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This past week I completed a survey for the election overview the the League of Women Voters (LWV) will soon publish in the St. Louis Post Dispatch. They asked about the policy issues I care most about and my priorities for 2027. Each question accepted no more than 375 characters and spaces in the answer field. Brutal!

The strict word limit was a challenge, especially given how far policy in Missouri has strayed from the values most everyone shares. For example: 63% of us in Ballwin voted to give 700,000 workers in our State who didn't have even one day of paid sick leave the right to earn sick leave over time - but six months later our legislature struck down the measure we approved. The legislature is steadily de-funding education, but I have yet to meet even one Ballwin resident who actually wants to dismantle funding for public schools. Further, the amendments the legislature put on the August ballot are truly terrible. Amendment 4 would hobble the initiative petition process - a right we've had for over a century to put measures on the ballot and let the people have their say. Notably, we used it to outlaw puppy mills where abuse of dogs was rampant, taking action to remedy Missouri's sordid reputation among the worst of the worst for animal mistreatment. The legislature gutted key provisions not six months later - just like they did with earned sick leave. It's a pattern we have seen play out many times. Amendment 4 is the legislature's attempt to stop citizens from exercising this right in the first place. Amendment 5 would do away with our State income tax along with protections we currently have against the legislature burdening us with extra sales taxes. If it passes, amendment 5 will widen the budget deficit, eroding funding for public schools even more. And we haven't even started in on the legislature's misguided fixation on banning abortion. We see policy after policy already making life worse for us in Missouri and poised to worsen our conditions if enacted.

I cut so much to meet the strict LWV word limit, but I kept the reference to puppy mills. There's something about cancelling our vote against animal cruelty that hits especially hard. On principle, the legislature should have honored our vote, but they didn't. They don't share our values, nor do they even pretend to represent us. This ought to be disqualifying. It ought to cost them their seats in government, and this year I hope it will.

JUNE IS FOR PRIDE

Happy Pride! The first Pride parade took place decades ago, in 1970, and so much has happened since then. The Library of Congress has this to say about the celebration of Pride each June: "The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally." The story is still playing out. It isn't over. There are chapters yet to write, but we have come a very long way, and we have so much to celebrate. 

ENDORSEMENTS

I'm proud of the endorsement from Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA). Labor union endorsements matter to my campaign because unions have a powerful role in ensuring that normal people like you and me have a seat at the table. And as the saying goes, if you don't have a seat at the table, you're on the menu. Unions, including LiUNA, are on the front lines in preventing the worst forms of workplace abuse and exploitation.

You can see my other endorsement highlighted in my previous newsletters.

THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS!

Your participation in this campaign could not be more important, and it makes a huge difference. So many people deserve huge thanks for their tireless help -- first, a shout out everyone who has canvassed with us.

I am so proud of my strong core of excellent volunteers. Thank you for getting out there on your own or with the team!

If you'd like to join us for a future canvassing event, please sign up using the button below:

I'd also like to thank everyone who participated in our first phonebank training. We'll gladly show you the ropes if you'd like to take action in this way.

Finally, thank you to all those who have offered to host a candidate Q&A so I can meet the people in your network. If you know of a meeting I should attend, or a group I should visit, or a room I should be in, please reach out anytime.

-Mary Ann