Please take a few minutes to 1.) educate yourself on these important issues, 2.) pray about these issues, 2.) act on the ones requested and then 3.) forward this e-mail to like-minded friends, family, churches and associates.
Monday, February 23
National Sovereignty
State Director Bev Ehlen attended the Government Efficiency Committee meeting which heard HB206 sponsored by Rep. Paul Curtman (R-109.) Amy Fox, CWA of Missouri’s Issues Specialist-National Sovereignty, is concerned about the language in the bill that concerns Private Public Partnerships (P3). Private Public Partnerships are used in the overall “Agenda 21” assault on private property. Rep. Paul Curtman is working with the grassroots to address the concerns. We will be watching this bill as it goes through the process and will alert our members to any action item that is needed on this bill. CWA of Missouri is concerned about HB206.
Education
Bev Ehlen also attended the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee meeting that evening. HB382, sponsored by Rep. Kathryn Swan (R-147), was heard. While Rep. Swan worked with those who brought concerns to her about the bill and basically addressed their objections, the bill could still present problems. We’ll send out an action alert should we see that it is needed. CWA of Missouri is concerned about HB382.
Marijuana
HB800sponsored by Rep. Dave Hinson (R-119) was heard on Monday in the House Emerging Issues Committee. This bill would legalize the medicinal use of marijuana. CWA of Missouri opposes HB800.
Tuesday, February 24
Family
Legislative Liaison Linda Laird and Bev Ehlen attended the Children and Families Committee meeting where two bills that could be very helpful to families were being heard.HB684, sponsored by Rep. Lindell Shumake (R-District 5), establishes family intervention orders for the treatment of an individual who abuses chemical substances. HB764 sponsored by Rep. Andrew Koenig (R-District 99) requires a child protective investigator must provide information to the parent or guardian about community service programs that provide respite care, voluntary guardianship, or other support services for families in crisis. These community programs are mostly Christian ministries. CWA of Missouri supports HB684.
National Sovereignty
After visiting with representatives and senators through the rest of the day, Linda Laird and Bev Ehlen attended the Legislator Briefing on Agenda 21 and Sustainable Development that evening. Amy Fox, CWA of Missouri’s Issue Specialist-National Sovereignty, was one of the four speakers who presented regarding the insidious ways people are losing their property rights across Missouri and the United States. There were several members of the Missouri General Assembly in attendance that evening.
Wednesday, February 25
Truth Project
We are so pleased that we are having fifteen individuals who consistently come out at 7:00 a.m. for breakfast and sixty minutes of Truth. Our topic this week was “Theology-Who is God.” The Truth Project is a twelve-subject worldview study held on Wednesday mornings at 7:00 a.m. in Hearing Room 4. Missouri Alliance for Freedom and CWA of Missouri have teamed up to sponsor breakfast and the showing of The Truth Project weekly video presentation by Dr. Del Tackett.
Legislative Liaisons Sherry Kuttenkuler, Linda Laird and Bev Ehlen lobbied on several issues throughout the remainder of the day.
End of Life Care
HB113, sponsored by Rep. Bill E. Kidd (R-District 20), was heard in the House Children and Families Committee. This bill prohibits a health care facility, nursing home, physician, nurse, or medical staff from withholding life-sustaining procedures, food, medication, or nutrition, or placing any restrictions on life-sustaining procedures including, but not limited to, food, medication, or nutrition for any minor patient, resident, or ward without the written permission of at least one parent or legal guardian of the minor patient or ward. CWA of Missouri supports HB113.
Take Action: Please contact the members of the Health and Mental Health Committee and ask them to vote “do-pass” on HB113. Please contact them right away; they may vote on this as soon as Wednesday, March 4.
Abortion
HB190, sponsored by Rep. Kathryn Swan (R-District 147), was third read and passed by a vote of 119 yes votes and 35 no votes in the House. This bill requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to inspect and investigate abortion facilities no less than once a year. The bill specifies inspection and investigation reports must be made available to the public and any portion of a report may be redacted when made publicly available if the portion of the report would disclose information that is not subject to disclosure under the law. It now goes to the Senate. CWA of Missouri supports HB190.
Take Action: 1.) Please contact your Senator and ask him/her to vote for HB190. If you do not know who your Senator is, then simply click here and fill in your address under “Legislator Lookup.” 2.) Call President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey (R-District 23) at 573-751-1141 and Majority Leader Sen. Ron Richard (R-District 32) at 573-751-2173 and ask them to do everything in their power to get HB190 through the Senate.
Abortion
HB1033 was filed by Rep. Mike Moon (R-District 157). Missouri Statutes now say that on “the laws of this state shall be interpreted and construed to acknowledge on behalf of the unborn child at every stage of development, all the rights, privileges, and immunities available to other persons, citizens, and residents of this state, subject only to the Constitution of the United States, and decisional interpretations thereof by the United States Supreme Court and specific provisions to the contrary in the statutes and constitution of this state.” HB1033 would take out “subject only to the Constitution of the United States, and decisional interpretations thereof by the United States Supreme Court and specific provisions to the contrary in the statutes and constitution of this state.” Therefore our state statutes would then say “The laws of this state shall be interpreted and construed to acknowledge on behalf of the unborn child at every stage of development, all the rights, privileges, and immunities available to other persons, citizens, and residents of this state.” This would be a very important piece of Pro-Life legislation in Missouri. CWA of Missouri supports HB1033.
Take Action: call Speaker John Diehl at 573-751-1544 and ask him to assign HB1033 to the Health and Mental Health Committee right away so the process can begin. Ask him to support this piece of legislation all the way through the process.
Thursday, February 26
CWA of Missouri Area Director and Education Coordinator Jill Noble and Legislative Liaison Stacy Shore made a presentation on the Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSI) to a group of concerned moms and others in Jefferson City.
Dr. Mary Byrne and Bev Ehlen made a presentation on the CCSSI to a school board of a private Christian school in Wright City.
CWA of Missouri is still making presentations on the Common Core State Standards Initiative. Contact us to schedule on in your area.
Education
Good news on the Common Core State Standards Initiative issue. Smarter Balanced Assessment Tests Ruled Unconstitutional in Missouri! Judge Green of the circuit court of Cole County granted summary judgment in our favor on the claim that Missouri’s membership fees to Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortia are unlawful under the Compact Clause of the U.S. Constitution as well as “state and federal law.” Judge Green has permanently enjoined the State of Missouri from making payments in the form of membership fees to Smarter Balanced. Missouri can no longer be a member of SBAC. The decision will probably be appealed by the state which attorney John Sauer looks forward to defending. Stay tuned!
Mark your calendar and plan to attend Pro-Life Action Day on Tuesday, March 10, sponsored by Missouri Right to Life. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m., the Rally starts at Noon in the First Floor Rotunda. Carol Tobias, President of National Right to Life will be the keynote speaker. This will be an excellent opportunity for you to “lobby” your state rep. and state senator on behalf of the sanctity of human life. Be sure to stop by our table!
CWA of Missouri Events. Click here at any time to see if there are any CWA of Missouri events in your area.
We ask for your prayers, financial support and participation. We are an all-volunteer organization. Each of the ladies travel to the Capitol, pay for gas for their cars and overnight stays, food away from home, etc. It would be great to have some individuals step up and “Sponsor a Legislative Liaison.” This money could go directly to reimburse a Legislative Liaison for some of her expenses. Think about it, pray about it and contact us should the Lord move you to “Sponsor a Legislative Liaison.”