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Bill to Expand Job Opportunities to Ex-offenders Passes House
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 A bill to expand job opportunities for ex-offenders passed the House of Representatives this week by a vote of 148-1. HB 1468, sponsored by Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch (R-Hallsville), expands job opportunities for ex-offenders by allowing them to work in places that sell lottery tickets and liquor, like convenience stores, grocery stores, and restaurants. Working in these places allows ex-offenders with few work skills to acquire job experience, and also helps them avoid falling back into the same behavior that originally landed them in prison.
The MCC actively supported the bill as part of its restorative justice efforts. We extend our gratitude to the hundreds of MOCAN members who responded to the Action Alert in support of this bill! The bill will now be reported to the Senate. |
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Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Louisiana Abortion Clinic Law
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 On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Louisiana's Unsafe Abortion Protection Act. The case, June Medical Services v. Russo, centers on the 2014 Louisiana law that established safety requirements for abortion clinics, including a requirement that abortion doctors have admitting privileges at a local hospital. The law at issue is similar to a Texas law previously struck down by the Supreme Court. Missouri also has a similar law that has been one reason for the closure of all but one abortion facility in the state.
Kat Talalas with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities issued a statement on Wednesday, saying that abortion "not only destroys the lives of unborn children, but often severely harms women's physical, psychological, and spiritual health", and that all states have "a strong interest in regulating a procedure which is lethal to children and immensely damaging to women." The full statement can be found on the USCCB website.
A decision on the case is expected by the end of June. |
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Missouri Senate Resolution Proposes Work Requirements for Medicaid Recipients
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 As proponents of Medicaid expansion gather signatures to place the issue on the November ballot, a proposed Missouri Senate resolution would place an alternative vision of Medicaid on the ballot for consideration this fall. SJR 60, sponsored by Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer (R-Parkville), would require those receiving Medicaid benefits who do not meet exemption criteria to work 80 hours per month in order to continue to qualify. The resolution also includes provisions that would require medical insurance policies to provide coverage for pre-existing conditions, and that family policies cover young adults up to 26 years of age.
Current Medicaid recipients typically do not qualify for coverage under the program if they work, because income thresholds are so low. If Medicaid were expanded, as many as 250,000 newly eligible low-income workers could obtain coverage under the program. It is this expanded population that would face the work requirements. The Missouri bishops issued a statement back in October in support of the expansion of Medicaid in order to provide healthcare coverage for the working poor and because of the importance of the program to the healthcare delivery system in Missouri. More information about this issue can be found on the MCC website.
The MCC testified in opposition to the work requirements provision, arguing that such requirements will ultimately result in large numbers of low-income workers falling off the roles as they face difficulties complying with the requirements or trouble obtaining exemptions under the proposal. Low-income workers tend to work in industries (food service, construction, retail, and home health) with unstable hours and face barriers getting to work due to lack of transportation, unstable housing, and childcare expenses. In addition, the state social service infrastructure isn't expected to be prepared to successfully implement such work requirements for such a large population.
Federal courts have so far struck down work requirements implemented in Arkansas, Kentucky, and Michigan, finding that the federal law governing Medicaid was intended to provide healthcare coverage, not require work. States seeking to require work must fund the infrastructure themselves, adding to the expense of implementing the program, and costing states millions of dollars in the process. The issue is expected to ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. |
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Judicial Override Bill Heard in Committee
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 This week, the House Special Committee on Criminal Justice heard HB 1925, sponsored by Rep. Shamed Dogan (R-Ballwin). This bill would do away with the practice of allowing a judge to give a death sentence if the jury is deadlocked. Since 2013, there have been no jury decisions that have imposed a death penalty sentence, yet in that time there were two cases where the jury was deadlocked and the judge gave a sentence of death. Only two states, Indiana and Missouri, allow for a judicial override when the jury is deadlocked.
The MCC joined with numerous other witnesses in support of the bill. They reiterated that the right to a "jury of our peers" is guaranteed in the constitution and that a jury best represents the conscience of the community. The committee took no action on the bill. |
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Coronavirus Update
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 Coronavirus (COVID-19) has continued to make headlines as the virus spreads across the globe. It's easy for fears to escalate as cases rise in the United States, but there is no need to panic. On Twitter this week, Governor Parson relayed findings from his meetings with health officials, including the confirmation that no cases have been confirmed in Missouri. In a hearing held at the MO State Capitol last week, Missouri health experts addressed concerns and presented advice on how we can combat the disease.
The most valuable thing you can do to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, experts say, is to wash your hands at regular intervals throughout the day with soap and water for 20 seconds at a time. Though it might seem like a safety barrier, wearing masks is not an effective defense. "Those things do not particularly protect the wearer," Dr. Stevan Whitt, an infectious disease specialist at MU Health Care said. "They mostly protect people who are infected from transmitting the virus. They don't really filter air, they trap particles." Department of Health and Senior Services Director Randall Williams echoed his remarks. "To wear masks (when you're not sick), that's just a false sense of security," he said. "If you have (the virus) and you wear a mask, that's helpful." Health officials urged those who are feeling unwell to stay home unless they are seeking medical care at a hospital or clinic.
The coronavirus presents with similar symptoms as the common cold, with an added fever 100.4 and higher, along with respiratory distress. People who are not short of breath, not light headed and still able to eat and drink can likely ride out the coronavirus like they would with any other virus, health officials said. Out of an abundance of caution, officials say to decide whether or not to visit the doctor using this method: "If your grandma would send you to the doctor, you should go." For more information on the coronavirus, visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/. |
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April 1 is Census Day 2020. We have provided a quick fact sheet to inform you about what to expect and how to respond to the 2020 U.S. Census. The fact sheet is available for download to save and print, and can be shared electronically. For more information about the U.S. Census, 
Each year, spring begins on the equinox, which has reliably fallen on March 21st for many years. But in 2020, Spring will arrive early, on March 19th. No, this hasn't been changed just for the heck of it; there's a scientific and calendar-based explanation.