The Missouri legislature has been in session for over six weeks, and now is the time to become engaged and remain vigilant.
Are legislators’ priorities the same as yours? Are you pleased with their actions so far?
If not, make your sentiments known, especially to those you voted for.
There are multiple ways to do that, from making a telephone call, writing a letter, sending an email or scheduling a personal visit. You can also elicit others who share your views or concerns — friends, family, neighbors, political action groups, news publications, etc. — to join you in getting your elected officials’ attention.
Many issues being debated are primarily politically motivated or driven by special interests.
Take the focus on DEI programs, for example.
While the Trump administration is determined to remove every DEI program in departments and agencies that receive federal dollars, Governor Kehoe, through an executive order, banned all DEI programs in state agencies.
The governor said in a press release: “Our state agencies must operate under a framework that ensures fairness, equal opportunity, and merit-based decision-making.”
“This order reaffirms Missouri’s commitment to a constitutional, color-blind approach that serves all citizens fairly.”
Has Missouri or this nation ever been color-blind and operated under a framework that ensures fairness, equal opportunity for all its citizens based on merit?
Hardly.
Did DEI programs significantly reduce or eliminate discriminatory practices against Black people?
Certainly not.
Just look around in your workplace, your school, your neighborhood, in the broader landscape and many other areas of American life. What do you see? What has been your experience?
What recourse is available to Black Missourians when the governmental agencies, whose services they pay for and rely on, are comfortable marginalizing and discriminating against them?
Did you vote for the governor and your representative because one of their first priorities was to eliminate DEI programs? Did they even campaign that it would be?
What about their other legislative priorities that are emerging in addition to getting rid of DEI programs?
Criminalizing certain drag shows that could be witnessed by children, and providing tax credits for parents who choose to home school or send their children to private schools — are these issue areas that stand to harm or benefit most Missourians?
Wouldn’t it make more sense to focus on ensuring the support of the many foster children who may be at risk for sexual abuse and other harmful conditions? What legislative initiatives are being pursued to improve student performance and achievement in public schools, and to blunt the impact should the Trump administration eliminate the Department of Education?
What about major legislative actions and bills that could impact a large segment of Missourians, such as farmers?
Agriculture is the number one industry in the state. Yet farmers stand to be harmed by a bill being proposed to increase taxes if they participate in solar or wind energy production. In a time when alternate forms of energy are in demand to fight climate change, why penalize farmers who are trying to provide it?
What is being done to address or mitigate the potential harm other DOGE random, erratic, irrational dissolution, or funding cuts for programs will have on many Missourians?
While the Trump administration claims that they will not cut Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, there is a proposal circulating in Congress to cut the federal contribution to the states’ expanded Medicaid programs. Millions of recipients will be negatively affected.
You voted for your representatives for one or more reasons. Are their actions meeting your needs and expectations?
If they are not, we only have ourselves to blame.
In the future, what will we do about it?
Missouri Independent columnist Janice Ellis analyzes educational, political, social and economic issues across race, ethnicity, age and socio-economic status.