ProgressWomen

By Eli Yokley, Missouri News Network — May 9

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A $250,000 a year expenditure threatens to stall passage of the state’s $24 billion budget.

The issue is over whether the University of Missouri should continue to fund the Shear Institute, a public policy institute for women in politics based at the University of Missouri – St. Louis. Legislation barring the funding passed the House as part of a larger education bill earlier this year and now returns to the state Senate.

On Wednesday, House Democratic women penned a letter to Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon calling on him to veto the bill if it makes it to his desk.

“It is not the responsibly of the state legislature to micro-manage higher education public institutions as to their programs,” said the letter, led by Rep. Stacey Newman, D-Clayton. “This sets a dangerous precedent.”

Some Republican lawmakers, in particular, state Sen. Jane Cunningham, have insisted their believe that the institute is nothing more than a partisan organization.

Several top Missouri Republican women have also participated in the Shear Institute, including U.S. Rep. JoAnn Emerson, former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman, former U.S. Ambassador Ann Wagner, and former House Speaker Catherine Hanaway. Hanaway said Tuesday she supports effort to cut funding for the institute.

Read more here.

State Rep. Zachary Wyatt (R- Kirksville) ”came out” this morning to incredible support from colleagues on both sides of the aisle.  He revealed his sexual orientation for the first time publicly while speaking out in opposition of HB 2051, the “Don’t Say Gay” bill which would restrict on in-school discussions of sexual orientation.  This bill has been called bigoted and mean-spirited because it would prevent children and teens from seeking help from teachers while trying to understand their sexual orientation.  Also, it would limit teachers abilities to stop bullying based on real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identification.  In addition, it would prevent any after school or gay/straight alliances in schools —currently there are over 80 high school groups across the state.

The Columbia Daily Tribute reviews the State Capitol news conference this morning organized by PROMO and Progress Missouri featuring four GOP and five Democratic lawmakers who asked the 20 co-sponsors to withdraw HB2051.

Five members of the Democratic House Progressive Caucus have something to say about the hateful ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill and Rep. Wyatt’s courageous statement:

Rep. Stacey Newman, House Progressive Caucus Chair (Richmond Heights): “We applaud Rep. Wyatt for his courage in speaking out for himself and for ALL kids. HB 2051 is bigoted at its worst.  38 members of the House Progressive Caucus have sent a letter to each 20 sponsors of this harmful bill asking them to withdraw their bill.  So far, no response.”

Rep. Mary Still (Columbia): “It is a very brave thing he did.   It is so important right now because he was able to bring attention to a very bigoted and mean-spirited piece of legislation (HB 2051).”

Rep. Sarah Lampe (Springfield): “I greatly admire his strength and courage and want him to know he has people and friends surrounding him to support his coming out and being himself.”

Rep. Chris Carter (St. Louis): “Congratulations to Rep. Wyatt for coming out, he is now free to be himself.  This bill is a hunk of crap and needs to be withdrawn.  In this day and age, sexual orientation needs to be discussed in public school.  Children deal with their sexuality day to day and they need to be able to talk to a teacher about this issue.  The possibility of suicide is a consequence of denying children the ability to talk about what is going on with them.  Bullying children who are gay is a real problem in school and kids can be rough.  We need to take this seriously before these children are hurt or something really serious happens.”

Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford (St. Louis City): “Having come out myself and knowing how the media is, I’m very proud of him for taking this difficult step.  I hope the Republicans who filed the bill will withdraw HB 2051 which puts a gag order on discussions of sexual orientation.  Teachers need a way to talk about sexual orientation with students who are struggling through exploring their sexual orientation.  I hope we  (the legislators) will all support our students in their time of need.”

Rep. Tracy McCreery (Olivette): “It is great to know we live and work in a building where people can be themselves and are accepted for who they are.  I hope more people follow Rep. Wyatt’s example in opposing HB 2051.”

If you agree with almost 5000 supporters state and nationwide (so far!) who oppose HB2051, visit oktosaygay.org and urge your state legislator to stop this horrible bill.

