Author: Ryan Gavin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024
Contact: liz@progressmo.org

Five things to know about Rep. Adam Schnelting

ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Voters Tuesday selected Missouri State Representative Adam Schnelting as the Republican candidate for Senate District 23. However, if you dig into his record, from his boasting about being an architect of Missouri’s extreme abortion ban to leaving everyday Missourians behind by voting against lowering prescription drug prices and expanding childcare access, it’s clear Schelting is the wrong choice for Missouri.

Here are 5 things to know about Adam Schnelting:

1. Schnelting boasts he “authored” Missouri’s abortion ban. On social media and in campaign ads, Schelting frequently describes himself as the author of the abortion ban currently in place in Missouri. As a State Representative, Schnelting voted “yes” on HB 126, the bill that established Missouri’s extreme abortion ban. However, Schnelting was not the sponsor nor a co-sponsor of the bill.
   
2. Schnelting attempted to stifle the will of voters. Schnelting was actively trying to keep Missourians from being able to vote on abortion by encouraging voters not to sign the initiative petition that was being circulated.
   
3. Schnelting is a proud member of the MAGA-aligned Freedom Caucus. Schnelting received the Missouri Freedom Caucus endorsement, and consistently voted alongside other members of the Caucus.
   
4. Schnelting opposed lowering the cost of medication. Schnelting voted against SB 751 which would lower the cost of 340B prescription drug prices. In the State Senate, the only senators to vote against the bill were Freedom Caucus members.
   
5. Schnelting opposed helping parents find and afford childcare. In the 2024 legislative session, Schnelting voted against HB 1488, priority legislation for expanding access to childcare for all families.

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Hawley’s Longstanding Opposition to No-Fault Divorce Poses Threat to Women and Family Safety

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 1, 2024
Contact: claire@progressmo.org

JEFFERSON CITY, MO: On Thursday, Missouri advocates and experts held a virtual press conference on the dangers posed by Senator Josh Hawley’s long-held opposition to no-fault divorce. A recording recently made public by Rolling Stone revealed that Hawley supports drastic changes to divorce laws, advocating for the elimination of no-fault divorce.

Click here for a link to today’s media event.

No-fault divorce provides a critical escape route for individuals, particularly women, to leave potentially dangerous or unhealthy marriages without facing insurmountable legal hurdles.

Speakers on the call condemned Hawley’s stance and detailed the chilling consequences for Missourians if no-fault divorce were to disappear.

Hon. Margaret T. Donnelly, retired family law judge and former Missouri State Representative, said, “At a time when family courts in Missouri are encouraging families in the middle of a divorce to mediate and solve their legal issues peacefully, Josh Hawley wants to throw them back into the arena to battle it out. Having to blame the other spouse for bad behavior and then spending several days in front of a judge testifying to that misconduct is destructive to those families, and especially to their children. Abolishing no-fault divorce will not stop divorce. It will only make it much harder for families and their children to move forward to the best possible future.”

Liz McCune, Progress Missouri Executive Director: “Josh Hawley wants to take us back to the days when women had no way out of unsafe marriages. His stance on divorce is anti-woman, anti-family and downright dangerous. Hawley’s extreme positions, like his embrace of white Christian nationalism, betray Missouri values and endanger families. Missourians deserve better, and it’s time we demand it.”

Madeleine Hatler, Victim Advocate: “Asking a survivor to prove they have been abused can put them into increased danger. Rolling back our family law for more than 50 years makes survivors less safe and adds an undue burden on them during an already difficult and traumatic time. Senator Hawley’s stance ignores the reality of domestic abuse and puts vulnerable Missourians at risk.”

Adding to the danger survivors face, requiring them to prove abuse to obtain a divorce could trap them in dangerous situations for longer periods. Taking away no-fault divorce does nothing but make them less safe.

“Survivors already have to overcome systematic manipulation by their abusive partner to flee an abusive marriage,” Hatler added. “Asking a survivor to prove that they have been in an abusive situation can do nothing but put them in danger. Taking away no-fault divorce does nothing but make them less safe.”

The growing push to roll back no-fault divorce is also fueled in part by Christian nationalism, a dangerous ideology championed by Senator Hawley, who recently declared, “Some will say now that I am calling America a Christian nation. So I am. And some will say that I am advocating Christian nationalism. And so I do.”

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JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri: On Thursday, Missouri advocates and experts will hold a virtual press conference at 11 a.m. CT on the dangers posed by Senator Josh Hawley’s long-held opposition to no-fault divorce. A recording recently made public by Rolling Stone revealed that Hawley supports drastic changes to divorce laws, advocating for the elimination of no-fault divorce.

No-fault divorce provides a critical escape route for individuals, particularly women, to leave potentially dangerous or unhealthy marriages without facing insurmountable legal hurdles.

Critics warn that Senator Hawley’s push to require proof of fault could trap people in abusive marriages, escalating danger and suffering.

