MoLeg Update
It’s spring break! The Missouri Legislature has reached its halfway point, and lawmakers are home in their districts on spring break this week. They’ll return to Jefferson City on Monday, March 26. Next week, the Monday Monitor will have an overview of what the Legislature has done so far and what you can expect for the rest of session.
Senate committee hears bill to divert tax dollars to faith-based anti-abortion counseling centers without requiring medically accurate counseling. On Tuesday, March 13 ,the Senate Economic Development Committee heard HB 1288, which renews and adds an additional $1 million in tax credits for faith-based anti-abortion counseling centers. This bill allows individuals to deduct from their state income taxes donations to these organizations, which provide false and misleading information to women, men and young people about pregnancy and sex. Though many falsely advertise themselves as health care facilities, they are not licensed medical centers. The bill now awaits a vote from the committee.
Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri remains focused on encouraging lawmakers to require entities to provide medically and factually accurate information to pregnant people in order to be eligible for tax credits.
- St. Louis Public Radio: Benevolent tax credits being weighed by Missouri Senate panel
- Springfield News-Leader: Letter to the Editor: Don't give tax dollars to faith-based crisis pregnancy centers
Budget bills may attempt to deny patients the right to choose Planned Parenthood health centers for their care. The House Budget Committee passed HB 2010 and HB 2011, which include the budgets for the Dept. of Health and Senior Services and the Dept. of Social Services. Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri is working to defeat efforts to amend the bills to deny MO HealthNet patients the right to choose their health care provider — including Planned Parenthood health centers. In Missouri, Planned Parenthood provides more than 7,000 Missouri Medicaid patients annually with preventive care like birth control, cancer screenings, annual exams, and STI testing and treatment. In addition to violating federal law and jeopardizing the state’s entire Medicaid program, a “defund” provision would make it harder for Missourians with low incomes to access vital health care. The full House of Representatives will soon debate both bills.
- Follow us on Twitter for the latest MoLeg happenings: @PPMO_Advocates
Birth Control, NOT Bans!
The good news: A bill that would expand access to the most effective form of birth control could come up for vote before the Missouri House as soon as today!
The bad news: An abortion ban could also come to a vote in the Missouri House at any moment.
What you can do: Talk to your legislator about your priorities. Tell them to support birth control, NOT abortion bans!
Join Us for Lobby Day!
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, March 28 and join fellow advocates talking with lawmakers in Jefferson City about Missourians’ sexual and reproductive health and rights! We have carpools leaving from Columbia, Kansas City, Springfield, and St. Louis. Whether you’ve never been to the Capitol or you’ve walked the halls a hundred times, join us and make a difference!
| RSVP for Columbia |
| RSVP for Kansas City |
| RSVP for Springfield |
| RSVP for St. Louis |
Stand With Planned Parenthood in Your Community
Recap: Legislative Update from PROMO & Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri
Southwest Missouri Grassroots Organizer Stacy Sherrod teamed up with PROMO Field Organizer Karis Agnew for a Missouri legislative update in Springfield. PROMO is Missouri’s statewide organization advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality. Both organizations engage in legislative action, electoral politics, grassroots organizing, and community education.
Supporters of both organizations learned about the intersectionality of LGBTQ and reproductive rights and how advocacy work done in tandem makes both movements more successful. Organizers gave an overview of current bills in Missouri impacting LGBTQ equality and access to comprehensive reproductive health care. Attendees got information on upcoming lobbying opportunities in Jefferson City and bills they could take action on with their legislators immediately. Planned Parenthood Advocates is proud to partner with PROMO in this important work to bring equality to all Missourians.
- PROMO: Legislative Center
Volunteer Opportunities
Join the fight for access to health care on the state and federal levels! Join Planned Parenthood Advocates’ organizers and volunteers to crowd-canvass, make calls, and enter data. You can participate in the phone banks in person or remotely!
- Planned Parenthood at MU Women’s Health Fair: Wednesday, March 21 from 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
- St. Louis Phone Bank: Friday, March 23 from 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.
- St. Louis Door-to-Door Canvass: Saturday, March 24 from 10 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
- St. Louis Table Captain and Messaging Training: Wednesday, March 28 from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Columbia Action Forum
Come join Planned Parenthood Advocates at our 2018 Action Forums to learn more ways to get involved, take leadership, and shape the future of the fight for reproductive health, rights, and justice. We can not achieve the future we want without your help. Find out the different ways you can make a difference in your community!
- Columbia Action Forum: Thursday March 29 from 5:30-8:30
Clean Missouri Democracy Reform Campaign
Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri is supporting Clean Missouri, a non-partisan effort to reform our democracy by banning big lobbyist gifts, capping campaign contributions, and improving the way we draw district lines
Join us and help put power back in voters' hands!
Find Events Near You
Check Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s national calendar tofind events in your community!
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