Not the Final Four--Sen. Cardin WEDS NIGHT, other events in the Montgomery County area plus ways to ensure your vote counts next year

Not the Final Four--Sen. Cardin WEDS NIGHT, other events in the
Montgomery County area plus ways to ensure your vote counts next year

1. Sen. Ben Cardin--Wednesday, March 25 at 7:30 at White Oak Middle School
2. Rep. Chris Van Hollen/MoveOn PowerUp Campaign--Saturday, March 28
12:30 p.m. Wheaton Library
3. Combined MeetUp/Meeting for MCPA, DFMC, MoveOn, PDA, PWG--Wednesday,
April 1, 7 p.m.
4. Eco-Justice Cafe' University of DC--Friday, April 3, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
5. Act now to ensure your vote counts next year

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1. Senator Cardin will discuss the Economic Crisis
Sponsored by the Greater Silver Spring Democratic Club

Wednesday, March 25th at 7:30 at White Oak Middle School
12201 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20904
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=12201+New+Hampshire+Ave,+Silver+Spring,+MD+20904
Public transportation info: http://www.wmata.com/

2. MoveOn PowerUp Campaign Kick-Off
Saturday March 28 12:30 pm. to 3:30 p.m.
Wheaton Regional Library Mtg room 2, lowest floor
11701 Georgia Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902
Sign up online here: http://pol.moveon.org/event/poweruplaunch/92499

PowerUp Campaign Kick-Off of MoveOn's 2009 Agenda and Organizing our
efforts in Montgomery County
Special Guest Congressman Chris Van Hollen CONFIRMED

Accessible to all, short walk or bus ride from the Wheaton Metro Station.
Directions:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/libraries/BranchInfo/wh.asp
Requested donation $5 (or more) to defray costs of the room,
refreshments, etc.

We'll discuss ways to support President Obama's Green Economy/Green Jobs
initiatives and ways we can all conserve energy.

We'll also organize efforts to continue progress and build on our
accomplishments.

April: Maryland Legislative Update (details TBA)
May: Healthcare in Maryland and the USA (details TBA)

3. Combined MeetUp/Meeting for MCPA, DFMC, MoveOn, PDA, PWG and more.
Wednesday April 1, 7 p.m.
Saigonese Restaurant 11232 Grandview Ave Silver Spring (Wheaton), MD 20902

Short walk from Wheaton Metro (red line) /
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=11232+Grandview+Ave+Silver+Spring+MD+20902
We're working on Coalition Building Efforts, several bills and lobby
efforts on the state and national level. We'll also discuss the upcoming
County Council Special Election, coalition efforts, and much more!

We're planning special events, forming a steering committee, and working
on meetings with legislators, etc. We'll be holding meetings and events
to make a real difference in our county, state and nation. Participating
organizations include: Montgomery County Progressive Alliance, Democracy
for Montgomery County, Progressive Democrats of America, MoveOn.org and
the Progressive Working Group as well as several "MeetUp" groups. MoveOn
has an exciting, progressive agenda for the U.S. and 1000s of involved,
informed members in our area. Please join the Montgomery County MoveOn
Council by clicking on this link:
http://www.moveon.org/team/search/signup.html?team_id=4221

4. Eco-Justice Cafe' University of DC--Friday, April 3, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Music, poetry, an open mike session, good food, good beer, good people,
good cheer.
University of DC, Firebird Inn, Van Ness/UDC Red Line West exit
Building 39, B-Level, 4200 Connecticut Ave., NW, DC 20008, Wheelchair
Accessible.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=4200+Connecticut+Ave.,+NW,+DC+20008

Suggested donation $15/$10 students/$5 kids -- Food and drink included.
All ages event; child activities provided and powered by kids!

5. Act now to ensure your vote counts next year
If you care about saving money and secure elections, please take action
with Verified Voting.

Keep in mind: it's far better to use your own words rather than click
and send the suggested message. Please share this with all concerned
Marylanders.

