majority of Missouri Democrats (82%) will support the eventual Democratic nominee .

According to several exit polls, healthcare remains the predominant top issue for the vast majority of voters. Missouri already struggles with large gaps in our healthcare system both in terms of insurance coverage and availability. Governor Parson, in lockstep with national Republicans, has kicked kids off their healthcare and actively campaigned against the Medicaid Expansion ballot initiative. We’re confident Missourians will show us in November that they won’t stand for that.

Over 660,000 voters were cast for the Democratic Presidential Primary, a record breaking turnout higher than 2016. Around twice as many Democrats voted compared to Republicans. The wind is at the backs of Democrats this year.”

Missouri Democratic Party on SCOTUS’ decision to hear ACA case

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 00:35:02 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party on SCOTUS’ decision to hear ACA case

Kansas City, MO (March 2, 2020) – The Supreme Court revealed today that it intends to hear a third case deciding the fate of the Affordable Care Act and, by extension, the fate of the 20 million Americans who will lose healthcare coverage if the ACA is repealed. Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford issued the following statement:

“The message that the Republicans challenging the ACA are sending is loud and clear – they don’t care whether you can afford the health care you need. If they did, they wouldn’t be trying to eliminate a policy that has led to a nearly 6-point decline in America’s uninsured rate, and they wouldn’t be stripping protections from those with pre-existing conditions. What makes this even worse, after pushing for repeal for years, President Trump and the Republicans still have no alternative plan. Missourians deserve better than constant threats to their healthcare coverage, and they deserve better than Governor Parson’s hand-picked Attorney General Eric Schmitt, who eagerly took up the fight against Missourians’ health and well being right where Josh Hawley left off.”

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RELEASE: Audit Confirms Legislative Republicans Wasted Taxpayer Money on Unprecedented Political Sham to Discredit Galloway

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 00:29:05 GMT

RELEASE: Audit Confirms Legislative Republicans Wasted Taxpayer Money on Unprecedented Political Sham to Discredit Galloway

Today, State Auditor Nicole Galloway released a close-out audit of former AG Josh Hawley’s office as requested by Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft. The release of the report this week laid bare the complete hypocrisy of Republican state legislators and their unprecedented actions to investigate her office prior to the audit being released.

Just last week, state Republican legislators were up in arms over claims of political bias in the anticipated audit despite not one having seen the final report. Instead of waiting just one week for the audit to be released, state Republicans held an unprecedented committee hearing over an unseen audit. All in a desperate attempt to poison the well and discredit the only Democrat in statewide office and what they knew would be a critical report. The legislature had never before investigated an audit before its release.

“Republican state legislators should be ashamed of themselves,” said Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director, Lauren Gepford. “Rather than wait just one week for the audit to be released and look at the facts, they orchestrated a politically-motivated dog and pony show to try and poison the well and discredit State Auditor Nicole Galloway and career audit staff. Instead of wasting their time and taxpayer resources on politically motivated shams, legislators should be focused on helping people and cleaning up the mess in Jefferson City.”

Missouri Democratic Party statement on the 10th Anniversary of Citizens United

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 00:23:55 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party statement on the 10th Anniversary of Citizens United

Kansas City, MO (January 21, 2020) – In the decade since the Citizens United decision, there has been a wave of dark money ushered into politics, allowing corporations to buy influence on politicians. This influx of dark money has brought nothing but good things to Congresswoman Ann Wagner, including over $5.3 million in donations from special interest groups. Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford commented:

“Ann Wagner has shown that she has the interests of the wealthy in mind, not her constituents. She has voted against lowering prescription drug costs, protecting the Affordable Care Act, implementing background checks on gun sales, and countless other issues that have popular support on both sides of the aisle. It’s clear that she’s not in Congress to give a voice to her constituency, and she leaves the people of the second district without a true representative.”

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Release: Governor Mike Parson once again demonstrates that he is not ready for prime time

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 22:22:08 GMT

Kansas City, Mo. (January 15, 2020) – This afternoon at 3:00 p.m., unelected Governor Mike Parson is delivering his second State of the State address. It is the second time he has delivered the speech in the middle of the afternoon on a workday, as millions of Missourians go about their daily lives. Governor Parson’s outline of his priorities for Missouri couldn’t be more disconnected from average Missourians. His delivery of priorities while most Missourians aren’t paying attention demonstrates who he is working for: the well connected insiders who spend their days working the hallways of the Capitol.

Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director, Lauren Gepford, released the following statement:

“Governor Parson is demonstrating that he isn’t ready for prime time by delivering an address crafted by and directed to the politicians and insiders that run Jefferson City. This Governor is a creature of the Jefferson City insider-class and is most comfortable speaking exclusively to lobbyists and politicians rather than working families. Missourians are looking for a Governor willing to engage with them directly on an agenda that addresses their needs, but instead Governor Parson is delivering for the well connected while they’re busy at work or picking up the kids from school.”

RELEASE: Missouri Democratic Party statement on Gov. Parson’s 2020 State of the State Address

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 00:21:32 GMT

Governor Mike Parson’s agenda is failing working families.

Kansas City, Mo. (January 15, 2020) – Governor Mike Parson touted his accomplishments in his first full year as Governor this afternoon in a daytime speech delivered in front of several hundred politicians and insiders. His agenda is not an agenda for average Missouri families, who continue to struggle on his watch.

Tens of thousands of Missouri kids have been kicked off their health insurance because of the administration’s bureaucratic barriers and the Governor refuses to act.
Gun homicides and suicides continue to ravage Missouri communities. While the Governor has suggested interest in a gun crime proposal suggested by the mayors of Missouri’s four largest cities, recent reporting suggests that he hasn’t yet drafted a proposal or spoken to legislative leaders about it. A top Republican in the House suggested the Governor’s idea would go nowhere on his watch. Parson suggested on conservative talk radio last week that he won’t be putting forward common sense gun safety measures this election year.
Parson touted his economic record, but a recent report from the University of Missouri showed that our state’s economic growth has not kept pace with our regional neighbors. Economic growth in rural Missouri is especially lagging.

