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** The 19th Amendment Turns 100, but Women of Color Still Don’t Have Equal Access to the Ballot
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The Constitution has, on paper, guaranteed women the right to vote for a century. But as we celebrate this landmark year ([link removed]) , we know that ([link removed]) millions of women ([link removed]) , today and throughout history, have been systematically shut out of our democratic process. Today, black, brown and indigenous women face targeted attacks ([link removed]) on their voting rights: voter purges ([link removed]) , strict ID laws ([link removed]) , polling place closures
([link removed]) , and longer wait times ([link removed]) . The good news? Leaders like Geraldine Thompson ([link removed]) in Florida, Yadira Caraveo ([link removed]) in Colorado, and many more are championing true democracy reforms that would help ensure voting access to all.


** Legislators Raising the Wage
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On January 1st 2020, millions of Americans got a raise: minimum wages rose in 21 states. With legislatures starting their 2020 sessions all across the nation this month, several more states are working to raise the minimum wage or allow localities to do so ([link removed]) , including Delaware ([link removed]) , Hawaii ([link removed]) , Mississippi ([link removed]) , New Hampshire ([link removed]) , and Vermont
([link removed]) . Beyond helping low-income and working communities achieve economic stability, research suggests that increases to the minimum wage similarly decrease suicide rates ([link removed]) --making minimum wage increases towards a livable wage all the more urgent.


** Polls Demonstrate Strong Support for Progressive Policy Solutions
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Recent polls conducted for SiX in states including Florida ([link removed]) , North Carolina ([link removed]) , and Michigan ([link removed]) reveal strong support for progressive policy solutions on issues ranging from health care affordability to economic justice to election security. For example, eliminating surprise medical bills, ensuring access to paid family and medical leave, and modernizing elections are consistently popular with respondents.


** Virginia Legislature Passes the Equal Rights Amendment
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The Virginia House of Delegates passed a resolution ([link removed]) to make Virginia the 38th and final necessary state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment this week. The Senate followed suit with a companion resolution. While procedural hurdles remain, this is a huge step toward ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment, which was first approved by Congress in 1972.


** Progressives Put Forward Bold Agendas as Sessions Begin
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Several state legislatures begin their legislative session this month and progressives are out front with bold, progressive agendas. For example, Florida legislators presented ([link removed]) their Sunrise Agenda ([link removed]) , which highlights Medicaid expansion, affordable housing, and higher wages for workers. Ohio’s Black Maternal Health Caucus ([link removed]) proposed reproductive health initiatives including increased data gathering and cultural competency training, and Indiana’s Black Caucus
([link removed]) has plans to cut the state’s prison population. Maryland legislators ([link removed]) introduced a series of tax measures to improve education for students while the New Hampshire House ([link removed]) voted to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour
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** SiX’s Staying Power and Progressives Helping Progressives
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SiX has had a big week in the news, and it's for all the right reasons. Check out this profile ([link removed]) of the organization in the New Republic. Are we the ALEC of the left? No, we're better! We're also thrilled to see this coverage ([link removed]) of the great work Local Progress is doing with local elected officials across the country, including the Progressive Governance Academy ([link removed]) , a joint project with us and re:power.


** El Salvador Briefing
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Five state legislators traveled to El Salvador with SiX to see the impact a total abortion ban has had on the country and its people. Last week, we hosted a webinar briefing to hear about their experiences and learn from their travels. If you missed the webinar, no worries! View the recording here ([link removed]) .


** State Legislators: An Opportunity to Voice Your Support.
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At the beginning of 2019, over 300 state legislators from 40 states came together to respond to the challenge that 20 states strengthen their protections against sexual harassment and violence by 2020. There’s still time to sign on. Join your colleagues here ([link removed]) .

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The State Innovation Exchange (SiX) is a national resource and strategy center that supports state legislators who seek to strengthen our democracy, fight for working families, defend civil rights and liberties, and protect the environment. We do this by providing training, emphasizing leadership development, amplifying legislators’ voices, and forging strategic alliances between our legislative network and grassroots movements.

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