You can send your message using this link:
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/199/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26912

This is what I sent:

First, I want to thank you for your leadership in 2007, passing
legislation and budgeting money needed to make Maryland's elections
trustworthy by 2010. This was an important step forward.

I worked with legislators and concerned Marylanders back then. I
testified before the Senate committee, send emails, made calls. I was
back in Annapolis a few weeks ago, and again last week to discuss these
issues with friends and leaders in the legislature. Why? Because I am
very concerned about what I'm hearing.

After making the correct decisions and passing a good law and a budget
to ensure Maryland will convert to trustworthy, cost-effective Optiscan
paper ballot voting--the law to make this move passed unanimously--some
have advocated costly and unnecessary delays in this transition. Please
do not let this happen.

Continued use of outdated, unreliable DRE (touch screen) machines will
cost Maryland $millions in equipment upkeep, repair/replacement and
other charges. Maryland would need only about one tenth as many Optiscan
machines as DREs, which would save us $millions. This is especially
important in these tough financial times. Sen. Madaleno and Del.
Gutierrez both shared the grim news about the budget crunch with
District 18 voters last week.

Also, use of DRE machines risks an election day (or primary day)
debacle, such as happened in Virginia recently. You can read about the
Virginia voting machine meltdown online here:
http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=326929&paper=71&cat=104

I trust you will stand by your correct decision and ensure the smooth,
timely and cost-saving move to more reliable, cost efficient
paper-ballot based Optiscan machines.

Thank you,

Mike Hersh

If you care about saving money and secure elections

If you care about saving money and secure elections, please take action with Verified Voting.

Keep in mind: it's far better to use your own words rather than click and send the suggested message. Please share this with all concerned Marylanders.

You can send your message using this link: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/199/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26912

This is what I sent:

First, I want to thank you for your leadership in 2007, passing legislation and budgeting money needed to make Maryland's elections trustworthy by 2010. This was an important step forward.

I worked with legislators and concerned Marylanders back then. I testified before the Senate committee, send emails, made calls. I was back in Annapolis a few weeks ago, and again last week to discuss these issues with friends and leaders in the legislature. Why? Because I am very concerned about what I'm hearing.

After making the correct decisions and passing a good law and a budget to ensure Maryland will convert to trustworthy, cost-effective Optiscan paper ballot voting--the law to make this move passed unanimously--some have advocated costly and unnecessary delays in this transition. Please do not let this happen.

Continued use of these outdated, unreliable DRE machines will cost Maryland $millions in equipment upkeep, repair/replacement and other charges. Maryland would need only about one tenth as many Optiscan machines as DREs, which would save us $millions. This is especially important in these tough financial times. Sen. Madaleno and Del. Gutierrez both shared the grim news about the budget crunch with District 18 voters last week.

Also, use of DRE (touch screen) machines risks an election day (or primary day) debacle, such as happened in Virginia recently. You can read about the Virginia voting machine meltdown online here:

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=326929&paper=71&cat=104

I trust you will stand by your correct decision and ensure the smooth, timely and cost-saving move to more reliable, most efficient paper-ballot based Optical Scan machines.

Thank you!

This is background from Verified Voting:

If you've sent lawmakers messages in support of verified voting in Maryland this year, thank you! Your efforts are paying off - citizens have headed off a number of attempts to gut the paper ballot law. Lawmakers are listening, but there is still a strong chance that verifiable voting will be delayed.

An election in Virginia this month will help clarify the issue. Two weeks ago, paperless electronic machines in a Fairfax County election reported discrepancies of hundreds of votes on election night, and the discrepancies cannot be satisfactorily resolved. It's a great occasion to remind your Maryland lawmakers that they were wise to move the state away from paperless electronic voting, and that they should not delay any longer. Take just a moment to visit our Action Center and send a message to your lawmakers and Governor O'Malley:

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/199/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26912

Please take just a moment to help keep the pressure on, and Maryland will remain on the path to verified elections.

