After watching the threat of funding cuts being aimed at libraries that refuse to pull books from their shelves, Giannoulias decided to turn that same tactic around and threaten libraries that do ban books. Missouri Senate restores library funding -- for now - The Beacon There's a lot of really good stuff for kids in this bill, including increased funding for childcare so that we know there will be more options, safe options, available for parents, Arthur said. However, Appropriations Chair Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, said the addition would add uncertainty to the budget. Merideth said he did support those raises, he just wished that 20% would have gone in other places in the budget too. These funds were taken out by House Budget Chair Rep. Cody Smith (R-Carthage), who said libraries were wasting money with a lawsuit. Public libraries could lose state funding after Missouri house proposes Also approved Friday was $55 million toward expanded pre-kindergarten. Richey said on Twitter that the work on the language is ongoing.. May 20, 2022 Senate News, Senate Video. As she puts it, we need to remind people about the value of their local public library. The Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday restored state funding for public libraries. The Senate committees version of the budget will need to be approved by the full body and again by a joint committee made up of members of the House and Senate. I think there are parts of I-70 that are unsafe. An earlier version of the plan would have cost almost $860 million and would have widened the highway only in the St. Louis, Columbia and Kansas City areas. 'St. "Of course, that's completely unfounded. "One of the board members said, 'Well, what about this book? A donation to The Beacon goes beyond the newsroom. Senate Bill 75 seeks to modify provisions relating to public school retirement systems, . Here's what to know, Missouri Republicans proposed defunding public libraries. mostlib@sos.mo.gov, OR . Missouri Senate committee restores library funding in state budget, strips anti-DEI language I-70 widening moves forward in House, Senate wants to expand it to include the whole road Stay Connected Heres what it means for our health, Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, free to republish in accordance with these guidelines, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic, Give us credit, ideally in this format: By Jane Reporter, The Kansas City Beacon.. "I will tell you, I'm not supposed to swear on NPR, but that's some of the scariest s*** I ever heard," says Alexi Giannoulias, Democratic secretary of state in Illinois. I don't know that's accurate, Hough said. "It's very personal and pulling the state funding is denying people access to resources just because they don't agree," Durham said. Mike Parsons proposed budget initially included around $4.5 million for public libraries. Now, legislation headed to governor's desk would make state library grants available only to those that explicitly oppose book bans. Once the Senate passes the budget, it goes back to the House, where compromise bills between the chambers are expected. The threat to library funding first came from House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, a Republican from Carthage. Richey said on Twitter that the work on the language is ongoing.. She said on the House floor on Tuesday she believes Republicans had their feelings hurt regarding the lawsuit. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), The Missouri Senate gave initial approval to restoring library funding in the state. And while one immediate funding threat has eased, librarians are still working to inform Missourians about a political landscape that has become newly hostile. The Senate version of the budget outspends the House in almost every department, though the funding amounts could change during the joint committee discussion. Meantime, the Craighead County libraries are fighting to survive. Its just vague enough that a lot of libraries are kind of leaning towards self-censorship, like, Well just get rid of those books so that we can eliminate all of the questions, Bowman said. Those four bills passed the Senate Friday afternoon. Ashcroft, whose office administers the states public library system, proposed the rule in mid-November and opened it up for a 30-day public comment period. I don't know that's accurate, Hough said. The $99 billion budget now heads . sos.mo.gov Missouri State Government. His second attempt failed 18-14. "It's very frightening and very upsetting," she says. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. One toddler, who's new to the group, is having a bit of a meltdown, so Otter Bowman, a library associate at the Daniel Boone Regional Library in Columbia, Mo., goes for the surest trick she has and starts talking about "Junior," the library's bookmobile. The Missouri Senate Minute - March 15, 2023. Missouri libraries dodge GOP funding strike for now Patterson spoke on that funding and mentioned the libraries he visits with his children. Gov. The move comes as books are being banned from libraries at rates not seen in decades; most of them have to do with LGBTQ themes or race and racism. The budget returned to the House, where the body on Wednesday refused to pass the Senates versions of the bills and requested conference committees to reach a compromise between the chambers. Adams also worries the funding threats might be just the beginning. State Funding: State funded grants, subject to appropriation, include State Aid, Equalization and Athletes and Entertainers Tax. Live Debate. Here's what to know To provide accountability for funding provided to the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Treasury under Public Law 117-169. A total of 160 library districts have been certified and qualify for state aid per capita payment this year at a $0.707 per capita payment rate, with a $500,000 cap, for a total of $3,773,477.77 total payments. "In Chicago, they say, 'If they bring a knife, you bring a gun.' State Funding For Public Libraries - Missouri Secretary of State This year, the legislature adopted an additional $7.6 million to eliminate the need for a local match. