Critical Race Theory is divisive and un-American. As State Senator, David will investigate, expose and end CRT in Missouri schools.
If a light shampoo and rinse doesn’t work out. Oh, wait…
David is proud to have a 100% Pro-Life voting record in the Missouri House of Representatives. As State Senator, David will continue to ensure abortion and any ancillary action is illegal in Missouri.
Leave anything else out? Just asking.
As a State Representative, David NEVER voted for a tax increase. As State Senator, David will continue to that legacy and expose wasteful government spending to provide bigger tax cuts in the future.
As for civilization, take it or leave it, but mostly leave it? Just asking.
David is a proud supporter of the NRA and proud to have a 100% Pro-Second Amendment voting record in the Missouri House of Representatives. As State Senator, David will continue fighting to protect your right to bear arms.
Jess Piper @piper4missouri
Republicans say that Missouri is an anti-abortion state. Prove it by putting abortion rights on the ballot. Or do they know something that we also know… 12:13 PM · May 18, 2023
Some of the responses:
Two things. 1. Any anti abortion referendum is their kryptonite. And 2. They don’t want the people to have any say. So they’ll never allow the abortion issue to ever be settled by popular vote. It’s poisonous to their tyranny.
Republicans in our state legislature don’t really want to hear what voters think. They’ve proved it many times over by ignoring the results of statewide voting and just doing whatever the hell they want anyway.
The elders and elderettes of the Republican Party of Missouri certainly realize that they would be on the losing end of a statewide proposition. Regrettably, they also feel “safe” that they’ll be able to keep the General Assembly because they draw the maps.
They obviously should…but good luck with that!!
They won’t.
I wish they would. I believe we’d get the same result Kansas did.
That’s exactly why they won’t.
All of their legislative policies would be destroyed if they left it to the will of the people. We all know that. That’s why they are trying to create a Fascist state. Wake up MO. We deserve better after 20 years of BS.
They fear the truth and they don’t care what the majority of Missourians want.
The Missouri General Assembly regular session ended this past week.
This morning:
Jess Piper @piper4missouri
Hilarious to see Missouri Republican lawmakers bitch about not getting anything done in Missouri because they were blocked by…other Republicans. Its a supermajority! It’s a clown show with these folks in charge and we’ve spent 20 years watching the elephants shit in the ring. 8:08 AM · May 14, 2023
The Missouri General Assembly regular session ended this past week.
This evening:
Matt Franck @mattfranck
One of the small pleasures of Missouri politics is watching a super majority tie its shoelaces together and faceplant on a cakewalk bill.
Gerrymandering can give them seats, but it can’t raise the political IQ of dudes who just want to destroy Bud Lights with bats. 5:42 PM · May 13, 2023
ST. LOUIS– Missouri’s Republican-led House voted to cut all funding for libraries in its version of the state’s annual budget, an unprecedented move that has angered librarians and patrons across the state who rely on the facilities for everything from books to educational programming and internet access.
The proposal is not yet final; it now sits before the state Senate’s appropriations committee along with the rest of the annual $45.6 billion budget, and Republican chair Sen. Lincoln Hough said it would be his intention to restore library funding.
But for those who manage or use the state’s 160 library districts, especially in rural areas where services are not as robust, the threat feels real, librarians and patrons told the PBS NewsHour.
[….]
Tamara King, a parent and resident of St. Charles County, told the NewsHour it feels like the state’s residents should still be concerned even if the budget is not yet final.
“You start by taking away small things, right? And then you do that, you gain your support and then you go for the jugular, right? So that’s what they did. They took away everything. Now, where are these kids supposed to go and learn and have those activities that involve books?” King said. “Books create imagination.”
[….]
The right wingnut controlled Missouri General Assembly, go figure.
Jonathan Capehart: Representative Meredith, you’re on the Missouri house budget committee. What was your reaction to this budget proposal that [cross talk] seeks to essentially defund libraries?
Rep. Peter Meridith: I mean, honestly, you can just, [cross talk], that’s right, even just hearing you talk about the facts right now, walk through the circumstances, it’s hard to believe. And that’s how we felt when it was first presented to us, when the budget chair presented his proposal that Library funding be zeroed out. And then when we asked him why he actually went so far to explicitly say it was because of them suing over this book ban and how dare they sue against a bill that the Missouri legislature passed, that they believe is unconstitutional and has created a really big problem.
Jonathan Capehart: And Katie, help us understand why librarians in Missouri wanted to fight this state law creating criminal penalties for workers like yourself, um, criminal penalties for what the law says is distribution of sexually explicit material?
