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Progressive Mass Blog Posts: 2012

Take Action – Send Your Letter to the Editor        1

Have You Sent a Letter to Your Legislator on Act to Invest in Our Communities?        4

INVEST IN WORCESTER!        5

Time Sensitive! Take Action TODAY, for MA Single Payer        6

Single-Payer Amendment to s.2260        7

Senator, you’ve got Voicemail!        9

UPDATE: Single-payer amendment fails–but 15 Senators stand strong        10

Time to Update MA Elections: Tell the Legislature, “Act NOW”        12

“Rollover Minutes for Solar”        13

Voting on CITIZENS UNITED        14

Making a Difference on the Issues        14

August 2012 Endorsements        16

What is Progressive Mass?        16

Legislative Session Wrap Up – The Good, The Bad, The Maybe        18

The Results are In        21

October 2012 Endorsements        22

Kathleen Walker | Sixth Worcester Rep District        22

Ken Gordon | Twenty-First Middlesex Rep District        22

Marilee Kenney Hunt | Eighth Plymouth Rep District        23

Job Growth and the Economy        24

Education and Workforce Development        25

Public Transportation        27

Health Care for All        27

Affordable Housing        28

Public Safety and Criminal Justice        28

State House Rules Reform        29

Collective Bargaining        29

Immigration        30

Veterans        30

Revenue        31

Civil and Legal Rights        31

Clean Elections and Voting Rights        32

Energy and the Environment        32

Providing for Our Neediest        33

Our Values – What We Believe        34

Now What? The long-term work of bending the arc        35

Translating Election Results Into Action        37

Campaign for Our Communities        39

Draft Letter/Email to Legislators        40

Draft Letter to the Editor        40

After national progressive victories, time for bold vision from Massachusetts progressive leaders        41

TIME TO SET THE AGENDA NOW        42

It’s Up to Us        43

Compact for A True Commonwealth        46

Ideals Aren’t Enough – We are Taking Action (Needham)        48

It’s Up to Us — ACTION!        50

Grow the progressive grassroots        51

Join the Campaign for Our Communities        51

Make a difference in Massachusetts        52

Have an impact at the national level        52

Keeping up the Momentum – Report from Acton It’s Up to Us        53

We’re In This Together – Report from Somerville It’s Up to Us        57

Take Action – Send Your Letter to the Editor

Date: January 17, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/take_action_send_your_letter_to_the_editor 

Last night Governor Patrick called for new revenue.  The day before, Representative Jim O’Day and Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz re-filed An Act to Invest in Our Communities.

Write a Letter to the Editor of your local paper.

As the Governor said:

The future belongs to those who prepare for it.

That is why we invest in education, in innovation and in infrastructure.

We invest in education because well-prepared young minds and mid-career talent is our global calling card and our economic edge.

We invest in innovation because, with a workforce like ours, enabling and encouraging new ideas is the best way to take advantage of the knowledge explosion happening in the world economy today.

We invest in infrastructure because rebuilding our roads, rails, bridges, expanding broadband to every community, building new classrooms and labs and more affordable housing gives private initiative and personal ambition the platform for growth.

Education, innovation, infrastructure. It’s a strategy proven through history. And it’s working for us today.

Here is a template to use:

We Need to Invest in Our Communities

I am a (long time) resident of (city/town). I moved here because (reason which relates to services provided or amenities like good schools, open spaces, etc). I want my community to have good schools, well-maintained roads, bridges, and public transportation, safe neighborhoods, and affordable health care. These are just a few of the things we need to make our communities good places to live, work and raise a family. They are also critical to strengthening our economy.These services require investment – not budget cuts year after year. Over the past decade, (city/town) has lost substantial local aid (specific amounts can be found here http://ourcommunities.org/map.php)I support tax reforms that raise substantial new revenue for our communities, and do so in a way that holds down increases for low and middle income families and seniors. I urge all of my neighbors – and our elected officials to do the same.

Have You Sent a Letter to Your Legislator on Act to Invest in Our Communities?

Date: January 19, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/have_you_sent_a_letter_to_your_legislator_on_act_to_invest_in_our_communities 

Elaine Almquist of Medford has.  Check out her letter to Representative Donato.  Write Your Own Letter Now.

Dear Representative Donato,

As a person who has attended public schools and public colleges, and a person who takes public transportation to go to my great private-sector job, I would like to ask you to support Governor Patrick’s recommendations to invest in education and transportation in the Commonwealth. Tax increases are never very popular. But a well-educated public, who can get to and from work is essential to the success of our Commonwealth. I plan to spend my life here in Massachusetts, and I look forward to investing part of my earnings on ensuring we have citizens capable of participating in a complicated, competitive, and innovative economy; and a secure and working infrastructure. Without these long-term investments, we are surely instead investing in today’s successes instead of continued success tomorrow.

As we make these investments, I ask you to think about supporting a progressive taxation plan that will ask for a larger investment from those that have benefited the most from our previous investments, while preventing low-income people from being overly burdened. I urge you to support An Act to Invest in Our Communities.

Yours sincerely,

Elaine Almquist

INVEST IN WORCESTER!

        

Date: May 8, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/invest_in_worcester

Today, the City of Worcester is receiving more than $20 million LESS in general local aid funding (adjusted for inflation) than it was in 2008. This funding, which comes from the state, helps to pay for schools, police and fire protection, road and bridge repairs, parks, pools and libraries — the very things that make Worcester a great place to live, work and raise a family. Because of these cuts to local aid, Worcester’s popular community policing program was particularly hard hit and ultimately dismantled.

Unfortunately, Worcester is not alone. Communities throughout Central Massachusetts have also lost substantial local aid funding since 2008. Shrewsbury is getting more than $1.3 million less. Leicester, Auburnand Millbury are each receiving over $800,000 less than they were four years ago. Grafton is down over $750,000. These cuts have harmed the entire Central Massachusetts economy and reduced the quality of life for all residents.

We cannot continue to cut the funding that is so important to our communities! We must invest in Worcester and in Central Mass, but we can only do that if the state raises more revenue.

On May 15th, the Worcester City Council will vote on a resolution, sponsored by City Councilor Joe O’Brien, that calls on the state legislature and Governor to raise substantial new revenue in a way that protects low- and middle-income families and seniors from big increases.

Take Action Now

Call a Worcester City Councilor and ask them to vote YES on this resolution!ATTEND the City Council meeting on May 15th to show your support!

