In Week 4 of the 2023 Regular Session- while many Missouri residents are living paycheck to paycheck, are concerned about rising prices, over one-third of Missouri’s public school districts have transitioned to 4-day weeks over budgetary shortfalls, and our state lags in many important categories- Republican Legislators are prioritizing attacking vulnerable trans children, their families, Healthcare providers and schools (there are *6* trans athletes in Missouri’s public schools out of 885,000 students) and making it illegal to teach Black History.
Today I’m asking you to make time to watch the Committee Hearing that occurred in the afternoon and evening of Tuesday, January 24, 2023 in which bills were presented in the House General Laws Committee regarding a number of extremely discriminatory anti-LGBTQ measures that attack vulnerable trans children, “drag” shows, and so forth. Dozens of opponents against these measures drove hours to our State Capitol to defend their Rights, Freedoms, and Liberties against tyrannical attacks from Republican Legislators who hold a supermajority in our State Legislature and a trifecta in our State Government- including currently holding every Statewide office. I’m posting the link to the video of the testimony below- which included testimony from trans youth and parents of trans youth and their allies, members of the LGBTQ community in general, Democratic and community leaders, and support for this prejudicial nonsense from Republican gubernatorial candidate Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft.
Be warned that the subjects discussed are very sensitive in nature, are related to children, and that there are a number of moments of heart-wrenching emotional testimony in defense of vulnerable children and LGBTQ citizens.
https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00325/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20200831/-1/7645
TEAMKIEHNE would very much appreciate your sympathy and support for some kids and families that have to deal with enough challenges as it is without the Republican politicians in Missouri’s State Government making their lives even more difficult.
Today’s action steps:
Call the members of Gen Laws and tell them to #LetKidsPlay. On Tuesday, January 24th, the Gen Laws committee heard eight Anti LGBTQ bills. Bills to take away freedom to access gender affirming health care, to legislate kids’ sports and bully trans kids, and to attack drag shows. In addition to calls you can submit written testimony here, many opponents of these extreme bills traveled to Jefferson City to testify in person against these bills. There were few- if any- supporters. Also- sponsors of these bills left the room when opponents- including those who would be directly affected by these measures- testified.
If you have any questions or concerns about the issues presented in these bills PLEASE watch the testimony in the video at the link provided above. Links to each bill are provided below.
HB 170 – Seitz – SAVE WOMEN’S SPORTS ACT
HB 183 – Burger – STUDENT ATHLETES
HB 337 – Cook – STUDENT ATHLETES
HB 419 – Hudson – MISSOURI’S CHILDREN DESERVE HELP NOT HARM ACT
HB 463 – Boyd – MISSOURI SAVE ADOLESCENTS FROM EXPERIMENTATION ACT
HB 494 – Baker – ADULT CABARET PERFORMANCES
HB 498 – Boyd – SEXUALLY ORIENTED BUSINESSES
HB 540 – Sparks – MISSOURI’S CHILDREN DESERVE HELP NOT HARM ACT
Rep. Alex Riley 573-751-2210
Rep. Justin Hicks 573-751-3572
Rep. Ben Baker 573-751-9781
Rep. Ron Copeland 573-751-1688
Rep. Doyle Justus 573-751-9459
Rep. Tony Lovasco 573-751-1484
Rep. Mark Matthiesen 573-751-1470
Rep. Aaron McMullen 573-751-3674
Rep. Jeff Myers 573-751-2689
Rep. Renee Reuter 573-751-3607
Republican politicians also continue to attack the Ballot Initiative, work to defund our public schools, erase Black History, erode Worker’s Rights, defund schools, libraries, and First Responders, etc. while ignoring the most pressing needs of 6.1 million Missouri citizens.
In my world the residents of my community- and my State- need the opportunity to earn a living wage (and the ability to achieve and maintain a secure middle class lifestyle), access to quality, affordable Healthcare, tuition-free public schools that provide a high-quality, comprehensive education, safe roads and bridges, to live in safe, nurturing neighborhoods that attract businesses and new residents, and a state government that honors their sworn oath to make the Welfare of the People the Supreme Law.
Please help us to represent the Welfare of the People for House District 88 by supporting our grassroots campaign today.
WWW.KIEHNE2024.COM