Montgomery County NOW Reception with Elected Officials

Montgomery County NOW Reception with Elected Officials
Monday, January 3, 2011 at 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Wheaton Regional Library
11701 Georgia Ave, Wheaton, MD 20902
Meeting Room downstairs

Several elected officials confirmed! Including Sen. Roger Manno,
Delegates Al Carr, Tom Hucker, Heather Mizeur,Jim Gilchrist, and Shane
Robinson, Councilwoman Nancy Floreen, Sheriff Darren Popkin, School
Board Member Christopher Barclay, Clerk of Court Loretta Knight. Many
others expected as well.

Montgomery County NOW congratulates those candidates who were victorious
in their election campaigns.

Please join us for an informal reception of invited State Senators and
Delegates, Councilmembers, School Board, and others. Pizza and potluck
served.
ALL PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT WOMEN'S ISSUES ARE INVITED

For more information contact info@mcmdnow.org

Save The Date! Free Speech and Fair Elections for the People Sunday, February 6th

Free Speech and Fair Elections for the People: A Public 'Teach-In' on Democracy Reform and Amending the Constitution
Sunday, February 6th Join us for this exciting and educational forum, featuring some of the top advocates of democracy reform.

2:00 - 4:00 PM
Paint Branch Unitarian Universalist Church
3215 Powder Mill Rd
Adelphi, MD 20783
Click Here for Directions

Call 443-766-0894 or email fairandcleanmd@gmail.com for more information

Topics will include national and state-level measures, including a Constitutional Amendment.

Panelists:
Congresswoman Donna Edwards of Maryland's 4th district, speaking on the Constitutional amendment she has introduced to allow Congress to regulate the range of speech rights of corporate entities, and on other federal measures she recommends to reduce undue corporate influence on elections.

Maryland State Senator Jamie Raskin, American University Constitutional law professor, who represents Takoma Park and is a member of Maryland's new campaign finance task force, on proposed state legislation for campaign finance transparency and reform.

Anna White, Democracy Organizer for Public Citizen, on the growing national grassroots movement for a constitutional amendment and how Marylanders can get involved.

Jessica Sharp, co-founder and co-director of Fair and Clean Elections Maryland, on opportunities to lobby for pertinent Maryland legislation and take part in other supporting activities.

Sponsoring Organizations Include:

Baltimore Pledge
Chamber of Progress
Democracy for Montgomery County
Fair and Clean Elections Maryland
Generations for Peace and Democracy
Little Friends for Peace

Maryland United for Peace and Justice

Montgomery County Progressive Alliance
Network of Spiritual Progressives, MD Chapter

Paint Branch Social Action Committee

Peace Action Montgomery
Prince George's County Peace and Justice Coalition
Progressive Democrats of America, MD Chapter

Public Citizen

Roger Manno writes: ‎"Political Pulse" TV Interview.

Maryland Senator Roger Manno (D-19) writes: ‎"Political Pulse" TV
Interview. Please tune in to "Political Pulse" [channel 16 on Montgomery
County cable TV] this week for my conversation with Charles Duffy.
Topics include the recent state elections, my appointment to the Senate
Budget & Taxation Committee, Maryland's fiscal picture, the new 19th
District Delegation, pension reform, and others. 12/30 at 9:00 p.m.,
12/31 at 6:00 p.m., 1/1 at 6:00 p.m., 1/2 at 6:00 p.m., and 1/4 at 9:30 p.m.

See: http://www.stoptransfer.org/STOP_manno-to-discuss_29_12_2010

Thanks to You, "the Dream Shall Never Die."

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
  -- Ted Kennedy at the Democratic Convention in 1980

You are necessary! Thanks to you, the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance is making progress in Montgomery County, Maryland, and the USA.

As we move into 2011, the work goes on. With your help, the dream shall never die. NO OTHER ORGANIZATION is involved and promoting progress on such a wide range of issues and efforts! But we need you to keep MCPA going and growing. MCPCA is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization. We can only keep working with generous member donations. We will not be able to pay for social networking tools such as Meetup.com, rent venues for special events, print flyers and other materials, and keep organizing for progress without your support.

Please donate safely and easily online: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=UW2R635KZPP9L or bring your donation to our meetings and events. Note: donations to MCPA are not tax deductible.

We organize events, support candidates, and inform you about progressive efforts in our area and have been since 2003. We have big plans to work with our friends and allies in the county and state on healthcare, peace, the environment, equality, and more! MCPA is organizing, supporting, and promoting all kinds of events--and with your help--we'll do so better than ever in 2011.

Help keep us working for you! Please support the MCPA with a generous donation now.

We hope you will give $25 or more, but we appreciate any help you afford in these tough economic times. You can donate safely and easily online here: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=UW2R635KZPP9L or bring your donation to our meetings and events. Note: donations to MCPA are not tax deductible.