May 15, 2012, 6:30 p.m.

Worcester City Hall

455 Main St.

                

        

Time Sensitive! Take Action TODAY, for MA Single Payer

Date: May 14, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/time_sensitive_take_action_today_for_ma_single_payer

        

Health Care Reform is one of the top priorities of Progressive Mass member-activists.

TOMORROW/Tuesday–single-payer health care is on the table in the Massachusetts Legislature–as an Amendment, submitted by Sen. Eldridge, to s.2260 (An Act improving the quality of health care and reducing costs through increased transparency, efficiency and innovation).

Your Senator needs to hear from you TODAY! It takes less than 5 minutes!

Read our summary of Sen. Eldridge’s Amendment to s.2260, calling for single-payer reform.

Call (or email) your State Senator: https://malegislature.gov/search/findmylegislator 

As always, thanks for everything that you do to make a progressive Massachusetts.

Single-Payer Amendment to s.2260

STATUS: Scheduled for a VOTE on Tuesday, May 15, 2012.

ACTION (5/14, 2012: URGENT): Contact your State Senator; ask her/him to VOTE YES on Sen. Eldridge’s Single-Payer Amendment to S.2260.

EXPLANATION OF THIS AMENDMENT:

The amendment is based upon the State of Vermont’s approach to implementing Single Payer Healthcare, establishing a benchmark that would trigger single-payer healthcare if the Commonwealth of Mass. finds it to be most cost-effective.

___

TEXT OF THE AMENDMENT:

Mr. Eldridge moves to amend the bill (Senate, No. 2260), in SECTION 14 by adding the following definition:

“Single payer health care,” a system that guarantees continuous, high-quality, publicly-financed health coverage for all state residents in a manner regardless of income, assets, health status, or availability of other health coverage. A single payer health care system shall, therefore, be guided by the following principles: Health care coverage must be universal; Health care coverage must be continuous; Health care coverage must be affordable; Health care costs must be affordable and sustainable for the Commonwealth as a whole; and Health care coverage must support patient-centered care, protecting the relationship between patients and their health care practitioners.

And further amends the bill in SECTION 14 by adding the following new section at the end thereof:-

Section 23. The institute shall monitor, review, and evaluate reports related to single payer health care; provided, however, that the institute shall also monitor the performance of single payer health care systems in other states and countries.

The institute shall establish a single payer benchmark which shall be the cost in total health care expenditures of providing continuous, high-quality, publicly-financed health coverage for all Massachusetts residents in a manner regardless of income, assets, health status, or availability of other health coverage.

The institute shall submit annual written reports on all findings, evaluations, and recommendations from its monitoring obligations related to the single payer health care benchmark to the governor, president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, to the joint committee on health care financing, and the house and senate committees on ways and means. This report shall include a plan of action, timeline, funding recommendations (subject to legislative approval), and specific legislative and regulatory measures needed to achieve a single payer health care system in Massachusetts. The institute shall post the report on its public website.

If at the outset of state fiscal year 2015, the institute determines that the single payer health care benchmark has outperformed the “health care cost growth benchmark”, as defined in chapter 176S section 5 of the general laws, a process of implementing a single payer health care system shall be triggered; provided, however, that if the single payer health care implementation process is triggered, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services shall, no later than June 30, 2016, publish a “Single Payer health care Implementation Plan” after holding public hearings and meetings, which shall be consistent with the principles of “single payer health care” as defined in this chapter and the annual reports of the institute, for the purpose of guiding this implementation process; provided, further, that if the single payer health care implementation process is triggered, the secretary of health and human services shall, no later than December 30, 2016, apply for a federal waiver under section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act.

                

        

Senator, you’ve got Voicemail!

Date: May 14, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/senator_youve_got_voicemail

Don’t worry if you couldn’t make your Single-Payer call before 5PM today. You can still call your Senator and leave your message on her/his voicemail!

Calls in the morning (Tue.) will work, too. But why not go ahead and call now?

Amplify our people-power–urge your networks to make their calls, too!

WATCH THIS SPACE for any updates to the vote. If it is delayed beyond tomorrow, that gives all the more time to put the grassroots pressure on!

                

https://www.progressivemass.com/senator_youve_got_voicemail

UPDATE: Single-payer amendment fails–but 15 Senators stand strong

Date: May 15, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/update_single_payer_amendment_fails_but_15_senators_stand_strong

Today, on a 24-15 vote, the MA Senate failed to pass the “single-payer” amendment (#125) introduced by Sen. Eldridge to s.2060.

As progressives, we understand that the fight for single-payer is a long one. We can be heartened today, however, that 15 Senators stood strong and stood up for single-payer health care.

We must support progressives when they take a step outside the expected. Please send an email or make a call of THANKS to these Senators for their principled stand on progressive health care reform!

Don’t see your Senator? How about a note expressing your wish that s/he stand up for progressive health care reform next time?

 

UPDATE 5/15: Blogger HesterPrynne has roll call list, includes the “did not votes” and “no votes”

UPDATE 5/16: Senator Eldridge gives grassroots activists a shout-out:

My single-payer amendment was debated yesterday, and although we did not ultimately prevail, the vote (15-22) was much closer than I – or anyone else – had expected. Frankly, it’s rare to see an amendment that is opposed by the leadership of the Senate gain that much support. Every co-sponsor of my original single-payer bill stayed with us, and several more senators joined us. The vote caught people by surprise, and sent a message that support for single-payer health care in Massachusetts is strong and growing.

This happened because of grassroots activism.

Earlier this week, a number of grassroots advocacy groups, including Mass Care, Progressive Massachusetts, the Progressive Democrats of America, and the League of Women Voters, put out the call: it’s time to contact your Senator and ask him or her to support the single-payer amendment.

And people responded. Many of my colleagues told me the phone just kept ringing with single-payer supporters. Some legislators who may have been wavering stood with us because they knew their constituents were watching. Others gave the amendment more serious consideration after initially dismissing it.

                

        

Time to Update MA Elections: Tell the Legislature, “Act NOW”

Date: May 30, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/time_to_update_ma_elections_tell_the_legislature_act_now

        

UPDATE: It passed the House; now the Senate needs to vote before the clock runs out on July 31.

___

After months of pushing, the official order for the day for TODAY (Wednesday, May 30) announces that the Massachusetts State House will take a vote on election reforms to finally get our state a little bit caught up with leaders for voting rights around the nation.

