Reminder: Meeting Tuesday, June 1, 7:30 PM

Please join us for our Combined MeetUp/Meeting for MCPA, DFMC, PDA, and
more. Please let me know if you can make it at mikehersh@mikehersh.com
and share this invite with other progressives!

We'll discuss plans for DFMC's 7th Annual Progressive Picnic and ways to
help progressive candidates for office.

When: Tuesday, June 1, 2010 7:30 PM

Where: Saigonese Restaurant, 11232 Grandview Ave
Silver Spring (Wheaton), MD 20902
Public Transportation: Short walk from Wheaton Metro (red line)
Google Map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=11232+Grandview+Ave+Silver+Spring+MD+20902

The year is more than 1/3 over. Many people have already contributed to
help keep this group growing and going strong. If you haven't already,
please contribute $15 (or more!) online:
http://www.meetup.com/progressive-victory/dues/ or bring a donation to a
meeting or event.

Please join the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance Google Group:
http://groups.google.com/group/mcprogressivealliance

If you're on Facebook, please join the MCPA group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=3401340272&ref=ts

Four Meetup groups--Progressive Victory in 2010, Democratic Party /
MCPA, Montgomery County Progressive Alliance and Democratic Party / DFA
/ DFMC--get together with like-minded activists working for progress. We
support and help plan the actions of these other organizations:

1. MCPA: The Montgomery County Progressive Alliance is a result-oriented
coalition working on local, state, national and international issues.
MCPA includes more than 1,000 local activists, mainly in and around
Montgomery County Maryland. The organization began in 2003 when
Democracy for America Meetup members reached out to other Meetup groups
and other groups. In 2004, 100s of Montgomery County for Kerry members
and local Progressive Democrats of America members joined the MCPA. MCPA
adopted a mission statement, organized special events, and has held
meetings nearly each month since 2003.

2. DFA/DFMC: Democracy for America emerged from Gov. Howard Dean's
presidential campaign in 2004, and has organized grass-roots activists
to support socially progressive, fiscally responsible candidates. DFMC
is Democracy for Montgomery County, a local DFA-inspired organization
which is not directly or legally affiliated with DFA. DFMC has organized
events and meetings; and endorsed and organized volunteers for several
candidates. DFMC is currently seeking additional steering committee
members. Contact me, mikehersh@mikehersh.com for more information. You
can sign up for DFA here: http://democracyforamerica.com/session/new

3. PDA: Progressive Democrats of America began just after the 2004
Democratic National Convention in Boston. Bringing together people from
the 2004 Kucinich and Dean Campaigns with other progressives, PDA
adopted an "inside/outside strategy" uniting activists working inside
the Democratic Party with those working in peace and justice movements.
PDA's core issues include clean, accurate and transparent elections;
environmental protection; single-payer healthcare; economic and social
justice; and peace. Contact me for more information. See:
http://www.PDAmerica.org You can sign up for PDA here:
https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/309/personal2.asp?formid=joinusshort&c=5052037

4. PWG: The Progressive Working Group is a coalition promoting progress
and reform, economic fairness and equality, protecting the environment,
and more. PWG is not part of the MCPA, but the MCPA is part of the PWG
which currently includes: Audubon Naturalist Society, CASA of Maryland,
Democracy for Montgomery County, Equality Maryland, Health Care Now,
Montgomery County Progressive Alliance, Montgomery Health Care Action,
PeaceAction Montgomery, Peace and Justice of Prince George's County,
Progressive Cheverly, Progressive Democrats of America (Maryland),
Progressive Neighbors, Save Our Votes, and Upcounty Action. PWG will
focus on 2 or 3 issues during the 2010 session. Progressive
organizations are welcome to join PWG. This past year, several
organizations in Howard County, Baltimore County and Baltimore City
launched a sister chapter of the PWG. See:
http://progressiveworkinggroup.blogspot.com/ Contact Wally Malakoff
malakoff@starpower.net

We cooperate with and support other organizations working in our area
including (but not limited to):

Common Cause Maryland is the state's leading good government and
democracy reform group aiming to: Strengthen public participation and
public faith in our institutions of government; Ensure that government
and the political process serve the public interest, rather than special
interests; Curb the excessive influence of money on government decisions
and elections; Promote fair and honest elections and high ethical
standards for elected officials; and Protect the civil rights and civil
liberties of all Marylanders.
See:http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=4847585

The Greater Silver Spring Democratic Club sponsors important
discussions, forums and other events including the spectacular annual
Summer cookout. Contact Mark Woodard: markdwoodard@comcast.net

HealthCareMaryland.org is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization
engaged in research, public education, and advocacy to guarantee
universal high-quality health care for all Maryland residents. See:
http://www.healthcaremaryland.org/

MoveOn is a national political action organization and has a local
council in Silver Spring and elsewhere around Maryland. Local MoveOn
members have cooperated with MCPA on town halls, vigils, phone banking,
and other actions. See http://www.moveon.org to join your local council.

NOW: The National Organization for Women has been advancing womens'
issues including general progressive causes for decades. See:
http://www.now.org/ for more information. Contact Montgomery County NOW
membership chairperson Jeannette Feldner lj.feldner@verizon.net to join.
Men as well as women are welcome to join NOW.