Join us 7 to 9 PM Tuesday, January 4th 2011 Combined MeetUp/Meeting for MCPA, DFMC, PDA, and more.
Progressive Coalition Meeting to plan future events and actions.

Saigonese Restaurant
11232 Grandview Ave
Wheaton, MD 20902 

Public Transportation: Short walk from Wheaton Metro (red line)
Google Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=11232+Grandview+Ave+Silver+Spring+MD+20902

Report on progress in our county and state on Healthcare, the Environment, Education, Labor, Transportation, Energy and other issues. We're building up our coalition and lobby efforts on the state and national level, planning special events, forming a steering committee, and working on meetings with legislators, and other organizations.

Stay In Touch With Us!

Please join the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/mcprogressivealliance
If you're on Facebook, please join the MCPA group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=3401340272&ref=ts
Join our Progressive Victory Meetup Group: http://www.meetup.com/progressive-victory/

What is the MCPA Again?

Four Meetup groups--Progressive Victory, Democratic Party / MCPA, Montgomery County Progressive Alliance and this one--get together with like-minded activists working for Progressive Victories in 2010 and beyond. We meet at least once each month to discuss and plan events and actions.

1. MCPA: The Montgomery County Progressive Alliance is a result-oriented coalition working on local, state, national and international issues. MCPA includes more than 1,000 local activists, mainly in and around Montgomery County, Maryland. The organization began in 2003 when Democracy for America Meetup members joined other Meetups and other groups. In 2005, 100s of Montgomery County for Kerry members and local Progressive Democrats of America members joined the MCPA. MCPA has held meetings or special events nearly each month since 2003.

2. DFA/DFMC: Democracy for America emerged from Gov. Howard Dean's presidential campaign in 2004, and has organized grass-roots activists to support socially progressive, fiscally responsible candidates. DFMC is Democracy for Montgomery County, a local DFA-inspired organization which is not directly or legally affiliated with DFA. DFMC has organized events and meetings; and endorsed and organized volunteers for several candidates. DFMC is currently seeking additional steering committee members. Please contact me, mikehersh@mikehersh.com if you're interested. You can sign up for DFA here: http://democracyforamerica.com/session/new

3. PDA: Progressive Democrats of America began just after the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. Bringing together people from the 2004 Kucinich and Dean Campaigns with other progressives, PDA adopted an "inside/outside strategy" uniting activists working inside the Democratic Party with those working in peace and justice movements. PDA's core issues include clean, accurate and transparent elections; environmental protection; single-payer healthcare; economic and social justice; and peace. Sign up for PDA: https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/309/personal2.asp?formid=signup

next meeting: 7-9 PM Tuesday, January 4, 2011

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
 -- Ted Kennedy at the Democratic Convention in 1980

You are essential! Thanks to you, the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance is making progress in Montgomery County and Maryland. As we move into 2011, the work goes on. With your help, the dream shall never die. But we need you to keep MCPA going and growing. MCPCA is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization. We can only keep working with generous member donations. We will not be able to pay for social networking tools such as Meetup.com, rent venues for special events, print flyers and other materials, and keep organizing for progress without your support.  

We've been organizing events, supporting candidates, and informing you about progressive efforts in our area since 2003. We have big plans to work with our friends and allies in the county and state on healthcare, the environment, equality, and more! MCPA is playing a role organizing, supporting, and/or promoting ALL of the events below. NO OTHER ORGANIZATION is involved and promoting progress on such a wide range of issues and efforts!

Help keep us working for you! Please support the MCPA with a generous donation now. We hope you will give $25 or more, but we appreciate any help you afford in these tough economic times. You can donate safely and easily online here https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=UW2R635KZPP9L or bring your donation to our meetings and events. Note: donations to MCPA are not tax deductible.

Join us at our next meeting: 7-9 PM Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Combined MeetUp/Meeting for MCPA, DFMC, PDA, and more. Progressive Coalition Meeting to plan future events and actions.

Saigonese Restaurant
11232 Grandview Ave
Wheaton, MD 20902 

Public Transportation: Short walk from Wheaton Metro (red line)
Google Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=11232+Grandview+Ave+Silver+Spring+MD+20902

Report on progress in our county and state on Healthcare, the Environment, Education, Labor, Transportation, Energy and other issues. We're building up our coalition and lobby efforts on the state and national level, planning special events, forming a steering committee, and working on meetings with legislators, and other organizations.

Please join the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/mcprogressivealliance

If you're on Facebook, please join the MCPA group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=3401340272&ref=ts

Four Meetup groups--Progressive Victory, Democratic Party / MCPA, Montgomery County Progressive Alliance and this one--get together with like-minded activists working for Progressive Victories in 2010 and beyond. We meet at least once each month to discuss and plan events and actions.

