Democracy for Montgomery County: March 2010

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Call and email Thursday, April 1 STOP Backdoor Vouchers aka "Boast"

Call and email Thursday, April 1 Oppose House Bill #946 Backdoor
Vouchers aka "Boast"

Why it's important: My friends in education tell me H.B. 946 is a real
threat to public education. Incredibly, this bill is likely to pass into
law this session--despite the fiscal crisis. As a matter of practicality
and principle, we have to support our public schools as much as
possible. Money for vouchers does nothing to help public schools or
public school students. This fosters a sense of "no confidence."

Please forward this to all your contacts in Maryland. My apologies if
you've seen this before, but we've been writing for the past few weeks
about this bill which is coming up for a vote most likely Thursday April
1--no April Fools! We have to act TODAY so please call and email now
(email and phone info. below).

Contact as many of the delegates you can, but at least contact your own
delegate if he or she is on the Committee. (there are 5 articles, a
section on writing letters to the editor, some talking points, all
offered to help and suggests points to make in your communication. It
looks like a lot of information, but many of you have seen some or most
it before. Do as much as you can to help. If you can cc. your
communications to the press, that could have an impact as well. (See
contact info. for local papers below).

We've been calling and emailing State Delegates and the Governor, and we
need to increase the number of calls and emails.

Your job is to tell the delegates your views on these important issues.
The delegates' job is to listen to you, and if they respond well to your
advocacy, they should vote the way you ask them to on this HB 946.

It's not hard to get your point across effectively. Please use your own
words, and freely adapt the information below. Pick the 3 points of 4
ideas that most closely represent your own views, don't try to
communicate all the points in one email.Here's an example (use other
points listed below as you think best, the key is a thoughtful, strongly
held commitment to principle and pragmatism:

If you're a constituent, make sure the Delegate or Staffer knows that.
Emphasize your concerns about vouchers undermining public schools in
your district (mention the schools you know best by name, indicate if
you, a sibling, child or other relative attended that school or taught
at that school), specifically ask why this school is not deserving of
more funding--for music, sports, art, other popular or necessary
programs if the Boast Bill gives away public money to private schools
which they use for religious instruction.

Remind the delegate that Marylanders strongly oppose this proposed use
of public funds for non-public schools. Studies prove vouchers are not a
solution to any problems in schools. Again, use your own
words--especially when emailing. Repetitive emails get less attention.
Please do not just forward this email to them. Explain why you oppose
HB946 (Boast) for your own reasons, but feel free to use some of the
points below.

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

H.B. 946 is a real threat to public schools. It's already passed the
Maryland State Senate, and is moving toward passage in the House of
Delegates.

Please call and write Governor O'Malley and the key delegates (see below
for their contact information and specifics about this pending
legislation).

As a matter of principle, public money should not support teaching
religious doctrine. Thanks to the many who called and sent emails. It's
time to do that again. Why? We're hearing from people involved they're
facing pressure from the pro-religious school activists. The callers for
HB946 are matching or even surpassing our own! We have to make one more
concerted effort. Stand up for Maryland's "best in the nations schools,"
so we can build on the successes we've had. We must and oppose any Bill
that undermines our educational strength and success just as a matter of
rewarding success and helping public schools meet their needs.

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

Candidate for Maryland Delegate Dana Beyer (D-18) writes:
This is a follow-up on the BOAST bill, HB946, the tax credit voucher
plan for private and parochial schools with the $50M price tag which the
Governor seems to want this election year. My contacts in the House tell
me that pressure would be most effective going to the Governor.

Please contact the Governor: http://www.governor.maryland.gov/mail/ for
email access, or call 410.974.3901.
They're hearing a lot more from the supporters, with pressure building
every year.

Thanks,

Dana

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

ADDITIONAL Points and Ideas below the contact information.

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

Please contact your own delegates, and the Ways and Means Committee
members you know personally. Email them ASAP, and also please make a
personal phone call. Find the links to get their phone numbers, a list
of their email addresses, points to make--everything you need--provided
below.

If you see one of your delegates listed below, please mention you're a
constituent when you register your opinion.

Here are the email addresses:
sheila.hixson@house.state.md.us, annmarie.doory@house.state.md.us,
joseph.bartlett@house.state.md.us, kumar.barve@house.state.md.us,
joseph.boteler@house.state.md.us, jon.cardin@house.state.md.us,
page.elmore@house.state.md.us, bill.frick@house.state.md.us,
ron.george@house.state.md.us, jim.gilchrist@house.state.md.us,
carolyn.howard@house.state.md.us, jolene.ivey@house.state.md.us,
anne.kaiser@house.state.md.us, peter.murphy@house.state.md.us,
leroy.myers@house.state.md.us, john.olszewski@house.state.md.us,
craig.rice@house.state.md.us, justin.ross@house.state.md.us,
christopher.shank@house.state.md.us, melvin.stukes@house.state.md.us,
frank.turner@house.state.md.us, jay.walker@house.state.md.us

Please contact these key delegates (on the) and urge them to vote
against HB 946 (The "Boast" Bill):
Anne Kaiser (D-14) Burtonsville, MD anne.Kaiser@house.state.md.us
Jim Gilcrist (D-17) Mont. Cty jim.gilchrist@house.state.md.us
Jolene Ivey (D-47) PG Cty jolene.ivey@house.state.md.us
Craig Rice (D-15) Mont. Cty craig.rice@house.state.md.us
John Olszewski (D-6) Balt. Cty john.olszewski@house.state.md.us
LeRoy Myers (D-1) Hagerstown leroy.myers@house.state.md.us

Thank you,

Mike Hersh

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

From the League of Women Voters of Maryland:
Call Your Delegates Now on the BOAST Bill: A Private School Voucher Bill
in Disguise

This BOAST bill is a private school voucher bill in disguise to be voted
on in the House Committee this week. Tell your House Delegates to VOTE
NO on HB 946.