This timely discussion will delve into the real-world consequences of restricting access to divorce, drawing on the expertise of:

• Hon. Margaret T. Donnelly, Retired Judge: Legal expert in family law and former Missouri State Representative
• Madeleine Hatler, Victims’ Rights Advocate
• Other Missouri experts

The growing push to roll back no-fault divorce is also fueled in part by Christian nationalism, a dangerous ideology championed by Senator Josh Hawley, to impose extreme religious beliefs on Americans’ way of life. This worldview seeks to force women back into narrow and oppressive gender roles.

When: 11 a.m. CT Thursday, August 1, 2024

Why: The growing push to roll back no-fault divorce is also fueled in part by Christian nationalism, a dangerous ideology championed by Senator Josh Hawley, to impose extreme religious beliefs on Americans’ way of life. This worldview seeks to force women back into narrow and oppressive gender roles.

How to join: Contact Claire Cook-Callen at Claire@progressmo.org for the Zoom link.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, July 1, 2024
Contact: liz@progressmo.org

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Progress MO released a new ad today to bring awareness to Senator Josh Hawley’s vote on the Right to Contraception Act in the U.S. Senate. The new ad, titled “Watch What They Do”, is part of an aggressive campaign to inform Missourians about the effort to attack common forms of birth control like IUDs, Plan B and condoms.

Last week, Missourians came together under a 20-foot inflatable IUD to share concerns about politicians attacking their right to access birth control and IVF. Missouri Senators Hawley and Schmitt are part of a concerted effort being funded by special interests and extremists to attack our rights and control our bodies – and they’re using the courts and legislative chambers to block our access to our reproductive rights.

Full Transcript “Watch What They Do”:

Republican politicians have come for our freedoms. Don’t believe it? Just watch….

Well, I did something nobody thought was possible. I got rid of Roe v Wade. 

A Republican senator has blocked the passage of a bill to protect access to in-vitro fertilization nationwide. 

They are on the road to banning birth control.

Senate Republicans just voted against our right to contraception.

Is your senator coming for your freedoms? Find out.

Progress MO encourages Missourians to call Senators Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt to tell them to protect our right to plan our families. 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Contact: liz@progressmo.org

St. Louis, Mo. – Beneath the shadow of a 20-foot inflatable IUD and with the Gateway Arch in view, community leaders and citizens shared their concerns about politicians attacking their right to access birth control and IVF. Advocates had a clear message to electeds: You can’t take our rights without a fight. 

Dubbed “The IUD Express,” the inflatable birth control device is part of a campaign by Americans for Contraception that aims to educate the community on the importance of protecting women’s access to contraceptives.

“First they came for abortion. Then IVF. Now contraception,” said Heather Lindsy, a St. Louis resident who spoke at the event. “This isn’t about policy. It’s about control.”

Earlier this month, U.S. Senators Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt voted against the Right to Contraception Act blocking the bill’s passage in Washington. Without protection in place, the Missouri legislature could move to eliminate those freedoms as they did with abortion rights in 2022 just minutes after the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson

“There can be no confusion here about what Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt did by voting against the Right to Contraception Act,” said Margot Riphagen, Vice President of External Affairs at Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri. “This was a simple bill to guarantee the right to basic birth control. These politicians showed that they have no qualms about ripping our health care options away piece by piece. Missourians cannot trust their rights to be protected by our state legislature when it took just minutes to ban abortion after Dobbs. We need our elected officials to protect our right to plan our families.”

According to data from the Missouri Family Health Council, over 85% of Missourians support people having access to all methods of birth control. But nearly 60% of Missourians have expressed concern about state elected officials restricting access to it.

However, Hawley’s record makes it clear that he will do anything to keep Missourians from having access to reproductive health care, from his stance of being 100% pro-life to the work he and his family have done to ensure families can’t access birth control through their employer.

“Make no mistake. This is a planned effort by Senator Hawley and other extreme politicians to strip women of their reproductive freedoms,” said Liz McCune, Executive Director of Progress Missouri. “We will not stay silent. We urge all Missourians to call Senators Hawley and Schmitt and their elected leaders and tell them to protect our right to contraception and our own reproductive health.”

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WHAT: Beneath the shadow of a 20-foot inflatable IUD, Missourians will express their concerns about politicians attacking their right to access birth control and IVF. Advocates will gather near the Gateway Arch to send a clear message to electeds: You can’t take our rights without a fight. 

Dubbed “The IUD Express,” the inflatable birth control device is part of a campaign by Americans for Contraception that aims to educate the community on the importance of protecting women’s access to contraceptives.

WHO: Advocates and community leaders

WHEN: 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 26

WHERE: Kiener Plaza, 500 Chestnut St., St. Louis, MO 63101

WHY: Earlier this month, U.S. Senators Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt voted against the Right to Contraception Act blocking the bill’s passage in Washington. Without protection in place, the Missouri legislature could move to eliminate those freedoms as they did with abortion rights in 2022 just minutes after the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson.

“First they came for abortion. Then IVF. Now contraception. This isn’t about policy. It’s about control,” said Heather Lindsy, a St. Louis resident who will speak at the event.