Following the speech, Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford released the following statement: “Simply put, Governor Parson is not leading on the issues that matter most to average working families. It’s more clear than ever that Missouri needs a change from the same old way of doing business, where insiders and the well connected get what they want while working families struggle with rising costs, stagnant wages, and unsafe streets. This Governor was never elected to serve in this role, and Missouri Democrats are going to work tirelessly to ensure he never is. ”

Missouri Democratic Party calls on Josh Hawley to resign or be expelled

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 10:34:18 GMT

St. Louis, MO (January 9, 2020) – This week Josh Hawley became the face of the insurrection that led to the invasion of the Capitol. Missouri Democratic Party Chair Michael Butler released the following statement:

“Josh Hawley aided and abetted an attack on our democracy and the U.S. Capitol. He does not deserve to be called a U.S. Senator. Since the attack, Hawley has accepted none of the responsibility that falls squarely at his, Ted Cruz, and Donald Trump’s feet. His stunt to benefit his own political ambitions ended in bloodshed and death, and that will forever stain his resume. I am calling on Josh Hawley to resign from the United States Senate, and if he will not, he should be immediately expelled from the Senate.”

United States Constitution Amendment 14, Section 3: “No Person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.”

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Missouri Democratic Party Chair on reports that Governor Parson’s administration forgave a state loan linked to donors to his political campaign

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 22:20:21 GMT

Kansas City, Mo. (December 4, 2019) – Missouri Democratic Party Chairwoman Jean Peters Baker, released the following statement:

“Missourians should be outraged by the news that Governor Parson’s administration encouraged state officials to work with donors to his political campaign seeking forgiveness of a state loan. Even if the deal made economic sense for Sedalia, if those seeking it weren’t political donors they wouldn’t have received the time of day from this administration. This is a perfect illustration of how access has a price tag where the well connected get exactly what they want from this Governor. That his hand-picked Attorney General, Eric Schmitt, is missing in action is further illustration of the corruption of Jefferson City under single-party rule.”

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Background

According to MO DNR, no other state loan such as this one had ever been forgiven.

“After appeal to Missouri governor, nonprofit settled $75,000 loan for just $9,459,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Nov 29, 2019 https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/after-appeal-to-missouri-governor-nonprofit-settled-loan-for-just/article_232bb6f9-a40c-550b-878b-0d5afdcbf718.html

“Germinder sent a memo to Duecker and to Kayla Hahn, Parson’s policy director, on Oct. 10, 2018. He said the department had not found another instance of loan forgiveness . Nothing in state law prevented modifying the loan, he said, but the state would have to weigh the public’s interest in any negotiation.”

Missouri Democrats Call on Governor Parson to Investigate Patient Privacy Concern

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 22:16:41 GMT

Kansas City, Mo. (Oct. 29, 2019) – Following testimony where Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Randall Williams revealed that he directed his office to track patients of Planned Parenthood’s menstrual periods, the Missouri Democratic Party is calling on Governor Parson to investigate this obvious overreach into the privacy between a patient and their doctor.

“It is certainly shocking, but not necessarily surprising, that Dr. Williams used his power to completely disregard any privacy that should be reasonably expected between a patient and their doctor. Using this information to target Planned Parenthood is another example of Republicans ignoring protections in an effort to regulate reproductive health. From passing an unconstitutional ban on abortions that offers no protections for victims of rape and incest, to the Governor’s top aide admitting a ‘main goal’ of his is to shut down Planned Parenthood, to attempting to pack the courts of Missouri with a judge who has attacked in vitro fertilization, to using a spreadsheet to track patients’ menstrual periods, Republicans have shown that if you’re able to become pregnant in Missouri, you have little control over your body. These efforts are extreme and do not represent the will of Missourians, and we call on Governor Parson to take today’s news seriously and open an investigation immediately,” said Executive Director Lauren Gepford.

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Missouri Democratic Party statement on Governor Parson’s Campaign Announcement

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Sat, 07 Sep 2019 22:13:50 GMT

Kansas City, Mo. (Sept 8, 2019) –

Following Governor Parson’s campaign launch today, Missouri Democratic Party Chair Jean Peters Baker released the following statement:

“Governor Parson has simply not delivered for working families struggling with the cost of everything from health care to child care to housing. Instead of demonstrating leadership on our most urgent and immediate challenges, the Governor signed the nation’s most extreme law to limit womens’ reproductive health choices and he just called legislators back to Jefferson City to – of all things – work out a deal for car dealers while Missourians are suffering from an epidemic of gun violence. His agenda is not an agenda for Missouri families. Missouri Democrats look forward to making the case for change.”

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Missouri Democratic Party calls on Governor Parson to remove corrupt political operative from his campaign.

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 22:08:43 GMT

Kansas City, Mo. (July 26, 2019) – Today, an investigative report from ProPublica revealed that at least one former staffer of the American Conservative Union used the organization’s donor list to scam donors into giving to nearly $10 million to a PAC and then kept the money for himself and his associates. The Executive Director of the American Conservative Union at the time was Robert Gregg Keller. He declined to explain whether he was involved in or benefited personally from this scam.

Around the same time this scam began in 2012, Keller was also involved in a dark money shell game involved in the 2012 US Senate race in Missouri. He was later fined by the Federal Election Commission for his involvement in willfully concealing donor identities in violation of federal law.

“In his time at the American Conservative Union, it appears that Mr. Keller was involving himself in dark money schemes, outright scams, and willful violations of campaign finance laws. He is the very embodiment of the corrupt political operative, yet has been elevated into the highest ranks of the Governor’s campaign effort,” said Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford. “We’re calling upon Parson and the Missouri GOP to remove Keller from his position as chairman of the Missouri Republican 2020 election effort.”

Earlier this year, Parson praised Keller’s selection as campaign director for Missouri Republicans in 2020 :

“Gregg Keller is one of the leading campaign operatives in the country and he’ll work closely with me and Kay to help elect Republicans everywhere from our 2020 statewide ticket to growing and maintaining our majorities in the state House and Senate,” Governor Parson said.

Gepford added that, “Parson should explain, in spite of this history, why Keller was chosen to lead his campaign effort in 2020 and whether Parson will have this kind of activity surrounding his own election effort.”

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Governor Parson defends Department of Revenue failure to issue tax refunds in a timely manner. Questions arise over fiscal strategy to trigger tax cuts.