Our members have told us this is a critical issue – Ensuring that every adult citizen can vote and that every vote is counted.

We urge you to sign the petition being sponsored by MassVote RIGHT NOW, to send a message to the legislature to urge them to pass this bill today. UPDATE: Now that it’s passed the House, the Senate needs to be urged to action. Go to the MassVote action center to tell your Senator to pass the Election reform bill.

The reform bill up for a vote tomorrow does 4 things.

  1. It updates the training for election officials so they will be better able to help every eligible citizen vote.
  2. It lets teens pre-register.
  3. It sets up random audits of paper ballots to ensure accurate election results.
  4. It lets you download, print, sign, and mail in your voter registration form, as you already can in 47 other states.

It’s long overdue.

                

“Rollover Minutes for Solar”

Date: June 8, 2012

Legacy URL:         

https://www.progressivemass.com/rollover_minutes_for_solar

        

“Rollover minutes for solar” — net metering is on the docket at the State House (S2214). Get ready to advocate: Watch this quick video for a quick overview of what net metering can do for the energy future.

Voting on CITIZENS UNITED

                                         

Date: June 21, 2012                                                                   

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/voting_on_citizens_united                         

                                

END ‘CITIZENS UNITED’ — TIME SENSITIVE! — the vote is *TODAY*

Call the State House TODAY (6/21/2012, Thursday), and ask your Senator to vote to support the resolution opposing ‘Citizens United’, as reflected in S.772!

Formal session begins at 1PM, so make your call now–and ask your networks to do the same.

___

Background on ‘Citizens United’:

“In Citizens United v. FEC, the Court held that corporations and unions have a First Amendment right to spend unlimited funds on campaign advertisements, provided that these communications are not formally “coordinated” with any candidate.  In so holding, it found that the political speech rights of American voters and corporate entities are indistinguishable.Citizens United’s immediate impact was substantial. In one swift stroke, the Court overturned at least twenty years of its own precedent, rendered unconstitutional more than sixty years of federal law restricting corporate electioneering expenditures, and annihilated the statutes of twenty-two states that previously prohibited election spending from corporate general-treasury funds.  Citizens United also ignited widespread popular, academic and political discussion about money, politics and the Constitution—a nationwide dialogue that has not yet abated. Now that we are well into the 2012 election cycle, the decision’s lasting effects are clearer and clearer.” –Brennan Center for Justice

Massachusetts citizen activists have been organizing against the ruling–65 towns/cities have passed resolutions calling for a Constitutional Amendment to overturn ‘Citizens United.’ And there is a grassroots effort to put Citizens United on November’s ballot in Massachusetts. Add your voice–tell your state Senator to listen to the people: support the resolution calling for the end of the era of ‘Citizens United.’ CALL TODAY!

                                                         

Making a Difference on the Issues

                                         

Date: July 7, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/making_a_difference_on_the_issues 

                         

                        

                        

This past spring, we asked you to let us know which issues are important to you.

Progressives overwhelmingly supported working on corporate power, fair/progressive taxation, health care, voting rights, public transportation and education.

Our issues team will be taking your input and using it to help guide which actions and information to prioritize.  We want to be a USEFUL and relevant resource for progressive activists and concerned citizens. Your input helps us. From time to time, we’ll send out email alerts on time-sensitive actions you can take to advance the progressive agenda on your issues. We’ll also use social media to get the word out on other matters.

We’ll send out these time sensitive action alerts for priority issues from the ”action(at)progressivemass.com“.  Be sure to set your filters to flag these emails–to open those right away, to maximize our collective power as grassroots agents of change!

As we develop as an organization, we will continue to check in with you and get your input on priorities. For more time sensitive information, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook, too!

                                                         

August 2012 Endorsements

Date: August 5, 2012

Tim Coco | First Essex Senate District

Progressive Massachusetts is pleased to endorse Tim Coco for State Senate in the First Essex District. We are impressed with his well-articulated, impassioned and thoughtful approach to economic and social equality. Tim has already put his progressive values into action, organizing his fellow employees into a union in a previous job and fighting for LGBT rights. We know he will be a strong advocate for progressive values in the Senate.

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/tim_coco_first_essex_senate_district

Mary Keefe | 15th Worcester Rep District

Progressive Massachusetts is pleased to endorse Mary Keefe for State Representative in the 15th Worcestor District. We are impressed with Mary’s vision for her community and for the Central Massachusetts Delegation as a whole, as well as her leadership and civic engagement skills in her role as a grassroots community organizer. She is committed to building a progressive movement and taking a leadership role on issues important us as well as her community.

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/mary_keefe_15th_worcester_rep_district

Aaron Vega | 5th Hampden Rep District

Progressive Massachusetts is pleased to endorse Aaron Vega for State Representative in the 5th Hampden District. We are excited about the experience Aaron will bring to the State House. Aaron is particularly passionate around issues of poverty and its relationship to educational attainment. As a result, he will prioritize investment in municipal aid, targeting education funding in particular. Aaron will bring his positive, high-energy outlook to the State House, where we look to continue working with him on building a more progressive commonwealth.

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/aaron_vega_5th_hampden_rep_district

What is Progressive Mass?

Date: August 5, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/what_is_progressive_mass 

                         

Progressive Mass was founded on the following principles:

Progressive Massachusetts is a statewide, diverse grassroots organization. We organize around progressive issues in Massachusetts, help elect and support progressive candidates for public office who are committed to making a difference on these issues, and hold elected officials accountable to progressive positions and values. Progressive Mass welcomes all Progressives regardless of political affiliation. We will work to further progressive values through issue organizing, electoral organizing, and organization-building and education.

As Progressive Mass evolves, we will further develop our mission with the input of our members, who will be actively involved in building Progressive Mass through a democratic process.

                                                         

Legislative Session Wrap Up – The Good, The Bad, The Maybe

Date: September 5, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/legislative_session_wrap_up_the_good_the_bad_the_maybe                                  

                        

The 2011-2012 Massachusetts legislative session was certainly a busy and full one, with many legislative observers noting that whether or not you agreed with the Legislature’s and Governor Patrick’s decisions, a great deal of legislation passed over the past two years.

Progressive Massachusetts is pleased that a number of progressive policies became law that will help move the state forward, and maintain Massachusetts’s reputation as a leader in innovation, expanding opportunity and assisting our fellow citizens.

