Please Take Action To Support HB 235, Gender Anti-Discrimination Bill

From Progressive Neighbors:

 

It has come to the attention of the Progressive Neighbors steering committee that State Senate President Mike Miller has shunted HB 235, the gender anti-discrimination bill, to the Rules Committee in violation of Senate rules. The bill, as you may know, passed strongly out the House of Delegates on Saturday, and deserves a fair hearing in the Judicial Proceedings Committee and then the Senate floor, just as do the other 93 bills that have passed to the Senate before crossover. 

 

The Progressive Neighbors steering committee has voted to support HB 235 to protect the transgender community from discrimination.  We urge you to contact your Senators and Delegates and ask that they lobby their colleagues on the Rules Committee to move the bill out of Rules and over to Judicial Proceedings Committee where it belongs. (The members of the Rules Committee are listed below.)

 

Thank you,

Progressive Neighbors

 

Members of the Senate Rules Committee

 

Katherine Klausmeier – Chair, Brian Frosh – Vice Chair, David Brinkley, Richard Colburn, Ulysses Currie, Roy Dyson, George Edwards, Edward Kasemeyer, Nathaniel McFadden, Thomas Middleton, Thomas Mike Miller

[Note: PLEASE call if you have the time, and always use your own words--legislators tend to ignore or even resent identical emails. Important: mention if you live in their districts and/or if you represent or belong to an organization, religious group, congregation, etc.]

Progressive Neighbors MD • 8022 Maple Ave. • Takoma Park, MD 20912

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ACTION ALERT - HB 235 Gender Identity Bill At Risk

Sent by Equality Maryland, a Member of the Progressive Working Group. Please act and share with your friends and lists:

ACTION ALERT - HB 235 Gender Identity Bill At Risk

This year, the Maryland Legislature has an opportunity to pass House Bill 235, the Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Act, which will add vital protections on the basis of gender identity for employment, housing, and credit. This bill will literally save lives of Transgender Marylanders.  

But, it's turning into politics as usual in Annapolis.  Contact Sen. Katherine Klausmeier [District 8, Baltimore County] and Sen. Brian Frosh [District 16, Montgomery County--including parts of Chevy Chase, Bethesda and Potomac] now and urge them to become champions on this important anti-discrimination legislation. [Note: PLEASE call if you have the time, and always use your own words--legislators tend to ignore or even resent identical emails. Important: mention if you live in their districts and/or if you represent or belong to an organization, religious group, congregation, etc.]

Sen. President Mike Miller doesn't think the Senate has the will to move on more social issues, but we know that Sen. Frosh and Sen Klausmeier, both of whom hold leadership positions on the rules committee, are ready to support this bill - they just need to hear from you.  We're asking all Marylanders who believe in ending discrimination towards our transgender community to stand up and speak out in support of HB 235.  

CLICK HERE to contact Sen. Klausmeier [or better yet, call: (410) 841-3620, (301) 858-3620 or toll free 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3620] and Sen. Frosh [or better yet, call: (410) 841-3124, (301) 858-3124, or toll free 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3124] today to stand up for fairness and to end discrimination for Transgender Marylanders.

You have an opportunity to make history in Maryland this legislative session and to join 12 other states who support ending discrimination based on gender identity. Will you speak up for fairness today?

As the session winds down, all pro-equality allies need to reach out to Sen. Frosh and Sen. Klausmeier so they don't let time expire on this important piece of legislation.  It's truly up to the two of them.  By reaching out to Sen. Klausmeier and Sen. Frosh you'll not only join pro-equality allies all across the Free state in ending discrimination, but you'll be ending injustice for all transgender Marylanders.

Progressive Coalition Meeting to plan future events and actions.

Progressive Coalition Meeting to plan future events and actions.

Tuesday, April 5 · 7:30pm - 9:00pm

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

Report on upcoming Progressive Summit in Annapolis, Progressive Conference in Arizona, progress in our county and state on Healthcare, Equality, 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.

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 there.

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

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

If you haven't already: Please contribute $15 for 2011 to keep this meetup going. Pay online: http://www.meetup.com/progressive-victory/dues/ or bring to a meeting.

When a Father Knows Best: Seeking More than Sympathy

When a Father Knows Best: Seeking More than Sympathy
Time Monday, April 4 · 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Location  Wheaton Regional Library

11701 Georgia Ave Wheaton, MD
(large conference room downstairs)

Created By Montgomery County NOW

Our speaker is a forceful advocate for women — the father of a then fifteen-year-old daughter who was gang-raped. Coping with this, he encountered people who didn't help his daughter or him as they should have. He decided to use his energy to insist that women who find themselves similarly-situated are treated with respect by every institution with which they come in contact: hospitals, the police, the school system, the court-system, the juvenile justice system, as well as by those who have assaulted them.