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 22:00:54 GMT

Kansas City, Mo. (July 9, 2019) – As news of the Missouri Department of Revenue’s failure to issue tax refunds in a timely manner mount, Missouri Democrats are raising the possibility that refunds were held back in a failed attempt to trigger Kansas-style tax cuts.

According to a report yesterday evening from Columbia, Mo ABC-affiliate KMIZ, the Department of Revenue is still processing $8.5 million worth of tax refunds for approximately 71,000 taxpayers. Last week, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the state fell short of the revenue growth needed to trigger the law that reduces the state’s income tax rate if net revenue growth exceeds 1%.

The question for the Parson administration is whether the slow processing of income tax refunds was designed to hold revenue back in order to trigger an income tax cut ahead of Parson’s gubernatorial campaign launch. Parson’s administration has blamed a new computer system for the delays.

“Parson’s administration has known for months that a new computer system was coming online to process refunds, yet they were totally unprepared for it. Either the administration is incompetent or this is an excuse for a fiscal strategy intended to trigger tax cuts ahead of a campaign launch,” said Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford. “If Parson held back tax refunds for tens of thousands of Missouri taxpayers in a failed effort to implement a tax cut then those taxpayers still waiting for a refund deserve accountability.”

Auditor Nicole Galloway has repeatedly raised concerns around the Parson administration’s failure to issue tax refunds in a timely manner. Earlier this year, Galloway called attention to a withholding table calculation that was seemingly designed to capture more revenue from workers’ paychecks as the state struggled to meet its revenue targets.

The continued delays in issuing refunds would seem to continue a pattern of gaming revenue.

Parson says he has “full confidence” in his pick to lead the Missouri Department of Revenue. If so, Missourians should have no confidence in Parson to lead state government.

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Governor Parson’s European vacation insults hard-working Missourians

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 21:57:19 GMT

Kansas City, Mo. (June 24, 2019) – According to news reports, un-elected Governor Mike Parson has handed off the powers vested in the Governor to his un-elected, appointed Lieutenant Governor, Mike Kehoe, for the duration of an extended vacation.

Parson travelled to Europe in his official capacity, but is extending the trip to take two-weeks off from being Governor, as flood waters continue to ravage Missouri, and as women grapple with his administration’s cruel position on their constitutional right to choose.

The costs associated with the Governor’s travel to Europe were shared by the taxpayers and the non-profit Hawthorn Foundation, which a state audit last year blasted for not having appropriate accountability of expenditures of significant public dollars.

“The majority of Missouri workers don’t earn two-weeks of paid vacation after just one year on the job and taxpayer paid air travel to their destination,” said Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director, Lauren Gepford. “Leaving the country for several weeks as flood waters continue to damage property and lives is an insult to hard-working Missourians everywhere.”

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Missouri Democrats slam culmination of GOP attacks on the constitutional rights of Missouri women

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Thu, 30 May 2019 21:54:45 GMT

Kansas City, Mo. (May 31) – On Wednesday, Missouri’s un-elected Governor defended his decision to revoke the license of Missouri’s sole remaining abortion provider in St. Louis. Today, a judge in St. Louis granted a temporary restraining order, blocking the state from shutting down the last abortion provider in the state. Following the decision, the Kansas City Star reported on coordination by the Governor’s office and anti-choice advocates on messaging the Governor’s efforts to shut down the St. Louis Planned Parenthood clinic.

“This is the culmination of a sustained effort by Republican lawmakers to regulate abortion providers in Missouri out of business. Missouri Republicans decry regulatory and bureaucratic burdens in every other context, even regarding helmet laws, but not when they are wielded to control women,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chair Jean Peters Baker. “An array of barriers have been deployed to keep Missouri women, especially those without the means to travel long distances, from being able to exercise their constitutional rights. These regulations are enmeshed in race and class and exposes the Republicans’ stunning hypocrisy when it comes to defending the constitution and freedom from government regulation.”

In 2017, former Governor Eric Greitens signed into law new bureaucratic hurdles for women seeking an abortion that were passed during an abortion focused special legislative session. These new barriers were on-top of so-called “admitting privilege” requirements that Missouri won the ability to enforce in federal court. Those requirements led to the end of abortion services in mid-Missouri last year. As a result of the enactment and enforcement of bureaucratic hurdles, Missouri is left with only one abortion provider.

Missouri is in danger of becoming the only state without an abortion provider since Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973.

Missouri Democratic Party response to report that St. Louis Planned Parenthood may have license revoked by Parson Administration, becoming the first state without access to the right to choose.

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Mon, 27 May 2019 21:52:06 GMT

Kansas City, Mo. (May 28, 2019) – According to a report today from CBS News, the St. Louis Planned Parenthood clinic is facing revocation of their license by the administration of Governor Mike Parson. If their license is not renewed by Friday, Missouri would become the first state without an abortion clinic since 1973 when Roe v. Wade was decided.

The Missouri Democratic Party released the following statement:

“On the heels of Governor Parson signing into law a ban on a woman’s right to choose before she may even know she is pregnant, even in cases of rape or incest, comes news that this administration is placing additional bureaucratic barriers on access to reproductive health services guaranteed by the Constitution. This is part of a long pattern of chipping away at access to safe and legal reproductive healthcare by Missouri government that puts women, especially those who cannot afford to travel out of state, in danger.”

Missouri Democrats vow to hold Governor Mike Parson accountable for his extreme stance on reproductive rights, including for survivors of rape and incest

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Sun, 19 May 2019 21:49:43 GMT

Kansas City, Mo. (May 20, 2019) – Missouri’s un-elected Governor, Mike Parson, has indicated he intends to sign the most extreme anti-choice bill in state history. Missouri’s latest expansion of anti-choice legislation, for the first time, expands the denial of bodily autonomy to survivors of rape and incest who become pregnant.

“As a prosecuting attorney, I’ve seen first-hand the toll that rape, incest, and unplanned pregnancies take on women. It’s not the government or Governor Mike Parson’s place to get involved in a woman’s personal medical decisions about her pregnancy. This is an extreme, unconstitutional ban that is cruel to women, including women who are survivors of rape and incest,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chair, Jean Peters Baker. “Sadly, this is the next extreme step in the evolution of the party of Todd Akin. Across Missouri we’re seeing a profound visceral reaction to the Governor’s broad expansion of the denial of the right to choose and this ultra-extremist legislation. We support a woman’s right to choose. Period. We will and we must hold Governor Mike Parson and Republicans in the Missouri Legislature accountable for this disgusting policy.”

