Progressive Working Group Holds Successful Forums

By Sharon Dooley.

Last week the newly formed Progressive Working Group (PWG) held two forums where its Legislative agenda was presented to local legislators. The first of the two events was held at the Silver Spring co-housing site and included a partnership with Progressive Neighbors, while the second was held at the Wheaton Library. Takoma Park activist Mike Tabor served as the moderator of both events.

Progressive Working Group was formed last year as an umbrella organization. Its agenda was formulated after input from more than 30 groups from around the Prince George's and Montgomery County areas. By pooling resources and joining forces with smaller groups, some of whom are single issue, it was thought that the organization could streamline both message and marketing of the ideas and causes represented by its members. Meeting throughout the year, the members worked on multiple suggestions and agenda items after hearing presentations from associated advocates. This democratic process culminated in a large meeting where all topics were discussed, considered and voted upon. After this, member groups were solicited for support and again voiced suggestions. For these legislative discussions, turnout was heavy at both events which ended up being standing room only. All eight of the District 18 and District 20 elected officials were at the Silver Spring venue while the Wheaton event hosted 11 additional electeds from both counties. At both events, presentations were made by advocate members for the 14 selected agenda items. The elected officials were asked to support or indicate why they did not support, each particular agenda item at the Wheaton event and did so. All answers were tallied on a posted flip chart. In Silver Spring the format was a little different, but there was general support for the entire agenda by all of the elected officials with the main exception noted below.

One item that seemed more divisive was the effort to de-fund the ICC. Senator Madaleno reiterated his support for the continued expansion of this road that is despoiling upper portions of the county currently, while all of his down county colleagues indicated that they would take a stand against continuing the funding. This was also an area of disagreement in the Wheaton meeting with some of the PG legislators not being quite as familiar with the issue and others stating that there will not be a vote on the matter since it would never get out of committee and come to a floor vote; the majority, however did support de-funding.

Gender identity and open marriage bills were also problematic for some who wished to see a bill in final form before commitment. Some officials wanted to ignore the agenda and discuss their own particular education or local bills. However the rules of engagement prohibited that diversion; the moderator informed them that this was not the appropriate forum for that discussion. These sessions were set up to showcase the particular legislative agenda that all associated groups endorsed and this was what they wished to see answered. Members were also asked to address police spying, voting audits, combined reporting, high school student access by the military, limits on national guard deployment, single payer health care, real ID, in-state tuition for immigrant children, work-place fraud by contractor identity, public financing of state campaigns, and the Global Warming Solutions Act from last year. Many in the audience voiced hopes that there could be more types of these informative sessions in the future.

The particular measures, many of which already have promised sponsors for planned bills, are listed more specifically at the end of this article. Health care and Global Warming Solutions are both issues which came under great scrutiny last year and are back in improved format this year. Both promise to have passionate supporters and, perhaps detractors as well, since the lobbyists will again be out in force. The health care charge in particular hopes for added impetus from the expected Presidential push for better healthcare options. As all groups were aware of the necessary belt-tightening this year, many of these agenda items are revenue neutral or could even bring in more money to the state while others are considered more regulatory or civil rights oriented.

Is this the start of a trend toward more openness and transparency in our dialogue with those whom we elect? Can we now believe that everything that was said will be substantiated by an ultimate progressive outcome? Can a certain group of self-selected attendees push this agenda and ultimately the General Assembly toward a more liberal stance? Is there enough clout here to influence leadership support? Or as one skeptic asked – can we believe what we think we heard today? These questions will be answered in April after the session ends. The members of the Progressive Working Group have promised to keep watching and keep score and prepare a scorecard with results.

(Attention delegates and senators: If you were invited but could not attend for whatever reason – look in your inboxes for an email from the PWG – they have promised to give every local member a chance to answer the relevant issues mentioned above and be duly noted.)

Sharon Dooley is a member of the Progressive Working Group steering committee.

Attending the Silver Spring Co-Housing Site:
District 18 Senator Rich Madaleno, Delegates Ana Sol Guiterrez, Al Carr, Jeff Waldstreicher
District 20 Senator Jamie Raskin, Delegates Shelia Hixson, Heather Mizeur, Tom Hucker

Attending the Wheaton Library Site:
District 14 Delegate Karen Montgomery
District 17 Delegate Jim Gilchrist
District 19 Senator Mike Lennett, Delegates Ben Kramer, Roger Manno
District 39 Kirill Reznik
District 22 Senator Paul Pinsky,
District 24 Delegate Joanne Benson,
District 47 Senator David Harrington, Delegates Victor Ramirez, Jolene Ivy

Issues Presented –(non-ranked)
1. Health Security Act (single payer)
2. Global Warming Solutions Act
3. De-fund the ICC
4. In-state college tuition for non-citizen immigrant children
5. Opposition to Real ID in current form
6. ASVAB(Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)-Protect Student Privacy
7. Bring MD National Guard Home from Iraq
8. Electoral Integrity - post-election audits; voting process transparency
9. Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act
10. Gender Identity and Expression Protections
11. No police spying on lawful activities
12. Public Financing of General Assembly Campaigns
13. Workforce Fraud Bill (Misclassification of workers as independent contractors)
14. Combined reporting