Join us to discuss a fundamental issue: what we expect of officials in the most personal of crises who fail us when we most need them and how we in the community can insist on better.

For more information, contact info@mcmdnow.org

SOS! Senator Raskin's Independent Expenditure bill needs your help NOW!

SOS! Senator Raskin's Independent Expenditure bill needs your help NOW!

Urgent action: Please share this alert with your membership now. The session ends in two weeks and the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee has not scheduled a vote on Raskin's Independent Expenditure Disclosure bill, SB 592. Time is running out, but we can make a huge difference if we act now! This is a priority issue for the Progressive Working Group.

-- Mike Hersh, Steering Committee, PWG

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

From Jessica Sharp, fairandcleanmd@gmail.com

[T]he Senate EHE Committee pulled Senator Raskin's Independent Expenditure bill from the voting roster.  This is a bill that would require corporations and special interest groups to disclose funds spent on electioneering communications.  It was thought to be certain to pass this year, but now it's fate is in limbo.  Without swift action, it may not make it out of committee, much less onto the floor.

 

Can you please follow the link below to send an email to EHE Chair Joan Carter-Conway's office? 

 

Keeping pressure on her can help our cause.  Please consider helping with this very quick, easy action.

 

Many thanks,

Jessica Sharp

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Equally important: Please contact your membership, and ask them to contact their State Senator to demand Chairwoman Carter-Conway schedule a vote on Senate Bill 592. In other words, act now, ask your members to call and email their state senator. Emails help. Calls help more. Specifically ask the staffer answering the phone to record their message that we want the senator to tell Sen. Carter-Conway their constituents want SB 592 passed this session. This is especially important for senators on the EHE committee (see membership below).

-- Mike Hersh, Steering Committee, PWG

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

From Susan Wichmann at Common Cause:

 

Last year, the Citizens United decision made it so corporations and special interest groups can spend unlimited amounts of money on advertisements to influence the outcome of elections.

Maryland is currently only one of only six states that doesn't require this spending to be disclosed. It is time for this deplorable lack of disclosure to change. Senate Bill 592/House Bill 93 will fix the problem and require this much needed disclosure.

Urgent action is needed now! The legislative session ends in two weeks and the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee has not voted to bring this legislation to the full Senate. 

Email Senator Joan Carter Conway, and urge her to hold a committee vote for SB 592/HB 93 before time runs out.

SB 592/HB 93 will require disclosure of the money that corporations and special interest spend to influence the outcome of Maryland elections. If they spend $10,000 or more per election cycle to advocate for or against candidates or ballot measures, they would have report it to the State Board of Elections.

Corporations and unions would also have let their shareholders or members know about their attempts to influence the outcome of elections by putting a link to the report on their website or by including the information reported in their annual report.

Tell Sen. Joan Carter Conway Maryland voters deserve to know which special interests are trying to buy their votes!

Please forward this to your friends and family in Maryland who care about the excessive influence that corporate and special interest money has in our elections.

Sincerely,

Susan Wichmann
and the rest of the team at Common Cause Maryland

-----------

Senate EHE Committee membership:
Joan Carter Conway, Chair (410) 841-3145, (301) 858-3145
Roy P. Dyson, Vice-Chair (410) 841-3673, (301) 858-3673

Joanne C. Benson
Bill Ferguson
J. B. Jennings
Karen S. Montgomery
Paul G. Pinsky
Edward R. Reilly
James C. Rosapepe
Bryan W. Simonaire
Ronald N. Young

TONIGHT! 7 to 9 PM, Torture: From Kentucky to Abu Ghraib to Quantico

On Fri., Mar. 25, 7 to 9 PM, Torture: From Kentucky to Abu Ghraib to Quantico will be led by Susan Rosenberg and Ray McGovern at The Festival Center (main conference hall), 1640 Columbia Road NW,  WDC  20009.  Free-will offerings are welcome.  Rosenberg is an author focusing on issues of social justice. In her new book, An American Radical: Political Prisoner in My Own Country, she draws on her experience in prison before President Clinton granted her clemency. (The book will be on sale at this event.) Call 202-328-0072,

Rosenberg was one of the first to experience the “High Security Unit” (HSU) in the basement of the federal prison in Lexington, Kentucky. The government used this unit as a laboratory to refine techniques like isolation, 24-hour surveillance, frequent strip searches, and sharply curtailed access to exercise and visitors.  These dehumanizing techniques — and other refinements — were later used in Afghanistan, Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, and now — for Army Pvt. Bradley Manning — at the Marine brig in Quantico.