Missouri Democratic Party statement on the passage of HB 126

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Thu, 16 May 2019 21:47:53 GMT

Banning a woman’s right to choose before she even knows she is pregnant, even in cases of rape and incest is far too extreme to the majority of Missourians and does nothing to actually reduce the number of abortions. In their quest to join the legal challenge to Roe v. Wade, the extremist majority is putting $7 billion in healthcare dollars at risk for the most vulnerable Missourians, including children in parts of the state with higher infant mortality rates than in developing countries. This vote demonstrates in stark terms the importance of voting for candidates that will focus on policies that improve health outcomes rather than go backwards.

Appointed Attorney General Eric Schmitt continues pattern of evading the tough political questions.

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Thu, 16 May 2019 21:43:22 GMT

Kansas City, Mo. (May 17, 2019) – Yesterday, the office of unelected Attorney General Eric Schmitt issued a press release indicating that no action will be taken following his investigation of violations of the Missouri Sunshine Law by the office of former Governor Eric Greitens. However, Schmitt’s press release suggests that his office’s review turned up evasive practices that warranted a joint memorandum of best practices with the office of the new Governor, Mike Parson.

Schmitt’s evening news dump continued his pattern of dodging tough issues, by having a subordinate attorney give the official comment on behalf of his Attorney General’s Office.

Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford released the following statement:

“This is a troubling sign as Eric Schmitt is currently reviewing the Parson Administration’s compliance with the Sunshine Law as it relates to an official opinion request from Auditor Nicole Galloway. If the result of a review of ‘thousands and thousands’ of documents found no violations of the Sunshine Law then there should be no need for memos encouraging changes in records policy. Schmitt should remember that he works for the people of Missouri, not the Governor who appointed him to his current job. ”

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Background

“Missouri AG will take no action over Greitens social media use, closes investigation” (Kansas City Star, 5/17/2019)

“After more than a year investigating whether former Gov. Eric Greitens improperly used taxpayer-funded staff to create content for his campaign’s social media accounts, the Missouri attorney general’s office said Thursday the inquiry was over and no action would be taken.”

https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article230517409.html

On the tough issues, Schmitt dodges questions:

“New Missouri attorney general won’t say if he is investigating Hawley for Sunshine Law violations” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 2/4/2019)

“A spokesman for Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt declined to say Monday whether the office is investigating U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley or his staff for possibly breaking the state’s Sunshine Law.”

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/new-missouri-attorney-general-won-t-say-if-he-is/article_d113c150-0deb-596b-964b-22d1bb7d80c1.html

Missouri’s unelected Attorney General joins legal effort to eliminate insurance coverage for Missourians with pre-existing health conditions” (Missouri Democrats, 5/2/2019)

“Schmitt should end his pattern of declining comment on this issue and explain to the public why he decided to join Missouri with this legal effort at the taxpayers’ expense.”

https://missouridemocrats.org/press-release/missouris-unelected-attorney-general-joins-legal-effort-eliminate-insurance-coverage-missourians-pre-existing-health-conditions/

At some point, Schmitt must weigh-in on Parson’s own compliance with the Sunshine Law:

“Missouri auditor: AG must decide if 1st Amendment can be used to redact public records” (Kansas City Star, 5/7/2019)

“Missouri Auditor Nicole Galloway has formally requested the attorney general’s office determine whether Gov. Mike Parson’s use of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to withhold records from public disclosure violates the Sunshine Law.”

https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article230115169.html

Missouri’s unelected Attorney General joins legal effort to eliminate insurance coverage for Missourians with pre-existing health conditions

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Thu, 02 May 2019 15:30:32 GMT

Kansas City, Mo. (May 2, 2019) – Siding with insurance companies over Missouri families, Attorney General Eric Schmitt joined the appeal of a Texas lawsuit, aiming to abolish the Affordable Care Act in its entirety. Elimination of the 2009 law would end protections for patients with pre-existing health conditions, lifetime cost limits, prohbitions against insurance discrimination against women, tax credits for small businesses to insure their employees, and allowing young people to stay on their parents’ insurance plans until age 26.

If the legal effort Schmitt supports is successful, thousands of Missourians could lose their health insurance coverage.

Lauren Gepford, Executive Director of the Missouri Democratic Party released the following statement:

“After hiding on the issue for weeks, our unelected Attorney General has finally taken a position on the ACA lawsuit. Few will be surprised that he decided to side with the insurance companies that can fund his campaign over the citizens of his state. Missourians deserve an Attorney General that works for them rather than one who wants to score points with insurance companies and the Trump Administration. Schmitt should end his pattern of declining comment on this issue and explain to the public why he decided to join Missouri with this legal effort at the taxpayers’ expense.”

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Background

The filing from yesterday is available online here: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/admin/2019/Press/2019.05.01%20Brief%20of%20State%20Appellees.pdf

On April 2, noting that two Republican state Attorneys General had declined to join this case, the Missouri Democratic Party called on Schmitt to state his position. He did not.
https://missouridemocrats.org/media/missouri-democratic-party-calls-upon-ag-eric-schmitt-protect-health-insurance-coverage-missourians-pre-existing-conditions/

Missouri Democrats slam Hawley for his embarrassing performance at Senate Judiciary Committee hearing today.

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 01 May 2019 15:27:53 GMT

Kansas City, Mo. (May 1, 2019) – On April 9, Attorney General Barr testified that he did not know why there were reports surfacing that the Office of the Special Counsel was unhappy with his summary of the conclusions regarding obstruction. He further testified that he did not know whether Mueller supported his conclusion.

However, according to a letter delivered to Barr just days before his testimony, Mueller communicated to the Attorney General that his summary did not “fully capture the context, nature, and substance of this Office’s work and conclusions.” Mueller further stated that, “public confusion about critical aspects of the investigation” now “threatens to undermine a central purpose for which the Department appointed the Special Counsel: to assure full public confidence in the outcome of the investigations.”

Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford released the following statement following Barr’s testimony before the Senate today:

“Given the concern expressed by the Office of the Special Counsel, and by his colleagues in the United States Senate, Missouri Senator Josh Hawley owed it to his constituents to cut through the Attorney General’s spin. Instead, Senator Hawley today used his position on the Senate Judiciary Committee to carry the administration’s water. As a former state Attorney General, Hawley should know that an Attorney General doesn’t work for the chief executive, they work for the people. Frankly, Hawley’s embarrassing and relentless defenses of Trump in the face of troubling evidence demonstrates why he quickly became uninterested in being Missouri’s attorney general. Robert Mueller should testify before Congress because we can’t trust our elected Senator to get to the bottom of this.”

Statement on House Representative Resignation

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 15:25:24 GMT

From Missouri Democratic Party Chair, Jean Peters Baker: “The findings of the House Ethics Committee are disheartening and leave me disgusted with this continuing conduct in our Capitol by elected officials. Sexual harassment is not tolerated no matter the harasser’s political affiliation. While I had hoped this era of abuse of power had passed us, today’s news demonstrates we have much more work to do. As an elected official, I know we must earn the public’s trust and fight to keep it. I’m hopeful this resignation is one small step in earning that trust.”

Missouri Democratic Party statement on Missouri House passage of Clean Missouri rollback.

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 15:23:27 GMT

Kansas City, Mo. (April 29, 2019) – Tonight the Missouri House passed House Joint Resolutions to put before the voters a rollback of the very redistricting reforms they passed last November.

Lauren Gepford, Executive Director of the Missouri Democratic Party released the following statement:

“Missouri Republicans obviously fear the redistricting reforms voters approved by a wide margin last year. They suspect they can’t maintain the size of their majority without gerrymandering. This is yet another example of the Republican majority in the legislature asserting that they know better than the people of Missouri. Members of the Missouri Senate, where the proposal now heads, should tread carefully because Clean Missouri passed in every single Senate district last November, including receiving more than 70% of the vote in the Republican Floor Leader’s Senate district.”

Missouri Democrats call on the Missouri House of Representatives to investigate what the Parson Administration knew about the over-withholding of income taxes.

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 15:21:25 GMT

Kansas City, Mo. (April 9, 2019) – This week the Kansas City Star reported that Republican House Speaker Elijah Haahr has committed to continuing a House investigation of the Parson Administration’s handling of income tax withholdings. This follows a state audit conducted by Auditor Nicole Galloway that uncovered that the Department of Revenue secretly adjusted income tax withholdings in January to over-withhold taxes without going through the administrative rule making process.

Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford released the following statement:

“The House Speaker’s commitment to continuing the work of the special committee on oversight should signal that this issue isn’t going away. The General Assembly must get to the bottom of what Governor Parson knew and when he knew it. Did Governor Parson authorize the over-withholding of taxes from workers’ paychecks in order to address a revenue shortfall? Or did the Department act independently and was this why Director Walters was let go? Missouri taxpayers deserve an answer.”

Missouri Democratic Party statement on report that Governor Parson’s administration withheld bad news from taxpayers

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 15:19:02 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party statement on report that Governor Parson’s administration withheld bad news from taxpayers

Kansas City, Mo. (March 15, 2019) – This week, the Columbia Daily Tribune reported that Governor Parson’s administration withheld critical information from the public and lawmakers regarding the income tax withholding issue discovered last fall. Revenue Director Joel Walters is now taking the fall for the administration’s debacle.

Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford issued the following statement:

“This week’s revelations strongly suggest that the Parson administration tried to downplay their income tax fiasco as long as possible. The administration has offered conflicting stories, withheld information, then accused others of playing politics. Taxpayers were already in for a surprise on their tax bills, and this cover up is just the latest surprise. Lawmakers must now get to the bottom of whether the administration has been truthful about their revenue projections as they finish work on the budget.”

Missouri Democratic Party statement on embarrassing report of legislators and staff behaving badly

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 15:16:43 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party statement on embarrassing report of legislators and staff behaving badly

Kansas City, Mo. (March 12, 2019) – This afternoon, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on recent violent incidents in Jefferson City drinking establishments involving two GOP legislators and and a Senate staffer. Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford today released the following statement:

“These reports of a Senate staffer carelessly handling a loaded firearm while engaged in a bar fight, along with a report that two Republican legislators were involved in a physical altercation are not just embarrassing, but alarming. Just today, the Missouri General Assembly Republicans argued for advancing legislation that would allow anyone to carry a concealed weapon in a drinking establishment without training or licensing. Missourians should be concerned that the legislators responsible for drafting this bad policy are engaging in such irresponsible actions. Speaker Haahr and Senate President Schatz must act decisively to assure Missourians that the public, and our school children, will be safe when visiting their state capital.”

Missouri Democratic Party statement on report that insider had seat at table in Ashcroft inquiry that cleared Hawley.

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 15:14:08 GMT

Kansas City, MO (March 6, 2019) – Today, the Kansas City Star reported that Missouri Solicitor General John Sauer, who served under Attorney General Hawley and now under new Attorney General Eric Schmitt, exercised influence over Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s investigation of whether Josh Hawley violated Missouri election laws.

Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford released the following statement:

“Today’s report demonstrates the lengths to which the Missouri GOP statewide ticket will go to protect one another from oversight and accountability. Neither Secretary Ashcroft nor Attorney General Schmitt engaged in thorough investigative work. Eric Schmitt chaired a dark money group supporting Hawley’s election to the Senate so that he could be appointed the replacement Attorney General. This so called investigation was designed to protect Senator Hawley and the Missouri GOP brand from the start. As a result, Missourians are left with no confidence that truth will prevail over party loyalty.”

Background:

John Sauer is an employee of Schmitt’s Attorney General’s Office and according to the Star’s reporting, was present in interviews with Ashcroft’s investigators “in his official capacity.’ “ He was not representing the individuals being interviewed ,” according to a spokesperson in Schmitt’s office.
AG Schmitt has been asked whether his office, which enforces the Missouri Sunshine Law, would investigate Hawley’s alleged violation of the law while AG and has declined to answer.
Now that Senator Hawley has been subpoenaed in a civil lawsuit over his enforcement efforts surrounding widespread Sunshine law violations that occurred on his brief watch as Attorney General, Schmitt remains in hiding over his approach to enforcing the Sunshine Law.

