Missouri House of Representatives Shut Down for Next Week
Things got off to a rough start in Jefferson City. In the first hours of session, safety protocols were turned down by Republican leadership in regards to mask mandates and distancing to prevent potential spread of COVID-19. Unsurprisingly, multiple members of the house have tested positive and been exposed resulting in the House Speaker announcing there would be no action for the week starting January 18th. The Senate also had members exposed but will go on as scheduled.
Last year, the same thing happened resulting in the long term hospitalization of Jackson County State Rep Joe Runions days after Republicans laughed about the virus being a hoax and refused to take any preventative measures.
Personal responsibility through the pandemic is a critical part to keeping people healthy and getting business back to normal. It has also been proven to be a gross failure of a standard by Republican leaders from Governor Parson down to rural municipal governments. Please take the advice of health professionals seriously.
House Leaders Had Already Agreed to Limited Session January 20
With right-wing extremists planning protests in Washington, D.C., and all 50 state capitols on presidential Inauguration Day and concerns their actions could turn violent, the Missouri House of Representatives had previously agreed to only hold a procedural session on Jan. 20 so that most lawmakers and legislative staff need not be present in the event violence does unfold. This is, fortunately or unfortunately, not relevant now.
How We Can Build Toward 2022 Now
Over the past two months, local and state Democrats have learned from the numbers and candidate actions what are strengths, weaknesses and opportunities are as we move toward the 2022 campaign cycle. The most important thing we can be doing in Jackson County is putting resources toward voter registration, specifically in Kansas City's core and Independence.
Voter registration will be the biggest focus for 2021 and lead into our county wide turnout and persuasion efforts across the area. With legislative redistricting and a US Senate race, we can't waste the momentum Democrats are showing nationally.
Show your commitment toward progress in 2022 by giving to our registration drive campaign. Funds received here will stay entirely in Jackson County and be used to find new voters and update registrations of lapsed voters. Missouri can look like Georgia soon and this is the best path to get there!
Raytown Democratic Association Back to Regular Schedule
If you are interested in joining one of Jackson County's most active Democratic clubs, join them Thursday, January 21 at 7pm via Zoom.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86132757589?pwd=VTIrM1FqbXFQZy8vT0FCNHhKSG5MQT09
Meeting ID: 861 3275 7589
Passcode: 615260
Please join the meeting a little early (15 minutes), so we can get everyone signed in.
If you are having issues getting in please call Kim at (816) 349-5160
Clay County Loses Democratic Stalwart
The Chair of the Clay County Democratic Central Committee sadly reported that longtime volunteer, trainer and office manager Donna Cushman peacefully passed away early this week. She was as hard working and loyal of a Democrat and friend that countless people across the region ever got the pleasure to meet.
While she is irreplaceable, her legacy continues through the dozens of volunteers who worked under her and numerous current and past elected officials across Clay County.
As has been the case with many others we have lost from our community in the last year, a celebration of life will have to wait until a later date.
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