OfA: Organizing for America emerged from President Obama's campaign in
2008, and is organizing grass-roots activists to support the Democratic
National Committee/Obama agenda. OfA is sponsoring local efforts in each
congressional district which are not directly or legally affiliated with
the DNC. OfA is currently sponsoring phone banks, organizing meetings,
and building a "rapid response" media effort. Please contact Jon Randall
jrandall39@comcast.net for more information. See
http://www.barackobama.com/learn/about_ofa.php

PeaceAction Montgomery are highly motivated individuals, affiliated with
the national organization, Peace Action. Anyone can join Peace Action
Montgomery. Currently, there are over 2,600 dues-paying members in
Montgomery County. Activities depend on the dedication and hard work of
the membership. For more information see: http://www.peaceactionmc.org/

Progressive Cheverly is based in Cheverly, Maryland. Their mission is to
promote economic fairness, social justice, basic human rights, a
sustainable environment, a tolerant society and world peace through a
more informed political dialogue and active participation in civil
society and the democratic political process. For more information see:
http://progchev.edterry.com/

Progressive Maryland is a grassroots, nonprofit organization of more
than 15,000 members and supporters as well as 40 affiliated religious,
community, and labor organizations. Through research, public education,
and direct political action we strive to improve the lives of working
families in our state. See: http://www.progressivemaryland.org/

Progressive Neighbors is working for: Schools that give all students an
opportunity to reach their full potential, Universal health care,
affordable housing, and an adequate living wage, Public transportation
systems that combine convenience and environmental protections, Land use
policies that are sustainable, serve residents, and don't overburden our
infrastructure, Effective protection against crime stressing prevention,
community involvement and fairness, Measures that assure a greater voice
for all, such as campaign finance and voting reforms, Fairness and
equality for all regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion,
income, or sexual orientation. More information:
http://www.progressiveneighborsmd.org/

SAVEourVotes is a statewide nonpartisan grassroots nonprofit
organization working for Secure, Accessible, Verifiable Elections in
Maryland. More information: http://saveourvotes.org/

Transparency and Equal Access in Government is working to open
operations of state government, and to guarantee members of the public
have the same access as lobbyists and other insiders. Contact Luis
Zapata for more information: 4zapata@gmail.com

Upcounty Action engages in advocacy for people, places, programs and
preservation in upper Montgomery County areas. For more information see:
http://www.upcountyaction.org/

WPFW-FM Pacifica provides outlets for the creative skills and energies
of the community, to contribute to a lasting understanding between
individuals of all nations, races, creeds and colors, and to promote the
full distribution of public information. Programming on WPFW will
principally be a mix of jazz, Third World music, news and public
affairs. The airwaves at 89.3 will be an accessible media outlet for
Blacks, Hispanics, cultural groups, women, seniors, youth and other
ethnic and non-traditional groups. See: http://www.wpfw.org/

To have your organization or events listed here, please contact me.
Thanks for reading down this far, and hope to see you at the meeting and
future events.

One last reminder to help keep our organization going and growing:
Please contribute $15 (or more!) online:
http://www.meetup.com/progressive-victory/dues/ or bring a donation to a
meeting or event.

Thanks again,

Mike Hersh,
Meetup Organizer
Chairperson, MCPA and DFMC
Maryland State Coordinator, PDA
Steering Committee, PWG

JUNE 1st: MeetUp/Meeting for MCPA, DFMC, PDA, and more.

Combined MeetUp/Meeting for MCPA, DFMC, PDA, and more. Progressive
Coalition Meeting to plan future events and actions.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010 7:30 PM

Saigonese Restaurant, 11232 Grandview Ave
Silver Spring (Wheaton), MD 20902
Public Transportation: Short walk from Wheaton Metro (red line)
Google Map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=11232+Grandview+Ave+Silver+Spring+MD+20902

Please contribute $15 for 2010 to keep this meetup going. Pay online:
http://www.meetup.com/MontgomeryCountyProgressiveAlliance/dues/ or bring
to a meeting.

Report on progress in our county and state on Healthcare, the
Environment, Education, Labor, Transportation, Energy and other issues.
We're building up our coalition and lobby efforts on the state and
national level, planning special events, forming a steering committee,
and working on meetings with legislators, and other organizations.

Please join the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance Google Group:
http://groups.google.com/group/mcprogressivealliance

If you're on Facebook, please join the MCPA group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=3401340272&ref=ts

Meetup groups--including Progressive Victory in 2010, Democracy for
Montgomery County/DFA, Democratic Party / MCPA, and Montgomery County
Progressive Alliance--get together with like-minded activists working
for Progressive Victories in 2010 and beyond. We meet at least once each
month to discuss and plan events and actions. Of these groups,
Progressive Victory has the most members, and we hope you will join that
Meetup to save time, money, and effort organizing our meetings and
actions. See: http://www.meetup.com/progressive-victory/ We'll
eventually close the other Meetup groups.

1. MCPA: The Montgomery County Progressive Alliance is a result-oriented
coalition working on local, state, national and international issues.
MCPA includes more than 1,000 local activists, mainly in and around
Montgomery County Maryland. The organization began in 2003 when
Democracy for America Meetup members reached out to other Meetup groups
and other groups. In 2004, 100s of Montgomery County for Kerry members
and local Progressive Democrats of America members joined the MCPA. MCPA
adopted a mission statement, organized special events, and has held
meetings nearly each month since 2003.

2. DFA/DFMC: Democracy for America emerged from Gov. Howard Dean's
presidential campaign in 2004, and has organized grass-roots activists
to support socially progressive, fiscally responsible candidates. DFMC
is Democracy for Montgomery County, a local DFA-inspired organization
which is not directly or legally affiliated with DFA. DFMC has organized
events and meetings; and endorsed and organized volunteers for several
candidates. DFMC is currently seeking additional steering committee
members. Please contact me, mikehersh@mikehersh.com if you're
interested. You can sign up for DFA here:
http://democracyforamerica.com/session/new

3. PDA: Progressive Democrats of America began just after the 2004
Democratic National Convention in Boston. Bringing together people from
the 2004 Kucinich and Dean Campaigns with other progressives, PDA
adopted an "inside/outside strategy" uniting activists working inside
the Democratic Party with those working in peace and justice movements.
PDA's core issues include clean, accurate and transparent elections;
environmental protection; single-payer healthcare; economic and social
justice; and peace. See: http://www.PDAmerica.org You can sign up for
PDA here:
https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/309/personal2.asp?formid=joinusshort&c=5052037