Ray McGovern is a former Army infantry/intelligence officer and then a CIA analyst for a total of 30 years, Ray has been showing how our government lost its very soul when it blessed torture. Such abuse is one of the “accumulated evils” which the post-WWII Nuremberg Tribunal noted would inevitably flow from what the Tribunal called the “the supreme international crime, a war of aggression.”

Thurs. 3pm Annap.: March to Chamber of Commerce, Collect Unpaid Taxes

Thurs. 3-3:30 pm: Help Collect 'Past Due' Taxes at
Md. Chamber of Commerce, 60 West St., Annapolis
 
Union-community coalition seeks hundreds of millions in
unpaid taxes from Maryland corporations and millionaires

RSVP to join us 3/24 and email your lawmakers to demand
passage of Millionaire's Tax and Combined Reporting bills

 Join your labor brothers and sisters Thursday 3 pm at the Maryland Chamber of Commerce for this short but important protest action to dramatize our state's desperate need to reclaim hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid taxes from Maryland's large corporations and millionaires. We will deliver "Past Due" notices and demand the General Assembly pass bills to extend the Millionaire's Tax and enact Combined Reporting.

• Corporate Income Tax – Combined Reporting: This would generate $100 million or more per year by requiring large multi-state corporations, half of whom now pay no income tax to Maryland, to pay their fair share of their corporate tax based on profits earned in the state.  It will also end their unfair competitive advantage. For example, big chains like Pizza Hut and Domino's pay no Maryland income tax, but all local restaurants and small businesses do. [See our Corporate Tax Factsheet.]  
   
• Preserve the Millionaire's Tax:  This measure that expired the end of 2010 also generates close to $100 million in badly needed annual revenue and should be extended. With the latest federal tax cut extension, which gave on average $77,000 in tax cuts to the average millionaire, Maryland's millionaire's tax on average only cost Maryland millionaires $9,995 on income over $1 million dollars. Maryland millionaires pay the same tax rate as the rest of us on all income below $1 million dollars, and a mere $6.25 for each $100 income above that. Given the mammoth $1 billion state budget deficit, it's a tiny sacrifice from our most affluent to preserve our schools, services, safety net, and future. [See our Fiscal Fairness Factsheet and Five Reasons to Preserve the "Millionaire's Tax".]
  

Please RSVP to join us Thursday, and Email your legislators now!

Please print, localize and post this flyer.
  PARKING at Navy Stadium then take free shuttle (click map below)

Saturday, April 9 U-Liners Merle Haggard Tribute

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Merle Haggard Tribute

Quarry House Tavern in Silver Spring, MD

UPCOMING SHOWS U-Liners on Art & Activism June 12 in Takoma Park The U-Liners will present a special show in the Takoma Park Community Auditorium -- a retrospective on art & activism as a fundraiser for Voices for a Sustainable Future. The U-Liners Jerry Garcia Tribute -- IOTA Club & Cafe The U-Liners will pay tribute to Jerry Garcia by playing all the forms of music he loved and played over 30 years including the rock and country sounds of the Grateful Dead, the bluegrass of Old & In The Way, and the soul and R&B with Jerry Garcia Band. IOTA Club & Cafe U-Liners Return to New Deal Cafe! We're really happy to be returning to the New Deal Cafe in Greenbelt, MD on Saturday, May 14 -- great food, intimate comfy atmosphere -- we love this place! New Deal Cafe

Join us with special guests Dede Wyland & Don Walters for a great evening of Merle Haggard classics and U-Liner originals on Saturday, April 9 at the Quarry House Tavern in Silver Spring! Eli Gonzalez will join us on sax! Merle Haggard Tribute Merle Haggard is a working class troubadour if there ever was one with scores of songs like Working Man Blues and A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today. But he's also written scores of songs about love and life with over 38 #1 country music hits. And he's still at it!! Join for a fun evening of paying tribute to one of the true greats of country music! DATE: Saturday, April 9 TIME: 9:30pm - 12:30am LOCATION: Quarry House Tavern, 8401 GA Ave., Silver Spring, MD MORE: A short walk from the Silver Spring Metro Stop Quarry House Tavern

Joe Uehlein email: joeuehlein@mac.com

urge U.S. Senators to cut corporate subsidies and weapons, not programs people need