Since the battle to protect gay marriage ended, advocates to expand the civil rights of the LGBT community  have focused on passing the Transgender Equal Rights Law, in order to end discrimination against transgender residents.  Through effective organizing and the persistence of progressive leaders like Representative Carl Sciortino and Senator Ben Downing, the legal discrimination against transgender people by the government was outlawed.  Although the bill was weakened to remove public accommodation protections for the transgender community, the bill is a positive step forward in expanding civil rights in Massachusetts.

Building upon the 2008 Green Communities Act, Governor Patrick and the Massachusetts Legislature updated the law, in order to require utility companies to purchase twice as much alternative energy, thus ensuring that Massachusetts continues to do its part to reduce global warming, while also lowering energy costs for consumers and, in the process, creating more green jobs.

A major concern for progressives has always been the influence of corporate power on public policy.  The negative effects of corporate power have grown even worse since the 2010 Citizens United v. FEC Supreme Court decision, that allows corporations to spend unlimited money from their general treasury funds to directly influence federal, state and local elections.  Grassroots activists across the state rallied behind passing a resolution, filed by Senator Jamie Eldridge and Representative Cory Atkins, calling upon our congressional delegation to support a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United decision, and make it the law of the land that the First Amendment of the Constitution is for people, and not for corporations.  Thanks to dozens of communities passing town resolutions, the support of Boston city council, and organizing by good government groups such as Common Cause, Mass Vote, and the League of Women Voters, the resolution passed the House and the Senate just before the end of the formal legislative session on July 31st, 2012.

Finally, on the health care front, we believe some progress was made in the passing of the health care cost control legislation at the end of the legislative session.  Included in the law were provisions that created a Preventative and Wellness Health Care Trust that will provide grants to communities that may have a high incidence of diabetes, child obesity, or poor nutrition, the banning on mandatory overtime for nurses in hospitals, and making it easier for families on the border of falling into poverty to keeping their health care through MassHealth.  Furthermore, in the Senate there was an important discussion during the health care legislation debate on Massachusetts taking a hard look at the implementation of universal single-payer health care.  An amendment largely reflecting the singe-payer legislation filed at the beginning of the session was narrowly defeated, 22-15, indicating that, a growing percentage of the public, as well as more and more legislators are getting behind making health care a right.  Progressive Massachusetts played a key role in making phone calls and communicating with Senators on the fence their support for universal single-payer health care.

Of course, not every bill that became law moved the state forward, and in some instances we believe legislation was passed that is detrimental to the best interests of the people of Massachusetts.  Furthermore, we believe there was common-sense legislation that should have passed this session, but fell short.

One example of the latter was updating the Bottle Bill.  Despite strong public support, a coalition working hard to convince legislators of the importance and value of updating the Bottle Bill, and over half of legislators supporting the bill, corporate special interests (bottlers, grocery stores, liquor stores) and a Speaker of the House who insisted that a common-sense fee was actually a tax won the day.

Progressive Mass was active in trying to defeat another bill, the habitual offender or “three strikes” criminal justice legislation.  The bill, which would end probation for individuals who had committed any three crimes on a list created by the Legislature passed the Legislature overwhelmingly, despite the objections of civil rights and civil liberties groups, communities of color, and many faith communities.  Governor Patrick wisely sent back the bill with an amendment allowing for a “release valve” that would allow a judge, in the interest of justice, to not implement the three strikes probation provision depending on the circumstances of the particular case or defendant.  Sadly, the Legislature overrode Governor Patrick’s amendment.  We appreciate the votes and efforts by some progressive legislators to oppose this legislation that will add tens of millions of dollars to the state budget while doing very little to improve public safety, and hope that next session a major sentencing reform can be passed.

Looking back at the 2011-2012 session, it is clear that a vigorous, diverse statewide progressive grassroots movement can have an impact on what happens up on Beacon Hill.  We were successful in persuading the Legislature to pass the Citizens United resolution, pass a comprehensive health care cost control bill with progressive provisions, and keeping. Massachusetts at the forefront in the nation for embracing alternative energy.  However, more work needs to be done to transform the efforts of those concerned with the environment into legislation, making the voices and concerns of communities of color heard in the halls of the State House, and ensuring that every single legislator is hearing from progressive, forward-thinking constituents of theirs.

                

The Results are In

Date: September 7, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/the_results_are_in 

        

Two of the three candidates that Progressive Mass endorsed in the primary won last night – thanks in part to your efforts.

Mary Keefe, running for the State Rep seat in the 15th Worcester, won with 39% of the vote.   As we said in our endorsement,

“We are impressed with Mary’s vision for her community and for the Central Massachusetts Delegation as a whole, as well as her leadership and civic engagement skills in her role as a grassroots community organizer.”

Clearly that organizing background played an important role in last night’s victory.  Mary now faces Brian O’Malley who ran uncontested on the Republican side.

Aaron Vega, running for the State Rep seat in the 5th Hampden, also won his race against Michael Kane who had previously withdrawn.

“Aaron is particularly passionate around issues of poverty and its relationship to educational attainment. As a result, he will prioritize investment in municipal aid, targeting education funding in particular.”

Unfortunately, Tim Coco, lost his bid for the State Senate seat in the 1st Essex.  However, Kathleen O’Connor-Ives, the winner with 38% of the vote, also impressed our endorsement committee as a strong progressive. As the Chair of our Endorsement Committee, Reuben Kantor recently noted,

“Kathleen O’Connor-Ives impressed the committee with her commitment to progressive values, her work as a city councilor, and her passion for the issues. She is warm and easy to talk with, and has a history of working towards progressive goals.”

 

                                                         

                 

October 2012 Endorsements

Date: October 2, 2012

                                                           

Kathleen Walker | Sixth Worcester Rep District

                                         

We are pleased to endorse Kathleen Walker for State Rep in the 6th Worcester (Charlton, East Brookfield, Southbridge, Spencer, Oxford).  Kathleen Walker, who has served for many years as a Selectman in Charlton, impressed us with her coalition building skills and her commitment to greater social and economic justice throughout the Commonwealth.   She is particularly concerned about bringing greater local aid to her communities to ensure that achievement disparities are addressed in the schools and workforce training is strengthened for those who are struggling financially because they are out of work.

