Dear Friend,
Happy May Day! May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day, symbolizes solidarity for working people! Here at Progressive Maryland, we'll channel the spirit of May Day as we gear up for a busy month. We have several issue campaigns and new initiatives in the works, and we're excited to continue organizing and building power for all Marylanders. You’re an important part of this work so be sure to read on for updates and the ways in which you can get involved. Thank you!
In Solidarity, The Progressive Maryland Team |
Here’s what’s in today’s memo: - PM task forces & issue campaigns: HCTF & RCTF
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Local chapter updates: Harford County
- State & National news
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Updates: PM Task Forces & Issue Campaigns |
Healthcare Justice Campaign
We’re in it to win it: Lower Rx prices, accountability from the health insurance industry, support for people with medical debt, care for people with no access to care, and fundamental changes in our healthcare system. Maryland is taking a big step in 2023 to reduce the amount of money we’re spending for high cost drugs. The state’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board appears to be on schedule for announcing plans this summer to put upper payment limits on some high cost drugs that our local and state government purchase. All of us will benefit from these savings! Listen to last week’s story from WYPR: Maryland will soon be the first state. The progress being made is the result of the persistent advocacy of a coalition of terrific organizations, the leadership of Delegate Pena Melnyk, Chair of the HGO Committee in the House (and other lawmakers) and the work of the Board, its staff and Stakeholders Council. To learn more click here.
Our Care Over Cost campaign, targeting the abuses and price gouging of health insurance companies, kicks off in Maryland this week! We can’t wait to start knocking on doors, tabling at community events, and talking to our current healthcare supporters and partners about joining us in this growing national grassroots campaign. We need you! Please contact Patty to get involved. And take a minute to sign our petition!
Every day there’s another story in the news about how insurance companies are denying or cutting off care for life saving treatments. Please listen to the story of this Ohio family: An NPR story Do you or someone you know have a story or experience about being denied care or having a claim turned down? Let us know! Contact Patty.
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Returning Citizens Task Force
The next meeting of the RCTF will feature a talk by Dr. Felix Martinez-Sanchez, an adjunct professor at Howard who has been active in Riverdale and other Latino neighborhoods in Prince George’s. The meeting will be held tomorrow, May 2 at 6:30 pm. Here is the Zoom link. Join us at the Samuel P. Massie Community Day in Forestville on May 20th. The RCTF will have a table there where we will hand out literature on housing in order to promote our work in the community.
If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Kurt. |
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Progressive Harford County Next up, Progressive Harford will table at Havre de Grace First Fridays this Friday, May 5 and throughout the summer. Sign up for a tabling shift. Don't forget to sign up for Progressive Harford's next chapter meeting on May 15 at 7 p.m. on Zoom |
State and National News:
The hottest news in Maryland today (Monday) is Senator Ben Cardin’s announcement that he won’t seek re-election next year, after 58 consecutive years in elected office and three terms in the Senate. His departure enlivens Maryland’s previously sleepy electoral calendar for 2023-4 and thrusts forward a flock of potential Democratic candidates, some more likely than others. If former Gov. Larry Hogan decides to enter the GOP side of the race it could be a contest. But Cardin told the Baltimore Sun after his announcement “ ‘I am extremely confident we will hold the seat,’ he said of Democrats.”
But there is lots more to be amazed by, as allegedly true-blue Maryland still has some 'splaining to do. A two-year-old law requiring Police Accountability Boards in local and county-level jurisdictions is slow to develop. How will the federal infrastructure money flow, and can local governments avoid being sent to the back of the line? An incinerator is kept polluting by contract law. And our state's first-in-the-nation Prescription Drug Affordability Board, at nearly four years old, is only now getting prepped to actually save money for prescription customers. Corporate interests still have huge influence in the General Assembly and local governments around the state, and it hurts working families.
Stop grinding your teeth; your dentist would not approve. And read all these just-gettin-around-to-it sagas in News You Can Use. |
Don't forget to follow us on social media! |
Progressive Maryland
P.O. Box 6988
Largo, MD 20792
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