A Long, Hot Summer to Heat Up an Historic Fall
Save the Dates:
- July 8 - 'Health Care for
America Now!' Kick-off
- July 10 - 'Bush Legacy Tour'
- Nov. 8 - Statewide 'Progressive Summit'
Please mark your calendars to join us for three of the most exciting political events of the year: The launch July 8 of the new "Health Care for America Now!" campaign (HCAN), the Bush Legacy Tour's visit to Baltimore July 10, and a statewide "Progressive Summit" November 8 (details TBA)... Read More
Senate Approves $162 Billion Unrestricted War Funding, While Boosting Jobless and Veterans Benefits; Md. Delegation Split
June 27, the U.S. Senate Approved 92 to 6, $162 billion in unrestricted funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to continue the administration's current military course of action beyond the end of President Bush's term in exchange for his agreement to create a new higher-education benefit for veterans and their families, and to extend unemployment benefits an additional 13 weeks. The bills also provide aid to Midwest communities affected by recent flooding and block six of seven Medicaid rules sought by the administration that would have reduced spending on health care for the poor. However, the Senate failed to get a 60-vote veto-proof majority on a bill to postpone a 10.6 percent fee cut for doctors who treat Medicare patients, effective July 1. (See articles in the Washington Post and Baltimore Sun.)
The House had already approved the $257.5 billion emergency spending bill which included those measures, June 19 by 416 to 12, after initially voting against Bush's Iraq War Supplemental Funding May 15. If this dark cloud has a silver lining, it's the record number of members, 155, who voted to end all funding for the Iraq War, including half of Maryland's eight members: Representatives Cummings, Sarbanes, Van Hollen, and Edwards (See the roll call vote http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll431.xml). (See Fact Sheet and articles by the Washington Post and Associated Press)
Rep. Donna Edwards Replaces Al Wynn in District 4
as First African American Woman from Md. in Congress
"I am honored to receive the 2008 Progressive Leadership Award and would like to thank USAction for this recognition," [Congresswoman Donna] Edwards said. "I admire the work of USAction and its affiliates, including Progressive Maryland."
-Edwards Receives USAction Award, PolitickerMD.com, June 12
Washington Post article Contact info and website
Unionization Boosts Wages of All;
Low-wage Earners Gain Over 20%
A new report from the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) shows unionization significantly boosts the wages of low-wage workers. The report, The Union Advantage for Low-Wage Workers, finds union membership raises wages 20.6 percent for the typical low-wage worker, 13.7 percent for the typical U.S. worker -- the earner right in the middle of the national pay scale -- and 6.1 percent for the typical high-wage worker. Read the news release summary and full report.
More Top Stories
Best Reports & Resources
Great Videos & Humor
PLEASE JOIN, CONTRIBUTE TO PROGRESSIVE MARYLAND NOW!
Subscribe free to The Maryland Progressive & visit this site weekly.
We invite supporters to submit news and resource and event notices.