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9. While state lawmakers were considering several bills that would have axed library funding, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft jumped in and decided to enact what's called an "administrative rule" one that doesn't need legislative approval. Missouri library funding gets restored in Senate committee's latest KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and powerful storytelling. "We just need to stand up and speak out at board meetings to make sure we know who we're electing to the board seats, and where elected officials stand on supporting civil liberties, the First Amendment, the right to read and holding them to it.". 28, 2023 at 10:35 PM CDT. The Missouri House had voted to prohibit spending for "staffing, vendors,. Also within the bill containing funding for the Departments of Mental Health and Health and Senior Services is $300 million for a new psychiatric hospital in Kansas City. PDF Missouri State Library - Missouri Secretary of State If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. Rep. Deb Lavender, D-Manchester, was the sponsor of the latest attempt. To see more, visit St. Louis Public Radio. Attempts to remove library funding or inserting DEI-related language could occur on the Senate floor during debate. Other bigger items in the budget include almost $56 million toward pre-kindergarten expansion, a 7% increase in funding for both four-year and community colleges and fully funding school transportation for the second year in a row. The sport around the world, quite frankly, is soccer. Missouri Republicans use state budget to block diversity initiatives She has made calls to her legislators, seeking restoration of the funds and she said she hopes others will also do so. While the Senate was able to get its version of the budget through, most of the debate was spent on two amendments that sought to insert anti-diversity, equity and inclusion language. Copyright 2023 St. Louis Public Radio. Public Libraries Certified for - Missouri Secretary of State The legislature has a May 5 deadline to complete the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The proposed version asked libraries to remove materials that may appeal to the prurient interests of a minor. To see more, visit St. Louis Public Radio. He pointed to a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, representing librarians in the state. Mike Parsons proposed budget initially included around $4.5 million for public libraries. Feel free, however, to publish it on a page surrounded by ads youve already sold. It happens with highways, it happens with schools. And they also get matching funds from the federal government. And the idea is very much alive and gaining steam.". Indeed, what started as skirmishes over individual book titles and escalated into threats of jail or fines now poses an existential threat to some libraries. Dont sell ads against the story or place the story behind a paywall. ". Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, introduced both amendments and attempted to attach them to House Bill 2, which funds K-12 education. While funding debate simmers, the secretary of states age-appropriate materials rule could tighten state control over libraries. The total cost for the state to pay for the raises is $29.4 million. Those four bills total around $5.1 billion. And kept out of the budget was House language that prohibited expenditures on diversity, equity and inclusion. At that same meeting, Senators removed amendments blocking state spending on diversity initiatives. The budget now goes to the governors office. Yet, even as a Senate committee moved to restore all $4.5 million in funding for the state's 160 local public libraries, librarians like Joe Kohlburn, of the Missouri Library Association, say . While the Senate was able to get its version of the budget through, most of the debate was spent over two amendments that sought to insert anti-diversity, equity and inclusion language. I would disagree that this is an inappropriate use of a budget bill, when we're clarifying how this particular pot of money, in this case state employees, can be used, Eigel said. The budget returned to the House, where the. 2023 KRPS | Four States Public Radio PO Box 899 Pittsburg, KS 66762 (620) 235-4288 KRPS is a broadcast service of Pittsburg State University, St. Louis Public Radio | Missouri Reps Just Voted to Completely Defund the State's Public Libraries The new budget sets funds for libraries to $0. Missouri's proposed budget again contains state funding for public libraries and no longer prohibits any spending toward diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Jonesboro Library Director Vanessa Adams says she's considering closing branches and slashing book buys and staff as well as programming for kids and the elderly. Now, Adams is spending some of the limited money the library has left on a consultant to help with its public