Other organizations working in our area:

PWG: The Progressive Working Group is a coalition promoting progress and
reform, economic fairness and equality, protecting the environment, and
more. PWG is not part of the MCPA, but the MCPA is part of the PWG which
currently includes: Audubon Naturalist Society, CASA of Maryland,
Democracy for Montgomery County, Equality Maryland, Health Care Now,
Montgomery County Progressive Alliance, Montgomery Health Care Action,
PeaceAction Montgomery, Peace and Justice of Prince George's County,
Progressive Cheverly, Progressive Democrats of America (Maryland),
Progressive Neighbors, Save Our Votes, and Upcounty Action. PWG will
focus on 2 or 3 issues during the 2010 session. Progressive
organizations are welcome to join PWG. Please contact Wally Malakoff
malakoff@starpower.net for more information.

NOW: The National Organization for Women has been advancing womens'
issues including general progressive causes for decades. See:
http://www.now.org/ for more information. Contact Montgomery County NOW
membership chairperson Jeannette Feldner lj.feldner@verizon.net to join.
Men as well as women are welcome to join NOW.

OfA: Organizing for America emerged from President Obama's campaign in
2008, and is organizing grass-roots activists to support the Democratic
National Committee/Obama agenda. OfA is sponsoring local efforts in each
congressional district which are not directly or legally affiliated with
the DNC. OfA is currently sponsoring phone banks, organizing meetings,
and building a "rapid response" media effort. Please contact Jon Randall
jrandall39@comcast.net for more information. See
http://www.barackobama.com/learn/about_ofa.php

MoveOn is a national political action organization and has a local
council in Silver Spring and elsewhere around Maryland. Local MoveOn
members have cooperated with MCPA on town halls, vigils, phone banking,
and other actions. See http://www.moveon.org to join your local council.

To have your organization or events listed here, please contact me.

Please contribute $15 for 2010 to keep this meetup going. Pay online:
http://www.meetup.com/MontgomeryCountyProgressiveAlliance/dues/ or bring
to a meeting.

Thanks for reading down this far, and hope to see you at the meeting and
future events,

Mike Hersh, Meetup Organizer
Chairperson, MCPA and DFMC
Maryland State Coordinator, PDA
Steering Committee, PWG

See The Greening of Southie in DC June 7

What: The Greening of Southie, Green Building Film Screening, trailer:
http://vimeo.com/3125436
When: June 7, 2010 Doors open 6:30pm, film starts at 7pm, followed by
panel discussion
Where: George Washington University, Duquès Hall (2201 G Street NW /
Washington, D.C. 20052)

RSVP: Free event, but must RSVP at
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=121167837916799 or email
info@eco-coach.com with "film screening" in the subject line
Notes: The film is about 72 minutes.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE convened by Tikkun Magazine & the Network of Spiritual Progressive Conference

COME JOIN US  AT A NATIONAL CONFERENCE convened by Tikkun Magazine & the Network of Spiritual Progressive Conference – June 11-14^th in Washington DC

* Overcoming the “fear and division industry” in our nation

* Proposed Constitutional Amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s Citizen’s United decision

* Alternative economic solutions to empower local citizens to take charge of their economic lives

* Increasing diversity and tolerance both within the progressive community and throughout our nation

  on issues like race, religion and immigration.

* Leading the way toward Middle-East Peace

* Leading our nation with Progressive Values and addressing America’s Spiritual Crisis

*Promoting the Global Marshall Plan   

 

Tikkun Magazine and the Network of Spiritual Progressives Presents:

 

A Progressive Vision and Strategy for The Obama Years:

Overcoming Fear and Corporate Power while Building “The Caring Society”

 

 

WE MUST ACT NOW

Tikkun Magazine & The Network of Spiritual Progressives is convening a national conference bringing together both spiritual and secular progressives in a united effort to counteract the fear and division currently gripping our nation. Political rhetoric is not enough to move our country towards a positive future. Liberals and Progressives must offer an alternative vision during this time of crisis.   Come help build  “The Caring Society” during the Obama years where the values of peace, empathy, generosity, social justice, and ecological sanity provide a compelling challenge to the status quo of complicity, “inside-the-beltway” pragmatism, and corporate sponsored political gridlock.

 

Key Issues the Conference will address:

 

* Overcoming the “fear and division industry” in our nation

* Proposed Constitutional Amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s Citizen’s United decision

* Alternative economic solutions to empower local citizens to take charge of their economic lives

* Increasing diversity and tolerance both within the progressive community and throughout our nation

  on issues like race, religion and immigration.

* Leading the way toward Middle-East Peace

* Leading our nation with Progressive Values and addressing America’s Spiritual Crisis

*Promoting the Global Marshall Plan   

 

Speakers Include:

Congressmen Dennis Kucinich and Keith Ellison, Sister Joan Chittister, David Korten, Rabbi Michael Lerner, Rev. James Forbes, environmentalist Bill McKibben, Rev. Graylan Hagler, Medea Benjamin of Code Pink, Jeremy Ben Ami of J Street, Marianne Williamson 

                        Conference Speakers                              Conference Agenda

Date: June 11-14^th

 

Place: Lutheran Church of the Reformation

          212 East Capitol Street NE (Capitol Hill)

          Washington DC 20003

 

Co-Sponsors include: The Nation Magazine, Yes! Magazine, Peace Action, Progressive Democrats of America, Common Cause, Interfaith Alliance, Pace e Bene, Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Code Pink, The Institute for Policy Studies, The Shalom Center, Democracy Matters, OpEdNews,The Backbone Campaign, United Religions Initiative, The Washington Peace Center, 350.org, Public Citizen, Center for Progressive Christianity, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light

For more information visit:www.spiritualprogressives.org, or call 510-644-1200. Register now! You cannot afford to miss this opportunity.