Legacy URL:

https://www.progressivemass.com/kathleen_walker_sixth_worcester_rep_district

                 

Ken Gordon | Twenty-First Middlesex Rep District

Date: October 02, 2012                                                                                                                     

We are pleased to endorse Ken Gordon, for state rep in the 21st Middlesex District (Burlington, Bedford, Wilmington).  Ken, a labor attorney who represents individuals in discrimination and harassment cases and recently won 40% of the vote in a four-way write in primary campaign that lasted less than a month.  We were impressed with his commitment to progressive values and his open and honest stance on the issues.  We are convinced that he will be an articulate and passionate champion for economic and social justice.   Ken indicated that, if elected, his priorities would include ensuring adequate local aid to schools and financial support for the MBTA which he believes is essential to the Commonwealth’s future success.  It is also helpful to note that Ken has been and continues to be a member of Progressive Massachusetts – our first opportunity to help one of our own.

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/ken_gordon_twenty_first_middlesex_rep_district

                

Marilee Kenney Hunt | Eighth Plymouth Rep District

Date: October 2, 2012

                        

We are pleased to endorse Marilee Kenney Hunt for State Rep in the 8th Plymouth (Bridgewater, Raynham, Easton). Marilee Hunt, who served for sixteen years in the executive branch, most recently as Mitt Romney’s Executive Director, Sexual and Domestic Violence, impressed us with her enthusiasm for working on progressive policy issues and challenging an incumbent who is actually suing his own community over a real estate deal.   Marilee is very knowledgeable and focused on issues that impact women, particularly those who have been abused and require help and protection.  In addition, she has served on her Community Presentation Committee and takes her concern for our environment personally, advocating for and incorporating conservation practices in her own life.

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/marilee_kenney_hunt_eighth_plymouth_rep_district 

Job Growth and the Economy

Date: November 11, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/job_growth_and_the_economy                                                            

                                

We believe:

                                                         

Education and Workforce Development

Date: November 11, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/education_and_workforce_development 

We believe:

                                                         

Public Transportation

Date: November 11, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/public_transportation 

                        

         We believe:

                                                         

                                                    

                                 

Health Care for All

                                         

Date: November 11, 2012                                                                    

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/health_care_for_all 

                                         

We believe:

                                                         

                

                                                                           

Affordable Housing

                                         

Date: November 11, 2012         

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/affordable_housing                                  

                                

We believe:

Public Safety and Criminal Justice

Date: November 11, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/public_safety_and_criminal_justice                                                          

We believe:

                

                                 

State House Rules Reform

Date: November 11, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/state_house_rules_reform                 

                        

We believe:

                                                 

Collective Bargaining

Date: November 11, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/collective_bargaining         

                        

We believe:

        

                                                                  

Immigration

Date: November 11, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/immigration                 

                                          

We believe:

Veterans

Date: November 11, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/veterans                          

                        

We believe:

                                 

Revenue

Date: November 11, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/revenue 

                                         

We believe:

        

                                 

Civil and Legal Rights

                                         

Date: November 11, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/civil_and_legal_rights                

We believe:

        

                                         

Clean Elections and Voting Rights

Date: November 11, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/clean_elections_and_voting_rights 

                        

                                Posted by · November 11, 2012 2:01 PM                                                                            

                        

We believe:

                                                         

                        

Energy and the Environment

Date: November 11, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/energy_and_the_environment         

                        

We believe:

                                

Providing for Our Neediest

Date: November 11, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/providing_for_our_neediest 

                                        

We believe:

                                                         

Our Values – What We Believe

Date: November 14, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/our_values_what_we_believe_blog 

                                                        

We believe elections matter – both in Washington and here on Beacon Hill.  That is why Progressive Massachusetts is actively working with key legislators to ensure that the issues we care about are front and center.

As bills are drafted and sponsored, we will alert our members to both opportunities to move Massachusetts forward as well as policies that threaten to undermine our communities and all our residents’ well-being.  Over the course of the legislative session, we will be following the progress of these bills closely and working with both our members and like-minded legislators to ensure passage for the bills we favor and defeat for those we don’t.

But in all we do, we will always be guided by our values.  Progressive Mass works to move our Commonwealth  toward a future where the values of equal opportunity, social and economic justice, consumer and environmental protection, health care as a right, equal access to quality public services, respect for all residents and accountable and transparent government are given top priority.                                                         

                         

        

Now What? The long-term work of bending the arc

Author: Harmony Wu

Date: November 15, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/now_what_the_long_term_work_of_bending_the_arc 

                        

WHAT DOES/DOESN’T HAPPEN AFTER ELECTIONS

I’ve now worked as a grassroots volunteer and organizer on a number of campaigns since Obama 2008 (my first). After they end, there’s the glow and satisfaction of the win (or depression and coming to terms with the loss). The grassroots team that worked doggedly for months and months recognizes that what we did was important and good, regardless of outcome, and there’s a resolve to keep the momentum going.

What DOESN’T happen: the campaigns themselves do not reach out and help provide structure for ongoing engagement. (Apart from occasional appeals of money and calls to support legislation). Field organizers who provided recruitment support, software and events are no longer there. The binary outcome of “WIN”/”LOSE” on a specific date disappears.

More often than not, without the urgency and infrastructure, the ‘team’ falls away. Then, when another important election comes around, organizers and campaigns spend a lot of valuable time trying to “re-find” the people who were so active and important the last time around… reinventing the wheel.

The consequences aren’t only electoral. In between elections comes the hard part-–actually governing. “Politics” and ideas become actual legislation-–or not. An organized grassroots -–so important and influential in campaigns-– can also be a powerful force in affecting legislation.

I believe that many of the disappointments progressives felt after Obama 2008 were as much our responsibility as the President’s: he told us to “make him” do what we elected him for. OFA was a great idea and effort. But Organizing for America was always a campaign and Democratic Party offshoot, limiting what they’d be willing to go after. Katrina vanden Hoovel articulated this in 2010:

There were costs associated with channeling progressive energy through the administration. Obama aides, led by Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, argued fiercely against going after the Democrats-–-Blue Dogs and New Dems-–-who were impeding reform, and the White House chose not to mobilize its base to pressure them. Groups were often blindsided by backroom deals like the one with the drug companies that sustained the ban on negotiating lower drug prices.

[update: David Bernstein addresses the disappointments of the first term, in this week's Phoenix]

I do not want to simply criticize the candidates/electeds or lament lost opportunities over the last few cycles, but rather be realistic and forward thinking.

It may be impossible, philosophically and practically, for a governing elected to maintain a true grassroots base organized for action. Re-election and institutional power is an endemic part of any campaign or Party infrastructure.  Our leaders need a force to their left, to act as counter-weight to the opposing forces of big corporations and their influence, the center-right mainstream media/punditry, and the temptation to succumb to the path of less resistance (which is rarely the best course). That doesn’tcome from an organization that is focused on re-election or maintaining support.