Thank you for all you do.

Best regards,

The Team at Verified Voting

Voting Protection in MD + Update from Progressive Neighbors of SS and TP

Contents: Voting Protection in MD + Update from Progressive Neighbors of
Silver Spring and Takoma Park

1. Town Hall Meeting 8:00 p.m. AFI Theater, Silver Spring Wednesday Jan. 30

2. ACTION ALERT: Your Emails are Needed for Campaign Finance Reform in
Montgomery County - Bill Has Been Introduced

3. PDA's Clean and Fair Elections Conference Call tonight: Maryland is
on the agenda
Time: 9:00 pm EST - Conference Call #: (712) 775-7100 Code: 936487#

4. PDA / DFA / MCPA Meeting 7:30 February 5th in Wheaton - Gearing up
for the Primary

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Wednesday Jan. 30 Mont. County Council Town Hall Meeting

8:00 p.m. AFI Theater, Silver Spring. Progressive Neighbors will focus
on the issues of affordable housing and progressive taxation.

Affordable Housing: The County Council needs to pass legislation to
prevent excessive rent increases and the resultant loss of existing
affordable housing in MC. A rent stabilization law combined with
limitations on condo conversions is necessary if we are to maintain
affordable housing and economic diversity in our County. County
Executive Leggett said he would sign rent stabilization legislation if
passed by the Council.

Progressive Taxation: The County Executive has announced that the County
will have a $400 million deficit next year. Unless the Council finds
ways to raise additional revenue, there will be serious cuts in services
(including education which accounts for 1/2 of the County's budget). We
support progressive taxation - those who can afford to pay the most,
should pay their fair share which means a higher rate for wealthy
residents. Where do the Council members stand?

Endorsements: In addition, to endorsing Donna Edwards in the 4th
Congressional Feb. 12th Primary, Progressive Neighbors has endorsed
Alies Muskin for Montgomery County Board of Education in the Primary.

More information, contact: malakoff@starpower.net

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ACTION ALERT: Your Emails are Needed for Campaign Finance Reform in
Montgomery County - Bill Has Been Introduced

State Bill MC 803-08 will be voted on by the County Affairs Committee of
the Mont. County State Delegation this Thursday morning, Jan. 31st. The
bill would allow Montgomery County to enact its own campaign finance
reform rules for County elections which could include public financing.
Progressive Neighbors has endorsed the legislation as has Common Cause
Maryland, the MD League of Women Voters, the Washington Post (!) and
other groups. Delegate Susan Lee of District 16 is leading the effort
for the bill at the state level.

Here's What You Can Do Right Now to Make a Difference: Email your
delegates and senator in Annapolis to let them know that you strongly
support this bill for clean elections and improving democratic
participation at the County level. (Again, it's Bill MC 803-08) Key
representatives who have not committed themselves to supporting the bill
and need to hear from us are District 20 Delegate Sheila Hixson
(sheila.hixson@house.state.md.us), Dist.15 Delegate Brian Feldman
(brian.feldman@house.state.md.us), and Dist.17 Delegate Jim Gilchrist
(jim.gilchrist@house.state.md.us) We could really make a difference here
so please send emails on Tues or Wed. of this week (Jan 29 and 30) in
support of the bill. (Email addresses of other representatives are
listed at http://mlis.state.md.us )

If the committee votes out the bill, it goes to the full Montgomery
County Delegation and then to the floor of the State House and Senate.
Further information on the bill can be found at:

www.montgomerycountydelegation.com/MC%20803-08.html

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Please join our PDA Issue Organizing Team for Clean, Fair, Transparent
Elections Issue Organizing Team conference call today!