International Human & Peoples' Rights Law Program

Aloha Friends of Human Rights, Environment, Peace & Global Justice,

The Ninth Annual University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke
School of Law International Human & Peoples' Rights Law Program – Human
Rights on the Hill – in collaboration with the Hawaii Institute for
Human Rights and the Four Freedoms Forum, will take place from May 24 -
28, 2010.

To register, please go to http://www.law.udc.edu/event/Human_Rights_Course

In our formative years, the course focused on reflection and education,
we aim to build on this balanced foundation evolving into realization
and engagement.

There is an opportunity to mobilize to realize human rights in the
United States of America and our partners for peace around the planet.
The course will allow participants to actively be agents of positive
social change in our country and the global civil society.

The summer seminar will focus on important international human rights
instruments. We will cover from ratification to realization in the lives
of all Americans and citizens of the world. The seminar combines keynote
addresses by international law professors as well as peace & policy
makers, panel presentations by NGOs and indigenous peoples, updates on
the latest developments at the United Nations Permanent Forum on
Indigenous Issues and the newly created UN Human Rights Council
including the Universal Periodic Review, documentary film premieres
daily during lunch and excursions of empowerment throughout the week
around Washington D.C.

The course will meet in UDC's Building 39 on the second floor in Room
205, 4200 Connecticut Ave, NW (Van Ness/UDC Metro) and will begin each
morning at 9 a.m. from Monday May 24 through Friday May 28. The
presentations will take place every 90 minutes starting at 9 a.m.
throughout the day concluding at 4:30 p.m. daily. Each day at noon,
there will be the sixth annual Human Rights Film Festival featuring
documentary movies on fundamental freedoms.

We hope you can participate as much as possible in the five day program.
A significant aspect of this advocacy course is participating actively
with the decision-makers in our democracy. Therefore, there will be
educational excursions of empowerment to complement the talks. For
latest schedules please email joshuacooperhawaii@gmail.com or jfl@udc.edu.

We also want to welcome you to invite your membership to be part of the
coalition aiming for ratification of treaties by the U.S. government and
also to organize better monitoring of US involvement in the UN human
rights mechanisms. We very much look forward to your participation in
this empowering endeavor and hopeful future action to create a culture
of peace and human rights.

As we are finalizing the schedule, it would be greatly appreciated if
you could let us know today if you are able to speak. Thank you.

Maluhia Me Ka Pono,

Joshua Cooper, Coordinator

International Human and Peoples' Rights Law Program

Register at http://www.law.udc.edu/event/Human_Rights_Course

(Please feel free to forward this email)

Maryland Healthcare Report and More

Maryland Healthcare Report and More:

A. Upcoming Events
B. Report on the Maryland Health Care Reform Co-ordinating Council
C. For more information on Progressive news and events in Maryland

---------------------------

A. Upcoming Events:

Monday, May 10th 7 pm Montgomery County NOW Business Meeting / Rockville
Library, 21 Maryland Avenue, Rockville
We'll discuss nomination of officers for next year and women's issues to
tackle now and in the future. All are invited.
Directions:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/libraries/branchinfo/ro.asp#dirs
For more information, contact info@mcmdnow.org

Events from Progressive Working Group Member Healthcare-Now! of Maryland:

1. Monday, May 10th, a national conference call sponsored by Tikkun
magazine with Dr. Margaret Flowers to discuss this month's
article:http://www.pnhp.org/news/2010/may/after-the-reform-aiming-high-for-health-justice.
Details of the conference call which will be from 9 pm to 10 pm can be
found at http://www.tikkun.org/article.php/phoneforums.

2. Wednesday, May 12th, the nurses are coming to town! Join the National
Nurses United for a march beginning at 10 am at Union Station in
Washington D.C. and marching to Upper Senate Park for a rally at 11 am.
The NNU support single payer. They will be marching for S 1031/HR 2273,
The National Nursing Shortage Reform and Patient Advocacy Act and S
1788/HR 2381, the Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act.

3. Thursday, May 13th, attend the first meeting of the Anne Arundel
County Chapter Medicare for All at 6:30 pm at 49 West Coffee Cafe at 49
West St in Annapolis. Dr. Flowers will speak about single payer and the
group will discuss plans to support the state single payer bill. Contact
Patty Courtney courtneypatty@gmail.com or Sam Shropshire
sam.shropshire@hotmail.com for more information. All are welcome!

4. Tuesday, May 18th, attend the second meeting of the Howard County
chapter of Healthcare-Now at the home of Dr. Eric Naumburg: 6163 Devon
Drive Columbia, MD 21044 RSVP: 443-562-6562 or enaumburg@hotmail.com The
topic for the meeting is lobbying.

5. Healthcare-Now! of Maryland's website will be launched this week. We
are very excited to share it with you because it will have links to more
news and resources and will keep you up to date with single payer
events. Please check it out at http://www.mdsinglepayer.org And please
take this opportunity to let your friends know about Maryland
Healthcare-Now!

-----------------------

B. Report on the Maryland Health Care Reform Co-ordinating Council

Healthcare activists attended the Maryland Health Care Reform
Co-ordinating Council's first public meeting in Annapolis last week.

The MHCRCC is implementing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act (the Federal reform signed by Obama earlier this year) in Maryland.
See: http://www.healthreform.maryland.gov/

One doctor working on reform reports: "overall theme is lots of
additional bureaucracy but little additional medical care. Near the very
end of the 3 hour conference, Delegate Peter Hammen asked a question
about cost controls--the first time it was mentioned and Beth Sammis
said we can't think about that until next year which of course was
probably true but not very popular. There was no mention of increasing
the supply of providers. ... Maryland gains little from these new
interim programs that take effect before 2014 and disappear when the
exchange and the Medicaid expansion come. Maryland gains little in part
because there are some programs already in place; but the federal
additions are small and the state programs such as MHIP and the Health
Insurance Partnership are small. As of January 2010 there were 834,000
uninsured Marylanders an increase of about 120,000 in 2 years."