Katie Earnhart, director of the Cape Girardeau Public Library: Yeah, I mean, obviously we are for Americans’, uh, First Amendment freedoms. We want to make sure that people have access to information. That’s, that’s a core tenet of our profession and we rely on that. And right now that’s in jeopardy which puts our jobs in jeopardy and that’s, that’s something that is concerning for, for all people in this profession. And it’s not happening just here in Missouri, it’s across the country.
Jonathan Capehart: And to that point, Representative Meredith, um, this effort to cut the library’s budget isn’t just happening in Missouri. In Llano, Texas this week Republican Commissioners walked back their threat to close three libraries over their opposition to a book ban that residents argued violated First Amendments rights. You know, why do you think, uh, Republican elected officials turn to defunding libraries when there’s pushback over legislation restricting access to certain books?
Rep. Peter Meridith: Honestly, in places like this they have what feels like absolute power to them and they’re appealing to the furthest right in their base. And so, right now they have decided somehow that libraries and teachers and schools are, uh, the bullies they want to call the enemy and talk about brainwashing our kids. And, you know, like this library thing they can’t point to a single example in Missouri of, of something inappropriate and obscene being given to a kid. but they’re gonna manufacture this problem to work up their base. Uh, and then the defunding the libraries just feels like the next step to them and how they exert power and punish them for, uh, exercising their First Amendment rights. It’s, it’s, straight out of a dystopian novel in my opinion.
Jonathan Capehart: Right, you know ,Katie the majority of Missouri’s public libraries are in small and rural communities. Describe how a budget cut like this would impact libraries like your own in Cape Girardeau.
Katie Earnhart, director of the Cape Girardeau Public Library: Yeah, Jonathan, we’re set to lose roughly twenty-six thousand dollars with this cut, um, for our upcoming budget year. That’s money that we use for our collection development, to buy the books that you see behind me. And for us that makes up about twenty percent of our collection development [cross talk], collection development budget. You know, for, for us it, it’s only two percent of our overall budget, but for some libraries it’s a much larger, uh, percentage, a much larger impact that they’re going to have to, uh, withstand. Some libraries are going to have to evaluate whether or not they stay open as, as many hours whether or not they reduce services that they provide, very important services that they provide for their communities. And it’s something that we don’t want to have to, to worry about that. We already have shoestring budgets and when we have that money taken away, even a little bit ,it just makes our jobs that much harder to provide the needed resources and services that our communities rely on.
Because he believes that nothing is wrong with this.
Today:
[image cropped]
Senate Democrats @MoSenDems
BREAKING: Republican Senator Mike Moon seeks to clarify his endorsement of child brides after a clip went viral of him supporting 12 year olds getting married.
In his clarification, Sen. Moon wants everyone to know the girl was 11, not 12, and she was impregnated. #moleg
[….] 2:20 PM · Apr 13, 2023
What?
Some of the responses:
OMG!!! The parents should be in jail.
Ah, well, that makes it all fine then. /s
What year is it again?
This explanation does not help explain the confidence in his position. In fact, why would parents support this travesty?
Oh, that makes it much better. Jesus
The “young man“ was 12. At 12, you are not even a teenager, much less a young man. He was a child, as was she. You know some horrible religion was involved to sanction the child abuse. I am so sorry for those kids.
Well, that makes it all better. Shotgun weddings are so underrated.
These Republicans are insane. No intelligent & civilized society supports this.
Yeah. That’s doesn’t help his position at all.
Every time he clarifies this story, he makes it worse.
Keep digging, Mike sweetie. The whole just keeps getting deeper.
Why did they even need to get married then? Never mind, being rational is too high a bar.
FFS, he’s making it worse.
WTF? Does Senator Moon not understand how dangerous that was for the pregnant child? And are we so disconnected each other that he didn’t think we would be horrified by his answer?
This is supposed to be a standard for our children? What is wrong with these people?
Not the least bit better. He’s as ignorant as they come. [….]
Moon said the example he was referring to is a couple he has known for about 40 years.
“The young man was 12; the girl was 11,” he said. “Their parents allowed them to marry. There was no forcing in the situation. But the parents wisely took the boy to their home, and the girls’ parents took her to their home.
“Eventually a child was born to the girl, and then years later, when they were able to support themselves and they were more mature, they were able to begin living together, and still living together today,” Moon said, adding the 2018 legislation would’ve made that type of marriage illegal.