Governor Parson’s Budget to Push Thousands of Eligible Children Off Their Health Insurance

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 15:08:11 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director, Lauren Gepford’s, statement on Governor Parson’s budget:

"Every Missourian wants to see their tax dollars spent wisely and efficiently. However, if Governor Parson’s plan to fund his other budget priorities is bureaucratic barriers causing low-income children to lose their health insurance coverage, that’s not only shameful but downright scandalous."

Missouri Democratic Party State of the Union Response

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 15:02:44 GMT

Kansas City, Mo. (February 5, 2019) – Tonight, Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director, Lauren Gepford, released the following statement in response to President Trump’s State of the Union address:

“Missouri Democrats agree that we need to bridge the divisions that have led to gridlock in Washington. However, President Trump has so far proven totally incapable of being an inclusive leader that brings people together for progress. Any way you look at it, Trump’s first two years have been marked by failures like the longest government shutdown in history and a tax bill that gave massive tax cuts to the rich and big corporations, hurting workers and the middle class. Our party will hold the President accountable to Missourians who are looking for the results he said that only he could deliver, including his promise to restore opportunity in the places left behind by an economic system rigged to benefit the wealthy.”

Missouri Democratic Party slams GOP majority for weakening voter-approved Constitutional Amendment on government transparency.

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 15:00:49 GMT

Kansas City, Mo. (February 5, 2019) – Late yesterday, the GOP majority in the Missouri General Assembly pushed through an amendment by a voice vote to weaken a voter-approved constitutional provision that required the legislature to adhere to the same transparency laws as everyone else in government.

Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford released the following statement:

“Missouri voters spoke clearly when they overwhelmingly passed Clean Missouri last November. The House Republicans apparently think they know better than the people who elected them. We will hold each of them to account by reminding voters in their districts of where they stood on this important test of their commitment to government transparency.”

Background: https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/nothing-to-see-here/we-re-not-going-to-have-to-turn-over-virtually/article_51c49560-e71a-5377-bd3f-cf2a554906d4.html

Josh Hawley Violates Sunshine Law While State’s Top Attorney

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 14:59:03 GMT

Kansas City, Mo. (February 1, 2019) – Earlier today the Kansas City Star reported that Josh Hawley failed to disclose email communication in response to a public records request while he was serving as Missouri’s Attorney General and preparing to run for U.S. Senate. After responding that his office did not possess responsive documents, the Star has reported that his office did possess responsive documents.

Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director, Lauren Gepford, released the following statement:

“It has become abundantly clear that Josh Hawley used his taxpayer-paid office as Attorney General to climb the ladder to the U.S. Senate, and apparently was willing to disregard the laws he swore to uphold in doing so. When the very person charged with enforcing our Sunshine Law can’t be trusted to follow it, Missourians’ trust in their government is undermined. Senator Hawley is no different from those career politicians he blasts on the campaign trail.”

Background:
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article225334655.html

Missouri Republicans Should Return $25k

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 14:56:21 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director calls on Missouri Republicans to return $25,000 campaign contribution from disgraced former House speaker.

Kansas City, Mo. (January, 29, 2019) – This week the Missouri Republican Party reported receiving a $25,000 monetary contribution from the still-active campaign committee of former Missouri House Speaker John Diehl. Diehl resigned from the legislature in 2015 after the Kansas City Star revealed that he had exchanged sexually charged text messages with a 19-year old student participating in the Capitol Internship Program. At the time, Diehl was 49.

“The Missouri Republican Party has made the decision to associate their organization with behaviors that so many have worked hard to address in the capitol following Speaker Diehl’s resignation,” said Lauren Gepford. “The Missouri GOP should return this contribution immediately. If they do not, they undermine the laudable efforts of so many Republicans and Democrats who have worked to make state government a welcoming and respectful environment for all.”

Background:

KC Star: “Missouri House Speaker John Diehl resigns over intern texts; Todd Richardson replaces him”

https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article20986608.html

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: “Missouri House speaker resigns; intern breaks silence”

https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/missouri-house-speaker-resigns-intern-breaks-silence/article_0f97c87f-dd66-5c1d-bf49-19ef3228ced1.html

https://twitter.com/mo_money2018/status/1089736240642121728

Missouri Democrats call upon leaders in Washington DC to end the shutdown games

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 14:50:04 GMT

KANSAS CITY, MO – Missouri Democrats today announced members dismay at the recent government shutdown. Lauren Gepford, Executive Director of the Missouri Democratic Party, said that leaders in Washington DC must to work together to address our nation’s challenges without using hard working federal employees as bargaining chips.

“The partial shutdown not only cost our economy unrecoverable billions, it took a real toll of families of federal workers and contractors, of which there are thousands in Missouri,” said Gepford. “Senators Hawley and Blunt, in their unwavering support of the President, allowed these Missouri families to be used a leverage in a political fight and that’s just wrong.”

With the prospect of another partial federal government shutdown later this month looming on the horizon, Missouri Democrats are asking Missouri’s congressional delegation to keep the federal government open while they negotiate a long-term plan for comprehensive border security.

“It’s a false choice to say that we can only pay federal workers if Congress approves billions for a wall,” said Gepford. “We can debate the merits of border security plans without taking the financial security of working people hostage.”