Oppose HB 946 - Building Opportunities for All Students and Teachers
(BOAST) in Maryland Tax Credit. This bill would entitle certain students
to tuition scholarships (vouchers) to attend nonpublic schools in
Maryland and would provide tax credits to organizations that provide the
scholarships. In a stressed economy, it is irresponsible for Maryland to
create a tax credit that diminishes our state resources for our public
schools and other vital services. If the program is funded at a level
similar to programs in other states, expenditures could increase by $50
million each year.

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

From Edd Doerr, President, Americans for Religious Liberty:
As an honors graduate of a Catholic high school I am strongly opposed to
the bill in the Maryland legislature (H.B.946) that would divert millions of
dollars annually in public support to faith-based private schools.

This bill is unconscionable in view of the financial plight of our
state's public schools and colleges. Maryland voters defeated similar
measures at the polls twice in the 1970s, and given oft-repeated similar
referendum defeats for measures like this across the country, there is no
reason to believe our state's voters have changed their minds.

This proposed legislation would subsidize the division of our youth
along creedal lines by aiding private schools that commonly practice forms
of discrimination and indoctrination that would be intolerable in public
schools.

Edd Doerr, President
Americans for Religious Liberty
P.O. Box 6656
Silver Spring, MD 20916
301-260-2988
arlinc@verizon.net

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

From Jon A. Gerson, UniServ Director and Director of Community
Outreach, Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA):

• This tax credit scheme is a backdoor approach to providing vouchers to
parents of kids in nonpublic schools by subsidizing tuition at private
and religious schools with public tax dollars through the tax credit.

• MSTA opposes any and all programs that move public tax dollars to
non-public schools, which this legislation accomplishes through tax credits.

• The research in Arizona, Illinois, and Pennsylvania shows that the
greatest beneficiaries of tax credit programs are wealthier tax payers
and schools in middle and upper income neighborhoods.

• As with vouchers, tuition tax credits provide funds to nonpublic
schools without regard to the schools' entrance policies. Some private
schools do and would continue to deny entrance to certain students.

• Tuition tax credit programs inappropriately transfer to corporations
the authority to decide where public tax dollars will be allocated. It
is the job of the elected General Assembly to target valuable State
resources to proven, researched programs to improve student achievement.

• Patterns on the usage of tuition tax credits in other states show that
the beneficiaries of these credits are most often existing private
school students. A study by the non-partisan RAND Corp. concluded that
tuition tax subsidies rarely benefit poor children.

• These programs are not a strategy for improving public schools, do
little for public school students, and divert revenue that otherwise
could be available to invest in public schools.

• Nonpublic schools that would benefit from a tuition tax credit program
are not accountable to the public in the way that public schools are by
having to disclose data on student achievement, attendance, graduation
and dropout rates, and other relevant basic information. Additionally,
it is legitimate to assume that corporations could abuse the tax credits
to benefit themselves or their "favorite" private schools.

• The proposal recently put forth in Maryland has inappropriately
established MSDE as the administrator of tax credits, a function not
currently within its purview. It is a major policy shift for the state
to allow MSDE to make tax eligibility determinations. Personal and
corporate tax liability should remain within the purview of
Comptroller's office.

• Despite cuts to Federal, State and Local public school funding,
schools must still meet the rigid unfunded mandates of the Federal No
Child Left Behind Act and, beginning with this year's graduating
seniors, students must pass Maryland's High School Assessments to graduate.

• While Maryland continues to face a budget deficit, it cannot
responsibly afford to lose revenue through a tuition tax credit that
subsidize private school tuition.

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

From Mike Tabor (Progressive Working Group:
Subject: The position of the Archbishop on the BOAST bill

It seems to be this: Just give us the money and be quiet. I was at the
hearing and heard stronger language from him than mentioned in the Sun
article with regard to any change in the bill that would prohibit
beneficiaries from discriminating on the basis of sexual preference.
Committee members Jolene Ivey (a cosponsor of the bill) of Prince
George's and Craig Rice (not a cosponsor) of Montgomery asked him about
this. Another committee cosponsor (Justin Ross of Prince George's) asked
another proponent essentially the same question and got brushed aside.
Maybe Ivey and Ross can be persuaded to oppose the bill in committee
because of this:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/legislature/bal-tax-credit-scholarships0317,0,6144607.story

By the way, despite what he says, the Archbishop's schools (which are
the biggest beneficiaries of the BOAST bill) obviously turn out people
who don't like same sex marriage: http://www.mdcathcon.org

Silver Spring: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS ART FESTIVAL

Date: Sunday, April 25, 2010
Time: 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Location: Jackie's Restaurant, 8081 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS ART FESTIVAL
SILVER SPRING, MD APRIL 23-25
http://www.humanrightsartfestival.com/about.html
FIRST PUBLIC READING OF NEW PLAY BY ANITA YELLIN SIMONS

Every 6 Minutes tells the fictional story of Annie Cummings, a college
student in Ohio, who innocently unravels the story of two young female
soldiers who were raped and allegedly committed suicide in Iraq in 2007.
Annie also learns to come to terms with the fact that she herself was
date raped and through a series of bizarre circumstances realizes that
she is the best person to tell their story. In the process, we learn
what happens to many women both in and out of the military in regard to
sexual assault.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

House committee rejects teacher pension shift, other Senate budget actions

Saturday, March 27, 2010

House committee rejects teacher pension shift, other Senate budget actions

By Andy Rosen
Andy@MarylandReporter.com

The House budget committee roundly rejected a Senate proposal to hand off half of the state’s responsibility for teacher pensions within five years, one of a series of decisions that will lead to difficult negotiations between the two chambers.

The House Appropriations committee unanimously rejected the change, and also scaled back a plan to divert state and local highway money toward general expenses. Those changes were two major components of the close to $32 billion spending plan the Senate passed this week.

The House and Senate also are at odds over how much to dedicate to stem cell research and whether to take money from the reserves of the state’s worker’s compensation fund. The House committee also eliminated the legislative scholarships that are popular perks with the senators, as MarylandReporter.com reported.

The Senate action on teacher pensions and highway funds would have had little impact on this year’s budget, but they would have ultimately lopped off half of a $2 billion ongoing deficit. However, both proposals would have been hard on county governments that, like the state, are struggling with revenue drops. The House committee’s budget plan takes less from local governments.

