Dear Friend,

We’re excited to celebrate the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act! Democrats in the Senate and in the House joined forces to pass the landmark climate/healthcare/fair taxes legislation that now heads to President Biden’s desk. The sustained organizing of grassroots activists across the country paid off! Progressive Maryland supported the original Build Back Better bill that passed the House months ago and we have continued campaigning throughout the year to win a good bill in the Senate. The Progressive Caucus and progressive champions in Congress did an excellent job in pushing to keep important Rx price negotiations, the minimum corporate tax rate on billionaire corporations and serious investments in reducing this country’s carbon emissions.They also helped defeat anti-immigrant riders and numerous other bad amendments from the Republicans. The measure doesn’t address everything that workers and families need but it brings us a step closer to a better future.

When we consider the fact that not a single Republican supported the IRA, and as we watch the actions of far right Governors and state legislatures in several states, it’s clear that this could be one of the most important elections our country has ever held. The choice on the November ballot is stark and clear: Candidates who support health care for all, abortion rights, overdue changes to drug policy and reforms to our justice system. Candidates who support voting rights, the rule of law and our democracy. These candidates are up against a Republican party that supports attacks on our democracy, on women’s rights, and LGBTQ rights. They’re facing a Republican party dedicated to undermining our public education system and turning back progress on racial justice and civil rights.

The choice here in Maryland is very clear. Trumpism is on the ballot in the likes of Congressman Andy Harris and Republican nominees for Governor and Attorney General, Dan Cox and Michael Peroutka.They and their white nationalist views have now been embraced enthusiastically by Bob Errlich, former Maryland GOP governor who was once labeled a “moderate.”

We’re ready to organize across the state to defeat these awful candidates and we know supporters like you are, too. There are a few ways to participate and we hope that one of these actions might work for you and your busy lives. Thanks for considering staying or getting involved with us and for all that you’re doing!

–Become a member. Membership dues ($5, $8, $10, $12 a month, whatever works for you) fund our year round outreach and organizing on issue and election campaigns.

–Make a donation to our political program to support progressive Democratic candidates like Wes Moore and Anthony Brown running at the top of the ticket; as well as local folks running to make a difference on the Eastern Shore, in Frederick, Harford, Prince George's and Anne Arundel Counties.

–Help us reach voters to let them know about the importance of participating in the 2022 Election! We’ve only got 85 days until Nov. 8th!!

Many Thanks,
The PM Team

📝 Update On Election Results:
Montgomery County: The official certified results are in for the County Executive race. Marc Elrich has won re-election! The margin of victory is 35 votes so challenger David Blair has said he’ll request a recount. That process should begin this week, it’s not clear how long it will take.
Progessive Maryland in the news:
Our Primary victories were highlighted in Maryland Matters last week: Progressive Maryland counts wins
PM has been leading a grassroots campaign to win a fair election system in Anne Arundel County. The process requires collecting 10,000 signatures to place the measure on the ballot this November. Thanks to our allies and canvass team we succeeded in collecting more than 10,000 signatures! Stay tuned for an update once the count is concluded. Check the coverage in The Baltimore Sun.
Task Forces & Issue Campaign Updates:

Healthcare:
Join us on Wednesday, August 31! Speak Out Against the High Cost of Prescription Drugs. We’ll address drug company price gouging, the struggles that folks are facing when it comes to the price of drugs and how we can harness the recent win in Congress to pressure our lawmakers to keep going and do more to make more medicines affordable. If you have an experience to share about how the cost of prescription drugs has affected you or a loved one, take a minute and let us know by using this story share form. It’s often the stories of individuals and their families that make the difference in winning the policies and reforms we need.

Contact Patty if you want to get involved in our Make Medicines Affordable campaign or the Campaign to End Medical Debt.


The Justice Task Force and Drug Policy Task Forces will also be meeting this month. Contact Dev to learn more.

Returning Citizens Task Force:
Progressive Maryland’s Returning Citizen Task Force (RCTF) met on August 2 and discussed a number of topics including how to work with newly elected Councilmembers to win passage of local policies that will serve the unmet needs of people returning home from prison. The Housing Committee gave a report and the group also discussed voter registration efforts. The next meeting is TOMORROW, August 16 at 6:00 p.m. Contact Kurt if you’re interested in attending and/or learning more about our work..


Local Chapter Updates:

Progressive Harford County:
Join Progressive Harford County TONIGHT at 7 p.m. on Zoom for their monthly chapter meeting. Candidates like Heather Mizeur, Gillian Miller and Jacob Bennett will re-cap their primary elections and talk about how folks can get involved in their campaigns.


State and National News:
In this week's News You Can Use, For one of the wealthiest states -- by some accounts THE wealthiest -- we are doing very poorly by our children. It's a constant refrain but reinforced by the annual KidsCount report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, as we see in our News You Can Use blog. Also, national and local events converge as we hear how the Inflation Reduction Act can bring change to Maryland – its climate provisions will fit nicely with Maryland's recent climate moves in the Assembly. Also, the Hogan administration slow-walks provisions to protect workers from heat, just when the weather is at its worst; a shortage of nurses in the state; "Big Chicken" under fire from state attorneys general (including ours) for ganging up on small farmers, and more.


Events and Actions From Allies:
CASA and CASA in Action's Ally Network invites you to our upcoming Ally Network meeting on Wednesday, August 17th, from 6 PM to 8 PM ET via Zoom! Join this event sponsored by CASA and CASA in Action's Ally Network to learn how to make a difference in this year's elections, how CASA in Action plans to engage and mobilize voters to grow a progressive force, and how you can become a part of the Ally Network. Click here to register for Wednesday's Ally Network Meeting.

Progressive Maryland BlogSpace:
We value creating space for our members to express their thoughts on any issues related to our campaigns. Have an idea for a blog post? You can submit writing, film, graphic design, etc. to be published on our website to the blog moderator Woody at [email protected].
New Today – Can we do a little better by our kids, please?
Senate finally delivers on BBB; Hogan fumes on toll roads plan delay
Awareness: about your rent, your electric bill, your schools, reproductive health and the Manchin dance
>>Read more on the homepage of progressivemaryland.org



Progressive Maryland
P.O. Box 6988
Largo, MD 20792
United States
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