Mike Moon @realmikemoon
Something that is often missing is the back story. With regard to my answer, I did not discuss the details: a 12 year old impregnated a minor of similar age. With consent of the parents, they married… and are still married today. 2:01 PM · Apr 12, 2023
Some of the responses:
So this girl was raped & impregnated at 12. She was then forced into “marriage” & CHILD BIRTH while still in middle school, just so the church could “bless” her being raped forever by her “husband.” Now you tell us she’s still trapped today & that’s supposed to make it better?
Mike Moon (r) keeps digging:
Mike Moon @realmikemoon
You clearly did not understand. Her parents consented – no force. Their marriage is thriving. 3:09 PM · Apr 12, 2023
I’m trying to figure out if you’re being serious, or just trolling.
It doesn’t matter if their marriage lasts 70 years. It shouldn’t have started when she was 12 yrs old. The parents never had the right to give their consent. We don’t live in a Third World country
Ahem, Missouri.
It’s impossible that two married 12 year olds are thriving. This is just horrible. I hope this is just a story he made up to try to cushion his position and it’s backfired on him.
With all due respect, Mr. Moon: you’re arguing semantics.
At the first mention of someone questioning whether the marriage of a 12-year-old is acceptable, your answer shouldn’t be “it’s up to the parents.”
It isn’t up to the parents. We answer to a rule of law.
Also don’t lose focus on the mealy mouthed “minor of similar age” which means the girl was probably even younger than 12.
We don’t actually know that. It’s bad enough as it is.
Disgusting. People want to know what is happening in the USA. Fascism and it is hitting the GOP States first. Next, you will want 9-year-olds to work in unregulated factories.
The back story is that a 12-year-old child was raped because, as a 12 yr old, she cannot offer consent.
And no sex education classes because that would be grooming. Epic fail on his example and defense.
Do you really think that makes it valid?
Ah that’s absolutely fine then – carry on promoting that backstory [….] dear lord America you are so so broken
Gross. What’s wrong with you?
That’s not marriage. That’s rape
So you want 12 year olds giving birth more freely
The scariest part is that you think there is an explanation
Define ‘similar age’ here.
You disgust me.
This doesn’t have the mitigating effect you might hope.
And that makes it okay? Sure sounds like rape, not consent.
Let me first say that a 12 year old girl is not capable of giving informed consent – she is a child for heavens sake
Anybody arguing it was OK for a grown man to marry a 12 year old girl is a GROOMER – pure and simple!
You should be ashamed of yourself
#PedophileEnabler #GROOMER
There’s no circumstance where it’s OK for 12 year olds to marry each other.
If you can’t drive yourself to the courthouse or chapel you shouldn’t be getting married.
Becoming a parent does not instill a sudden well of common sense, knowledge, or good decision-making. Some parents, like these, who would consent to marriage and sex between children are committing child abuse.
Hey Mr Freedom Mike… the freedom to marry at age 12 isn’t freedom. That’s straight up creepy and disgusting.
12 years old.
You’re approving marriage for minors.
There is no further explanation needed.
Something that is missing, Mr. Moon, is even a modicum of sense from you. But hey, congratulations! You’ve garnered national attention with your comments, so now it’s not just folks in Missouri who will be helping your opponents going forward. Have a great day!
That is still rape even if they are young. Forcing marriage on the 12 year old rape victim is NOT Justice.
You claim to hate groomers, yet here you are being a mouthpiece for groomers, giving them the power to rape little girls who cannot consent to rape. But you claim a piece of paper from the government gives those groomers the right to do as they wish
You’re disgusting.
So they should be allowed to vote then??
We all know the back story and it’s despicable.
Twelve year olds can’t drive, enlist, work 40 hours a week, vote, buy ATF, but can marry and raise a child? Since you’re a champion of this, I assume you’re sponsoring a Minors Raising Minors act where medical and living expenses will be paid for them? No? Didn’t think so.
Jfc, that does NOT make it ok. She’s trapped. Nasty child fookers. Talk about #Groomer
What exactly is of similar age? This is still an abomination. She was raped, you sick SOB.
So you left the door open for adults to marry kids? Simple question, Mike.
So a raped 12 year old should be forced into marriage and parenthood with no education and no means to support said “family”? And no social systems to help, because the GOP opposes all of that as “socialism”. Keep them ignorant & enslaved seems to be what you’re about.
There’s no fcking back story! No children should be married and raped under any circumstance! Unfckgbelievable.
So, would be your opinion be if the marriage was NOT thriving?
WTF does “minor of similar age” mean – was the girl even younger?
Was this child allowed to finish school or immediately indentured to the life of mother and wife?
