Dear Friend,

At the national level we’re making progress on climate, on healthcare, and on dozens of judicial nominations including Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court despite opposition from Republicans and obstruction by Senators Manchin and Sinema. On the state level we expanded abortion services, passed the Paid Family and Meidcal Leave Act, the Climate Solutions Now Act and gained big wins for many progressive candidates in the July Pimaries (especially for women, many of whom campaigned on these same issues.)

We’re relieved, too, that the Biden Administration took Executive Action on Student Debt last week! The policy not only forgives $10,000-$20,000 in student debt ($20 K for Pell grant recipients) it also ends excess interest on student loans so if a borrower pays the minimum monthly payment (capped at 5% of discretionary income) the loan balance can’t increase. You can help us build on these successes when Congress returns because we know there’s more to do!. It’s critical to make voters aware of these policy victories and the benefits they deliver to working class Americans of all ages. If we focus on these issues in the general election we can set the table for a great session next year during the Maryland General Assembly.

Please help us increase the outreach and organizing we need to do: Congress returns after Labor Day. Requested mail ballots will start to be sent out in the first part of October. The Early Voting period is October 27- November 3 and Election Day is Tuesday, November 8.

This week is a good time to choose something you want to give some time to for the next ten weeks. Volunteering on elections is fun, it makes a difference and we’ll give you any training and support you need. We hope you’ll join us!


Many Thanks,
The Progressive Maryland Team

📝 Election Coner
Montgomery County: Marc Elrich, the current County Executive and PM endorsed candidate, was declared the winner in Montgomery County’s County Executive race last week after the recount concluded. Some local officials including At Large Council Candidate Laurie-Anne Sayles and At Large CM Will Jawando share their reflections about what the CE and Council can do in this Washington Post article: [link removed]
Lower Shore Progressive Caucus: Election Event! Saturday, Sept.3 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in Salisbury, the LSPC Annual Summer Social! Your chance to hear about and support some great candidates who are running to help turn the Shore blue. Guest speakers include CD 1 candidate Heather Mizeur, State Senate candidate Michele Gregory, and House Delegate candidate Todd Nock, all of whom have been endorsed by Progressive Maryland. To purchase your ticket, click here.



Progressive Maryland Statewide Election Program
–Help us reach voters to let them know about the importance of voting in the 2022 Election! We’ll be talking with them about the Governor’s race, the need to vote yes on Maryland Question 4 to support legalizing marijuana for adults 21 years of age or older, and about local progressive candidates running in their areas of the state. SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, September 24: General Election Voter Outreach Canvass in Prince George’s County. Stay tuned for event details.

–Make a donation to our political program to support progressive Democratic candidates up and down the ticket, running statewide and in local races on the Eastern Shore, in Frederick, Harford, Prince George's, Montgomery and Anne Arundel Counties.

Task Forces & Issue Campaign Updates:

Healthcare:
Join us this Wednesday, August 31! Speak Out Against the High Cost of Prescription Drugs. Support our Make Medicines Affordable campaign. We’re fighting to make sure everyone can get the life saving and life sustaining drugs they need when they need them. Come learn about what the Inflation Reduction Act will do to help rein in the drug companies and what Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Becerra can do to lower the cost of certain medications that are candidates for Executive Action. You’ll also find out what you can do! Contact Patty for more information about our campaign.

Progressive Maryland's Justice Task Force, Returning Citizens Task Force and Drug Task Force are planning a Town Hall in mid-October to strengthen our work to end policies and practices in our state that contribute to mass incarceration. We’ll announce more details in the next Memo and on our social media. If you have questions or are interested contact Kurt or Dev.

August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day: look for posts from Progressive Maryland and People’s Action. Please like and share.



Returning Citizens Task Force:
We’ll meet tomorrow, Tuesday August 30 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The RCTF has a Housing Committee that’s working on getting a halfway house established in Prince George's County to serve the needs of transitioning prisoners. We’ve established a Committee to work on Voter Registration efforts with a focus on events during national voter registration week September 19th-24th.
The TF Jobs Committee has begun planning a campaign to get WMATA, the D.C. regional Metro system, to begin hiring returning citizens. The system has a policy in place that denies employment opportunities to formerly incarcerated persons.
If you are interested in learning more or becoming involved in our housing, jobs, or voter registration campaigns, contact Kurt.

Events From Allies: Tuesday| August 30 at 8 p.m. The Black Coalition Against COVID 19 is partnering with the National Council of 100 Black Women during their Covid 19 series. The pandemic is not over and we support an equitable recovery for Black Americans.


Labor Day, September 5, 2:00 pm, New Deal Cafe, Greenbelt, MD



State and National News:
In this week's progressive News You Can Use blog, Joe Biden, in full campaign mode, brought a new word -- phrase, actually -- into the state last week in Rockville, "like semi-fascism." It appears to have offered headline writers huge misspelling opportunities. Also, Maryland is among other states taking active steps to reduce the burden of medical debt on families, as well as the related issues of better hearing and clean water. On the state’s electoral front, a petition to end the mailed-ballot bottleneck, new plans to reduce gun violence and more. And the gubernatorial candidates are juking and shuffling over debates like opposing linemen just before the snap. Interesting stuff, so read on...

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 – Biden brings new word to Maryland; state's health picture somewhat brighter
Getting and spending -- Maryland and the Inflation Reduction Act
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

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