It is 2012 now. We know of the pitfalls and limits of post-election organizing, and this time, we should be ready:

…to help — or to push — President Obama to have a successful second term…

But we don’t need tweaks; we need deep structural change. It’s up to the organized people who defeated organized money at the polls in this election to make that happen. [from The Nation]

While no one is expecting you/us to stay as engaged and work as hard as we do during important elections, it also makes no sense to let a great effort and team disappear in between those important elections. We care about the policies and issues-–that’s why we invested so much time and work in our candidates, not just because we thought Pres. Obama is a great guy. We support him (and Elizabeth Warren and everyone else) by working, between elections, to turn their ideas into policies. (Not to mention that there WILL be important elections again, very soon!).

BENDING THE ARC TAKES TIME, WORK, PEOPLE

Grassroots power is not turned on and off and back on again with a switch, at a moment’s notice. To truly build an effective movement, one that mobilizes true change, it takes long-term organizing, work, relationship-building, and collaboration with others who share our common goals.

We have power; let’s focus it and put it to use!

Translating Election Results Into Action

                                         

Date: November 14, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/translating_election_results_into_action

Up_to_Us_v1.jpgThe election is over and progressives throughout the state are celebrating – and enjoying a brief respite. But what we are hearing from organizers across the Commonwealth is that they are anxious to stay involved. They want to see the results of the election mean something – in Washington and on Beacon Hill.

>>> Why is continuing to organize so important? Read more here!

Over the next six weeks, progressives are meeting in living rooms and community centers around the State to talk about what’s next.

>>> Check our events for a meeting near you! Or host one if you don’t see one yet!

We already have organizers planning meetings in Newton, Cambridge, JP, Third Middlesex, Natick, Springfield and Western Mass, and more all the time! It’s clear activists and volunteers are ready to stay engaged.

Can you help organize a session in your community? Let us know, below!

At these meetings we will:

                                                         

Campaign for Our Communities

Date: November 25, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/campaign_for_our_communities_blog 

                        

                

ourcommunities.jpg

The Campaign for Our Communities was formed to improve the quality of life for Massachusetts families and the strength of our economy; we need to make smart investments in our people and communities.   To fund those investments we support tax reforms that will raise substantial new revenue while holding down increases for low and middle income families.

Our Principles:

Our model legislation, An Act to Invest in Our Communities, would raise $1.37 billion dollars by restoring the income tax rate to 5.95% while increasing the personal exemption to hold down increases for low and middle income families, and raising the tax rate on investment income to 8.95%, with an exemption for low and middle income seniors.

Our plan is to pass major revenue reform in the Commonwealth in 2013. In order to do that, we are engaged in an 18-month campaign to make the demand for investment in our communities clear by:

Draft Letter/Email to Legislators

Dear (Name of Elected Official)

I want my community to have good schools, well-maintained roads, bridges, and public transportation, safe neighborhoods, and affordable health care. These are just a few of the things we need to make our communities good places to live, work and raise a family. They are also critical to strengthening our economy.

These services require investment – not budget cuts year after year. Please support tax reforms that raise substantial new revenue for our communities, and do so in a way that holds down increases for low and middle income families and seniors.

Thank you for your support!

Draft Letter to the Editor

We Need to Invest in Our Communities

I am a (long time) resident of (city/town). I moved here because (reason which relates to services provided or amenities like good schools, open spaces, etc). I want my community to have good schools, well-maintained roads, bridges, and public transportation, safe neighborhoods, and affordable health care. These are just a few of the things we need to make our communities good places to live, work and raise a family. They are also critical to strengthening our economy.

These services require investment – not budget cuts year after year. Over the past decade, (city/town) has lost substantial local aid (specific amounts can be found here http://ourcommunities.org/map.php)

I support tax reforms that raise substantial new revenue for our communities, and do so in a way that holds down increases for low and middle income families and seniors. I urge all of my neighbors – and our elected officials to do the same

After national progressive victories, time for bold vision from Massachusetts progressive leaders

Author: State Sen. Jamie Eldridge

Date: November 26, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/after_national_progressive_victories_time_for_bold_vision_from_massachusetts_progressive_leaders 

                        

                                                                 

The challenge for progressives is to develop a clear, specific and focused agenda, and communicate these priorities to every Massachusetts State Representative and State Senator

Guest post from State Senator Jamie Eldridge — Two weeks ago, I attended the Progressive States Network (PSN) annual conference in Washington, DC. Through PSN, progressive state legislators from across the United States are connected to policies that make real differences in people’s lives, including in education, immigration reform, and health care. My State House legislative work on corporate tax credit transparency, green jobs, and improved access to lending to small businesses and working families (through a state bank) has been strengthened by my collaboration with PSN.

Over one hundred progressive legislators, from over 30 states, made this year’s conference its largest yet, an encouraging sign for the next generation of progressive leaders: among these legislators are tomorrow’s Governors, US Senators and Representatives, and perhaps even a President.

With good reason, participants and speakers were energized, hopeful and emboldened by the November 6th election results:

Many of these new members ran populist campaigns, focused on raising taxes on the wealthy, and clearly opposing cuts to Social Security and other domestic programs.

One of these newly elected progressives is, of course, Massachusetts’s own Elizabeth Warren, whose stature as a national progressive voice was inescapable at PSN. Many in attendance expressed their high hopes that Elizabeth Warren will lead the fight on issues like opposing cuts to domestic spending, taking on Wall Street and Big Oil, and cutting our military budget.

Massachusetts had progressive victories at the state level, too. Democrats picked up four seats in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and a number of Democratic seats will be filled by progressives, including Mary Keefe of Worcester and Aaron Vega of Holyoke. Democrat Kathleen O’Connor Ives’s  victory in the First Essex Senate district brings far more progressive values than her predecessor–and in a region commonly thought as “conservative.”

TIME TO SET THE AGENDA NOW

All of these victories are incredibly exciting, so what now? Elections are promises; legislation is where these promises are meant to be kept.

All of these victories are incredibly exciting, so what now? Elections are promises; legislation is where these promises are meant to be kept.

