SHNS: Automatic voter registration now in place in 10 states

“Automatic voter registration now in place in 10 states” — Katie Lannan, State House News Service (8/29/2017)

“The new law will add roughly one million new eligible voters to the voter rolls,” said the statement, signed by Pam Wilmot of Common Cause Massachusetts, Meryl Kessler of the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, Beth Huang of Mass Voter Table, Janet Domenitz of MASSPIRG, Cheryl Clyburn Crawford of MassVote and Jonathan Cohn of Progressive Massachusetts. “Similar laws in other states have been proven to increase turnout and make elections more secure by modernizing the voter registration process. It is a common sense and long overdue reform.”

DigBoston: The Progressive Mass Agenda

“The Progressive Mass Agenda” — Dig Staff, Dig Boston (5/10/2017)

In addition to identifying Massachusetts politicians who share common values with those of us who believe that evil corporations should be punished (and who agree with other sensible leftist ideals of that sort), the advocates at Progressive Massachusetts also have an actionable list of promising bills broken down into four categories: Infrastructure and Environment; Shared Prosperity; Racial and Social Justice; Good Government. We encourage you to check out the group’s legislator scorecard, as well as all its research at progressivemass.com. In the meantime, here’s a snapshot of the priorities for Progressive Mass in 2017. -Dig Editors

SHNS: Beacon Hill progressives call for action on legislation

“Beacon Hill progressives call for action on legislation” — Katie Lannan, State House News Service (5/4/2017)

“We have a fully Democratic Legislature, supermajorities. We have a governor who’s a Republican, but we have veto-proof majorities, so what’s the issue there?” said Harmony Wu, who serves on the group’s board of directors. “Something’s been missing. Many things have been missing, but one piece that we haven’t had in Massachusetts is a sustained, long-term, grassroots-organizing, citizen-advocacy push where we are speaking up with one voice saying we are tired of this way, we’d like to see leadership in this way.”

…..

John Kirk, a member of the group’s Needham chapter, said the lobby day is part of an effort to help the state “fulfill its progressive promise” by letting them know “the passion’s real” behind the issues.

“Since it’s a Democratic-controlled Legislature, why don’t we pass these obvious bills that everybody’s in favor of and make perfect sense? Well, we’re trying to figure that out,” said Kirk.

WGBH: Before 2018, Progressives Hope To Push Legislature And Baker On Taxes, Justice Reform And More

“Before 2018, Progressives Hope To Push Legislature And Baker On Taxes, Justice Reform And More” — Mike Deehan, WGBH (9/4/2016)

“The progressive activist base is really, really frustrated with the status quo of the Democratic party and leadership in the Legislature,” Progressive Massachusetts board member Harmony Wu told WGBH News. “And honestly, the House does seem to be the bigger problem.”

“The Senate does seem to move more on stuff, but as a whole, the party does not feel like it is responsive to the progressive interest, which is I think is the animating base of the party,” Wu added.

SHNS: Progressive group stakes out position on ballot questions

“Progressive group stakes out position on ballot questions” — Andy Metzger, State House News Service (9/1/2016)

**

Progressive Massachusetts, a political nonprofit, has endorsed ballot questions that would legalize marijuana and restrict animal products sold in the state, and opposed measures that could open the door to an additional slots parlor and more charter schools.

The group, which has about 350 members according to its president, voted “overwhelmingly” to join the campaign opposing Question 2, which would allow for 12 new or newly expanded charter schools annually, regardless of the existing statutory cap.

“I think there’s a recognition, particularly on Question 2, that public schools are a community benefit, and that really having an unlimited drain of funding without local democratic control isn’t something to build communities,” Josh Tauber, a Somerville Democrat and Progressive Massachusetts volunteer who chairs the group’s elections and endorsement committee, told the News Service.

Charter proponents note the schools are public and say limits on charters exclude students in troubled districts from educational choice.

Susan Davidoff, the president of Progressive Massachusetts, said the group has been around for five years, has chapters around the state, and has worked to support a surtax on high earners, minimum wage increases and paid sick leave.

The group’s endorsements were announced this week after an email poll.

Davidoff said the group “most enthusiastically” opposed the charter school question and would not be as active on the three other questions.

This year the group opposes Question 1, which would allow an additional slots parlor next to a race track; and supports Question 4, legalizing marijuana; and Question 3, which requires ample room for egg-laying hens, veal calves and pigs whose products are produced or sold in Massachusetts.

Tauber said for him personally the marijuana question is a “social justice” issue, as criminal records for marijuana crimes can limit people’s opportunities.

“Drug policy in this country has been so messed up for so long that frankly we need to start over on a lot of it,” Tauber said. Voters in 2008 decriminalized possession of up to an ounce of marijuana, and in 2012 they legalized marijuana for medical purposes. Gov. Charlie Baker, Attorney General Maura Healey, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh are among the officials who have joined the campaign opposing Question 4.

Boston Globe: Should higher taxes be off the table when legislators discuss next year’s state budget? (Redux)

“Should higher taxes be off the table when legislators discuss next year’s state budget?” — Boston Globe [opinion] (1/29/2016)

NO

Ryan Adams

Swampscott resident, Democratic activist, Progressive Massachusetts member

It’s disappointing to hear Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo and other key legislative leaders say no to putting any increased revenue on the table for the upcoming budget. With a deficit that’s upwards of $1 billion, that means cutting into the bone of the middle class, working poor, and vulnerable communities.

Polls suggest a large majority of America supports increasing revenue to pay for important things, like our schools and infrastructure. Even a majority of millionaires have supported increasing their own taxes.

I’ve met the speaker several times and I think he’s a very good man who cares a lot about the state. But given how effective he can be, we must ask him to act boldly.

Massachusetts used to be the state of firsts. We were the first to embrace marriage equality. We were the first to tackle real health care reform. But what have we done lately?

Since DeLeo took the reins, Massachusetts has become a more expensive state to live in, with fewer good jobs for the middle class. Our traffic gets worse every year. While the speaker just came out against it — to his credit — MBTA riders are the only ones asked to pay more, disproportionately affecting the working poor.

To be sure, the Legislature and its leadership didn’t cause these problems, but they could solve them. It’s a tough task, requiring a great deal of political courage – and new revenue – but now is the time.

We have an incredibly intelligent, hardworking populace that leads the world in many categories, but our progress is bottlenecked on Beacon Hill. We need to tackle our transportation needs, the high cost of health care, and the opioid epidemic sweeping the state.

None of these problems can be solved in a day, but a “no new revenue” pledge can only ensure they grow worse.

There are those who don’t think we can afford to solve our problems. They’re wrong, and because of that cynicism, we end up paying far more in the end: for jails instead of schools, or higher car insurance instead of better roads.

Beacon Hill can change that, but it’s going to take leadership, courage and a little more revenue, to go a very long way.