Progressive Neighbors Meeting
4 p.m. Sunday June 28th
Eastern Village Cohousing Community
7981 Eastern Ave.
Silver Spring 20910
Vote on Progressive Neighbors' Priority Issues for
the Coming Year
Members and Supporters of Progressive Neighbors,
The steering committee has been discussing what issues
Progressive Neighbors might work on in the coming year. We sent letters and our
legislative agenda to 38 state and county elected officials who represent
Montgomery
County
in
Annapolis and
Rockville asking for their recommendations
for progressive legislative issues on which PN could make a difference. We
received 21 responses and the steering committee narrowed the list down to 11
issues. (See below.) We are now presenting those 11 issues to the membership so
they can vote on what issues we should devote our energies to in the coming
year.
At the upcoming June 28th meeting, we will
discuss the issues and everyone will be able to vote for the issues on which
they feel we should focus. We will then set up committees and begin our work.
Voting: Everyone will receive 6 votes which they can use to vote
for up to 3 issues, weighted as they choose. People can use all 6 votes for 1
issue or spread the votes out over 3 issues. We hope people will follow up
their votes by volunteering to work on at least one of their chosen issues.
If you are unable to attend the June 28th
meeting, but still wish to have a voice, you can email back the ballot below
after the June 28th meeting up until July 5th. ( Please send to PN4Change@Gmail.com)
If you have any questions about this, please feel free to
call or email Wally Malakoff (malakoff@starpower.net,
301-587-5559).
Please spread the word about the June 28th
membership meeting to others who may want to get involved. (All progressive
minded people living in
Montgomery
County are welcome.)
Progressive Neighbors Co-Chairs
George Vlasits Joan
King Wally Malakoff
Legislative Committee Co Chairs
Luis Zapata Shelley Fudge
Note: On Thursday June 25, a
National Health Care Rally and Lobby Day will be held at the U.S. Capitol.
Sponsored by Health Care for America Now (HCAN) the event begins at 11:30
a.m. HCAN's statement: “While the first
draft of Obama's plan is vague on details and falls
short of the progressive ideal of single payer, HCAN feels it moves the country
in the right direction. It is now up to progressives to put pressure on the
President and legislators to provide universal coverage and a high-quality
public plan health care option.” For more details, go to HCAN's website - www.healthcareforamericanow.org
Political Action Options for
Progressive Neighbors
Summer and Fall of 2009 and beyond (in no particular
order)
1. Protect existing affordable housing for low and
middle income and senior residents and expand the pool of affordable housing
Rent stabilization: Restrict rent increases that exceed the
rise in the cost of living. Prohibit condo conversions that destroy affordable
rental units and involuntarily displace current tenants. Expand the stock of
affordable housing units in the County by subsidizing and providing incentives
for the construction of low and moderate income housing. Expand programs to
enable moderate and low income tenants to purchase homes in the County. Provide
relief to senior homeowners with limited incomes in the form of tax credits.
2. Mass transportation (including Purple Line and
BRT)
Work to support the speedy construction of the Purple Line.
Encourage the improvement of public transportation -- possibly including a Bus
Rapid Transit option.
3. Combined reporting and progressive tax measures
Work for “combined reporting” legislation for corporate
income to ensure corporations pay their fair share and to prevent large
corporations from escaping payment of taxes by shifting income to low- or
no-tax jurisdictions. Promote equitable and progressive tax policies that fully
fund needed social services and programs without placing the burden of high
taxes on those least able to afford them. Those
individuals with the most resources should pay their fair share which means
paying taxes at a higher rate than the poor and middle class.
4. Make government lobbying more accessible to citizen
and grassroots groups
Work for changes in procedural rules in State and County
governments (Annapolis and Rockville) so that citizen groups can testify more
easily and on an equal footing with more powerful lobbying groups. This includes
the scheduling of public meetings and hearings to maximize citizen input,
including having these meetings at times and places accessible to ordinary
working people
5. In-state college tuition for children of
immigrants and broader immigration reform measures
Work for changes to enable children of undocumented
residents in
Maryland
to be charged in-state tuition while attending government-financed institutions
of higher learning (joining ten other states that currently do so). Allow
drivers licenses to be granted without proof of residency or citizenship.
Institute a “don’t ask” policy about immigration status unless a person has
been officially arraigned and charged with a violent crime. Otherwise establish
policies that provide services to immigrants and help them become full
participants in American society with citizenship a more accessible goal.
6. Expand the coverage of the Family and Medical
Leave Act
Build on current Federal law by allowing workers in
Maryland to take twelve
weeks unpaid leave to care for siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, domestic
partners and children of domestic partners.
7. Expansion of and full funding for education –
pre-K through adult education
Work to maintain and increase full funding for education (consistent
with the Thornton Commission) to ensure that all students receive a “thorough
and efficient” education, including pre-K and an expanded lunch program through
high school. This should include more classes for adult education, available on
sliding income scale for all
Maryland
residents.
8. Electricity rate regulation to keep prices low
Support HB 1530, a bill to keep prices low for consumers
while affirmatively retaining green choice for power consumers. Legislation is
needed to address the "failed promise of deregulation."
9. Tax credits and grants to promote green jobs
Work to enact legislation that will provide tax credits and
grants for those firms providing green jobs. This would include those working
in alternative energy and environmental restoration and protection.
10. Save the Bay related legislation
This would include a number of legislative actions,
including: a shopping bag bill (similar to the one being considered in D.C.)
that would charge a tax on all store-provided bags (plastic and paper); closing
the phosphorous “penalties” loophole in the current detergent control
legislation; and charging a tax to corporate and private residents based on the
amount of land covered with impervious surfaces -- thus increasing the runoff
that pollutes our rivers, streams, and ultimately the Bay. (This tax should be
written in such a way as to make allowance for those already paying similar
local taxes.)
11. Campaign finance reform
-Public campaign finance – a system whereby General Assembly
and statewide candidates, with sufficient showing of support, can receive
public funding of their campaigns, thereby reducing or eliminating the undue
influence of lobbyists and special interests. As an interim step, pass enabling
state legislation to allow local jurisdictions, such as
Montgomery
County,
to enact such reform for campaigns for local offices.
Voting
Ballot for Political Action Options for Progressive Neighbors for
Summer and Fall of 2009 and beyond
Directions: You have 6 votes which you may use to vote for up to 3
issues. You may use all 6 votes for 1 issue or you may spread your votes in any
combination for your 3 chosen issues.
Be sure to fill in your name and your email and home address
– please print clearly. Please copy this ballot and email it to PN4Change@Gmail.com Thanks for
participating!
Your name ____________________ Email ____________________
Home address __________________________________________
1. Protect existing affordable housing for low and
middle income and senior residents and expand the pool of affordable housing
_______votes
2. Mass transportation (including Purple Line and
BRT) _______votes
3. Combined reporting and progressive tax measures
_______votes
4. Make government lobbying more accessible to
citizen and grassroots groups
_________votes
5. In-state college tuition for children of
immigrants and broader immigration reform measures ______votes
6. Expand the coverage of the
Maryland Family and Medical Leave Act
____votes
7. Expansion of and full funding for education –
pre-K through adult education
_____votes
8. Electricity rate regulation to keep prices low
____votes
9. Tax credits and grants to promote green jobs
____votes
10. Save the Bay related legislation ____votes
11. Campaign finance reform ___votes