Welcome to the latest episode of Under the Dome, a podcast produced by Empower Missouri. We provide you with timely updates about our activities in Jefferson City, particularly focusing on our commitment to anti-poverty work. In this episode, Sarah Owsley, our Advocacy Director, is joined by Christine Woody, the Food Security Policy Manager at Empower Missouri. An unexpected technical glitch resulted in difficulties with the audio recording of the episode, so parts of the conversation with Christine may not have been captured fully. Nevertheless, Sarah does her best to provide a comprehensive and engaging discussion.

The duo discuss the hectic nature of the legislative session, which usually ramps up around mid-April. Moving onto specific issues, the conversation explores the recent developments regarding the state sales tax on food and the complex implications for local municipalities and low-income families. Sarah shares how we're part of the influential amicus brief in the Johnson v. Grants Pass case, which contends that it should be unconstitutional to arrest the homeless for "existing" outdoors.

Stay tuned for more interesting insights and updates from the realm of public policy advocacy under the dome in Jefferson City!