Updated on February 24, 2022: HB 3014 passed and was signed by Governor Parson the same day. Thanks to all activists and lawmakers who helped get this bill across the finish line. This huge amount of money will help our entire state. 

HB 3014 is a massive appropriations bill that covers emergency supplemental funding for all of Missouri’s state departments. Republican lawmakers are playing with the lives of 6 million Missourians by not passing it. The reason? It seems that playing politics is more important than doing what’s right for our residents.

More than $5 billion are currently being held hostage by GOP lawmakers, with House Budget Chair Cody Smith (HD 163) taking the lead. Out of those funds, nearly $2 billion are being kept from Missouri’s 550 public schools.

Who’s Impacted

Let’s take a look at who this bill impacts:

• 550 public school districts who are in dire need of school food assistance, Covid-related safety expenses, etc.
• Victims of crime
• Poor people who can’t afford their heating bills
• Poor mentally ill patients
• State workers whose salaries are nearly last in the nation
• Resident needing state emergency services (such as in massive tornado outbreaks, hurricanes, etc.)
• Missourians living in areas with Broadband internet access
• Missourians living in areas who don’t have safe water to drink
• Poor children who need rehab, eyeglasses, and an ambulance
• Struggling Missourians who need dental care
• Poor elderly residents who need nursing home care

See a pattern here? It sure looks like Republican lawmakers aren’t interested in making sure our poorest Missourians are taken care of, despite the fact that many of them voted them in office.

HB 3014 By the Numbers

Here’s a look at how the numbers break down for each section of HB 3014, and it’s quite a list:

“Close the Gap" Amendment

Now, the House Budget Committee actually did vote to approve the bill late Monday evening. However, an amendment was tacked on that would route $75 million of the funds public school districts were counting on to provide grants directly to parents so they could pay for tutoring or various types of enrichment activities for their kids. Under this amendment called “Close the Gap," GOP lawmakers want to give $1500 per child. The money, which comes from federal funds, would then be paid to one or more third-party vendors. What do Republicans want to pay for? These “enrichment" activities shall include but not be limited to tutoring, extended school day educational programs, academic and arts-related day or summer camps, and educational, learning or study skills services. It would then fall on DESE staff to sort through it all and run this new program.

This amendment doesn’t comply with the federal requirements that the funds be distributed under approved district plans. GOP lawmakers knew that. Simply put, this “Close the Gap" Amendment was nothing more than an attempt to continue dragging things out and holding 6 million Missourians hostage. The need to quit playing political games and restore the original language to HB 3014 as it was written by Governor Parson’s staff.

We Must Take Action

If Republican lawmakers won’t help our public schools, our state workers, and the poorest Missourians, then it’s up to us.

Now’s the time we need to flood the phone lines. Now’s the time to post all over social media. And now’s the time to submit Letters to the Editor.

Call Your Lawmakers

Please take a few minutes to call or email your Missouri State Representative and State Senator. Tag them in your social media posts. They pay attention to how many people they hear from. Your voice matters.

Write LTEs

It doesn’t take long to write a Letter to the Editor for your local newspaper. Most allow you to do it online. Not sure what the guidelines are, or how to submit your thoughts? We’ve done some of the legwork for you. Just keep in mind that it’s a work in progress and will be updated as soon as we learn of changes.

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The Franklin County Democratic Central Committee meets the last Monday of each month. Due to COVID, meetings are currently being held via Zoom. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. 

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