Regular readers of this blog know that I'm active on state and local education issues and have been for many, many years. I'm active on other issues that make a difference in our communities, too, like improving our revenue picture, ensuring environmental justice and addressing climate change; pushing for single payer healthcare; and affordable housing.
Especially in such politically polarizing times, I'm excited to have the opportunity to work collaboratively with others, especially those who are passionate to move our progressive values forward! All groups endeavor to be strategic. Certainly, different groups employ various tactics to achieve their goals. Being part of a diverse group of progressives strengthens organizations and sharpens activists' skills.
Likewise, there are many ways to organize around issues and many ways to organize on the issues. I decided some years ago to put my energy behind several groups*. Though, more and more lately, I'm leaving "non-partisan" groups behind for, what seems like, obvious reasons.
This post is probably much longer than it needs to be...
Here, then, are the issues I'm getting behind, which I have organized into some broad categories:
Especially in such politically polarizing times, I'm excited to have the opportunity to work collaboratively with others, especially those who are passionate to move our progressive values forward! All groups endeavor to be strategic. Certainly, different groups employ various tactics to achieve their goals. Being part of a diverse group of progressives strengthens organizations and sharpens activists' skills.
Likewise, there are many ways to organize around issues and many ways to organize on the issues. I decided some years ago to put my energy behind several groups*. Though, more and more lately, I'm leaving "non-partisan" groups behind for, what seems like, obvious reasons.
This post is probably much longer than it needs to be...
Here, then, are the issues I'm getting behind, which I have organized into some broad categories:
- REVENUE Without adequate revenue, our communities cannot thrive. Decisions made at the state level, beginning about twenty years ago, have reduced revenues by nearly $4 billion. Developing each fiscal year's Budget means we always begin from a deficit. Often repeated, because it's true: A budget is a moral document. We fund what we value. Certainly the State Budget is a statement of our shared values. If it's not funding things we value at an adequate level, why not? And what are we going to do about it?
- EDUCATION Key among the issues here are Foundation Budget Reform (K-12 public education funding), development and supportive legislation for Early Education and Care (0-5), and guaranteeing access to Vocational Education Programs for any students that want it. I'm also interested in following a Media Literacy proposal and two on Higher Ed: CHERISH and Debt-free College, plus a couple of proposals concerning Charter Schools.
- K-12 Education
- An Act to increase student access to career technical education schools and programs which are aligned with regional labor market needs, Brodeur HD.3279
- An Act relative to Media Literacy in Public Schools, Rogers, H.561
- An Act relative to Student Assessment Data, Jehlen S.296
- An Act strengthening Charter School Data Reporting, Lewis, S.306
- An Act relative to the Financial Impact of Charter Schools, Jehlen, S.298
- An Act Implementing ESSA, Jehlen, S.299
- ENERGY | ENVIRONMENT The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change latest report indicates we have only 12 years to drastically upgrade our energy policies if we wish to avoid the worst effects of climate change. We need advocacy for environmental justice in many of our communities, especially those with a majority of people of color and low incomes. We must work to rapidly reduce carbon pollution, reduce carbon-based energy production, address climate change and global warming, improve the environment, and oppose building new fossil fuel infrastructure.
- AFFORDABLE HOUSING Working with advocates to support efforts to increase the amount of affordable housing, possibly through identification of dedicated funding to expand and maintain affordable housing, and/or other strategies to incentivize the creation and maintenance of affordable housing. Including housing production reform, rental voucher program reform, fair housing, and eviction sealing. CHAPA's Legislative Agenda is HERE.
- HEALTH CARE + PROTECTING WOMEN'S HEALTH AND REPRODUCTIVE CHOICES, including single payer, campus sexual assault, access to abortion, maternal health.
- ELECTION REFORM, especially for restoring voting rights to convicted felons: time for Early Voting, Same Day and Election Day Voter Registration, and Ranked Choice Voting; undo Citizens United.
- VotingRights
- Constitutional amendment relative to voting rights, Hinds S.12
- Emergency Preamble to restore voting rights to prisoners incarcerated with felony convictions, Hinds S.405
- Ranked Choice Voting
- An Act to use of Ranked Choice Voting, Lewis, S.414
- An Act supporting parents running for public office, Jehlen, S.408
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Image credit: State House as seen from walking up Beacon Hill from the Park Street T stop ~ mas
* Other professional and civic affiliations I've joined include: ACLU, LWV, Lexington Democratic Town Committee (LDTC), Lexington Town Meeting Members' Association (TMMA), Media Literacy Now, National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE), National Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Planned Parenthood, Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts, Progressive Massachusetts