----------------------

C. For more information on Progressive news and events in Maryland: Join
the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance

MCPA is local, independent coalition of organizations. MCPA organizes
debates, forums and other events to inform the public and advance
understanding and progress in Montgomery County.
We're focusing efforts on making progress in our county and state on
Healthcare, the Environment, Education, Labor, Transportation, Energy
and other issues. We're building up our coalition and lobby efforts on
the state and national level, planning special events, forming a
steering committee, and working on meetings with legislators, and other
organizations.

Help us establish our priorities, allocate our resources, and make a
real difference. For the low cost of $25/year, about $2 per month, you
can participate in the changes you want to see in Montgomery County.
Contribute online or bring payment to any event or meeting.

Contribute online:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=9559742
Join the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance google group:
http://groups.google.com/group/mcprogressivealliance
If you're on Facebook, please join the MCPA group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=3401340272&ref=ts

May 8th Report from the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance

May 8th Report from the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance

--------------------

1. Upcoming Progressive Events--send complete info. about your event for
possible inclusion in future reports
2. Progressive Working Group 4-25 Meeting: "2010 Maryland General
Assembly, What Did It Accomplish?"
3. Progressive Legislation--what passed, what didn't.
4. Progressive Rotating Childcare
5. Montgomery County Progressive Alliance--What's new with the MCPA?

--------------------

1. Upcoming Progressive Events

- Monday, May 10 7 pm -- Montgomery County National Organization for
Women Meeting Rockville Library, 21 Maryland Avenue, Rockville / We'll
discuss nomination of officers for next year and women's issues to
tackle now and in the future. All are invited. For more information,
contact info@mcmdnow.org For directions to the Rockville Library:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/libraries/branchinfo/ro.asp#dirs

- Wednesday, May 12 – 7-9 pm -- Montgomery County Council At-Large
Democratic Candidates Forum, Kensington Town Hall, 3710 Mitchell, St.
Kensington Contact Ellie Kleinman 301-897-0868. Sponsored by several
Democratic Party clubs.

- Sunday, May 16, 3:30 - 4:30pm -- Roger Manno for State Senate Campaign
Kick-Off! / Sole D'Italia Restaurant 14324 Layhill Road, Silver Spring,
MD / Short bus ride from Glemont Metro Station (red line) Join community
leaders, neighbors, friends and activists for Delegate Roger Manno's
2010 campaign kickoff! RSVP: to friends@rogermanno.com or 301-598-4063.

--------------------

2. Progressive Working Group 4-25 Meeting: Fifty-Five Progressive
Activists, Elected Legislators Address "2010 Maryland General Assembly,
What Did It Accomplish?"

On Sunday April 25th, progressive activists from Montgomery, Prince
George's, and Howard Counties as well as the Baltimore area, gathered in
Laurel for a Progressive Working Group forum to evaluate how progressive
legislative priorities fared in the just-concluded legislative session
and how we can make progress in the future. The focus was on why more
was not achieved, given the overwhelming Democratic majority in
Annapolis. Panelists were asked to address this failure and to offer
recommendations on moving forward.

Panel One: Progressives Challenging Incumbents: Delegate Karen
Montgomery, who is running for the State Senate against Rona Kramer in
District 14 and Dana Beyer, who is running for delegate in District 18,
both pointed out that in Maryland, the defeat of progressive legislation
is often attributable to Democratic legislators who are, at best,
moderates. Therefore, they said, progressives should hold candidates to
a higher standard than just being Democratic. A participant from the
audience stated that unless an elected representative or candidate
supported campaign finance reform, they should not be considered a
progressive.

Panel Two: What Went Wrong? Why Didn't Good Bills Make It Through the
General Assembly? Critical Insights of Legislators: Senator Mike Lenett,
Del. Roger Manno, Del Sheila Hixson, Senator Jamie Raskin, Senator Paul
Pinksy, Senator David Harrington, Del. Karen Montgomery, and Del. Tom Hucker

Lenett – Open government measures are very important. They give
progressives more voice. We need procedural reforms so that we actually
get votes on legislation. Currently, many measures are killed by putting
them in "the drawer." Legislators would pass more progressive bills if
we could get a vote on the measures. We should consider changes that
would make it harder to just put bills in the drawer, such as
guaranteeing a committee vote on all bills filed by a certain deadline,
allowing each legislator a minimum number of bills that must be
guaranteed a committee vote, or a petition process to force a committee
vote.

Manno – A big obstacle to progressive legislation is the quality of
representatives we send to Annapolis. Our expectations are too low. We
don't need people who sometimes vote right but often don't support us
when no one is closely watching.

Hixson – Progressives should never quit. You must keep pushing for your
issues and that includes talking to representatives who don't agree with
you.

Raskin – There are politicians who are interested in justice and there
are politicians who are interested in power. We need to get the right
kind of representatives elected and then organize to pressure them to do
the right thing.

Pinsky – The state is an arbiter of class forces. On one side are the
liquor lobby, the Chamber of Commerce, developers, etc. Next session, we
need to assess our resources and pick issues very strategically that
have a chance of winning. Combined reporting can pass next year if we
work on it.

Harrington – Representatives are able to get away with things by calling
themselves progressives. We need to check people carefully to see if
they are willing to stand up for the right thing, even when it's not
popular and powerful interests are fighting us. As progressives, we also
need to make tight arguments in favor of our measures so that the
opposition sees that we're serious and that it will be difficult to
oppose us. And we need to stick with issues - sometimes it takes years
to win.