The committee rejected the pension shift without discussion, but Del. John Bohanan, D-St. Mary's, later said members had discussed the change after the Senate action.

“I think there’s a strong sentiment that it’s hard to do that with a short amount of time here and not a lot of notice to the counties,” he said. “If we’re going to do something like that, we have to do it comprehensively.”

In what has become an annual battle, the House and Senate are again differing over how much to put into the state’s stem cell research program. The Senate had voted to cut Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposal from $12.4 million to $6.2 million for fiscal 2011, but the House voted to maintain the cash.

The two chambers also disagree on whether to take $20 million from the Injured Workers Insurance Fund. The Senate rejected the fund transfer last week, but the House committee voted to take the money for the general fund.

Analysts said the transfer would leave $267 million in IWIF’s reserve, but opponents wondered whether the transfer was the best use of the money.

“It’s really not our money. It belongs to businesses in the state of Maryland,” said Del. John Wood, D-Charles and St. Mary’s. “They’re the ones who paid it in, and they’re the ones who need help.”

The House also wants to reverse a Senate demand that the Maryland Transit Administration go back and study different options for the Red and Purple Line projects now being considered for Baltimore and the Washington suburbs.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Act now to stop "backdoor" school voucher bill

Act now to stop "backdoor" school voucher bill--please share with all
Maryland contacts. Thank you!

From Dana Beyer, (Progressive Working Group/Candidate for House of
Delegates)
To those concerned with the implication of HB 946 a "backdoor" school
voucher bill designed to give tax credits (rather than direct funding)
to parochial and day schools.

This bill has to be voted up or down this week. It's in the Education
Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee.

So, there's still time for you to email your opposition to the bill.
Here's the names and emails of the sub-committee members:

Anne Kaiser (D-14) Burtonsville, MD anne.Kaiser@house.state.md.us
Jim Gilcrist (D-17) Mont. Cty jim.gilchrist@house.state.md.us
Jolene Ivey (D-47) PG Cty jolene.ivey@house.state.md.us
Craig Rice (D-15) Mont. Cty craig.rice@house.state.md.us
John Olszewski (D-6) Balt. Cty john.olszewski@house.state.md.us
LeRoy Myers (D-1) Hagerstown leroy.myers@house.state.md.us

From Mike Tabor (Progressive Working Group:
Subject: The position of the Archbishop on the BOAST bill

It seems to be this: Just give us the money and be quiet. I was at the
hearing and heard stronger language from him than mentioned in the Sun
article with regard to any change in the bill that would prohibit
beneficiaries from discriminating on the basis of sexual preference.
Committee members Jolene Ivey (a cosponsor of the bill) of Prince
George's and Craig Rice (not a cosponsor) of Montgomery asked him about
this. Another committee cosponsor (Justin Ross of Prince George's)
asked another proponent essentially the same question and got brushed
aside. Maybe Ivey and Ross can be persuaded to oppose the bill in
committee because of this:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/legislature/bal-tax-credit-scholarships0317,0,6144607.story

By the way, despite what he says, the Archbishop's schools (which are
the biggest beneficiaries of the BOAST bill) obviously turn out people
who don't like same sex marriage:

http://www.mdcathcon.org

I like the alert message on this bill from the League of Women Voters of
Maryland:

Call Your Delegates Now on the BOAST Bill: A Private School Voucher Bill
in Disguise

This BOAST bill is a private school voucher bill in disguise to be voted
on in the House Committee this week. Tell your House Delegates to VOTE
NO on HB 946.

Oppose HB 946 - Building Opportunities for All Students and Teachers
(BOAST) in Maryland Tax Credit. This bill would entitle certain
students to tuition scholarships (vouchers) to attend nonpublic schools
in Maryland and would provide tax credits to organizations that provide
the scholarships. In a stressed economy, it is irresponsible for
Maryland to create a tax credit that diminishes our state resources for
our public schools and other vital services. If the program is funded
at a level similar to programs in other states, expenditures could
increase by $50 million each year.

FYI - The BOAST legislation has been introduced several times in the
recent past. I t has passed the Senate several times, including this
morning. The House bill has been heard in the Ways and Means Committee
today . In the past, Chairman Sheila Hixson has held the bill back from
a vote, but this year with half of her committee as bill sponsors, we
believe she will bring it to a committee vote. The outlook is
frightening so it is IMPERATIVE that you immediately contact your
county's delegates on the ways and Means Committee as listed below.

House Ways and Means Committee:
Delegates Proctor, Walker, Vallario, Anderson, Aumann, Bartlett, Bates,
Beidle, Beitzel, Benson, Bohanan, Boteler, Burns, Conaway, Conway,
Davis, DeBoy, Donoghue, Doory, Dumais, Eckardt, Elliott, Elmore, Frank,
Frush, Gaines, George, Glenn, Haddaway, Hammen, Haynes, Heller, Holmes,
Hubbard, Ivey, James, Jameson, Jennings, Kach, Kelly, King, Kipke,
Krebs, Krysiak, Kullen, Levi, Levy, Malone, Mathias, McConkey, McHale,
Miller, Minnick, Myers, O'Donnell, Oaks, Ramirez, Robinson, Rosenberg,
Ross, Schuh, Shank, Shewell, Sophocleus, Sossi, Stocksdale, Stukes,
Stull, Tarrant, Taylor, V. Turner, Valderrama, Vaughn, Weir, and Wood

Monday, March 22, 2010

Make 3 Calls for Secure, Accessible, Verifiable Elections in Maryland

From Shelley Fudge of SAVEourVotes.org (share with ALL contacts in
Maryland!):

We have just learned from friendly General Assembly members that an
effort is underway to call for an independent cost study that would
compare the costs of buying a new paper-based voting system with keeping
the current paperless Diebold touchscreens on life support for next
fall's elections. BUT we need to mobilize as many people as possible
very quickly to make calls to a few key House Delegates on the House
Appropriations Committee to press for action. The committee is to vote
very soon on the budget and so this needs to be done quickly--and phone
calls are best at this late point in the process.