Missouri Democratic Party Officers Issue Joint Statement Condemning Sen. Ed Emery’s Comments Downplaying The Horrors Of Slavery

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 00:26:23 GMT

Missouri Democratic Party Officers Issue Joint Statement Condemning Sen. Ed Emery’s Comments Downplaying The Horrors Of Slavery

Kansas City, MO (January 27, 2019) – Senator Ed Emery released a legislative report dated January 27, 2020. In it, Senator Emery wrote: “Finally, last week was also the anniversary of the infamous Roe vs Wade Supreme Court opinion that has been responsible for the deaths of millions of babies in the womb. What a horrible mark that is upon the history of our nation, surpassing the barbarism even of slavery. In fact, Centers for Disease Control statistics confirm that it is the African race which has suffered the most fatalities from abortion. It should not be a mystery that the same political party that fought against slavery, today fights against abortion.” This horrific, disgusting display of a complete ignorance of American history, especially coming from a member of the Committee on Education, prompted the officers of the Missouri Democratic Party to release the following joint statement:

“Roe v. Wade is settled law that has helped Americans gain access to reproductive healthcare. We’re proud to fight for the rights of all to access medical care they and their doctor believe is right for them. We trust women to make those decisions for themselves. Comparing healthcare to slavery is not only disingenous and irresponsible, it fundamentally ignores the systemic horrors that have and continue to plague African Americans today. It’s a shame that Senator Emery, who has the honor of serving on the Committee on Education, would so blatantly diminish the cruelty and gruesomeness that was America’s original sin. It was not so long ago that discrimination was completely legal, and downplaying the lasting effects of slavery like this only reopens the wounds for generations still fighting for equality. Senator Emery should immediately apologize and recant these statements immediately.”

###

Senate GOP Hides from Trumpcare Just Like Missouri’s Republicans

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 15:05:12 GMT

As reports are making clear that Republicans in the U.S. Senate are planning to hide their draft Trumpcare bill from the American people until the last possible second, the Missouri Democratic Party is highlighting how Missouri’s Republicans in-particular have been running and hiding from the GOP’s disastrous and unpopular health care agenda.

Since rushing to vote for the U.S. House-passed Trumpcare bill before even an analysis of its impact from the Congressional Budget Office, none of Missouri’s Members of Congress have held a public town hall with Missourians.

Missouri’s statewide Republican leaders — including Governor Eric Greitens, Lt. Governor Mike Parson, and Attorney General Josh Hawley — have been silent on Trumpcare, even as key provisions of the legislation defer health policy decisions to state leaders.

And a key U.S. Senate Republican Chairman made clear last week that GOP leaders will not hold any public Senate hearings on the sweeping legislation.

Missouri Democratic Party Chair Stephen Webber stated:

“It’s not at all surprising that Republicans in the Senate would prefer to hide behind closed doors while secretly writing a health care bill to spike costs and rip away coverage from folks who’ve been sick before. Missouri’s Republicans in the U.S. House have been ducking constituents ever since voting for Trumpcare and statewide Republicans like Eric Greitens, Josh Hawley, and Mike Parson have left us completely in the dark on what they’re planning for Missourians’ health care.”

Missouri’s Republicans in DC Just Voted to Put Us Back in the Same Danger We Faced Before the ’08 Financial Meltdown

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Fri, 09 Jun 2017 15:00:32 GMT

Amid the tumult of DC yesterday, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted to dismantle rules designed to protect working families from Wall Street after the 2008 financial meltdown. The vote passed with support from all of Missouri’s Republicans in the House of Representatives.

Consider this:

The Republican bill lifts rules on Wall Street “that were designed to head off economic meltdowns like the one that caused millions of Americans to lose their jobs and homes during the Great Recession.”
The legislation also guts the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which, according to the Center for American Progress , has “returned nearly $12 billion to 29 million wronged consumers. For every dollar of its funding, it has returned approximately $5 to victims.”

“Missouri’s Republicans in Congress voting to eliminate the rules of the road for Wall Street isn’t all that surprising — they’ve consistently sided with their Wall Street donors over Main Street families. But that doesn’t take away from how disturbing it is to know that Missouri’s Republicans are putting older folks and working families right back in the same danger we faced before the 2008 financial meltdown.”

MDP CHAIR STEPHEN WEBBER

Trump Consistently Lies to Americans After Terror Attacks — Will Missouri Republicans Demand Better?

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 14:34:02 GMT

After a new Associated Press analysis concluded that “President Donald Trump can’t be counted on to give accurate information to Americans when violent acts are unfolding abroad,” in the wake of tragic terrorist attacks in London, the Missouri Democratic Party is calling on Missouri’s Republican leaders to stand up for Missourians in the face of blatant dishonesty from the White House.

“The latest deadly London attacks, like one in the Philippines last week, prompted visceral reactions from Trump instead of statements shaped by the findings of the U.S. intelligence and diplomatic apparatus. He got ahead of the facts emerging in Britain’s chaos Saturday and got it wrong in the Philippines case, calling the episode there a ‘terrorist attack’ when it was not.”

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Along with Senator Roy Blunt, who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee, Missouri’s Republican Representatives Ann Wagner (MO2), Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO3), Vicky Hartzler (MO4), Sam Graves (MO6), Billy Long (MO7), and Jason Smith (MO8) have repeatedly put their partisan allegiances above the national security of the United States, refusing to hold President Trump accountable after his dangerously inappropriate response to terror attacks.

“President Trump’s delusional and blatantly dishonest response to serious terror attacks abroad is a danger that Missouri’s Republican officeholders need to denounce if they’re even close to being as serious about national security as they like to say they are.”

MDP CHAIR STEPHEN WEBBER

Even Roy Blunt Finds Trump’s Cuts to Public Education ‘Unacceptable’ — Do Other Missouri Republicans Agree?

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 14:54:52 GMT

Trump’s cuts to America’s public school system don’t make any sense for rural Missouri.

President Donald Trump is pushing to slash America’s public school system to pay for voucher programs that send taxpayer dollars to private schools — a move Education Secretary Betsy DeVos defended in a high-profile Congressional hearing yesterday.

The cuts are so bad that even Republican Senator Roy Blunt says he finds the massive overhaul “unacceptable.” However, Missouri’s other Republicans — including Representatives Ann Wagner (MO2), Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO3), Vicky Hartzler (MO4), Sam Graves (MO6), Billy Long (MO7) and Jason Smith (MO8) — have been silent on the issue so far.

Here’s a few things to know about how President Trump’s budget would hurt Missourians who rely on the public school system:

The budget slashes more than $9 billion — which is 13.5% of the total budget — from the Department of Education.
Those cuts would be “spread across K-12 and aid to higher education,” according to NPR , and would then be used to pay for voucher programs for private schools around the country.
This overhaul would negatively impact the over 90% of American children that attend public schools.

