Midwest and red state Democrats have fallen into a see-saw of political advocacy when facing a Republican super majority; complain about the negative policies about Republicans but fail to push forward their own agenda. That lack of advocacy has often been a barrier in defining what truly separates the party.
Missouri Democrats have apparently heard the complaint and decided to step away from business as usual. Rep. Jacob Hummel, D-St. Louis, and Sen. Joe Keaveny, D-St. Louis held a press conference in Jefferson City, Missouri on Monday, and rather than complain about the Republican agenda, Democrats found their voice and stood together in the capital to advocate for a policy driven agenda of their own.
While citing the need for Missouri to focus on aid to those harmed by ongoing flooding along Missouri waterways, the Democrats decided that it was time to stand up and advocate the issues that too many have told Red State Democrats to be “quiet on”.
Standing as a unified caucus, Missouri Democrats advocated for the expansion of Medicaid in the state and passage of the Missouri Nondiscrimination Act (MONA), a means of protecting LGBT Missourians from discrimination. Missouri Democrats also pointed out the underfunding of infrastructure within the state, noting that the Missouri Department of Transportation needs more resources to keep Missouri roads in proper shape.
Rather than run from the issue, Missouri Democrats put the issues in stark contrast with Republicans, drawing a dividing line of policy for the future.
Senator Keaveny called out Republicans who ran a filibuster opposing a 2 cent gas tax increase aimed at funding Missouri Department of Transportation in the last session. “Quite frankly, I don’t see a whole lot of relief… of increasing any taxes in regards to our infrastructure,” he said. “I don’t think the residents of the state of Missouri care whether they pay $1.65 a gallon or $1.67 a gallon, but they don’t want to be running into potholes all the time.”
He expanded his comments to note that “the cost of auto repair from bad roads can cripple a family economically.”
Missouri infrastructure has been the subject of great debate within the state, leading the Missouri Farm Bureau, a Republican-leaning organization, to hold a forum where the status of Missouri roadways and infrastructure were listed as “in crisis”.
http://themissouritimes.com/21834/missouri-farm-bureau-federation-hosts-conference-on-rural-issues/
Members of MODOT and the Highways and Transportation Commission reported on the state of Missouri’s roads, what HTC Chairman Steve Miller called a “transportation crisis,” and the effect that a lack of funds could have on rural Missouri roads. Presidnet and CEO of the Jordan Valley Community Health Center Brooks Miller; Dr. Stanley Horner, MD and Dennis Tibben of the Iowa Medical Society reflected on new and different methods of care with a focus on preventative care in rural areas
Missouri’s rural Republicans are even noting the pinch, pointing out that a significant lack of resources, from quality roads to broadband internet poses a real threat to rural lifestyle.
“It used to be transportation,” he {Rep. David Wood, R-Versailles} said. If you had good roads, you could get a factory in. But now if you don’t have good connection to the rest of the world through the internet, we can’t bring in business. Nobody would want to come if they can’t stay connected, so until we expand the broadband capabilities for our rural communities, we don’t expand anything.
While Republicans discuss these issues of great concern to rural communities, their refusal to raise gas tax — already the lowest in the region — has left Missouri Department of Transportation and Missouri communities unprepared to provide and maintain the basic infrastructure to make these demands possible. Missouri Democrats, rather than stay quiet about a tax point out: “We’re creating a huge divide in the haves and have not in Missouri through Republican policies that don’t provide basic services our community needs.” contended Rep. Jacob Hummel, D-St. Louis.
While taking a stance for taxes and infrastucture would be difficult enough, Missouri Democrats waded immediately into the issue of LGBT rights and discrimination, arguing that the state of Missouri needs a Non-Discrimination policy (MONA) that protects LGBT individuals from firing and discrimination for their sexual orientation.
Missouri’s PROMO has long urged the expansion of non-discrimination policies at the city levels, and had some success in doing so: http://promoonline.org/nondiscrimination-ordinances-in-missouri.html
Many institutional Democrats had voiced concerns as recently as last year over a broad push on LGBT issues, noting that Republicans had long used the issues to rile their base, and have done so effectively in spring elections. Rather than hide from the issue, though, Missouri Democrats stood unified noting that discrimination is not a Missouri value, and that the question has been decided. Speaking to the issue at Netroots Nation 2015, State Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal noted that “Most people have just moved on. But you can’t stop some people from trying to live in the past. It’s time to be bold and say we believe in rights for everyone, period.”
While Missouri Democrats face a Republican Super-Majority and are unlikely to pass most of their legislation, the decision to take bold stances on numerous issues is a stark contrast to past policies of traditional Midwest Democrats. A state aid, who asked not to be named, informed me in email: “It is much easier to recruit candidates and explain what you believe in if you walk the walk. I haven’t been this proud to be a Missouri Democrat in a while.”
Missouri Democrats continue to work on candidate recruitment throughout the state, as filing begins in Missouri February 22nd for the August primary. With a new, bold and direct approach to the issues, Missouri Democrats are signaling that they intend to be more than a party that speaks in opposition to Republicans, they plan on being a party that advocates a plan for the future. Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal informed her constituents in December, "We have nothing to lose by standing up for what we believe in and everything to gain. Leadership is standing up when you are small & overlooked; yelling out loud, so that everyone in Missouri knows they are not alone. They aren’t alone in their beliefs, they aren’t alone in wanting us to do more than just say no, they want us to stand tall. We have nothing to lose but our chains.” A sentiment she later echoed on twitter:
Missouri Democrats have thrown down the gauntlet: no more chains and talking quietly while Republicans advance an agenda. It’s time for a Missouri Democratic Party that throws punches.
A Kansas City Democrat noted they had been resisting donating to their state party and other organizations over a lack of “intestinal fortitude”. Many fellow Missouri Democrats had voiced similar concerns, but the press conference is leading many to re-think their position. The Kansas City Progressive Email List-Serve populated immediately with messages of support: “I’ve waited a while for a moment like yesterday,” explained user mary87, “I haven’t donated money in years, but I’m willing to kick in something if I can get a legislator that will force my Republican representative to answer for all his bigotry and misogyny on the record.”
And with one press conference, Missouri Democrats hope that they have setup a very different attitude for the unaffiliated and registered (D)s around the state: we may be a super-majority, but we are right on the issues, and the time to be quiet is over.
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