Thanks very much!
Shelley

Brief background: the touchscreen machines are more expensive than paper
ballot voting, read by optical scanning machines. Optical scanning
readers are used for everything from many state lottery systems to the
SATs. They're basic, reliable and provide a clear and permanent ballot
which can be audited, recounted, etc. Touchscreen aka DRE machines are
subject to human error, tampering, power outages and other circumstances
which can lead to long lines, lost votes, and frustration. They're
expensive, complex, and cannot be recounted or accurately audited in
case of error or suspected hacking. The Maryland General Assembly, aware
of these concerns, voted unanimously to switch over to paper ballot
voting, read by optical scanning machines in time for the elections and
primaries this year. But something has gone terrible wrong. Read on for
the details of what happened and how we can get back on track for
Secure, Accessible, Verifiable Elections in Maryland.

See the notice below for the phone numbers and talking points you can
use when making your calls. Note, the numbers are the same, the
exchanges are different for each delegate. -- Mike Hersh

From Rebecca Wilson also of SAVEourVotes.org:

URGENT: Calls needed ASAP for verifiable elections in MD

It is critical for as many people as possible make calls today or
tomorrow to ask the MD House Appropriations Committee to call for an
independent cost study of our voting system equipment in this year's
Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFA) – to determine the true
costs of purchasing a new reliable, verifiable voting equipment for
future elections.

As you probably know, Maryland was supposed to get a new voting system
before this fall's elections that would provide a voter-verifiable paper
ballot that could be used for recounts or audits to ensure that votes
are counted accurately and that election results are correct.

But even though current MD law requires that a new voting system be in
place in time for the 2010 elections -- and despite the fact that the MD
State Board of Elections (SBE) has had 3 years to make this happen --
the SBE has used about every excuse in the book to derail this change.

Every year they try a different ploy, and this year's excuse is the
budget. While we all know that both the state's and counties' budgets
are strained to the breaking point this year, we also know that the new
optical scan voting system will be far cheaper to operate than our
current, labor-intensive touch-screen voting system.

The SBE presented cost estimates to Governor O'Malley that inflated the
cost of an op-scan system while vastly understating the costs of
operating the existing voting equipment. In this tight budget year, the
governor could not find the money to meet the SBE's projected costs for
the new system. (For more details, see the Gazette article at
http://www.gazette.net/stories/03122010/policol175947_32553.php.)

Now that it's too late to buy the new voting system for next fall, the
SBE is requesting the true amount they need to conduct the 2010
elections with the existing equipment -- and it's about double what they
told the governor it would cost! In fact, it's about the same amount it
would cost for a truly conscientious elections administrator to buy and
implement a new reliable and recountable optical scan voting system.

Are you fed up with the SBE's fuzzy math? Isn't it time to get some true
estimates of the real costs of moving forward with a new voting system?

Please call these MD House Delegates immediately:
• Del. Clagett (Chair, Public Safety & Administration subcommittee,
which oversees the SBE's budget) 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3436
• Del. DeBoy (Vice-chair, Public Safety & Administration subcommittee)
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3328
• Del. Conway (Chair, House Appropriations Committee) 1-800-492-7122,
ext. 3407

Ask them to require the state government (through the MD Department of
Legislative Services) to conduct an independent review of voting system
costs his year. The study should compare the costs of continuing to
operate the current untrustworthy paperless Diebold voting machines to
the cost of buying and implementing a new reliable, verifiable
paper-based one.

The reason for the independent review is that the SBE's cost projections
have greatly exaggerated the costs of purchasing a new voting system,
and kept the true cost for keeping the aging Diebold touchscreens on
life support hidden. (They claimed that the operating costs would be
about $4 million for the current system, but instead they are asking for
$8.4 million for FY2010 & FY2011 -- in addition to the $2 million they
have already grabbed that was allocated last year to buy the new voting
system. In December, they claimed that it would cost $360 each to buy
new voting booths, when in fact we could buy new voting privacy screens
for as little as $7 each.)

Please call immediately as soon as you read this -- budget decisions are
being made right now! Please spread the word to everyone you know --
every phone call is important! We need to take this action to ensure
that the SBE doesn't pull the wool over the eyes of our elections
officials next time around, so we can get a new verifiable voting system
in place for the 2012 elections. For more information about the true
costs of operating MD's voting system, including a cost analysis by
SAVEourVotes, go to http://www.saveourvotes.org

Thank you for everything you do to protect Maryland's elections!

Rebecca Wilson
SAVEourVotes.org

SAVE our Votes is a nonpartisan grassroots organization working for
Secure, Accessible, Verifiable Elections in Maryland.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

ACT NOW for secure elections in Maryland!

From Rebecca Wilson of SAVEourVotes.org (share with ALL contacts in
Maryland!):

Hello friends of verifiable elections,

But even though the law says the new system is supposed to be in place
in time for the 2010 elections -- and despite the fact that the State
Board of Elections has had 3 years to make this happen -- SBE has used
about every excuse in the book to derail this change.

Every year they try a different ploy, and this year's excuse is the
budget. Now we all know that both the state's and counties' budgets are
strained to the breaking point this year. But we also know that the new
optical scan voting system will be far cheaper to operate than our
current, labor-intensive touch-screen voting system.

The SBE presented cost estimates to the governor that inflated the cost
of an op-scan system while vastly understating the costs of operating
the existing voting equipment. In this tight budget year, the governor
could not find the money to meet the SBE's projected costs for the new
system. (For more details, see this Gazette article:
http://www.gazette.net/stories/03122010/policol175947_32553.php

Now that it's too late to buy the new voting system, the SBE is
requesting the true amount they need to conduct the 2010 elections with
the existing equipment -- and it's about double what they claimed it
would cost! In fact, it's about the same amount it would cost for a
truly conscientious elections administrator to buy and implement an
optical scan voting system.

Are you fed up with the SBE's fuzzy math? Isn't it time to get some true
estimates of the real costs of moving forward with a new voting system?