Montgomery – On progressive health care bills, the biggest problem we
faced was drug (pharmaceutical) companies. We need to chip away on our
issues, even if it takes years to win a complete victory.

Hucker – The system is set up to defeat progressive legislation. To win,
we need good ideas (a sound philosophy) a good sponsor for the
legislation, careful attention to process (reaching out to opponents,
seeing where compromises are necessary), hard work, and grass roots
pressure. It's easy to block reforms; to win everything has to go right.

Points Made in Discussion: Progress on abolishing the death penalty is
also possible next session. We need to keep pushing for campaign finance
reform. Mike Miller has been hot and cold on this and may not strongly
oppose. It is frustrating to progressives that many bills get put in
"the drawer" and never get a vote in committee.

Panel Three: What Failed? What Succeeded" Why? What's to Be Done for
Next Year? Prospective of Progressive Activists. Mike Hersh, PWG, Ryan
O'Donnell, Common Cause; Sean Dobson, Progressive Maryland; Pat Elder,
Peace Action Montgomery: David O'Leary, Sierra Club, and Ken Stevens

O'Donnell: It's good that Progressive Working Group got its profile
raised this session – I'm proud of that. But something is wrong in
Annapolis when campaign finance reform doesn't even come up for a vote,
but a bill to impeach the Attorney General because of his opinion on gay
marriage gets voted on. Nothing was really done this session on campaign
finance reform. We need to work together even more closely on our
legislation.

Elder: We scored a victory on ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude
Battery) tests, but there are more peace issues we need to address. We
won on ASVAB in part because we made it an issue of student privacy and
civil rights, not solely an anti-war issue. Also, we were a real
presence in Annapolis and talked to many legislators to explain the
issue, including those who had been opposed to our legislation at first.
We figured out a way to talk about privacy and civil rights issues and
not just peace. We also worked with partners with more lobbying
experience, and insiders helped us dissect the committees for problem areas.

Dobson – I have been lobbying for 10 years and it used to be worse. We
got at least 7 good labor bills. But for the bluest state in the
country, what happened in Annapolis is not good enough. The problem is
still the State Senate which really operates as a 'good old boy'
network. Miller is conservative but pragmatic so he will give us
progressives a few things. In this year's elections, we need to defeat
conservatives. We should see how all progressive groups can come
together around some candidates.

Stevens – We need to realize that we're in a long-haul fight on many of
our progressive issues, but we need to keep pushing even if we don't
make progress at first.

Hersh: We need to raise expectations and awareness of what's going on in
Annapolis. As Mike Tabor demonstrates, most people in Maryland don't
know who their state legislators are! We should work to change the
culture in Annapolis by electing true progressives and by increasing
public awareness about state issues. This would make good legislators
better, and make mediocre legislators private citizens.

O'Leary – Environmental groups came in with a very limited agenda this
session. We made some progress, but it was limited and even things that
were pass were pared back. (See legislative wrap-up below). The press
focused on divisions among environmental groups.

Discussion of Next Steps:
-We need a stronger Annapolis presence during the session.
-Clean water is a winnable issue that should be a priority
-We need to go door-to-door in the home districts of targeted
conservative legislators, especially Senators, to challenge them on the
issues.
-We need a scorecard to identify legislators who are undermining
progressive legislation

--------------------

3. Progressive Legislation--what passed, what didn't. Thanks to
Progressive Cheverly for most of this wrap-up.

Campaign Finance Reform for General Assembly Races – This measure would
help neutralize the effect of special-interest money in our political
process. Unfortunately, Senate President Mike Miller switched his
support of a year ago, and the bill remained bottled up in Senate
committee without even making it to the House for consideration.

Reducing the Impact of Budget Cuts Through Fair Revenue Sources –
Combined reporting, which would close income-tax loopholes for
corporations that operate in more than one state, was not passed.
Likewise, the "millionaire's tax," enacted in 2008 and set to expire
this year, was allowed to do so, effectively lowering taxes for the top
1% of Maryland taxpayers. Together, these lost revenues will amount to
$250 million per year, and cuts to services for the disabled and poor
were made instead.

Improved Transparency of General Assembly Business and Improved Citizen
Access – A bill was not enacted that would make it easier for citizens
to access information about the progress of legislation and present
testimony during hearings and require such bill hearings and meetings of
the Board of Public Works to be broadcast on the Internet. Instead,
these concerns were relegated to a summer study. However, this
legislative effort did prompt leaders in the House and Senate to require
that all committee votes be posted online.

ASVAB – Legislation was passed that only students and their parents or
guardians can release the results of the Armed Services Vocational
Aptitude Battery test to the the military. ASVAB is used as a military
recruiting tool in public high schools throughout the country. Almost
7,000 students in 156 public schools throughout Maryland took the test
in the last year for which data is available. 91% had the results and
private information forwarded to military recruiting services without
parental consent and often without parental knowledge. This legislation
ends this practice and represents a real victory for student privacy
from military recruiters.

Building Opportunities for All Students and Teachers (BOAST) in Maryland
Tax Credit – Progressives generally opposed this legislation that would
have granted tax credits to businesses that fund scholarships for
low-income students to attend private schools, which means primarily
religious schools (which represent over 80% of all private school
students*). The bill passed the Senate, but a revised version of the
legislation was reported unfavorably out of the House Ways and Means
Committee on the last day of the session so the legislation was not
passed. .