Meet us in the cafeteria Dirksen Senate Office Building at 11:00 AM on Wed. March 16 to urge U.S. Senators to cut corporate subsidies and weapons, not programs people need.  It is one of three Senate Office Buildings on the Senate side of the U.S. Capitol. Get off the Metro at Union Station and walk toward the Senate Office Buildings.

urge U.S. Senators to cut corporate subsidies and weapons, not programs people need

Meet us in the cafeteria Dirksen Senate Office Building at 11:00 AM on Wed. March 16 to urge U.S. Senators to cut corporate subsidies and weapons, not programs people need.  It is one of three Senate Office Buildings on the Senate side of the U.S. Capitol. Get off the Metro at Union Station and walk toward the Senate Office Buildings.

Interested in attending the UDC David A. Clarke School of Law?

Please spread the word to those who may be interested in attending the UDC David A. Clarke School of Law!

The School of Law will hold its Spring 2011 Law Day-Open House Program on Saturday, March 19th at the School of Law, 4200 Connecticut Ave., NW in Building 39, 2nd floor from 10:00am to 2:30pm.  The Program will allow Law Day participants to experience a law class taught by one of our professors; 2) listen to and speak with students who will talk about their experiences in law school -- from how they’ve manage law school stress and exams to providing tips about how to succeed in law school; and 3) talk with and receive information and advice from admission and financial aid professionals.

The application fee will be waived for those participants who attend this program and apply. Register on our website today.

If you have any questions or need additional information please contact the Office of Admissions at (202) 274-7341 or lawadmission@udc.edu. We look forward to seeing you on Saturday.

Sunday, March 20th SEMINAR on Energy Efficiency and Energy Audits

 

                You are Invited to

 

An Information packed SEMINAR on Energy Efficiency and Energy Audits

 

WeGreen USA, a citizens action group, is helping individuals and communities take action in reducing the carbon footprint,
greenhouse gases and environmental pollution. Ours is the collective strength of individuals working together for making
our communities more energy efficient and sustainable.

 

To help Maryland reduce per-capita electricity usage by 15% by 2015, WeGreen USA is organizing an information packed seminar on
Energy Efficiency and Energy Audits:

 

Sunday, March 20^th

2 - 4 pm

Marilyn J. Praisner Library  –  Meeting Room

14910 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, MD 20866

Directions: (please see below)

 

Free for Maryland residents, but space is limited so please register.

To REGISTER click this link: http://www.wegreen-usa.org/event-registration.html

 

 

SEMINAR TOPICS

Why energy efficiency?

How can an Energy Audit help you save money?

Is Your Home Operating at Peak Efficiency?

What is an Energy Audit?

What is Thermal Imaging?

What is a Blower Door Test?

How to get an Energy Audit done?

 

GUEST SPEAKER: Robert Hopkin

President, Pro-Tec Inspection Services, Inc.

Robert Hopkin: Rob is the President of ProTec and has been doing both residential and commercial inspections for over 26 years.
Rob has RESNET and CMC training as an Energy Professional. He is a Certified Building Inspector, member of ASHI, certified mold inspector and
an accredited Level 1 Thermographer. Rob is licensed and certified to perform all sorts of building inspections and evaluations throughout the
Washington metropolitian area. He speaks to groups on a regular basis to help other home inspectors, realtors, and contractors learn how to properly
market and run their business. Rob and his wife, Michelle, recently won a $10,000 national award for business improvement and marketing.

 

DIRECTIONS FROM:

North (The Columbia area)

Drive south on Columbia Pike (Rt. 29).
Turn right at Spencerville Rd. (Rt. 198)
Take the next left at Old Columbia Pike. (Sandy Spring Bank is on the corner).
Continue for 1/4 mile to the library on the right.

 

South (The Silver Spring area)

Drive north on Columbia Pike (Rt. 29) to Greencastle Rd. (first traffic light after Briggs Chaney Plaza).
Turn Left on Greencastle Rd., continue to Old Columbia Pike.
Turn right on Old Columbia Pike.
Continue around the curve. The library is on the left and has a bright teal roof.

 

East (The Laurel area)

From Sandy Spring Rd. (Rt. 198) cross Columbia Pike (Rt. 29).
Take the next left at Old Columbia Pike. (Sandy Spring Bank is on the corner).
Continue 1/4 mile to the library on the right.

 

West (The Spencerville area)

From Spencerville Rd. (Rt. 198) drive to Old Columbia Pike and
Turn right at the Sandy Spring Bank.
Continue about 1/4 mile to the library on the right.

