January 2007

New legislators ready to go to bat
for progressive agenda

How successful will they be in the Maryland General Assembly? Stay tuned...

On January 10, our duly elected reps from the 20 th District will be sworn in and ready to serve us in the upcoming Maryland State Assembly session. So, what can we hope for from our newly elected officials? Which of their campaign pledges can reasonably be expected to be voted into law? The Purple Line, universal health care, immigrant rights, affordable housing, the living wage, campaign finance reform; are they whimsical election promises or do they stand some chance of passage?

I recently had a chance to hear some of our newly elected officials' reactions to members of several liberal congregations and Progressive Neighbors, at a gathering hosted by Machar, the secular humanist Jewish congregation. I had a personal interest in the event since I believe that liberal churches and congregations are remiss in not using their power to influence political reps. Conservative churches have rarely missed those opportunities despite church/state separation legalities.

All three officials who were able to attend, have received their committee assignments.

Tom Hucker, appointed to the Environmental Matters Committee, stressed his interest in raising the minimum wage and slowing condo conversions and hoped he'd be able to encourage workforce housing initiatives. He used Silver Spring as an example of an area we've poured a lot of money into but have done little to ensure that middle and working class people can afford to live there. He also hoped to pursue the public financing of campaigns issue - one of the priorities of Progressive Maryland.

Heather Mizeur, on the Health and Government Operations Committee, is interested in extending the age family dependent members can be covered under family medical plans, improving coverage to children and parents, making health insurance more affordable to small businesses and increasing the tobacco tax and use that revenue for healthcare reform. She stressed her commitments to equal rights legislation for gays and transgender people and reminded the audience of the February 14 citizen lobbying effort by Equality Maryland. Plus, she restated her pledge to support the clean car initiative, immigrant rights to in-state tuition, school construction funding, and a focus on vocational education needs and support for community colleges.

Sheila Hixson , chairperson of the MD House Ways and Means Committee, one of the most powerful and influential people in the General Assembly had to cancel her appearance due to other commitments.

State Senator-elect Jamie Raskin has been appointed to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. There he plans to work for legislation to promote civil rights and marriage equality, repeal the death penalty, encourage stem cell research, raise clean air standards and lower greenhouse gas emissions, fully fund kindergarten and pre-K commitments, and expand health care coverage and quality in the state.

He plans to introduce bills to lower the voter registration age to 16 to get everyone registered while still in high school, to replace corporate funding of elections with "clean" public funding, and to encourage more green construction in public schools. He also will continue his work for affordable housing and tenant rights in the midst of a "huge housing squeeze for working families."

All the candidates present were opposed to the ICC and hoped the impending legal challenges were successful in blocking the wasteful and polluting project. The Purple Line was also on everyone's priority list but creative financing was the big question mark.

The issue of corporate branding of children especially in connection with the obesity and diabetes crisis and junk food tax was also raised.

There's a bottom line here that has to do with our continuing vigilance and involvement throughout the January - April Maryland General Assembly session. Keep in touch with our elected representatives, e-mail, write, call and follow the local news. Plus, email and write other elected reps - particularly those from our County. In nearby Districts 14 and 39 for instance, Reps Rona Kramer and P.J. Hogan would not support many of our issues and priorities. The larger problem is in getting seventy House colleagues and 24 Senators to agree with our interests. Let's remember, we're all tax payers, and they need to know we're out there, involved, supportive and watching.

The November election was a victory locally for progressives. There is now the chance that some progressive campaign promises made during the election can be enacted. So it really is important that we stay (or get) involved.

One more item: on January 25, 2007 at 7:30pm there will be a public forum on transportation priorities sponsored by the County Council. To sign up and speak, call Delphine Harriston at 240 777-7931. Call early because the roster will fill up quickly.

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