- PWG’s 6-Issues Endorsement & Support
- PWG seat on Progressive Maryland Board
- Funding PWG Activities
- Information Distribution for PWG Members
- PWG co-sponsoring a Legislative Forum
1. PWG Endorses Six Issues
The Progressive Working Group (PWG) met Sunday, December 12 at the Wheaton Regional Library. At that meeting the PWG members voted to focus on 6 issues during the 2011 General Assembly session:
The Progressive Working Group (PWG) met Sunday, December 12 at the Wheaton Regional Library. At that meeting the PWG members voted to focus on 6 issues during the 2011 General Assembly session:
- Transparency and Equal Access in Government,
- Combined Reporting,
- Offshore Wind Power,
- Campaign Finance Reform,
- Maryland Health Security Act and
- Fund our Communities: Bring the War Dollars Home Initiative.
In addition, the PWG has agreed to promote members' efforts and organizing around other progressive issues. The PWG welcomes progressive organizations to join our efforts as members, and will support and facilitate organizing and communications on issues and events member organizations work on in Maryland.
The PWG launched during the Spring of 2008, and has met several times over the past few years--usually in Montgomery or Prince Georges Counties. A sister PWG is operating in Howard and Baltimore Counties. Last year, a number of organizations endorsed PWG's issues and worked with our coalition including: Audubon Naturalist Society, CASA of Maryland, Democracy for Montgomery County, Equality Maryland, Health Care Now MD, Montgomery County Progressive Alliance, Montgomery Health Care Action, PeaceAction Montgomery, Patients' Union, Peace and Justice of Prince George's County, Progressive Cheverly, Progressive Democrats of America, Progressive Neighbors, SAVE Our Votes, Transparency and Equal Access in Government (TEAG), Upcounty Action, and WeGreen Global. Please contact us if your organization should be added to or removed from this list.
The PWG launched during the Spring of 2008, and has met several times over the past few years--usually in Montgomery or Prince Georges Counties. A sister PWG is operating in Howard and Baltimore Counties. Last year, a number of organizations endorsed PWG's issues and worked with our coalition including: Audubon Naturalist Society, CASA of Maryland, Democracy for Montgomery County, Equality Maryland, Health Care Now MD, Montgomery County Progressive Alliance, Montgomery Health Care Action, PeaceAction Montgomery, Patients' Union, Peace and Justice of Prince George's County, Progressive Cheverly, Progressive Democrats of America, Progressive Neighbors, SAVE Our Votes, Transparency and Equal Access in Government (TEAG), Upcounty Action, and WeGreen Global. Please contact us if your organization should be added to or removed from this list.
Several other organizations including Common Cause MD, Progressive Maryland, the MD Sierra Club, and the Montgomery County Education Association have worked with the PWG on specific issues. We endorsed a variety of issues in the 2009 and 2010 General Assembly sessions.
2. The PWG Steering Committee is recommending that the PWG apply for a seat on the Progressive Maryland (PM) Board.
At the December 12th meeting, by a vote of 10-0 with 6 abstentions, those present agreed that it would be beneficial for the PWG to join the PM Board. Issues of cost were not directly addressed in this vote. Some of the potential benefits of joining the Board include:
· It will allow us to develop better working relations with the member organizations that sit on the PM Board.
· It will allow us to better understand the decision processes that PM goes through regarding issues and candidates.
· It will give us a place at the table when those decisions are being made with the possibility of some small influence over the outcomes.
· It brings us into a multi-issue progressive advocacy organization (Progressive Maryland) which has significant resources, staff, and contacts.
· It creates opportunities to broaden the working families agenda of Progressive Maryland.
· It will allow us to better understand the decision processes that PM goes through regarding issues and candidates.
· It will give us a place at the table when those decisions are being made with the possibility of some small influence over the outcomes.
· It brings us into a multi-issue progressive advocacy organization (Progressive Maryland) which has significant resources, staff, and contacts.
· It creates opportunities to broaden the working families agenda of Progressive Maryland.
Based on further discussions with PM Director Rion Dennis, we can add the following clarifications:
(a) The PM Board, including the labor members are working to expand PM's membership and broaden its issue focus beyond labor-specific legislation.
(b) The PM Board believes that everyone on the Board needs to make some financial commitment. Based on discussion with Rion, we believe that a $250/year dues payment would satisfy this requirement.
(c) Organizational members of the PM Board are not bound by board decisions on specific issues.
3. The PWG Steering Committee (SC) approved a combination of voluntary membership dues ($30/year per organization) plus continued passing of the hat at meetings to raise funds to meet organizational needs. Potential costs include printing, room rentals, web site, Progressive Maryland membership, registering PWG as a non-stock corporation in Maryland. We are expecting the dues or equivalent amount of $30 from any group that wants to participate in our coalition and have a voice at our meetings. In addition, even if your organization is unable to formally join the PWG, we would welcome any contribution in lieu of dues to help defray organizational costs. There is no paid staff.
4. The PWG SC agreed to distribute information on events or actions being promoted by participating organizations, using our listserv, our blog and/or other available means. We established the following provisos:
(a) the requesting organization has endorsed at least one of the six priority issues for this year's General Assembly session, and
(b) no candidate fundraisers will be advertised.
You can submit requested items to Norm Oslik at noslik@verizon.net. We will do our best to get relevant communications out in a timely manner.
5. The PWG is co-sponsoring a legislative forum with Progressive Neighbors on Sunday, January 23rd from 2-4pm.
5. The PWG is co-sponsoring a legislative forum with Progressive Neighbors on Sunday, January 23rd from 2-4pm.
You are invited to hear from and question our elected state legislators.
WHEN; Sunday afternoon Jan. 23rd, 2 p.m.
WHERE: IMPACT Silver Spring – 825 Wayne Ave., Silver Spring (entrance across from the Whole Foods, located at the old Hollywood Video)
WHY: Maryland faces a significant budget deficit. Will it be balanced on the backs of working Marylanders or will more progressive solutions be offered?
WHO: Sponsored by Progressive Neighbors and Progressive Working Group. Hosted by Impact Silver Spring.
The following legislators have confirmed to date: Senators Jamie Raskin and Roger Manno; and Delegates Heather Mizeur, Eric Luedtke, Tom Hucker, Sheila Hixson, Shane Robinson, Ana Sol Gutierrez and Bonnie Cullison.
Among the issues to be discussed: combined corporate income reporting, equal access to government and greater transparency, offshore wind farms, MD Health Security Act (Single Payer), campaign finance reform, and getting the MD General Assembly to urge our congressional delegation to help cut military spending at the Federal level. For more information: Email malakoff@starpower.net or 301-587-5559
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