1. MCPA: The Montgomery County Progressive Alliance is a result-oriented coalition working on local, state, national and international issues. MCPA includes more than 1,000 local activists, mainly in and around Montgomery County Maryland. The organization began in 2003 when Democracy for America Meetup members reached out to other Meetup groups and other groups. In 2004, 100s of Montgomery County for Kerry members and local Progressive Democrats of America members joined the MCPA. MCPA adopted a mission statement, organized special events, and has held meetings nearly each month since 2003.

2. DFA/DFMC: Democracy for America emerged from Gov. Howard Dean's presidential campaign in 2004, and has organized grass-roots activists to support socially progressive, fiscally responsible candidates. DFMC is Democracy for Montgomery County, a local DFA-inspired organization which is not directly or legally affiliated with DFA. DFMC has organized events and meetings; and endorsed and organized volunteers for several candidates. DFMC is currently seeking additional steering committee members. Please contact me, mikehersh@mikehersh.com if you're interested. You can sign up for DFA here: http://democracyforamerica.com/session/new

3. PDA: Progressive Democrats of America began just after the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. Bringing together people from the 2004 Kucinich and Dean Campaigns with other progressives, PDA adopted an "inside/outside strategy" uniting activists working inside the Democratic Party with those working in peace and justice movements. PDA's core issues include clean, accurate and transparent elections; environmental protection; single-payer healthcare; economic and social justice; and peace. See: http://www.PDAmerica.org/ You can sign up for PDA here: https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/309/personal2.asp?formid=joinusshort&c=5052037%EF%BB%BF

Help keep us working for you! Please support the MCPA with a generous donation now. We hope you will give $25, but we appreciate any help you afford in these tough economic times. You can donate safely and easily online here https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=UW2R635KZPP9L or bring your donation to our meetings and events. Note: donations to MCPA are not tax deductible.

MCPA Next meeting: Tuesday, January 4, 2011

From: The Montgomery County Progressive Alliance
Join us at our next meeting: Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Combined MeetUp/Meeting for MCPA, DFMC, PDA, and more.
Progressive Coalition Meeting to plan future events and actions.

Saigonese Restaurant
11232 Grandview Ave
Wheaton, MD 20902

Public Transportation: Short walk from Wheaton Metro (red line)
Google Map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=11232+Grandview+Ave+Silver+Spring+MD+20902

Please rsvp to mike@mikehersh.com

Thanks and Happy Holidays!

Mike

You are ESSENTIAL

"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
 -- Ted Kennedy at the Democratic Convention in 1980

You are essential! Thanks to you, the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance is making progress in Montgomery County and Maryland. As we move into 2011, the work goes on. With your help, the dream shall never die. But we need you to keep MCPA going and growing. MCPCA is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization. We can only keep working with generous member donations. We will not be able to pay for social networking tools such as Meetup.com, rent venues for special events, print flyers and other materials, and keep organizing for progress without your support.  

We've been organizing events, supporting candidates, and informing you about progressive efforts in our area since 2003. We have big plans to work with our friends and allies in the county and state on healthcare, the environment, equality, and more! MCPA is playing a role organizing, supporting, and/or promoting ALL of the events below. NO OTHER ORGANIZATION is involved and promoting progress on such a wide range of issues and efforts!

Help keep us working for you! Please support the MCPA with a generous donation now. We hope you will give $25 or more, but we appreciate any help you afford in these tough economic times. You can donate safely and easily online here https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=UW2R635KZPP9L or bring your donation to our meetings and events. Note: donations to MCPA are not tax deductible.

Join us at our next meeting: Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Combined MeetUp/Meeting for MCPA, DFMC, PDA, and more. Progressive Coalition Meeting to plan future events and actions.

Saigonese Restaurant
11232 Grandview Ave
Wheaton, MD 20902 

Public Transportation: Short walk from Wheaton Metro (red line)
Google Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=11232+Grandview+Ave+Silver+Spring+MD+20902

Report on progress in our county and state on Healthcare, the Environment, Education, Labor, Transportation, Energy and other issues. We're building up our coalition and lobby efforts on the state and national level, planning special events, forming a steering committee, and working on meetings with legislators, and other organizations.

Please join the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/mcprogressivealliance

If you're on Facebook, please join the MCPA group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=3401340272&ref=ts

Four Meetup groups--Progressive Victory, Democratic Party / MCPA, Montgomery County Progressive Alliance and this one--get together with like-minded activists working for Progressive Victories in 2010 and beyond. We meet at least once each month to discuss and plan events and actions.

1. MCPA: The Montgomery County Progressive Alliance is a result-oriented coalition working on local, state, national and international issues. MCPA includes more than 1,000 local activists, mainly in and around Montgomery County Maryland. The organization began in 2003 when Democracy for America Meetup members reached out to other Meetup groups and other groups. In 2004, 100s of Montgomery County for Kerry members and local Progressive Democrats of America members joined the MCPA. MCPA adopted a mission statement, organized special events, and has held meetings nearly each month since 2003.