After Election Day, legislators  start a new two-year legislative session. Between now and Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013,, legislators begin meeting with constituents, advocates and their colleagues to discuss what legislation to file, and what legislative priorities to focus on.  There are always dozens of issues that we could tackle, and legislation for the next session, on virtually every public policy concern, will be filed by mid-January. The challenge, then, for progressives across the state is to develop a clear, specific and focused agenda, and communicate these priorities to every State Representative and State Senator.

We have enjoyed two weeks of well-deserved celebration. Now it’s time to put that energy back into organizing for what progressives across Massachusetts want from the leaders they worked so hard to elect. Progressive activists across the state are beginning to discuss their policy priorities for Massachusetts in the next session (and in Washington for our federal representatives). Progressive legislators have been starting these conversations, too.

We have seen time and again that it is not enough to elect good progressives–we need to give them a political mandate from the grassroots, so that they may fight the big monied special interests and, as Governor Patrick says, “grow a backbone” necessary to do the right thing.

Once elected, the political system can often weaken the progressive edge of even the most promising candidate. The grassroots must hold them to their promises, and help make the progressive agenda central to the conversation on policy.

Throughout the fall, progressives organizations across the state have been meeting and discussing what the progressive agenda should be for the next two years.  For example, Progressive Massachusetts is calling organizers, activists and concerned citizens to meet locally across the state–to celebrate, strengthen our progressive network, and take action to push for progressive policy. If you’d like to organize a Progressive Mass meeting of your own, or sign up to attend one in your area, go to http://progma.us/elexnintoaxn

If you’re a Massachusetts progressive, now is the time to advocate for the policies you care most about–the reasons that compelled you to work so hard for progressive candidates.

And if you’re a progressive legislator, we must work now on a strong and clear agenda, so that we can hit the ground running in January on making a more progressive Massachusetts.

______________

Senator Jamie Eldridge is a

progressive Democrat from

Acton, Massachusetts

The Dridge Report

@JamieEldridgeMA

JamieEldridge.com

It’s Up to Us

Date: November 27, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/its_up_to_us         

                        

                                                                

The election is over and progressives throughout the state are celebrating – and enjoying a brief respite.  But activists and organizers across the Commonwealth say they are anxious to stay involved.  They want to see the results of the election mean something – in Washington and on Beacon Hill.

In between elections comes the hard part-–actually governing. “Politics” and ideas become actual legislation-–or not. An organized grassroots -–so important and influential in campaigns-– can also be a powerful force in affecting legislation.

Help make our victories mean something.  See if there’s a meeting in your area (more are coming!)–and if there isn’t, host one in your community – fill out the form below!

ORGANIZERS' KIT

BEFORE THE MEETING:

Review the Agenda and Print Out Materials:

AFTER THE SESSION:

 

 

                                                         

Compact for A True Commonwealth

                                         

Date: November 30, 2012

Legacy URL:  https://www.progressivemass.com/compact_for_a_true_commonwealth                           

The message of the last election is clear.  The people of Massachusetts said that it’s time to invest to create jobs and opportunity for the middle class and for people striving to enter the middle class. Here in Massachusetts, we must translate this mandate into reality at the state level.

Progressive Mass has spent some time working with several progressive legislators, drafting our view of what this election means for Massachusetts. We intend to use this document as a basis for setting our legislative priorities over the course of the next session. It is a first attempt to translate our belief statements into policy.

Tell us what you think!

At the Crossroads: The Compact for A True Commonwealth

With our overwhelming vote for Barack Obama and Elizabeth Warren, on November 6, 2012, the people of Massachu­setts declared that it’s time to invest, to create jobs and opportunity for the middle class and for people striving to enter the middle class. We pronounced the old scheme—cutting taxes on the wealthy and creating special tax breaks for insiders—a failure. We affirmed, as President Obama and Elizabeth Warren have argued, that the economy must grow from the middle outwards. We have no more tolerance for warmed over “trickle-down” policies.

Investing in our economy from the middle out is the national mandate for President Obama in his second term and Elizabeth Warren in her first. And it is the mandate for the Commonwealth, too: we must enact these policies and strengthen this vision at the local and state level.

We already know how to do it: after World War II, we built the strongest economy and proudest middle class in history by investing in healthy communities and education, developing infrastructure, and partnering public investment with private industry.

Massachusetts has the economic engine, creative and intellectual capital, environment, historic models, energy and inspiration to reinvest in, re-create and grow a true Common Wealth. We can build more opportunity and more equity, better prospects and greater justice. We can return to our foundational ideals that shaped our state and then defined our nation. We can use the power and strength of our economy to shape a better society.

We do this by investing in people

We do this by investing in jobs and the middle-class

We do this by investing in infrastructure

We do this by fairly and adequately funding our government

We can do this

We have done it before. With leadership, political courage and grassroots advocacy, we will do it now, again.

For over 200 years, we have led the nation, always by investing in the future and with a deep sense of obligation to democratic self-determination and the community good:

This Compact is offered in the spirit of these inspiring firsts. We aim to be both pragmatic and idealistic, detailing specific ways to realize a common vision for our Commonwealth. We call on our legislators to make 2012’s promise a reality—and on our fellow citizens to insist that they do.

                                                         

Ideals Aren’t Enough – We are Taking Action (Needham)

                        

Date: December 4, 2012

Legacy URL:                  https://www.progressivemass.com/ideals_arent_enough_we_are_taking_action_needham                                                           

                        

From Stacie Shapiro, who hosted an “Up to Us” Meeting on Sunday – Needham grassroots volunteers worked hard in the 2012 campaign, for Barack Obama in New Hampshire, and locally, for Elizabeth Warren and Joe Kennedy. We knocked on doors, made phone calls, held signs, wrote letters, and played an active role in getting our democratic candidates elected.

Sunday, we met again to discuss how we can keep the momentum going and find ways to stay engaged in the political process now that the election is over.

We shared our experiences from the campaign, and although there were many different highlights, a few themes were prominent:

Personal interaction with voters as well as organizers was critical.

Engaging new voters and new volunteers in the electoral process serves us well now and in the future.

After the election debrief, we discussed advocating for issues on the state level.  As many as 6,000 bills will be filed in the MA Legislature next month.  Most will not be controversial, but it’s critical that we have a system that alerts us to those we need to speak-out on, either defensively against bad bills, or as advocates for great policy that needs our grassroots support to survive the political system.