 

To REGISTER click this link: http://www.wegreen-usa.org/event-registration.html

 

 

PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES, NEIGHBORS…

 

save public television and radio

Friends,

A dear neighbor friend of mine is a life-long public television employee. In the 14 years that I have known him, daily, five days a week, including on weekends, he has risen at 4am to start up our state's public TV station and its programs for the day.  

Last week, at the end of a conversation about what's going on in government, he said to me, "Republican no more!"

I don't know what party he WILL join ;)

...but in the meantime he asked me to sign and then forward along the attached petition to save public television and radio:

Please join this group to help save our jobs….Republicans are trying to eliminate funding for CPB: http://170millionamericans.com

Please sign the petition and forward to your lists.

This vote is planned for mid week next week in the Senate but this can change!

Thank you,
Diane

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

Diane Wittner
www.chesapeakecitizens.org

Keep the Promise: Annapolis Rally 6pm Monday for Our Future, Families, Fairness

Annapolis Rally Mon. Mar. 14, 6-8 pm: Keep the Promise, Protect Maryland's Future, Save the American Dream! Sign up now.  Click for details, free buses and parking map.   Come rally with progressive allies statewide to demand the General Assembly prevent devastating cuts to public education and the retirement security of educators, police, librarians, health care workers, and many more hard-working Marylanders. As we recover from the recession brought on by Wall Street, legislators must keep their promises to Main Street. They must protect the quality of our public school system and public services that all of us -- our economy, our future, our children -- depend on.   For three years in a row, Maryland's public schools have been named #1 in the country. Now, even though 82 percent of Maryland voters oppose it, legislators are considering cutting $100 million from education funding this year, boosting class sizes, and threatening widespread layoffs. At the same time, they plan drastic changes to the pension system that will hurt our state's ability to recruit and retain the best and brightest educators and force educators to pay unfairly the bill for Wall Street's criminal excesses that have hammered the pension fund. Although the fund is already recovering nicely, some are exploiting these short-term circumstances to seek drastic, permanent changes to the Maryland Pension System, which already offers one of the lowest pension benefits in the country.  Maryland can't attract and retain high quality educators, keep our schools #1, or provide our children the education and future they'll need, with shrunken resources and a sub-par pension. We are all Wisconsin.  We are all Americans. Fight for Maryland's Future! Sign up to join us Monday. Click for details, free buses, parking map. Proposed cuts in education funding per county Maryland public opinion survey: 82% of Marylanders oppose a $100 million cut in K-12 education, Greenburg Quinlan Rosner Research Advocates urge senators to prevent proposed cut in per-pupil spending, Maryland Reporter Prince George's parents, teachers criticize proposed cuts, Gazette

Keep the Promise: Annapolis Rally 6pm Monday for Our Future, Families, Fairness

Annapolis Rally Mon. Mar. 14, 6-8 pm: Keep the Promise, Protect Maryland's Future, Save the American Dream! Sign up now.  Click for details, free buses and parking map.   Come rally with progressive allies statewide to demand the General Assembly prevent devastating cuts to public education and the retirement security of educators, police, librarians, health care workers, and many more hard-working Marylanders. As we recover from the recession brought on by Wall Street, legislators must keep their promises to Main Street. They must protect the quality of our public school system and public services that all of us -- our economy, our future, our children -- depend on.   For three years in a row, Maryland's public schools have been named #1 in the country. Now, even though 82 percent of Maryland voters oppose it, legislators are considering cutting $100 million from education funding this year, boosting class sizes, and threatening widespread layoffs. At the same time, they plan drastic changes to the pension system that will hurt our state's ability to recruit and retain the best and brightest educators and force educators to pay unfairly the bill for Wall Street's criminal excesses that have hammered the pension fund. Although the fund is already recovering nicely, some are exploiting these short-term circumstances to seek drastic, permanent changes to the Maryland Pension System, which already offers one of the lowest pension benefits in the country.  Maryland can't attract and retain high quality educators, keep our schools #1, or provide our children the education and future they'll need, with shrunken resources and a sub-par pension. We are all Wisconsin.  We are all Americans. Fight for Maryland's Future! Sign up to join us Monday. Click for details, free buses, parking map. Proposed cuts in education funding per county Maryland public opinion survey: 82% of Marylanders oppose a $100 million cut in K-12 education, Greenburg Quinlan Rosner Research Advocates urge senators to prevent proposed cut in per-pupil spending, Maryland Reporter Prince George's parents, teachers criticize proposed cuts, Gazette