Tammy Hildebrand-Harty of Ripley County and Michal Sue Prosser-Burlison of Cape Girardeau County were named Democratic Women of the Year at the 8th District Democratic Women’s Club spring convention. Both will stand as nominees for the Missouri Democratic Woman of the Year award at the state convention for the Missouri Federation of Democratic Women’s Clubs later this year.
The event was held on May 5-6 in Poplar Bluff and featured a number of speakers, including Democratic lawmakers, national volunteers and grassroots activists.
The keynote address on Saturday featured Missouri Senator Barbara Washington, who represents the 9th District in the Missouri Senate.
Washington’s message emphasized how the Democratic Party advocates for social equality and highlighted the ways she and her colleagues are addressing these needs in Jefferson City. Education and health care were two issues Washington addressed.
In discussing budget negotiations with Republican Gov. Mike Parson, she said, “You’re going to get some money for some of the medical centers that do exist down here.”
Washington also said, “We are going to expand Medicaid...for women who need additional Medicaid for up to a year after the child is born, as opposed to cutting you off 60 days after you have a child.”
A new $300 million psychiatric hospital and yearlong Medicaid postpartum coverage were both items on the approved state budget, finalized May 5, according to the Missouri Independent.
Washington also highlighted the need for better pay for teachers, and told attendees the Senate put back the money in the state budget earmarked to help school districts meet the governor’s goal of paying all teachers a minimum salary of $38,000 a year.
Washington emphasized the importance of voting rights, illustrating the impediments of Missouri’s voter identification law with one of her constituents.
“A man in the Kansas City who recently moved to Missouri from somewhere else said, ‘I’m just not going to vote because you’re making me pay to vote because I have to buy an ID,’” she said.
“There are some ways to get one free state ID, but not a free driver’s license.”
Washington concluded her remarks by urging women to get involved in the issues that concern them in their state and nation.
“Not only is important for us to be Democrats, it’s also important for us to run,” she said. “As women, it’s important because we know when women come together, we make things happen.”
Nanda Nunnelly, the Missouri Democratic Party committee representative from the 32nd District, spoke about the opportunities to get involved on both state and national levels to help get Democratic candidates elected.
“We have an amazing opportunity coming up October 5-7,” Nunnelly said. “The Democratic National Committee will be meeting in St. Louis, and they will have many caucus meetings that are open to the public, including the woman’s caucus.
“You can get some great ideas, do some amazing networking, and be there to feel the excitement in the room,” she said.
“I want the DNC to see excited Missouri Democrats,” Nunnelly said, “because one of the things the DNC helps us with is races across the state.”
One of the scheduled speakers was Rep. Crystal Quade, the Democratic Minority Floor Leader in the Missouri House. However, she was unable to attend due to a family issue. Stepping into Quade’s spot was Lynda Stewart from Dexter, a volunteer member of Moms Demand Action, a nonpartisan grassroots organization that advocates for common-sense gun reforms.
Stewart said that “the Centers for Disease Control ranks Missouri fourth in the country for the deadliest for gun violence. We are in the top ten for firearms suicide. We are number two for firearms use in domestic violence. We are in the top ten in all the wrong places.”
She also said that “gun deaths and injuries cost the state of Missouri $17.6 billion each year, of which $455 million of that is borne by the taxpayers.”
Stewart said her group opposed House Bill 282, which would force churches to allow concealed carry permit holders to enter their sanctuaries with a loaded gun without the knowledge or permission of the church minister or ministerial board.
HB 282 would also force public transportation to allow concealed carry permit holders to carry on their vehicles.
She said that many religious institutions and public transportation authorities around the state are opposed to this bill.
“If more guns in more places was the solution to solving our gun violence problem,” Stewart said, “it would be solved by now instead of getting worse and worse every single year.”
In addressing women’s issues regarding gun violence, Stewart said that Moms Demand Action is focused on expanding background checks on every gun sale, red flag laws to keep guns out of the hands of potentially violent individuals, and restrictions on gun possession for those convicted of domestic abuse.
“When a gun is involved in a domestic violence situation,” Stewart said, “A woman is five times more likely to be killed.”