Please call these delegates immediately:

* Del. Clagett (Chair, Public Safety & Administration subcommittee,
which oversees the SBE's budget) 1-800-492-7122 Ext. 3436
* DeBoy (Vice-chair, Public Safety & Administration subcommittee)
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3328
* Del. Conway (Chair, House Appropriations Committee)
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3407

Ask them to have the Department of Legislative Services (DLS) conduct an
independent review of voting system costs -- both the costs of
continuing to operate the current voting system and of buying and
implementing a new one. The reason for the independent review is that
the SBE's cost projections have been unreliable -- they said the
operating costs would be about $4 million for the current system but
instead they are asking for $8.4 million for FY10 & FY11 -- in addition
to the $2 million they have already grabbed that was allocated last year
to buy the new voting system.

Please call immediately as soon as you read this -- budget decisions are
being made right now! You'll be speaking with an aide who will take the
message, so please be polite and clear about what you are asking for.
Please email me and let me know what kinds of responses you get. And
please spread the word to everyone you know -- every phone call is
important!

Thank you for everything you do to protect Maryland's elections!

Rebecca Wilson
SAVEourVotes.org

SAVE our Votes is a nonpartisan grassroots organization working for
Secure, Accessible, Verifiable Elections in Maryland.

Friday, March 19, 2010

ACT NOW! Help Candidate Dana Beyer (D-18) Defend Public Schools

H.B. 946 is a real threat to public schools. It's already passed the
Maryland State Senate, and is moving toward passage in the House of
Delegates.

Please call and write Governor O'Malley and the key delegates (see below
for their contact information and specifics about this pending legislation).

Candidate for Maryland Delegate Dana Beyer (D-18) writes:

This is a follow-up on the BOAST bill, HB946, the tax credit voucher
plan for private and parochial schools with the $50M price tag which the
Governor seems to want this election year.

My contacts in the House tell me that pressure would be most effective
going to the Governor, so please contact him:
http://www.governor.maryland.gov/mail/ for email access, or call
410.974.3901.

They're hearing a lot more from the supporters, with pressure building
every year.

Thanks,

Dana

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

URGENT! Act now to protect public schools! (please share with all your
local contacts!)

I don't usually send out alerts with URGENT! in the subject line, so you
know this is important.

My friends in education tell me H.B. 946 is a real threat to public
education. Incredibly, this bill is likely to pass.
Please act now! (My apologies if you've seen this before.)

This is a matter of practicality and principle. We have to keep our
public schools as strong as possible, and if there's money for vouchers,
those funds should go to helping public schools. Certainly not to
undermine them with this showing of "no confidence." As a matter of
principle, public money should not support private, especially not
religious schools.

Contact as many of the delegates you can, but at least contact your own
delegate if he or she is on the Committee. Please use your own words,
but feel free to adapt the information below. If you're a constituent,
make sure they know that. Emphasize your concerns about vouchers
undermining public schools and using scarce tax money to promote
religious instruction. Remind the delegate that Marylanders strongly
oppose this proposed use of public funds for non-public schools. Studies
prove vouchers are not a solution to any problems in schools. Again, use
your own words--especially when emailing. Repetitive emails get less
attention. Please do not just forward this email to them.

Please also write letters to the editor. Keep them short and to the
point to increase your chance of publication.

**Gazette:* *By E-mail: letters@gazette.net or through the web, click
here: http://www.gazette.net/gazetteinfo/opinion.shtml
Washington Post: Webform only, must be exclusive to the Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/edit/letters/letterform.htm
Baltimore Sun: Webform only, check guidelines:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bal-letters-box,0,7198750.htmlstory
Frederick News Post: Webform only, check guidelines:
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/customer_service/letters_to_the_editor.htm
Carroll County Times: By E-mail: cctnews@carrollcountytimes.com
The Capitol (Annapolis): By E-mail: capletts@capitalgazette.com

Thank you,

Mike Hersh

-------- Compiled from various concerned people --------

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

H.B. 946 is a "backdoor" voucher bill that if passed by the state
legislature would give taxpayer money to private and parochial schools.
It is "backdoor" because it involves tax credits rather than direct
funding. The result is the same: money drained from state funds at a
time when public education funding is being cut. Please contact your
delegates and ask them to defeat this bill.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State offers further
information below:

Thanks, Bill Murry
(Minister Emeritus, River Road UUC)

HB 946, a tuition tax-credit bill, would create an indirect voucher
program accomplished through a tax credit. Essentially tax credits would
constitute public funding: When the government grants a tax benefit, it
forgoes income. Though proponents maintain that tax-credit schemes do
not involve public money, there is no meaningful difference between tax
credits and direct government reimbursement of tuition for private and
religious schools--tuition tax-credits are backdoor vouchers. In this
case, for every dollar taxpayers donate, the government loses
seventy-five cents of revenue by giving it back in the form of a tax
credit. The Senate Fiscal and Policy Note estimates that under this
bill, general fund expenditures could increase by $50 million annually
and the tax credit will cost the state even more money to administer. In
these difficult economic times, this is fiscally irresponsible.

Funding of Religious Instruction: A central aim of religious education
is to instill religious values, beliefs, and practices in students.
Thus, religious schools integrate religious teaching throughout all of
their curricula. As a faith leader, I believe that tax money could be
used to fund education in a religious tradition that conflicts with my
spiritual conscience and with which I deeply disagree. Government tax
benefits should not be used to fund education in another religious
tradition when our own educational institutions already have the
voluntary support of our congregations. And this bill is structured in
such a way that will actually incent people to attend religious schools.
Religious Discrimination in School Admission: Religious schools retain
the right to admit students based on their own criteria. In fact, many
religious schools discriminate in admissions based on religion, sex,
disability, ethnicity, and economic background--or even based on the
status of their parents' relationship.

Tax money should not fund schools that children in my community might
not even be able to attend. Religious Discrimination in Hiring: The
government tax benefits created on this bill will go to religious
schools, which can discriminate in hiring staff based on religious
criteria. Thus, members of my congregation may not be eligible to teach
at the schools that accept vouchers because they are of the "wrong"
religion. Threat to Public Education: People of faith have a long
history of supporting educational opportunities for our youth. We stand
by our public school system and continue to work for its improvement.
School vouchers do nothing to improve educational opportunity. Religious
people are committed to Maryland's public school system. We know that
sending tax money to private schools is not the answer to Maryland's
educational problems.