HAPPY NATIONAL EQUAL PAY DAY

Rep. Stacey Newman (D-St. Louis County) speaking at Capitol Rally for Equal Pay

In honor of supporting this issue, AAUW (American Association of University Women) hosted a State Capitol Rally April 17th to promote equal pay for women in Missouri.

The rally in Jefferson City highlighted the wage gap issue as well as pointing out how women are treated in the workplace, the struggles they still face in this economy and their affected unemployment and pension benefits.

U. S. women on average earn 77 cents for every dollar earned by a man, which is true in Missouri as well.  It is unfair to women but also to families who suffer from this statistic.  For 34% of working mothers, they are the sole bread-winner- either because they are single parents or their spouses are not in the labor force.

Courtesy of office of State Rep. Stacey Newman

The study said the pay gap was smallest in Washington, D.C., where the women’s median was 91 cents on the men’s dollar. The gap was broadest in Wyoming, where the women’s median was 64 cents on the dollar.

The numbers come from the National Partnership for Women & Families, a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy group that promotes equal access to workplace pay and benefits.

The Importance of Equal Pay for Missouri Women:   read more here.

By Hannah Levintova - Mother Jones

As Republican lawmakers have pushed ever more intrusive and expansive uterus-related legislation, some of their colleagues across the aisle have fired back with intentionally and equally ridiculous counterproposals. From mandatory rectal exams for guys seeking Viagra to prohibitions on sperm-stifling vasectomies, most of these male-only provisions have, unsurprisingly, flopped. But they’ve scored big as symbolic gestures, spotlighting the inherent sexism of laws that only regulate lady parts.

Some of the tongue-in-cheek ideas introduced across the country:

Delaware: By an 8 to 4 vote, the Wilmington, Delaware, city council recognized the personhood of semen because “each ‘egg person’ and each ‘sperm person’ should be deemed equal in the eyes of the government.”

Virginia: As the state Senate debated requiring transvaginal  ultrasounds for women seeking abortions, Sen. Janet Howell proposed  mandating rectal exams and cardiac stress tests for men seeking erectile  dysfunction meds. Her amendment failed by just two votes.

Georgia: Responding to a Georgia house bill banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, Rep. Yasmin Neal wrote a bill outlawing most vasectomies because they leave “thousands of children…deprived of birth.”

Ohio: A bill introduced by state Sen. Nina Turner would compel men to get psychological screenings before getting prescriptions for impotence meds. “We must advocate for the traditional family,” Turner said, “and ensure that all men using PDE-5 inhibitors are healthy, stable, and educated about their options—including celibacy as a viable life choice.”

Illinois: State Rep. Kelly Cassidy proposed requiring men seeking Viagra to watch a video showing the treatment for persistent erections, an occasional side effect of the little blue pill. As she explained, “It’s not a pretty procedure to watch.”

Missouri: Protesting the legislature’s vote to reject Obama’s contraception coverage mandate, nine female lawmakers cosponsored a bill restricting access to vasectomies except for men risking death or serious bodily harm. “In determining whether a vasectomy is necessary,” the bill reads, “no regard shall be made to the desire of a man to father children, his economic situation, his age, the number of children he is currently responsible for, or any danger to his wife or partner in the event a child is conceived.”

Oklahoma: When a zygote-personhood bill came before the state Senate, Sen. Constance Johnson penned an amendment declaring that ejaculating anywhere outside a woman’s vagina constitutes “an action against an unborn child.” Bonus: Johnson also suggested  that any man who impregnates a woman without her permission should pay a  $25,000 fine, support the child until age 21, and get a vasectomy, “in  the spirit of shared responsibility.” In response to the same bill, state Sen. Jim Wilson proposed an  amendment requiring the father of an unborn child to be financially  responsible for its mother’s health care, housing, transportation, and  nourishment during pregnancy.

Texas: Contesting a bill mandating sonograms before abortions, Rep. Harold Dutton unsuccessfully offered three amendments in a row. The first would have required the state to pay the college tuition of  children born to women who decide against an abortion after seeing a required ultrasound image. The second would have subsidized the children’s health care costs until age 18. When that failed, he lowered the age to 6. That didn’t fly, either.