TODAY, Tuesday, January 29 9:00 pm EST
Conference Call #: (712) 775-7100 Code: 936487#

Topics: State initiatives and pro-active strategies in anticipation of
2008 electoral challenges and shenanigans!
Challenges in New Hampshire, Optical Scan option taken up in New York,
Electoral Integrity victories in Maryland!

Join this IOT's Google discussion group.
htt://groups.google.com/group/PDAcleanelections/subscribe
Questions, comments or concerns, please call Diane at 845-661-3754 or
email diane@pdmerica.org.

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PDA / DFA / MCPA February Meeting - Gearing up for the Primary (open to all)
Tuesday, Feb 5, 2008, 7:30 PM in Wheaton

Join our big push to the primary elections February 12 and much more!

SaigonESE Restaurant, 11232 Grandview Ave Wheaton, MD 20902
Google Map: http://tinyurl.com/2fbdso
Short walk from the Wheaton Metro / Red Line: http://tinyurl.com/3836uy
Parking in the huge municipal lot across the street.

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The Real Costs of Maryland’s Voting System

DO THE MATH: The Real Costs of Maryland's Voting System

The most expensive way to vote. Maryland currently uses the most expensive type of voting system available -- touch-screen Direct-Recording Electronic (DRE) machines.

In Fiscal Year 2000, when most of Maryland's counties used optical scan voting systems, the State Board of Elections' annual budget was about $3.1 million.

By FY 2007, with the touch-screen voting system in place statewide, the SBE's annual budget had skyrocketed to $29.5 million -- nearly 10 times the cost of the previous system!

Of that, the operating costs of the voting system -- maintenance, repair, replacement, storage, transportation, programming, testing, training, technical support, etc. for the state's 19,000 voting machines -- have averaged $10.7 million per year for the past 3 years.

And the cost is still rising. Our current service contract with Diebold Election Systems, Inc. expires right after the 2008 General Election, and would have to be rebid at that time.

Diebold Election Systems, Inc. no longer exists. After 18 months of failed attempts to sell its election division, Diebold spun it off into a separate company, Premier Election Solutions, Inc.

Because of its proprietary secret source code, Diebold/Premier has a monopoly on all services directly related to our voting machines. How much would Premier charge us to continue its service contract on our equipment beyond 2008? The cost is not yet known, but would be likely to rise, since our aging equipment will be more prone to break down and malfunction with each passing year.

Less equipment means lower costs. Optical scan voting systems are far less expensive to operate because they require only 1/5 as many machines. Our 19,000 touch-screen machines could be replaced by just 4,000 machines. Each polling place would need only one optical scanner and one ballot-marking station to enable voters with disabilities or language barriers to mark a paper ballot. Switching to an optical-scan voting system would probably reduce our operating costs by as much as 25% to 50%, saving about $2.7 to $5.4 million per year.

The cost of switching to a new system would pay for itself in just a few years in reduced operating costs. And the state would have a more reliable, recountable election system that would meet future equipment standards for years to come. The move to optical scan voting is a growing national trend as the unacceptable risks of DRE voting are confirmed in election day disasters and numerous reputable studies. Each year Maryland delays in replacing our voting equipment, we are squandering millions of tax dollars and running the risk of a major, unrecoverable election failure.

Let's make the fiscally responsible choice. Listen to the 64% of Maryland's voters who support funding the switch to optical scan by 2010. Let's restore common sense to our elections.

thanks to SaveOurVotes.org

Protect Your Vote: Take Action Now!Attend Bernard Fall: Memories of a Soldier-Scholar

Montgomery County Progressive Alliance Special Edition

1. Protect Your Vote: Take Action Now During the Maryland Special Session

2. Book Talk Bernard Fall: Memories of a Soldier-Scholar
7:30 PM Tuesday December 4 Please RSVP NOW!

Dorothy Fall, author of an exciting and informative biography
about her husband Bernard Fall, will discuss and sign copies of her
book at Sabang Restaurant, 2504 Ennalls Avenue, Wheaton, MD 20902