messaging. Meg is Higgins recently tweeted about the future of public libraries, saying libraries have become "grooming centers" and that he wants to change the "whole public library paradigm" and help get funding for "beautiful, church-owned public-access libraries." Senate Appropriations Chair Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, spoke on that issue Wednesday. Email the State Aid Application to . The state is giving them a grace period of a few months to figure it out. While that program existed in the last budget, the state only provided 70% of that funding and required a local match. And in Arkansas, The Craighead County Library System saw its local funding cut in half after complaints about books and an LGBTQ exhibit. When the Senate Appropriations Committee restored the funding, no one spoke on the decision. Speaking after its passage, Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, praised the budget. It's about underage drinking, and underage drinking is illegal, so why would we have this book in the library?' After the vote on Hoskins amendment, the Senate worked through the budget and finished after 3 a.m Wednesday. Where does this end?' (573) 751-4936 [email protected] Here's what to know, Missouri Republicans proposed defunding public libraries. While all libraries have written policy explanations, not all of them have websites, Bowman explained. "Any proposal to defund the library is the nuclear option," says Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom. The most efficient and effective way to eradicate the influence of DEI is to prohibit its funding, Richey said in the letter. Missouri House Republicans vote to defund public libraries: report Attempts to remove library funding or inserting DEI-related language could occur on the Senate floor during debate. These are some of the hardest-working and lowest-paid employees in the entire state. This is something the library administration and its union agree upon, she said. Opponents of the initial anti-DEI language said it would make it impossible for the state to work with any businesses. New rule threatening Missouri library funding over 'obscene' kids books An earlier version of the plan would have cost almost $860 million and would have widened the highway only in the St. Louis, Columbia and Kansas City areas. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community Guidelines | KMIZ-TV FCC Public File | FCC Applications |, Breaking News St. Louis Public Radio | When the Senate Appropriations Committee restored the funding, no one spoke on the decision. The rule will require procedures intended to allow parents of minors to challenge events or materials that are not deemed age-appropriate. March 15, 2023 . The most efficient and effective way to eradicate the influence of DEI is to prohibit its funding, Richey said in the letter. Despite attempts to clarify prurient interests in the rule, the vagueness of that and phrases like age inappropriate materials could lead librarians to self-censor, Bowman added. State Aid Per Capita Payments - FY 2023 - Qtrs 1 & 2 - Qtrs 3 & 4. "I think we're all just in shock," she says. Missouri Senate approves a $50 billion state budget with library funding added back in The Missouri Legislature has taken up a lot of bills affecting education. Lawmakers Approve 2023 State Operating Budget - Missouri Senate 2022 The House originally added language prohibiting spending for staffing, vendors, consultants, or programs associated with diversity, equity and inclusion.. Include the following at the end of the story: If you share the story on social media, please mention @. The Missouri Library Association said the ACLU is representing the library organizations on a pro bono basis and no state money is being used to fund the lawsuit, which is pending in Jackson County Circuit Court. While funding debate simmers, the secretary of state's "age-appropriate" materials rule could tighten state control over libraries. "I really don't know how it would work," Ashcroft says. The committee also passed the operating budget bills, meaning they now go to the full Senate for debate. Senators added $4.5 million for public library funding back into the state budget during a committee meeting Wednesday. " Dawe recalls. The libraries regular Americans recall are gone. " The kids cackle and quack back. That's the American way.". Tovia Smith is an award-winning NPR National Correspondent based in Boston, who's spent more than three decades covering news around New England and beyond. I work hard not to punish people who disagree with me, Lavender said. The Missouri Association of School Librarians strives to uphold the core tenets of school librarianship, including both intellectual freedom and the freedom to read, Melissa Corey, the associations current president, said in a news release. "This is our way of fighting back," he says. "The library association is a named party, but they are not spending any money on the suit." "It's punitive, because they think that their funding was being used to pay for a lawsuit with the ACLU against Senate Bill 775," Otter Bowman, president of the Missouri Library Association, told LJ. In addition to some Republicans, Democrats repeatedly spoke against the amendment, including Sen. Barbara Washington, D-Kansas City. While the budget does include raises for care providers, including those who aid people with disabilities, many Democrats expressed disappointment the raises werent higher. I would disagree that this is an inappropriate use of a budget bill, when we're clarifying how this particular pot of