---------

In addition to the info presented [above], here's a strong argument to
use: Millions of voters in over 25 statewide referenda, including two
here in Maryland, have rejected tax credits, vouchers and all other
schemes for tax aid to faith-based private schools by an average margin
of two to one. The figures on the referenda are shown on the ARL web
page--http://www.arlinc.org

Edd Doerr
President, Americans for Religious Liberty
Member, UU Church of Rockville

---------

The Committee is House Ways and Means. Here's the list of Committee
members (hyperlinked to their General Assembly webpage that has their
phone numbers):

Sheila E. Hixson
http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa12241.html , Chair
Ann Marie Doory
http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa12214.html , Vice-Chair

Here are the email addresses:

sheila.hixson@house.state.md.us, annmarie.doory@house.state.md.us,
joseph.bartlett@house.state.md.us, kumar.barve@house.state.md.us,
joseph.boteler@house.state.md.us, jon.cardin@house.state.md.us,
page.elmore@house.state.md.us, bill.frick@house.state.md.us,
ron.george@house.state.md.us, jim.gilchrist@house.state.md.us,
carolyn.howard@house.state.md.us, jolene.ivey@house.state.md.us,
anne.kaiser@house.state.md.us, peter.murphy@house.state.md.us,
leroy.myers@house.state.md.us, john.olszewski@house.state.md.us,
craig.rice@house.state.md.us, justin.ross@house.state.md.us,
christopher.shank@house.state.md.us, melvin.stukes@house.state.md.us,
frank.turner@house.state.md.us, jay.walker@house.state.md.us

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Phonebanks for Healthcare

Jason Waskey writes: We need as much help as possible to help bring
Health Insurance Reform over the finish line.
Volunteers will be making calls into the districts of undecided
Representatives to drum up support for a "yes" vote.

Wed 3/17
Silver Spring: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gp8247
Gaithersburg:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/healthcarephonebank/gp8ctd
Bethesda: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/phonebank/gp8fzl

Thur 3/18
Columbia: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gp89gg
Silver Spring: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gp8247
Severna Park: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gp88w4
Largo: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gp88wv
Gaithersburg:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/healthcarephonebank/gp8ct2
Bethesda: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/phonebank/gp8fzt

--
Jason Waskey
Maryland State Director
Organizing for America

Re: Friday Yes Men Movie fundraiser Baltimore 7 pm

Jason Waskey writes: We need as much help as possible to help bring
Health Insurance Reform over the finish line.

Volunteers will be making calls into the districts of undecided
Representatives to drum up support for a "yes" vote.

--
Jason Waskey
Maryland State Director
Organizing for America

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

TODAY! Weds March 17 Healthcare Vigil on Capitol Hill

Join our Vigil for REAL Healthcare reform on Capitol Hill Noon TODAY Wednesday March 17th. Please share with all your local contacts.

Help us tell Congress not to give in to insurance company demands OR Blue Dog demands to water down reform.

Donna Smith (Healthcare NOT Warfare Co-Chair, featured in Michael Moore's movie SiCKO), Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) and other peace and justice groups in Maryland, Washington D.C. and Virginia will hold a Brown Bag Lunch Vigil on Capitol Hill.

The message? "Healthcare not Warfare - Medicare for All!" RSVP Here.

When: TODAY! Wednesday, March 17th from Noon to about 1 PM

Where: Independence Ave. in front of the Rayburn House Office Building

We suggest taking the Metro to the FEDERAL CENTER METRO STATION
See: Walking Directions. Area Map. More Info. Contact: 773-617-4493
Get your BBLV supplies here—check out our new union-made signs!

We hope you can participate in March 17th’s BBLV and others in the months to come.

In hopes of peace,

Tim Carpenter, PDA National Director
Donna Smith, Healthcare NOT Warfare Co-Chair
Andrea Miller, PDA Virginia Co-Coordinator
Mike Hersh, PDA Maryland Coordinator
Conor Boylan, PDA National Field Coordinator.

Progressive Democrats of America is a grassroots PAC that works both inside the Democratic Party and outside in movements for peace and justice. PDA's advisory board includes seven members of Congress and activist leaders such as Tom Hayden, Medea Benjamin, Thom Hartmann, Jim Hightower, and Lila Garrett.

More info | Find Chapters | Find Local Events | Spread the Progressive Word—Shop PDAstore

Join a PDA Issue Organizing Team

URGENT! Act now to protect public schools!

I don't usually send out alerts with URGENT! in the subject line, so you
know this is important.

My friends in education tell me H.B. 946 is a real threat to public
education. Incredibly, this bill is likely to pass. Please act now!
(Please forward this to all your contacts in Maryland. My apologies if
you've seen this before.)

Please also write letters to the editor. Keep them short and to the
point to increase your chance of publication.

Thank you,

Mike Hersh

-------- Compiled from various concerned people --------

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Americans United for Separation of Church and State offers further
information below:

Thanks, Bill Murry
(Minister Emeritus, River Road UUC)

---------

Edd Doerr
President, Americans for Religious Liberty
Member, UU Church of Rockville

---------

The Committee is House Ways and Means. Here's the list of Committee
members (hyperlinked to their General Assembly webpage that has their
phone numbers):

Sheila E. Hixson
http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa12241.html , Chair
Ann Marie Doory
http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa12214.html , Vice-Chair

Here are the email addresses:

Friday Yes Men Movie fundraiser Baltimore 7 pm

Dear Friends,

Please join us this Friday night for the new Yes Men Movie (check out
the trailer here: http://theyesmenfixtheworld.com/ ). Mike Bonanno of
the Yes Men and star in the movie, will be on hand for the show and we
will follow with an update on where the single payer movement will go
next. Show begins at 7 pm at the historic Senator Theater, 5940 York Rd
in Baltimore. Tickets are $8. Please tell your friends and family.