Civil Marriage Equality and Transgender Anti-discrimination – In the
middle of the session, Attorney General Doug Gansler issued an opinion
that state agencies should begin recognizing same-sex marriages
performed in other states where they are legal. Legislative efforts to
undo Gansler's opinion were unsuccessful. The bill that would allow such
marriages to be performed in Maryland did not pass, but it gained more
co-sponsors. Transgender anti-discrimination legislation also remained
stuck in Senate committee, but it, too, gained new co-sponsors.
Additional legislation died that would have protected parenting rights
and extended medical leave to siblings, grandparents and domestic partners.

Environmental Justice and Environmental Protection – Protecting the
green infrastructure budget: There were some important gains, especially
considering the budget constraints that pervaded this legislative
session: $22 million for the Chesapeake Bay Trust Fund, preserved
funding for Project Open Space, and protected funds for environmental
enforcement. The Smarter Transportation Choices for Maryland Act passed
and establishes smart and fair growth criteria for funding
transportation projects. The Watershed Protection and Restoration Act
did not pass. Instead "emergency regulations" were passed, which
constitute a severe setback to the 2007 Stormwater Management
legislation. A legislative effort to restrict funding for the University
of Maryland Environmental Law Clinic, was defeated. Some legislators
from the Eastern Shore wanted to use the budget process to try to
intimidate the Environmental Law Clinic from taking action against
Perdue and other companies who are major contributors to agricultural
pollution of the Bay and other waterways. .

End Life With Out Parole Sentencing for Juveniles – The U.S. is the only
country that officially sanctions life-long sentences for children who
have committed serious crimes, and Maryland currently has 13 such
individuals serving sentences. Efforts to outlaw this practice in
Maryland did not move forward this year.

*source: National Center for Education Statistics

--------------------

4. Appeal to Fellow Progressives: Looking for stay-at-home parents who
would like to volunteer to be part of a rotating cadre of progressives
visiting Annapolis on a weekly basis during the upcoming 2011 session!
The idea is to have at least two or three SAH moms or dads in a group,
and one or two will visit Annapolis one day while the other watches the
children, then switch for another day during the week. While in
Annapolis we will meet with legislators and lobby for progressive
issues. This would only be for the session, from January to April. If
anyone is interested or know someone who might be interested, please
contact Jessica Sharp ASAP, as we will need volunteers to get to know
one another and feel comfortable leaving each other's children with one
another. The more time we have to get to know each other, the better for
us and for our kids.

Please pass this on to any stay-at-home parents whom you think would be
interested, and thanks.

Jessica Sharp / 240-280-2582 / spangledangel@gmail.com or
fairandcleanmd@gmail.com

--------------------

5. Montgomery County Progressive Alliance--What's new with the MCPA?

MCPA is local, independent coalition of organizations. MCPA organizes
debates, forums and other events to inform the public and advance
understanding and progress in Montgomery County.
We're focusing efforts on making progress in our county and state on
Healthcare, the Environment, Education, Labor, Transportation, Energy
and other issues. We're building up our coalition and lobby efforts on
the state and national level, planning special events, forming a
steering committee, and working on meetings with legislators, and other
organizations.

Help us establish our priorities, allocate our resources, and make a
real difference. For the low cost of $25/year, about $2 per month, you
can participate in the changes you want to see in Montgomery County.
Contribute online or bring payment to any event or meeting.

Donate online:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=9559742

Join the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance google group:
http://groups.google.com/group/mcprogressivealliance

If you're on Facebook, please join the MCPA group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=3401340272&ref=ts

Great food! Free! Sunday, May 16th

Roger Manno sent a message to supporters of Roger Manno for State Senate
(MD-19):

Dear friends,

Please join us in our campaign for the Maryland State Senate for the
19th Legislative District! We are running to restore a more
collaborative, inclusive and principled type of leadership to the
Maryland Senate, because the best way - the only way - to get things
done is to bring people together. Together, we can change politics in
Maryland, but we need your help.

Our campaign "Kick-Off" event will be on Sunday, May 16th in Silver
Spring, and we would be honored to have your support. Here are the details:

Please join community leaders, neighbors, friends and activists for
Delegate Roger Manno's 2010 campaign kickoff!

· Special guests!
· Endorsements will be made!
· Great food! Free!
· Bring friends, kids and neighbors!

Date: Sunday, May 16th

Time: 3:30-4:30 pm (Please be on time. This will be a short event)
Address: Sole D'Italia Restaurant, 14324 Layhill Road, Silver Spring, MD
20906
Closest metro: Glenmont Station (red line) short bus ride from the metro
to the event.
RSVP: to friends@rogermanno.com or 301-598-4063
Parking: There is limited parking in the parking lot. Additional parking
is available in the adjacent shopping center just around the corner on
Bel Pre Road. Please carpool if possible.

Directions: From Downtown Silver Spring or DC - North on Georgia Avenue,
right on Bel Pre. From Rockville and Gaithersburg - East on Norbeck
Road, right on Layhill Road, right into shopping center (just before Bel
Pre Road). From Olney and Gaithersburg - South on Georgia Avenue, left
on Norbeck Road, right on Layhill Road, right into shopping center just
before Bel Pre Road.

Volunteer - Contribute - Join Us @ www.RogerManno.com
Authorized by: Friends of Roger Manno, Sandra Zimmet, Treasurer.

Donna Edwards on Political Pulse / Roger Manno and Mike Hersh on The Edge with Garland Nixon

Donna Edwards, Congresswoman for Maryland's 4th District will be on
Political Pulse with Charles Duffy on:

Thursday, May 6th at 9:00 p.m.
Friday-Sunday, May 7th-9th, at 6 p.m. and
Tuesday, May 11th, at 9:30 p.m.