money, in this case state employees, can be used, Eigel said. Also kept in the Senate version of the budget was $4.5 million in state funding for libraries that the House initially removed. The state budget passed by lawmakers appropriates important funding for the state's agencies and departments. More by Meg Cunningham. He said he didnt want state money being used for the lawsuit, but the ACLU of Missouri, which filed the suit on behalf of the Missouri Association of School Librarians and the Missouri Library Association, is handling the case at no charge. "MLA has high hopes that both the full Senate and the joint committee will approve this change so that our Missouri public libraries can continue to serve their communities without the added stress of budget shortfalls," Bowman said. Louis on the Air': Discussing what's happened and hasn't in the 2023 Missouri legislative session. Missouri Senate President Caleb Rowden said the Senate . Missouri librarians decry proposal to defund libraries | STLPR Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license. Our state house reporting focuses on facts, not opinions. The state's spending plan will still need to be approved by the Missouri Senate before it heads to Gov. St. Louis Public Radio | However, Hoskins amendment did not apply to vendors and businesses, and instead said that no funds shall be expended for intra-departmental Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, or Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging training, programs, staffing, hiring, or to other similar programs. That's a facility that is in utter disrepair and is in need of considerable investment for that population that it serves, Hough said. The statistics show that DEI is necessary because we still are in a community and in a state and in an America, where the color of your skin and the sex of your body determines where you can live, where you can work and how much money you can make, Washington said. (AP) A powerful Missouri state lawmaker on Tuesday moved to strip state funding for public libraries over a fight about books. New rule to block Missouri library funding set to go into effect May 30 I don't think it's too much to ask to say, Hey this wokeness should not be in state government, and that's what this amendment does, Hoskins said. There's a lot of really good stuff for kids in this bill, including increased funding for child care so that we know there will be more options, safe options, available for parents, Arthur said. However, that money was removed by House Budget Chair Cody Smith, R-Carthage. Sen. Lauren Arthur, D-Kansas City, spoke in favor of the budget bill funding K-12 education and mentioned the $38,000 base salary as well as funding for child care. It also has $50 million to . Missouri legislature passes a $49 billion state budget, with full "When I feel happy, I say, 'Quack! By, Pasture and hay are low in much of the Midwest leading to tough decisions for farmers, Peak electricity rates will nearly quadruple under default Evergy electricity plans in Missouri, Supreme Court decision on student debt forgiveness leaves Midwest students disappointed and worried, Kansas Citys newest brewery isnt just the first in Missouri owned by African Americans, it's 'sacred soil', Missouri escalates battle over books with new rule threatening state funds for libraries, Missouri budget agreement includes $2.8 billion to widen I-70 statewide, Missouri auditor says attorney general tried to falsely inflate cost of abortion rights amendment, Missouri governor threatens to call special session to restrict the rights of transgender kids. The committee also passed the operating budget bills, meaning they now go to the full Senate for debate. Sarah Kellogg has been the Missouri Statehouse and politics reporter for St. Louis Public Radio since 2021. Having adults listen to them is important, especially for rural LGBTQ-plus teens who don't have support at home, she said. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Missouri Republicans Vote To Defund Public Libraries | HuffPost Latest News Sullivan dismisses some library complaints that funding is being used as a club to bully them into compliance. A donation to us goes beyond supporting the newsroom. The proposed rule is not a book ban, he states. "I'm hesitant to put a percentage on that confidence level, because libraries are experiencing a wild ride in Jefferson City rightnow.". Sen. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, said state funding for libraries is likely to be restored when the Senate takes up the House budget plan next week. Bowman has been scrambling with attorneys to figure out what exactly libraries need to do to comply, for example, with the new requirements for parental approval. In his interview with This Week in Missouri Politics, Hough said that libraries are more than just books on shelves. Among other roles, they help job seekers who need access to computers and internet, he noted. An effort by Missouri House Republicans to cut $4.5 million in funding for the state's 160 library districts is expected to be derailed now that the state budget has reached the Senate.. State . She declined to make a prediction on the restoration of funding, however. The House budget also sought to defund Diversity, Equity and Inclusion funding in government. Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo said he was glad to see that language not included. That budget includes a $2.8 billion plan to widen Interstate 70 to a minimum of three lanes in each direction.
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