Missouri House Republicans vote to defund libraries
By: Austin Linfante (Heartland Signal)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Missouri House Republicans voted to defund all of the state's public libraries, in a proposed $45.6 billion state budget that will soon move to a vote in the GOP-controlled state Senate.
The Missouri House debated for over eight hours last Tuesday on a budget that is roughly $2 billion less than the one Gov. Mike Parson (R) proposed last January, cutting not only the $4.5 million Parson had slated for libraries, but also costs for diversity initiatives, childcare and pre-kindergarten programs.
Missouri House budget committee leader Rep. Cody Smith (R-Carthage) proposed cutting library aid due to a recent lawsuit filed against the state last February.
The lawsuit — filed by the ACLU of Missouri on behalf of the Missouri Association of School Librarians and the Missouri Library Association — seeks to declare Senate Bill 775 unconstitutional, a bill that has resulted in over 300 books getting banned from school libraries, many of which include LGBTQ characters or racial justice themes.
The state legislature passed SB 775 last August in an effort to expand rights for victims of sexual assault. But state Sen. Rick Brattin (R-Harrisonvile) added an amendment banning educators from "providing sexually explicit material" to students, punishable by up to a $2,000 fine or a year in jail.
Smith argued that the state should not "subsidize" the lawsuit with government aid. But the Missouri Library Association, a nonprofit representing Missouri's librarians, put out a statement stating they are not providing any funding for this lawsuit, as the ACLU is aiding them pro bono.
"Library funding is guaranteed in the MO constitution," the group wrote on Twitter. "This tactic, meant to bully MLA into submission, instead directly harms public libraries who rely on those funds, especially the smaller, more rural libraries."
Democrats also fought in support of the libraries; Rep. Peter Merideth (D-St. Louis) argued that it is "not appropriate" to punish libraries because Republicans are "mad that libraries are suing to question" censorship.
The budget bill has yet to move to a Senate vote then to the governor's desk, as it still needs its third House reading, which has not yet been scheduled.
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Thomas Jefferson's Library
Jefferson is turning over in his grave.
Damn slave holder bought books earned by the labor of Black slaves while keeping them from learning how to read.
The Republicans working on one of their main goals - dumbing down America. The number of votes they get is proof that, so far, they've gone a long way toward achieving their aim.
The Republican Party is the place where poorly educated, low information voters have a home. We see it on here every day.
It is easier to get the serfs to do their bidding if they are uneducated. Then they are not smart enough to question things in their own best interests - oh yeah they have been doing that FOR YEARS.
What assholes having lived for SW MO for 6 years it isn't surprising, MO is where intelligence goes to die.
All praise Jeezus!
The culture local to SW MO is rather religious and rural. I, too, lived there for several years. The people there are not monolithic, however. I found and befriended Sysco software engineers who believed in the inerrancy of the Bible and were translating it to "prove" it, as well as others who did not follow the same path. The latter "type," if you will, were definitely in the minority. But what do you expect when it is a part of the Bible Belt?
I wouldn't say intelligence goes there to die, more that the population is more adept at holding different and conflicting ideas in their heads, ie., Cognitive Dissonance. It is this ability the current crop of Republican politicians can use to their advantage.
their cousins live just a bit further to the south of them
Probably the environment.
The Orange Magoo said he, "Loves the uneducated," and thusly the MAGA lemmings shall fulfill that prophecy.
The GOP has become very strange.
Ever see the movie "Idiocracy"?
Is it The State of Missouri or the state of misery?
I'm personally against banning books while I think there are some books that should have age restrictions on them. But how is the legislature here attempting to defund libraries in order to get what they want any different than what the Biden Administration is trying to do with the rule change that bans Title IX funds from schools that follow state law and ban trans students from sports team?
Public libraries can be, and are, funded at the local level.
What the state chips in is usually above and beyond what is taken in from mileages at the local level.
I can understand Democrats bitching about money being removed from the trough; but tough shit.
Also, this bill/budget hasn't even passed the Senate yet; or been signed by the governor. So it is much hand ringing over nothing.
See post 9 and get back to all of us when you have reined in the real Fascist in the White House who wants to withhold federal funding from schools protecting women/girls from males participating in their sports.
The real Fascist in the White House left in disgrace on January 20, 2021. He's now "the real Fascist in Mar-a-Lago". What a fucking loser.
Dude, the trans thing is a eyeroll for most people. And really, Biden is a fascist for taking small steps on an issue that only about 20% of the population really cares about?
For my part, I think people should play in the biological sex category you were born as. The exception being that if girls or women want to play with the boys, go for it.
They are really giving up all pretense and embracing the hillbilly trope of "Dumb, Barefoot and Pregnant", this is very clearly what they want. Child brides with no education or skills under Republican authoritarians that want baby factories with no support system.
And all those that said this shit would never happen in the Good Old USA are proven WRONG.