Fwd: Rural Caucus Newsletter

[Darrell Martin]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Rural Strong <modemsru...@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Apr 19, 2024 at 4:11 PM
Subject: Rural Caucus Newsletter
To:

National Park Week kicks off tomorrow, Rural Democrats! 

All the national parks will be fee-free on Sat., April 20: National Park Week - NPS Commemorations and Celebrations (U.S. National Park Service). The previous administration and its appointed officials consistently undermined and attacked the laws safeguarding our public lands, the agencies overseeing them, and irreplaceable resources. Pres. Biden has been actively working to reverse this damage. Over one and a half million acres of wildlands and historical sites in the U.S have gained protection with his designation of five new national monuments, and there are plans for more.: A List of the U.S National Monuments Opened in 2022 and 2023 - AFAR

Reproductive Freedom Initiative Petition

We are almost at the finish line of the Reproductive Freedom initiative petition! We know everyone has worked incredibly hard and put a lot of hours into holding successful signing events. And that's why MCF needs some extra help notarizing on the weekends in KC and Columbia! 

Here are the days/times: Volunteer Notaries Needed - Google Docs. Please email Dana Sandweiss (danasa...@gmail.com) with all the shifts you can work in KC or Columbia. There's a big push for signing events: Volunteer Opportunities, Events, and Petitions Near Me · Missourians for Constitutional Freedom on Mobilize. 

Don't forget to use the State Party's website event page to submit your events. Events | Missouri Democrats. It will be the "central hub" for events. As we said last week, we'll give everyone a couple of weeks to get used to the idea. Until then, we've listed the upcoming/save the date events here: Upcoming Events/Save The Date (4/20/24) - Google Docs

News:

The House Ethics Committee stated that House Speaker Dean Plocher sabotaged the ethics investigation by pressuring witnesses and declining to issue subpoenas. Since the HEC lacks the authority and procedures to investigate, Plocher will proceed without receiving any reprimand. MO ethics committee rejects report into Speaker Dean Plocher | Kansas City Star. We need to let Missourians know that as  Secretary of State, he'll use "rules for thee but not for me".

Once more, the GOP is safeguarding the interests of their corporate benefactors rather than those of their constituents: Missouri House gives initial OK to bill protecting pesticide-makers • Missouri Independent. The primary focus is on Bayer and their product, RoundUp. As in other states, Bayer is behind the MO legislation as an effort to curb the surge of lawsuits that RoundUp caused cancer. Of course, the GOP used their go-to fear message: Chinese pesticide producers might have to be used. 

Inflation will be an unavoidable topic of discussion as the economy and cost of living remains the top issue but childcare, elder care, and the entire economy of caregiving are impacting so many families. Look at this survey results from rural women. 

As access to and quality of health services in rural areas continue to erode, our candidates need to discuss policy solutions: City-Country Mortality Gap Widens Amid Persistent Holes in Rural Health Care Access - KFF Health News. 

Missouri remains the worst state in the country for puppy mills: Missouri remains the worst state in the country for puppy mills. Why can't we do better? | State News | columbiamissourian.com.There is a special place in hell for people who prey on innocent animals. MAGA Rep. Jason Smith used his political influence to gut The Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act (Prop. B) which had been supported by Missourians. He wanted to protect his mother and the family business. 

SB727 is estimated to cost taxpayers $468 million when fully implemented. Once more, the GOP is comfortable with families from the lower-middle class subsidizing the education of the wealthiest families' children in private institutions. Missouri House narrowly sends private-school tax credit, charter expansion to governor’s desk • Missouri Independent. While the GOP steals funds from the public schools to give to private, they simultaneously scream about public school shortcomings. This trend that they created will lead to the consolidation and closure of public schools, with rural communities being hit the hardest.

State Fair Booth

The “Wins doc” by the Rural Urban Bridge Initiative Wins-liveLinks-1.pdf (squarespace.com) highlights the remarkable measures taken by the Biden Administration to reduce the costs of everyday goods, create a fair environment for workers seeking to unionize, and bolster family farmers, small businesses, and rural development. The State Fair Booth Committee plans to utilize this informative fact sheet for the creation of flyers, brochures, and other materials. In the meantime:

• Share it widely with friends, colleagues, family and your networks
• Post it, with your own comments, on social media
• Write a letter to the editor about specific policies
• Share it with candidates running for office

The voters have to believe that Joe Biden and our candidates really understand what's important to them. Just sweeping our hand and saying, "We’re bringing you broadband" is not going to cut it.

ActBlue account for booth: Missouri Democratic Party - Non-Federal — Donate via ActBlue. 

Booth Volunteer Sign-up: State Fair Booth Sign-Up - Google Sheets

Host Sign-up:  2024 State Fair Hosts - Google Sheets

 

Folks, with so much at stake this year, it’s not a question of which group of voters is most important but rather how we unite as a movement to engage and rebuild trust. Although the Rural Caucus concentrates on the crucial role of rural voters, we support Missourians - both urban and rural. We aim to align with shared values on issues like abortion and the economy, and to counter the GOP's fear-based narratives that hinder progress.

Joshua Dunne

Chair

Jacqueline Farr

Vice-Chair

Meg Edwards

Secretary

John Parks

Treasurer