We seem to be in agreement that all the issues we care about; health care, education, jobs, MBTA and much more, hang in the balance of the revenue crisis, and that progressive revenue reform is something we could likely all get behind.  We are hopeful that a bill will be filed in the current session that supports progressive revenue reform, much like the bill “An Act to Invest in Our Community,” from the last legislative session.  Some of us are already preparing to advocate for it with our legislators, and making plans to educate the community through grassroots outreach and community presentations.

There is much more to discuss, and people are enthusiastic about keeping things going. We understand that it’s not enough to have ideals and be passionate about them, we need to act upon them and turn them into policy.

We’ll be getting together soon after the new year to share more thoughts and ideas, and come up with a strategy for moving forward. We welcome new partners in our work! For Needham area activists whom we haven’t met yet, you can get plugged in by signing up at Progressive Mass.  Also, contact us at (NeedhamGrassroots@massroots.org) and we’ll make sure to invite you to the next meeting!

                                                         

It’s Up to Us — ACTION!

Date: December 5, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/its_up_to_us_action

         

This is a web version of the hand-out you received at one of the “It’s Up to Us” election debrief/celebration meetings, Dec 2012-Jan 2013.

Thank you for keeping the momentum of 2012 going! By meeting with fellow progressives to organize and strategize for the coming year, we are building a long-term grassroots infrastructure, which is necessary to effect the change we want to see. We have a long arc to bend, and we are in this for the long haul! We have identified a few actions you can take in the near term:

Grow the progressive grassroots

Get connected and amplify the progressive message

We are stronger when we work together

Reach out to others

Join the Campaign for Our Communities

We must tell our elected officials that our communities need more revenue and more investment if we are to thrive. It is important to enlist our friends and neighbors in this effort.

What you can do:

Make a difference in Massachusetts

Help us seize the opportunity opened by the 2012 election. The message of the election is loud and clear: The people of Massachusetts said that it’s time to invest to create jobs and opportunity for the middle class and for people striving to enter the middle class. And we must translate this mandate into reality at the state level, here in Massachusetts.

How you can help:

Have an impact at the national level

                                                         

Keeping up the Momentum – Report from Acton It’s Up to Us

Author: Tom Dionesotes                          

Date: December 8, 2012

Legacy URL: https://www.progressivemass.com/keeping_up_the_momentum_report_from_acton_it_s_up_to_us 

On a snowy Saturday afternoon, activists from across the Middlesex & Worcester district gathered together to connect, share their experiences from the campaign, and to start the conversation about the kind of progressive change we need on Beacon Hill and in Washington, DC. Longtime activist Tom Michelman generously opened up his home in Acton for our meeting.

While we all worked hard on the coordinated 2012 campaign, the biggest take-away from the meeting is that we want to keep the momentum going!

There were many familiar faces in the crowd along with some new ones, so we went around the room and introduced ourselves.

We shared our personal stories and meaningful moments from the 2012 campaign. These ranged from seeing high school and college students get involved in politics for the first time in their lives, to whole communities of senior citizens  that people thought were conservative but ended up strongly supporting Obama, Elizabeth Warren, and other candidates on the issues.

Next, we opened up the floor to an in-detail election debrief. There was lots of praise for the coordinated campaign and strong Get-Out-the-Vote effort that resulted in a record voter turnout of over 73%!

What Went Well:

Coordination among all the campaigns went smoothly, and activists from different towns came together to support each other in key precincts and cities during GOTV

Our local campaign office was a valuable resource for organizing and a common space that helped create strong bonds between staff, team leaders, and volunteers.

We won! Strong new progressives elected around the state, and the country.

Areas to improve:

How can we get better at organizing? Can we really know which organizing and voter contact tactics worked, and where? Need for feedback and metrics.

Effective training for volunteers early on, not just around GOTV.

Quicker way to plug people into their local office, and get the word out that the Boston-area HQ is the only place to volunteer for the campaign.

What’s next?.

Senator Jamie Eldridge noted that it’s critical to have a movement of progressives to always be pushing the envelope and holding elected leaders accountable. We as progressives can’t rest on our laurels after an election- the fight continues as the conversation turns to legislation and policy.

We collected feedback and had a conversation about the issues and policies we felt passionate about and we could make a difference on.

Issues: Massachusetts

New revenue for MA- across the board, not just MBTA and transportation related.

Foreclosure and housing reform/

Election reform, with a special emphasis on reducing the long lines at the polls.

Anticorruption and governance reform

Prison reform

Issues: Federal

Elizabeth Warren on Senate Banking Committee- our wish came true!

Fiscal cliff- changing the conversation away from “cuts and deficit reduction” towards “jobs and helping real people”.

Filibuster reform in the US Senate, to break some of the gridlock.

Next steps- we pledged to:

Stay connected! Both locally, and with like-minded progressives across Massachusetts. Connect on common issue we’re passionate about.

Stay informed! We’re collecting feedback on compact for a true commonwealth, to make sure progressives are on the same page to push forward a unified agenda for the next legislative session

Take action! Write letters to the editor in support of Filibuster reform, need for Washington to resolve the Fiscal cliff without inflicting painful cuts on those who have already suffered the most in this recession, and to support fair taxation for the wealthiest Americans.

                                                         

We’re In This Together – Report from Somerville It’s Up to Us

                                         

Author: David Sloane

Date: December 14, 2012

Link: https://www.progressivemass.com/we_re_in_this_together_report_from_somerville_it_s_up_to_us 

Progressive Mass collaborated with Cambridge-Somerville for Change and Progressive Democrats of Somerville to hold a post-election debrief for progressive activists, in and around Somerville.  Volunteers and organizers from  multiple campaigns got together at the First Church of Somerville and were joined by progressive leader State Senator Pat Jehlen.  We shared coffee, donuts and bagels, and talked about our experiences.  Active supporters of Elizabeth Warren, Obama-Biden, Somerville’s Question 4, and Mike Connolly’s campaign for State Representative gathered near Davis Square, eager to revisit our victories and consider what comes next.  While most folks were from Somerville, others came from Cambridge, Arlington, and Winchester.

We had some lively discussions about campaign priorities, how to get voters to the polls, and how to improve the voting process.

What Worked?

Recommendations:

At the end of the session, organizers talked about connecting with activist groups to build on the energy and organization of the 2012 campaigns.  Tony Mack talked about the genesis of Progressive Massachusetts, and the opportunities for organizing across the commonwealth to pass more progressive legislation on Beacon Hill.  Everyone seemed to agree that staying organized, and working together was an important priority, and we hope attendees will stay connected through Progressive Mass and the other local organizations working toward more post-election progressive victories.