According to data from the Missouri Family Health Council, over 85% of Missourians support people having access to all methods of birth control. But nearly 60% of Missourians have expressed concern about state elected officials restricting access to it.

Media Contact: Liz McCune, liz@progressmo.org

Charter school, voucher expansion hurts already financially strapped public schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 14, 2024
Contact: liz@progressmo.org

COLUMBIA Mo. – The Missouri Legislature let down kids repeatedly this year, failing to invest in public schools that more than 90% of Missouri school children depend upon.

This year’s legislative session was the least productive and most chaotic in living memory with only 28 non-budget bills reaching the legislative finish line. What legislators did pass directly hurts Missourians, such as the education spending bill that takes money from public schools and pumps them into private charter schools and vouchers.

“I don’t understand how legislators who claim to represent us can be so short-sighted on funding education, which is pivotal to the American Dream,” said Carmen Buis, a mother of three in Columbia. “Teachers are buying their own classroom supplies while politicians are sending even less money to public schools.”

At a time when Missouri has some of the lowest salaries for teachers in the nation, the over 160-page education bill allows charter schools to operate in Boone County and raises the funding cap for private schools from $25 million to $75 million.

“At every turn, legislators failed to enact laws that would actually improve people’s lives, from expanding child care tax credits to banning child marriage to supporting children in foster care,” said Liz McCune, Executive Director of Progress Missouri. “This is shameful behavior that directly hurts Missouri kids.”

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Failure to protect contraception means a ban could follow the same path as abortion in the state

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 7, 2024
Contact: liz@progressmo.org

COLUMBIA, Mo. – New research shows a majority of Missourians are afraid of losing even more of their freedoms. And Missouri’s politicians are giving them every reason to be concerned. 

On Wednesday, U.S. Senators Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt voted against the Right to Contraception Act blocking the bill’s passage in Washington. Without protection in place, the Missouri legislature could move to eliminate those freedoms as they did with abortion rights in 2022 just minutes after the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson.

According to data from the Missouri Family Health Council, over 85% of Missourians support people having access to all methods of birth control. But nearly 60% of Missourians have expressed concern about state elected officials restricting access to it.

Nancy Bateman is a retired nurse from Jefferson City who has seen firsthand how dangerous these bans are for women.

“At my age I have witnessed the advances in civil rights women and minorities have made in the past 60 years. The terrible and unequal laws that have been enacted have made me heartsick and afraid for our citizens,” Bateman said. “It’s a travesty and overreach of government in the quest for adequate health care.”

The fear Missourians feel stems from an actively harmful state legislature. The politicians who opportunistically jumped at the chance to enact the abortion ban failed to pass any laws protecting the health and wellness of Missourians.

This legislative session, the Missouri legislature could have passed a bipartisan women’s health bill with provisions on birth control access, mammograms, rape kit tests and STI screenings. But politicians incorrectly equated birth control with abortifacients and the delays sunk the bill.

In passing a record-low 28 non-budget bills – surpassing the previous low of 31 in the COVID-marked 2020 session – Missouri elected officials have yet again demonstrated just how little they care about the basic health and wellness of Missourians.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Contact: liz@progressmo.org

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The U.S. Senate failed to pass the Right to Contraception Act, which would affirm the right to use birth control in the United States. Missouri senators Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt turned their backs on Missourians with their no votes, refusing to codify basic health care.

Hawley’s record makes it clear that he will do anything to keep Missourians from having access to reproductive health care, from his stance of being 100% pro-life to the work he and his family have done to ensure families can’t access birth control through their employer.

St. Louis resident Heather Donahue said the vote was a wake-up call for all Missourians.

“We’ve been shouting from the rooftops for years now that they will come for your birth control too – they won’t stop at abortion,” she said. “I never thought I would see in my lifetime that we would actually experience this threat to control our reproductive choices. But with self-serving politicians like Josh Hawley, I now believe there are no rights he won’t go after if he believes it would advance his career.”

Hawley’s track record on women and access to abortion and birth control is clear.

• He and his family spend their private careers preventing women from having control of their own bodies and families; working on SCOTUS cases like Hobby Lobby (birth control), Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA (mifepristone/medication abortion)
• In 2022, Hawley told a reporter who asked if a woman who lost her ability to have children would still be a woman, and he replied, “I mean, a woman has a vagina, right?”
• In 2022, he attempted to give women second-class status by removing women from a proposal about a military draft – blaming “woke liberals.” 
• He claims to be 100% pro-life meaning he is “opposed to abortion at any stage of pregnancy.” 

Missourians overwhelmingly support access to contraceptives, but some fear their lawmakers could pass laws limiting that availability, a March poll from The Right Time, a family planning initiative through the Missouri Family Health Council Inc., shows.

The Right to Contraception Act would protect unrestricted access to contraception in the face of growing threats by ensuring the legal right for individuals to use contraception and practitioners to provide contraception and related information.

Enshrining the right to contraception into federal law would reverse steps already taken by state legislatures to restrict access to contraceptives and ensure that any future court rulings would not endanger access to this essential health care.

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