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SiX Polls: Voters Want State Support
A ten-state poll conducted for SiX shows overwhelming support for policies that would ensure fair elections, protect public health, dismantle racist barriers to voting and economic well being, and strengthen public schools. Nevadans support improved access to voting and are concerned about corporate liability immunity. Florida voters felt that the worst of the pandemic has yet to come, and 71% said they are forced to choose between their health and their job. Michiganders strongly supported mail-in ballot access. Above all, residents made clear they are counting on their state governments to invest in their safety and economic security. More information can be found here.
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California’s Popular Budget Solution
As states scramble to find innovative solutions to revamp their economy, California’s Assembly is proposing a bill that would tax the state’s ultra-wealthy to fund state programs. The bill would tax .4% of a resident’s net worth if it exceeds $30 million for single and joint tax form filers and $15 million for married couples filing separately. This could yield an additional $7.5 billion for the general fund. California’s wealth tax would be a first but could set a precedent for such a policy in other states. The policy idea is very popular; the recent poll described above shows that an overwhelming percentage of respondents in 10 targeted states support an increase in taxes on the wealthiest individuals.
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The Continual Fight for the Vote
While this week we acknowledged the 100 year anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, giving white women the right to vote, we also faced new, unprecedented attacks on our democracy. At every level, the fight continues. Georgia Senator Nikema Williams, Mississippi Representative Zakiya Summers, and South Carolina Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter penned this op-ed about the progress we’ve made and the work that lies ahead. To prepare for a safe and secure election this November, we can look to recent primaries to learn lessons and take action.
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Local Food Feeds Communities and Farmers
While large food plants struggle to remain safe during the pandemic, legislators are making sure local food programs are front and center. Under Wyoming’s Food Freedom Act, for example, the state allows residents to sell homemade food directly to community members without regulations, making sure residents have access to fresh, locally sourced food and giving local farmers a boost at the same time. The law has already created much-needed income for farmers, hundreds of families, and retirees. Local food sources can be safer options; since the law took effect in 2015, there has not been a single outbreak of foodborne illness from foods sold under the law.
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States Aim to Curb Police Brutality
Protests and clashes with police have hardly died down over the last several months, and neither has the work of state legislators to curb police brutality. Virginia is considering a bill that would reduce the penalty for assaulting a police officer, a charge that is often overused in cases where there’s a claim of police brutality. States like Texas, Nevada and Oregon are working to ban the use of chokeholds by police officers. Minnesota and Colorado passed a package of police reforms and California could advance as many as 15 proposals by their August 31st end date.
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States Declare Racism a Public Health Crisis
A growing number of states have passed or considered legislation, established task forces, or enacted executive orders to name racism a public health crisis. By doing so, states like Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, and Colorado can give resources, attention, and legislative guidance to address the health disparities caused by systemic racism. While some of the declarations come with few, if any, definitive action steps, states have the opportunity to use the momentum to create bold, proactive, anti-racist state policies.
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Black Women’s Power from Suffrage to 2020
“Who else better to advocate for women and families than women?” said Tennessee State Representative London Lamar in a recent Prism article. As we mark the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, we must also remember that not all women were granted the same privilege. Black women and men experienced voter suppression through discriminatory practices like literacy tests and fought for and won expanded protections in the Voting Rights Act of 1965; Asian American immigrants were denied the vote until 1952; and many Indigenous people were not considered citizens until 1924. The fight continues today. Expanding voting rights and access is necessary to advance progressive policies about women and families, about reproductive rights, health care, and so much more. See highlights from Florida Representative Fentrice Driskell, Michigan Senator Stephanie Chang, and Kentucky Representative Attica Scott who are also champions of this intersectional work.
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Expanding Abortion Access Through Telehealth
As the pandemic makes it even more difficult to gain access to reproductive care, Georgia, notoriously known for its stance on abortion rights, is actually offering a helpful alternative. Telehealth has become more and more prevalent to patients as hospitals become overwhelmed by COVID19 and health care professionals rely on telehealth to limit in-person interactions. Now, Georgia and handful of other states are allowing abortion by telemedicine through a national study. With telemedicine, people can receive safe and effective abortion care without leaving their home.
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