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PM Task Forces & Issue Campaigns Updates

Healthcare Justice: Baltimore City Passes Medicare For All Resolution!

Updates

On Monday, November 20th, the Baltimore City Council unanimously passed a Medicare For All Resolution! Baltimore is the third jurisdiction to pass such a Resolution this year, joining the City of Frederick and Anne Arundel County. Kudos and thanks to all the groups and leaders who have worked on these important  local measures over the past few years. If you want to learn more about these Resolutions or local campaigns contact Patty.  Progressive Maryland will be working with our allies to make Make Medicare For All and other healthcare justice issues a focus in our state’s critical U.S. Senate and Congressional races next year.   

In the meantime, we’re working on potential state legislation and initiatives that can deal with the crisis in health insurance care and claim denials. By meeting with allies, legislators and other state officials we’re learning more about the nature of the problem and what can be done. Check out this short video to get an overview of the issue: Care Over Cost explainer video. Share your experience or that of a family member here: Health Insurance Survey 

Our national affiliate, People's Action, is working with a number of advocacy organizations to sound the alarm on Medicare Advantage (we call them disAdvantage) plans. Here’s an update about a bipartisan group of lawmakers who are growing concerned that Medicare Advantage plans are preying on seniors with care denials Politico reports

On Saturday, Dec. 9th, join us for some door knocking in Prince George’s County to get support for our campaign to hold health insurers accountable!  Sign up here

Returning Citizens Task Force: 

We will be holding a Jobs and Health Fair (along with an Expungement Clinic) for returning citizens on Saturday, January 27 at CDC Reid in Glen Dale from 11:00 - 3:00 pm. The event will also provide an opportunity to discuss our legislative agenda for returning citizens for the New Year. RCTF’s Faith and Community Engagement (FACE) will hold a planning meeting on December 7. If you are interested in attending or want to get involved in any other aspect of our work, please contact Kurt.

Environmental Justice Task Force: EJTF Standing on Business in South Baltimore

We are still riding high from the people power demonstrated at the November 16 EJTF public forum. Given the window of opportunity that has opened up to remove trash incineration from Maryland’s renewable portfolio standard program, the EJTF is working sedulously and planning a letter-writing party for South Baltimore community members. This event will happen in late December or early in the new year.  

The intersectionality of gun violence and air pollution continues to result in premature death for a majority of poor Black residents in Baltimore. Racist policies are at the crux of this “black experience” reality. SirJames is currently curating a blog that will address and delve into these pressing topics. Be on the lookout for this blog before we close out the year.

The EJTF is standing on business and will be back on the ground this Saturday and Sunday for a canvass launch, with shifts from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on both days. If you are inspired to help the EJTF in South Baltimore, reach out to SirJames . 

EVENTS FROM ALLIES:

National Harm Reduction Coalition

NHRC’s Lighthouse Learning Collective's queer harm reduction training series, Lighthouse Learning Series, is back! Running through February 2024, there will be one session each month. Remaining sessions include: Sex Work 101, Queer History of Harm Reduction part 2, and Abolition & Harm Reduction. Register here for the next session, “Sex Work 101,” on Dec. 8 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. EST. For information about other sessions and recordings of previous webinars, click here. Most sessions will be recorded and all will have live ASL interpretation.

NHRC is thrilled to offer monthly Foundational Fridays training sessions, which focus on building basic knowledge about various intersectional public health issues. The free sessions, running from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. EST the last Friday of each month, are for providers, peers, and anyone in the harm reduction community as well as anyone looking to learn more about the field. To sign up for the next session happening Dec. 22, visit this link. Stay tuned for more details about the trainings, happening through June of next year! For more information, contact Jose Martinez.

State and National News:

Some things seem like they are never really settled. With great effort, the Assembly passes Anton's Law, providing a window of transparency into police internal records. It's challenged in court. Transport efficiency advocates fight Larry Hogan's plan for Beltway toll lanes to a draw; the Moore admin brings it back. Despite good-government efforts to challenge the power of county Central Committees in filling empty legislative seats, they are still being filled that way. Now new legislation is proposed. All this is a good reason to let News You Can Use keep an eye on this random stuff for you, one-stop shopping every Monday for outrages and good ideas alike. 

Get all the News You Can Use right here.

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.

• NEW TODAY -- Theeey're back: College squabbles about degree programs, state unemployment too low (?!), filling empty seats and more: News You Can Use
• Road workers' safety, stronger state project labor rules, replacing lost streetside trees and other enviro news -- News You Can Use
• Progressive Maryland Stands With CASA

• The FBI is coming to Greenbelt; schools are grappling with Blueprint futures; CASA caught up in Israel/Gaza controversy, and more: News You Can Use

•  Not In Our Name: Open Letter

>>Read more on the homepage of progressivemaryland.org

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Largo, MD 20792