Short walk from the Wheaton Metro Stop (red line) / Accessible to all

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1. Protect Your Vote: Take Action Now During the Maryland Special Session

Call your State Senator and your State Delegate(s) 1-800-492-7122 and Gov. O'Malley 1-800-811-8336 (both toll free)

Strongly urge them to fully fund paper ballot voting. Find your State Senator and Delegate(s) using your street address: http://mdelect.net/electedofficials/

Key points to mention when calling (please use your own words):

Optically Scanned Paper Ballots are More Reliable as well as Less Expensive:
The current system is unreliable, aging and will require costly upgrades, replacements, and maintenance now that the warranty period has ended. Optical Scan can be implemented for approximately $2 million in the FY09 budget and perhaps less.

The Status Quo will Cost Maryland More Money; Changing to OpScan will Save Money:
The cost savings will be $20 million or more over the next 5 years because the new system will require approximately 80% fewer voting machines. (Please see the cost study at http://md-eic.org/fVVPR1007a.htm).

Nearly Two out of Three Marylanders Support Fully Funding Paper Ballot Voting:
Recent polling indicates 64% of Maryland voters support fully funding paper ballot voting, while only 31% oppose funding.

100% of Maryland Legislators and Gov. O'Malley Support Paper Ballot Voting:
Maryland's General Assembly passed SB392 / HB18 unanimously, mandating a switch to an optical scan voting system by 2010. Gov. O'Malley signed the bill into law, but unless it's fully funded, the bill will not take effect. Our elected officials made the right decision last Spring, and now they should complete the job.

Maryland's Switch to Paper Ballots is Part of a National Trend:
Election Day meltdowns and several prestigious studies confirm the risks of electronic "DRE" voting. After irregularities in 2004, New Mexico switched to OpScan voting in 2006. Florida is changing to OpScan next year after touch-screen "DRE" machines such as we have in Maryland "lost" 18,000 votes in a congressional race which was decided by fewer than 400 votes.

Call our elected officials. Tell them, "We can't afford proven unreliable and increasingly costly voting machines."

Ask Gov. O'Malley to guarantee funding for reliable, cost-effective paper-based voting in the Special Session: 1-800-811-8336

Ask your State Senator and Delegate(s) to vote for guaranteed full funding. Our democracy depends on it: 1-800-492-7122

Stay involved with Election Activism Efforts:
Join PDA's Clean, Fair, Transparent Elections Organizing Team. Contact: Diane@PDAmerica.org

Thanks to PDAmerica.org, SaveOurVotes.org, Md-EIC.org and other activists working to ensure our voting is reliable and secure.

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2. Book Talk Bernard Fall: Memories of a Soldier-Scholar
7:30 PM Tuesday December 4

Dorothy Fall, author of an exciting and informative biography about her husband Bernard Fall, will discuss and sign copies of her book. Please RSVP NOW!

Sabang Restaurant
2504 Ennalls Avenue
Wheaton, MD 20902


Short walk from the Wheaton Metro Stop (red line) / Accessible to all

Bernard Fall: Memories of a Soldier-Scholar (Paperback) by Dorothy Fall. Bernard Fall wrote the classics Street Without Joy and Hell in a Very Small Place, which detailed the French experience in Vietnam. One of the first (and the best-informed) Western observers to say that the United States could not win there either, he was killed in Vietnam in 1967 while accompanying a Marine platoon.

Written by his widow Dorothy, Bernard Fall: Memories of a Soldier-Scholar tells the story of this courageous and influential Frenchman, who experienced many of the major events of the twentieth century. His mother perished at Auschwitz, his father was killed by the Gestapo, and he fought in the Resistance. This book focuses on Vietnam and on two love stories. The first details Fall's love for Vietnam and his efforts to save the country from destruction and the United States from disaster. The second shows a husband and father dedicated to a cause that continuously lured him away from those he loved. Foreword by the late David Halberstam.

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