And here is an article from The Denver Post about Canadian Health Care:
http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_12523427

Best,
Margaret

Monday, March 15, 2010

Meet Rep. John Conyers Jr. Live this week in DC

Join Rep. John Conyers and WPFW radio hosts 7 PM Tuesday, March 16 at Ben's Next Door.
1213 U St. NW, Washington, DC 20009 Short walk from U Street Metro (Green Line).
See: http://www.bensnextdoor.com/

-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	John Conyers Jr. Live this week
From:	Garland <garlandn@gmail.com>

Come out to Ben's Next Door (next to Ben's Chili Bowl) this Tuesday (March 16th) at 7PM. John Conyers Jr. will be in the house guest hosting live with me and Terry Kester. Spread the word!

Thanks, Garland

Weds March 17 Healthcare Vigil on Capitol Hill

Join our Vigil for REAL Healthcare reform on Capitol Hill Wednesday March 17th. Please share with all your local contacts.

We need a good showing to tell Congress not to give in to insurance company demands OR Blue Dog demands to water down reform.

The message? "Healthcare not Warfare - Medicare for All!" RSVP Here.

When: Wednesday, March 17th from Noon to about 1 PM
Where: Independence Ave. in front of the Rayburn House Office Building

We suggest taking the Metro to the FEDERAL CENTER METRO STATION
See: Walking Directions. Area Map. More Info. Contact: 773-617-4493
Get your BBLV supplies here—check out our new union-made signs!

We hope you can participate in March 17th’s BBLV and others in the months to come.

In hopes of peace,

Join a PDA Issue Organizing Team

Sunday, March 14, 2010

TOMORROW! Demand Public Option in DC

DFA calls for Public Option tomorrow, Monday March 15, 11 AM to 1 PM
Outside Cannon House Office Building at 1st Street & C Streets (near
Capitol South Metro stop)

Hi all,

The public option has been declared dead several times, but it just
keeps coming back! Almost 50 Senators are for it (based on PCCC's
conversations) and a majority of the House of Reps. So let's demand that
Speaker Pelosi include it in the reconciliation bill.

Tomorrow, we will serve as DFA ambassadors to deliver a letter to
targeted House members from Reps. Polis and Pingree, urging the
inclusion of the public option in the House reconciliation bill.

Where: Outside Cannon House Office Building at 1st Street & C Streets,
SE, at the benches (just across the street from Capitol South metro)
When: Monday, March 15 11AM - 1PM.

Please let me know if you will join us!

Kesh: keshinil@yahoo.com

Vigil for Healthcare NOT Warfare on Capitol Hill Wednesday March 17th.

Join our Vigil for Healthcare NOT Warfare on Capitol Hill Wednesday March 17th. Please share with all your local contacts.

The message? "Healthcare not Warfare - Medicare for All!" RSVP Here.

We hope you can participate in March 17th’s BBLV and others in the months to come.

In hopes of peace,

Join a PDA Issue Organizing Team

Friday, March 12, 2010

TONIGHT! UDC HEALTHCARE Justice Cafe 6-10 pm

UDC Justice Café 6 to 10 p.m. Friday March 12, 2010
supporting peace, environmental and social justice activists and organizations

Firebird Inn Building 39, B-Level - 4200 Conn. Ave NW
Just above the Van Ness/UDC Metro Station (red line)

Suggested donation $15 / $10 students / $5 kids. No one turned away for lack of donation.
Music by local performers! Food by Kit's Catering! Beer, Wine, Tabling, Progressive Networking!
Kit now owns Gail's Vegetarian Catering and provides a variety of foods, specializing in vegan meals. Contact her for catering needs: 301-949-7602

Performers, Showcase your talents! Organizations: Reserve your free table!
Contact: mikehersh2007@gmail.com

Hosted by the University of the District of Columbia David Clarke School of Law
Next Cafe: April 2nd with Special Discussion of "Rights at Risk"

Talk on Healthcare with: Dr. Margaret Flowers, MD (Maryland Physicians for a National Health Program, Baucus 8) http://www.md.pnhp.org/

Live performers:
*Margaret Flowers will perform songs with Gary Flowers and Diane Wittner http://www.chesapeakecitizens.org and http://backbonecampaign.org/
*Gee / George Dawson III, graduate Duke Ellington School of the Arts, toured with Duke Ellington Show and Concert Choirs. http://gypsyman.org/
*Mike Bowers, Singer/Songwriter and UDC law student will mix the music and perform favorites for voice and guitar. See: http://mdbmusic.com/

Expected Tablers: dc funk the war organizing project / dc rising tide collective * PeaceoftheAction.org * EcolocityDC * Maryland Physicians for a National Health Program * Greater Washington Interfaith Power & Light * Backbone Campaign * DC Childcare Collective * Physicians for a National Health Program * David A. Clarke School of Law * Progressive Democrats of America * Choices (alternatives to military recruitment) * DC for Democracy * Gray Panthers,Washington, DC * Wilfredo Bohorquez (Author) * The Wendt Center * Democratic Socialists of America * More! Free table in April, contact: MikeHersh2007@gmail.com

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Duchy @ the Diner Friday morning March 19th starting at 8:00 AM

Hello Friends!

Please see the email below for details about "Duchy @ the Diner" and
then I hope you will consider attending this event for the opportunity
to hear from and chat with Montgomery County Councilmember Duchy
Trachtenberg on Friday morning, March 19th at the Silver Diner on
Rockville Pike.

I am honored to work for Duchy and I am the organizer of this "Duchy @
the Diner" event so I would love to see all of you there and would
further encourage you to bring along your friends and neighbors too! :-)

Please call me, either at work (240.777.7830) or on my iPhone
(240.328.8962), if you need any further details OR to let me know that
you are joining us! :-)

Thank you so much!
Naomi

On Mon, Mar 8, 2010 at 4:07 PM, Bloch, Naomi
<Naomi.Bloch@montgomerycountymd.gov> wrote:

Hi All,

Come meet Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg at the Silver Diner, on
Rockville Pike, in Rockville, on Friday morning March 19th starting at
8:00 AM to hear the latest update on the Montgomery County's budget
shortfall and bring any questions and concerns you have for
Councilmember Trachtenberg.

