From the Maryland Political Forum - first Wednesday lunch: 4/6/11, Rockville Library, 21 Maryland Avenue
We are indeed privileged to have former New Hampshire Governor John H. Sununu as our speaker on April 6. After serving three terms, he became chief of staff to President George H.W. Bush. Born in Havana, he is a highly regarded conservative thinker and has held numerous posts in New Hampshire and federally, as well as hosting Crossfire.
Join in welcoming him to the Montgomery Political Forum next Wednesday, April 6. Discussion begins at noon; Governor Sununu is scheduled to begin at 12:30.
As usual, bring your own lunch, if you wish; many opportunities to buy nearby. There is public parking across Maryland Avenue.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
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.]
[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.]
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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
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.
Friday, March 25, 2011
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
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.
Silver Spring (Wheaton), MD 20902
Public Transportation: Short walk from Wheaton Metro (red line)
Google Map: http://maps.google.com/map
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/g
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
If you haven't already: Please contribute $15 for 2011 to keep this meetup going. Pay online: http://www.meetup.com/prog
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
Created By Montgomery County NOW
Time Monday, April 4 · 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location Wheaton Regional Library
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
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.
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:
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
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 WichmannMaryland 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,
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
Thursday, March 24, 2011
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.”
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.”
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