Monday Monitor: May 4, 2020

MoLeg Update: Protect Planned Parenthood Patients!

While we are in the middle of a global pandemic, our lawmakers should be focused on making sure every Missourian can access the health care they need. Instead, they’re trying to block patients who rely on public health programs from accessing health care — and Planned Parenthood is their biggest target.

Blocking patients from accessing health care is unacceptable, and it is even more outrageous during one of the most dire public health crises of our time. Our elected officials should be strengthening Missouri's health care safety net, not targeting providers and blocking patients' access to care.

MoLeg Update: Defend Fair Maps & Stop Extreme Gerrymandering

Republicans in the Missouri Legislature are trying to take advantage of this COVID-19 crisis, hoping we are too distracted to notice them forcing through a measure that overturns the will of the people and eliminates key reforms.

Our priority must be keeping people safe and healthy. No matter what you look like or where you live, we all know that our own health depends on the health of the person next to us, and the person next to them. But some politicians and special interests are more interested in keeping their seats than keeping us safe. They want to overturn the will of voters and rig the rules in our constitution so politicians are all protected in safe seats — and can't be held accountable by voters.

Tell your state representative to respect the will of the voters, protect fair maps and vote NO on SJR 38!

Wednesday Volunteer Opportunity: Phone Bank to Defend Clean Missouri

You’ve called your own state legislator to protect fair maps and stop gerrymandering, so what’s next? Calling fellow Missourians and urging them to do the same! We are holding a virtual phone bank from noon-3:00 p.m. this Wednesday, and you can participate from anywhere as long as you have a phone and a computer with internet access. 

RSVP by noon on Tuesday, May 5 and we’ll send you all the information you need to make calls from home!

If you can’t make it from 12-3 p.m. on Wednesday, we have more ways you can plug in right now — just email us!

Tomorrow: Mrs. America Virtual Watch Party

Social distancing is a challenge for many of us, and it's important to still stay connected! Let's come together — remotely — to watch and discuss Mrs. America, the story of the movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and the opposition led by a conservative woman named Phyllis Schlafly. 

Sign up to join Planned Parenthood for a virtual watch party tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. All you need is a computer or smartphone! Sign up by 5:00 p.m. and we’ll share instructions on downloading Kast (a co-watching platform) with a link to the party prior to the event!

Good News: Medicaid Expansion Will Be On the Ballot!

Last week, the Healthcare for Missouri campaign turned in nearly 350,000 signatures to the secretary of state. This is twice the number of signatures needed — which means Medicaid Expansion will be on the ballot this fall!

Thank you to the many amazing Planned Parenthood volunteers who gathered signatures over the past year. Planned Parenthood Advocates has been a proud member of the coalition to expand Medicaid, and we are excited for the next step in this campaign to ensure 230,000 Missourians can access affordable health care coverage!

• Springfield News-Leader: Medicaid expansion effort files more than 300K signatures for 2020 ballot