See the link below for directions to The Silver Diner on Rockville Pike:

http://www.silverdiner.com/restaurants/rockville-silver-diner

Councilmember Trachtenberg (D-At Large) was elected to the Montgomery
County Council in 2006. She is Chair of the Management and Fiscal Policy
(MFP) Committee, which has jurisdiction over economic and fiscal policy;
spending affordability; County Government administrative departments;
cable and telecommunications issues; technology issues; personnel and
compensation issues; and other matters. Councilmember Trachtenberg also
serves on the Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee.

As MFP Chair, Councilmember Trachtenberg has a particular responsibility
for stewardship of the County's fiscal health. She has made community
needs and results-based practices the foundation of her effort to put
people first as decisions are made over spending and government
priorities. She guides the yearly budget-making process to ensure the
protection of the County's long-term stability and the funding of
essential priorities, with transparency, equity and fiscal responsibility.

As the only Councilmember trained as a public health professional,
Councilmember Trachtenberg has a special interest in the delivery of
health and addiction treatment services, services for victims of
domestic violence and their families, health and wellness policies and
family justice. Her landmark regulation prohibiting the use of
artificial trans fats in Montgomery County restaurants was the first
such action in the United States adopted on a county level.

Councilmember Trachtenberg helped lead the effort to reform the County's
disability retirement to preserve the critical disability retirement
benefit and protect employee access to best medical practices; broaden
coverage for workers with varying degrees of disability; and ensure that
disability retirement procedures are based on a sound public health
foundation.

Councilmember Trachtenberg holds a Masters Degree in Social Work, and
maintained a private practice specializing in adolescent addiction prior
to being elected to office. She is a past Governing Councilor and Chair
of the Alternative Medicine Section within the American Public Health
Association (APHA). Ms. Trachtenberg helped develop a state-wide Court
Watch program which has earned recognition in the domestic violence
advocacy community.

From the outset of her term on the County Council, Councilmember
Trachtenberg has advocated for a Family Justice Center to bring a
coordinated effective means of responding to the victims of domestic
violence. The basis of the Family Justice Center is a one-stop-shop
approach to responding to domestic violence, eliminating the burden on
victims to travel, frequently on poorly scheduled buses, to offices
throughout the County for different services, which can take days or
even weeks to fully engage. The Montgomery County Family Justice Center
recently opened and in these past seven months has served over 1000
families from over 100 countries.

Councilmember Trachtenberg had been an effective grassroots activist for
over twenty years on women's equality, mental health concerns and public
health issues. She offers a strong track record of successful community
networking and believes building coalitions is an effective tool in
bringing about political reform.

Her dynamic leadership style reflects her genuine commitment to full
equality for all women and she sat for several terms on the Board of
Directors of the National Organization for Women as the Mid-Atlantic
Regional Director and also for six years as a Progressive Maryland board
member. During the 2008 presidential election she traveled as a campaign
surrogate for Barack Obama and served on presidential transition task
forces on both mental health and women's issues. Ms. Trachtenberg is the
past co-chair (founding) of the Women's Leadership Network of the
Maryland Democratic Party. She also served as a Women's Issues Advisor
for the Dean Presidential Campaign in 2003-2004.

Councilmember Trachtenberg has received numerous honors and distinctions
including the Spirit Award for Humanitarian Advocate from the National
Center for Children and Families (NCCF), the "Heroes" Award from the
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) of Montgomery County, the
"Ally for Equality" Award from Equality Maryland and a Leadership in
Alternative and Complementary Health Practices Award from the American
Public Health Association (APHA).

Councilmember Trachtenberg recently completed the Program for Senior
Executives in State and Local Government at the Harvard University,
Kennedy School of Government.

She lives with her husband, Dr. Alan Trachtenberg, a public health
physician who serves as the Research Director for the Indian Health
Service, in North Bethesda. Ms. Trachtenberg's son, Walter, a recovering
schizophrenic lives in Maryland. Her daughter, Scarlett, a graduate of
Walter Johnson High School and University of California, Berkeley, is
married and lives in downtown Chicago where she serves as the Advocacy
and Communications Director for the Illinois Arts Alliance.

Please invite your friends and neighbors for this opportunity to meet
and chat with Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg! If you have any
questions please don't hesitate to contact me.

Hope to see all of you there on Friday, March 19th!

Thank you!

Naomi Bloch

Community Liaison for

Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg

Montgomery County Council

100 Maryland Avenue

Rockville, Maryland 20850

240-777-7964 (main)

240-777-7830 (direct)

naomi.bloch@montgomerycountymd.gov

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Call and email Thursday, April 1 STOP Backdoor Vouchers aka "Boast"

Silver Spring: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS ART FESTIVAL

Sunday, March 28, 2010

House committee rejects teacher pension shift, other Senate budget actions

House committee rejects teacher pension shift, other Senate budget actions

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Act now to stop "backdoor" school voucher bill

Monday, March 22, 2010

Make 3 Calls for Secure, Accessible, Verifiable Elections in Maryland

Sunday, March 21, 2010

ACT NOW for secure elections in Maryland!

Friday, March 19, 2010

ACT NOW! Help Candidate Dana Beyer (D-18) Defend Public Schools

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Phonebanks for Healthcare

Re: Friday Yes Men Movie fundraiser Baltimore 7 pm

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

TODAY! Weds March 17 Healthcare Vigil on Capitol Hill

URGENT! Act now to protect public schools!

Friday Yes Men Movie fundraiser Baltimore 7 pm

Monday, March 15, 2010

Meet Rep. John Conyers Jr. Live this week in DC

Weds March 17 Healthcare Vigil on Capitol Hill

Sunday, March 14, 2010

TOMORROW! Demand Public Option in DC

Vigil for Healthcare NOT Warfare on Capitol Hill Wednesday March 17th.

Friday, March 12, 2010

TONIGHT! UDC HEALTHCARE Justice Cafe 6-10 pm

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Duchy @ the Diner Friday morning March 19th starting at 8:00 AM

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