-------------

State Senate Candidate Roger Manno and Mike Hersh will be on the Edge
with Garland Nixon Monday, May 10th at 7 PM

-------------

"Political Pulse" and The Edge" are on Montgomery Municipal Cable in
Montgomery County Channel 16 TV

2 Forums on Cleaning Up Politics This Week

Here are the details for the Rockville/Aspen Hill MD Event:
Aspen Hill Montgomery County Library
4407 Aspen Hill Road Rockville, MD 20853
Wednesday, 5 May 2010, 6:45 PM 
(changed from 6:30 to give people time to get there)

Here are the details for the Columbia, MD Event:
Columbia Central Library
10375 Little Patuxent Pkwy Columbia, MD
Saturday, May 8th, 2010 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Host your own Community Forum or sign up for an event near you:  http://pol.moveon.org/event/2010townhall/103090

Progressives learned a sobering lesson in 2009: even with President Obama and Democratic majorities in Congress, it's incredibly difficult to make change in Washington. Giant corporations and their lobbyists who profit from the status quo have doubled down in the wake of last year's election, and they have massive amounts of money available to fight progressive legislation and leaders. Already, these corporations are getting ready to spend whatever it takes to repeal the health care reform bill in the courts or by taking back the Congress. And recent court decisions such as Citizens United have made their job easier and ours harder.

What we have is people-power. Our emergency Community Forums will bring our communities together to make sure we have a shared understanding of the problem and discuss how we use progressive people-power to block this corporate power grab and save American democracy before it's too late.

More about the Columbia, MD event:  "We’ll be discussing strategies to take action against the corporate money grubbers and to restore democracy and a voice to the hard-working people who make our country great. Featured speakers include Maria Allwine, Co-Chair of Maryland Green Party and Margaret Flowers, a National Spokesperson for the Physicians for a National Health Program. This event is co-sponsored by: Howard County MoveOn, Howard County Friends of Latin America, Network of Spiritual Progressives in Maryland, Howard County Coalition for Peace and Justice, Common Cause of Maryland, Progressive Working Group in Maryland, HoCo Health Care Now E-mail: moveonhocomd@gmail.com for additional info and to RSVP for the event. (RSVP is NOT necessary to attend)."

THE GREATER DC PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY Saturday, May 15

The DC Metro Social Forum invites you to: THE GREATER DC PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY
Saturday, May 15, 2010, 9:30AM-4:00PM
Plymouth Congregational UCC, 5301 North Capitol Street, NE. Fort Totten
Metro Station (green/red lines)

* Connect with people from across the region who are working for change,
* Share your struggle and vision,
* Help develop a people's agenda for a more just Greater DC in 2010.

Join us on May 15th to build a stronger movement for peace and justice.

Speakers will include:
*Joslyn Williams, President of the Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO*
* Anise Jenkins, Stand Up for Democracy*
...and more.

Childcare available, please RSVP by May 7. Lunch provided. Suggested
donation $7.

For more information, to RSVP or sign on to the campaign check out
www.greaterDCsocialforum.ning.com.

===

PROGRAM:

9:30-10:00: breakfast and registration

10:00-11:00: Panel Discussion, The State of Greater DC
—� Joslyn Williams, President Metropolitan Washington AFL-CIO
—� Anise Jenkins, Stand Up for Democracy

11:00-1:00pm Session Breakouts: Developing Our Priorities
—� Workers' rights
—� Housing
—� Immigrant rights
—� Public Services and the budget
—� Health care
—� Peace
—� Youth and education
—� Faith

1:00-1:45pm: Lunch

1:45-3:45pm: Session Reportback: Building a Collective Platform

--
Sonia Silbert
Director

Washington Peace Center
1525 Newton St NW
Washington, DC 20010
ph. (202) 234-2000
fax. (202) 558-5685
www.washingtonpeacecenter.org

Are you in the loop? We have an online calendar full of events for you!
Sign up for weekly Activist Alert emails so you know what's happening in
progressive DC! www.washingtonpeacecenter.org.

Meeting With State Senate Candidate Roger Manno Tues. May 4th

Meeting With State Senate Candidate Roger Manno Tues. May 4th

Join State Senate candidate Roger Manno at our meeting, tomorrow night
Tuesday May 4th. A former staffer for Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and other
members of Congress, Delegate Manno served in the Maryland legislature
for the past 4 years. He's worked on healthcare, labor, environmental,
seniors', education, reproductive choice and several other issues on the
state and federal level. He was picked for the White House Healthcare
working group.

A representative from Tikkun Magazine will join us discussing positive
ideas and programs for an economy and society that more fully embodies
our highest values, including the upcoming progressive conference in D.C.

When: Tuesday, May 4, 2010 7:30 PM

Where: Saigonese Restaurant, 11232 Grandview Ave
Silver Spring (Wheaton), MD 20902
Public Transportation: Short walk from Wheaton Metro (red line)
Google Map/ Directions:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=11232+Grandview+Ave+Silver+Spring+MD+20902

-------------------

Join Roger Manno for his Official Campaign Kick-off 3:30-4:30 PM Sunday,
May 16th
Sole D'Italia Restaurant
14324 Layhill Road, Silver Spring, MD 20906.
Map/directions:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=14324+Layhill+Road+Silver+Spring+MD+20906
Public Transportation: Short bus ride (RideOn 49) from Glenmont Station
(Red Line)

MoveOn mtg Aspen Hill library Campaign Finance Reform Wednesday, May 5

MoveOn Rockville Community Forum: Make Democracy Work for the Rest of Us!

Big corporations have stood in the way of the changes we need on Wall
Street reform, health care, clean energy, and more. We're meeting up to
discuss how we make Washington work for the 98% of us who don't have
big-time lobbyists representing us in DC. Here are the event details:

What: MoveOn members are meeting up at a community forum, Aspen Hill
Montgomery County Library (in Rockville) Wednesday, May 5, 2010, at 6:30
PM to talk about how our democracy is being overrun by lobbyists and big
corporations—and what we can do about it.

RSVP: http://pol.moveon.org/pac/event/events/event.html?event_id=103090