The fact you think the marriage is thriving shows you also don’t understand how grooming works.
Uh… with absolutely zero respect… you’re fucking vile.
So wait….no minor transgender surgeries, no tattoos without consent, but “it depends” on a 12 yer old getting married?
You’re a sick fuck.
There is NO possible context that makes what you said ok.
Your party is for 12 year old children being married.
Your position is: better a 12 year old child be forced to marry their rapist than an abortion happen.
There is NO fucking cleaning that up moron!
Great logic you ignorant jerk. You are an embarrassment to Missouri.
Please stop yourself from talking right now.
My God, stop talking.
This isn’t better. Babies having babies IS NOT BETTER.
Seriously, what in the Hillbilly Fuckery is wrong with you. Caveman talk.
Honestly, this was a horrible take by you. I am disgusted as a fellow human.
Rep. Peter Merideth (D): I’ve heard you talk about parents’ rights to raise their kids the way they want. In fact, I just double checked, you voted ‘no’ on making it illegal for kids to be married to adults at the age of twelve if their parents consented to it. You said, actually, that should be the law because it’s the parents’ right and the kid’s right to decide what’s best for them. To be raped by an adult. Okay. [crosstalk] With marriage.
Sen Mike Moon (r): [crosstalk] Do you know any kids that have been married, age twelve?
Rep. Peter Merideth (D): That was the law. [crosstalk] You voted not to change it.
Sen Mike Moon (r): Do you know any kids? [crosstalk] Do you know any kids that have been married at age twelve?
Rep. Peter Merideth (D): I don’t need to. [crosstalk] Uh.
Sen Mike Moon (r): I do. And guess what? They’re still married.
[….]
Mike Moon (r) called them “kids”. He knows.
We called Rep. Peter Merideth’s (D) office in the capitol in Jefferson City to confirm that this exchange with Sen. Mike Moon (r) at a House committee hearing did indeed take place.
Just had a rough inquiry with Sen Mike Moon on his hateful ban on trans medical care. I asked about his typical opposition to government interference with parenting decisions, even those that (unlike gender affirming care) are considered dangerous and harmful by pediatricians and psychologists around the country. I pointed to this vote of his from a couple years ago.
That’s right. He believes government has no right to prevent a 12 year old girl from marrying and legally having sex with a 40 year old if their parents are ok with it. But he thinks it’s the government’s role to ban kids getting medical treatments that have the support of their parents, the overwhelming medical community, and years of medical and psychological counseling and deliberation.
C232382 03/30/2023 Bowlin for Missouri Jim Bowlin 2165 Timberline Valley Drive Wildwood MO 63069 Keystone Mutual Insurance Co CEO 3/30/2023 $100,000.00
[emphasis added]
Must be nice.
Bowlin for Missouri – Active
MECID: C232382
Committee Type: Candidate
[….]
8/6/2024 Primary Election State Senator District 15 Missouri State Senate
Jim Bowlin Earned Scholarships To Be The First Person In His Family To Go To College. He Went On To Study Law, Ultimately Obtaining A Law Degree From The University Of Missouri.
Jim Has Worked As A Laborer And Later Built A Small Business From The Ground Up To A Successful Company. His Company Provides Insurance To Physicians At A Low Cost So They Stay In Our Community And Serve Our Families.
He Was Elected To Serve His Community As Mayor Where He Has Distinguished Himself To Provide Critical Services Including Adequately Funding The Police While Keeping Taxes Low.
Jim Has Never Forgotten That When He Worked At His Local Bank As A Teenager He Was Responsible For Other People’s Money, A Lesson He Has Applied As Mayor Of His Community.
Guided By His Faith He Has Worked Hard For Everything His Entire Life—Never Taken Anything For Granted, Especially The Trust People Have Put In Him, His Company, And His Community Service.
Apparently, capitalizing the beginning of every word in a sentence is a hobby.
From Issues:
Crime Is At An All-Time High In Our Region.
He Is A Constitutional Conservative Who Will Vote To Preserve The Second Amendment And Protect The Unborn.
Driven By The Biden Administration’s Government Spending, Gas And Groceries Are At Historic Highs Hurting Our Families And Neighbors Least Able To Afford It. Higher Taxes Are The Last Thing Families Can Afford Which Is Why He Has Signed A Pledge Not To Raise Taxes.
Jim Believes We Need To Keep Our Commitment To Our Seniors And Our Veterans. That’s Why He Opposes Any Taxpayer-Funded Services For Illegal Immigrants.