“The deep cuts Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos want to make to public schools, show that they clearly don’t understand that those very public schools are central to our communities in Missouri — and they certainly don’t understand the reality that in rural Missouri, being handed a voucher to attend some faraway private school doesn’t make any sense. With even Roy Blunt speaking out, the silence of the rest of Missouri’s Republicans in DC must mean they’re okay with shortchanging our kids as long as they don’t have to break from their own political party or millionaire donors.”

MISSOURI DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR STEPHEN WEBBER

NOW & THEN: Missouri’s GOP Once Had Tough Standards on Responding & Talking about Terror Attacks, Now They’re Ignoring Trump’s Lies

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 14:50:25 GMT

As an Associated Press analysis has made clear that “President Donald Trump can’t be counted on to give accurate information to Americans when violent acts are unfolding abroad,” following his blatantly dishonest response to the recent terror attacks that included criticizing the Mayor of London’s statement as “pathetic,” the Missouri Democratic Party is highlighting what Missouri’s now-silent Republican officeholders previously said about how American leaders should act and talk in response to terror attacks.

“President Trump’s delusional and blatantly dishonest response to serious terror attacks abroad is a danger that Missouri’s Republican officeholders need to denounce if they’re even close to being as serious about national security as they like to say they are.”

MDP CHAIR STEPHEN WEBBER

From the importance of being informed to standing strong with allies of the United States, here’s what Missouri’s now-silent Republican officeholders previously said about how American leaders should act and talk in response to terror attacks:

Senator Roy Blunt highlighted the importance of a clear and informed response to terror attacks: “The more you analyze one effort, successful or not, the better chance you have to prevent the next thing from happening.”
Governor Eric Greitens said : “We must defeat terrorism with clarity.”
Congresswoman Ann Wagner criticized President Obama for not attending an event in France after a terrorist attack in Paris: “I’m extremely disappointed that President Obama was absent from the unity rally attended by dozens of world leaders in Paris today.”
Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler criticized President Obama for how he used his empty seat at a State of the Union address: “This is very, very concerning, and so that would symbolize how important it is that we get our foreign policy right…We have allies who don’t trust us.”
Congressman Jason Smith stated : “Terrorist groups like ISIS thrive when America appears aloof from global affairs.”
Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer criticized President Obama for not talking about terrorism earlier enough in a speech: “The end of the speech is near and I haven’t heard POTUS’s plan to defeat ISIS. Not really surprised but disappointed.”

New Report Shows Congresswoman Ann Wagner Still ‘Stinks of Swamp Politics’

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 14:26:05 GMT

Congresswoman Ann Wagner is still siding with Wall Street over working families, as a new report is revealing that Missourians could lose over $330 million if she continues her fight to rip away protections for working families trying to save for retirement.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports : “ Missouri investors could lose $337 million annually if President Donald Trump’s administration rolls back the ‘fiduciary rule, ’” which Congresswoman Wagner has been a ‘vocal’ champion of doing.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise. Throwing it back to March, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Editorial Board slammed Congresswoman Wagner for her allegiance to Wall Street, saying she “stinks of swamp politics,” writing:

“Her constituents shouldn’t be fooled into believing Wagner’s actions are motivated by conservative zeal to streamline government. She is among the top recipients of campaign donations from the financial services industry… We wouldn’t be surprised if her big donors wear swampboots whenever they wade into her office.”

Missouri Democratic Party Chair Stephen Webber added, “Congresswoman Ann Wagner should hold a public town hall meeting on Wall Street, that’s where the only people she listens to are anyway.”

New Voting Rules Are a ‘Roadblock’ to the ‘Ballot Box’ for Missourians

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 14:12:57 GMT

Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft. Source: The Missouri Times

As Missouri’s new voting restrictions go into effect today, the Missouri Democratic Party is criticizing the law, which local civil rights organizations have sharply condemned .

We’re also highlighting that even Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft admitted as recently as yesterday that the state is not ready for these new rules:

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported yesterday, “Missouri’s top election official is acknowledging the state won’t be ready to provide free IDs to all in that election who may need them.”
The Kansas City Star Editorial Board added , “This is a big change to election laws, and there’s still too much confusion.”

“No matter how hard Jay Ashcroft tries to spin these voting restrictions, the news rules going into effect today are still an unacceptable attempt from the Republican establishment in Jefferson City to roadblock Missourians on their way to the ballot box. We should be making it easier for Missourians to vote — not creating challenges and confusion.”

MDP CHAIR STEPHEN WEBBER

Letter from Leading Democrats Asking Gov. Greitens, Lt. Gov. Parson, and Josh Hawley to Break Their Silence on Trumpcare

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 13:59:51 GMT

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that State Senator Jill Schupp and House Representative Lauren Arthur, as leading Democrats on health care committees in the state legislature, issued a joint letter calling on Governor Eric Greitens, Lt. Governor Mike Parson, and Attorney General Josh Hawley to break their silence on the Trumpcare bill that passed in the House with support from all of Missouri’s Republicans. The full letter is below:

Greitens Rubs “Salt in the Wounds” of Working Families to Impress Scott Walker, Big Money Donors

info@denvercrowd.com (Alex Schupp) — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 13:59:44 GMT

Gov. Eric Greitens is rubbing salt in the wounds of Missouri’s working families.

After Republicans in Jefferson City recently voted in favor of a bill to slash local minimum wage increases, Eric Greitens held a bill signing ceremony in St. Louis County yesterday to highlight the anti-worker legislation.

Greitens had Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker on hand.

As if advancing his wage-lowering agenda wasn’t enough, Eric Greitens invited Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker to the event, who is known nationally for his anti-worker agenda. Walker is also the Chair of the Republican Governors Association, which is the national Republican organization that held the “corporate policy summit” at a Trump resort in Miami that Eric Greitens attended earlier this month.

House Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty criticized Greitens, telling the Kansas City Star: “Stripping union workers of the ability to negotiate for fair wages and provide a decent living for their families won’t create a single job or strengthen Missouri’s economy. To the contrary, the Governor’s action today makes life much harder for thousands of Missouri families.”

“After the Republican establishment in Jefferson City voted to slash the minimum wage, Eric Greitens is rubbing salt in the wounds of working families by celebrating another attack on their paychecks. Scott Walker’s invitation only serves to show that Greitens is attacking local workers in order to impress big money and corporate donors from around the country.”

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