2. DFA/DFMC: Democracy for America emerged from Gov. Howard Dean's presidential campaign in 2004, and has organized grass-roots activists to support socially progressive, fiscally responsible candidates. DFMC is Democracy for Montgomery County, a local DFA-inspired organization which is not directly or legally affiliated with DFA. DFMC has organized events and meetings; and endorsed and organized volunteers for several candidates. DFMC is currently seeking additional steering committee members. Please contact me, mikehersh@mikehersh.com if you're interested. You can sign up for DFA here: http://democracyforamerica.com/session/new

3. PDA: Progressive Democrats of America began just after the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. Bringing together people from the 2004 Kucinich and Dean Campaigns with other progressives, PDA adopted an "inside/outside strategy" uniting activists working inside the Democratic Party with those working in peace and justice movements. PDA's core issues include clean, accurate and transparent elections; environmental protection; single-payer healthcare; economic and social justice; and peace. See: http://www.PDAmerica.org/ You can sign up for PDA here: https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/309/personal2.asp?formid=joinusshort&c=5052037%EF%BB%BF

Help keep us working for you! Please support the MCPA with a generous donation now. We hope you will give $25, but we appreciate any help you afford in these tough economic times. You can donate safely and easily online here https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=UW2R635KZPP9L or bring your donation to our meetings and events. Note: donations to MCPA are not tax deductible.

Report: Scanners cost less than touch-screen machines

Please take a minute right now to call Gov. O'Malley's office and urge him to fund this in the budget he will introduce in Jan. Very little money should be needed in FY2012 for the switch.  The governor's office phone numbers are: 410.974.3901 / 1.800.811.8336

Phone calls are much more effective, but you can also use our click & send email at:
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/302/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5179

Thanks for all your do to protect our elections, and happy holidays!   -- Rebecca

-------------------------------------------------
Friday, Dec. 24, 2010

Report: Scanners cost less than touch-screen machines

Advocates hope that change will be funded

by Alan Brody | Staff writer

ANNAPOLIS — Maryland would save as much as $9.5 million over eight years by switching to an optical-scan voting system, according to a new report that advocates hope will spur Gov. Martin O'Malley and legislative leaders to start funding the replacement of the current touch-screen machines in fiscal 2012.

The independent analysis, conducted by a North Carolina research firm for the Department of Legislative Services, appears to confirm what supporters of a voter-verified paper trail system have long argued: It costs more money to maintain the current equipment than to purchase new machines that allow voters to print out paper receipts of their selections.

Read the rest at:

http://www.gazette.net/stories/12242010/polinew172811_32537.php

 

Rebecca Wilson
SAVEourVotes.org

SAVE our Votes is a nonpartisan grassroots organization working for
Secure, Accessible, Verifiable Elections in Maryland.

Save the Date: legislative forum Sunday afternoon Jan. 23rd

The Progressive Working Group will cosponsor a legislative forum with
General Assembly members

Sunday afternoon Jan. 23rd at IMPACT Silver Spring's office
25 Wayne Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910
(entrance across from the Whole Foods, located at the old Hollywood Video).

More information to come.

MoCo County Council President Valerie Ervin on the "Political Pulse" TV This Week

MoCo County Council President Valerie Ervin (D-District 5) will be on
the "Political Pulse" TV Show with Charles Duffy, Channel 16 on cable in
Montgomery county.

Topics will include MoCo budget issues and her views on what the MoCo
State Delegates and Senators should do on important issues that they
will be facing in Annapolis during the 2011 Legislative Session (like
the possible shift of some of the teachers pension expenditures to the
counties and Maintenance of Effort education funding).

Thurs, December 23rd at 9:00 p.m.
Fri-Sun, December 24th-26th at 6:00 p.m.
and Tues, December 28th at 9:30 p.m.

See:
http://www.stoptransfer.org/STOP_valerie-ervin-to-discuss-pensions_21_12_2010

Help us protect public schools and services

Please contribute now to help STOP TRANSFER OF PENSIONS

Help us plan public events and organize support for sensible policies.

Transferring pension obligations to the counties and cities would devastate local economies, hurt public schools, prevent needed maintenance, and delay or deny new projects by overburdening our local governments. We have better choices–untapped potential revenues Please support our efforts! Contribute to STOP and contact us to get involved. (PayPal is the safer, easier way to pay online without revealing your credit card number. Contributions to STOP are not tax deductible.) See our website: http://www.stoptransfer.org/

Some background: During the Glendenning years, Maryland adopted the “corridor” formula which was not actuarially sound and therefore underfunded the pension systems. The recession–with the stock market and real estate shocks–depleted the value of assets in the pension trust funds. Also, poor investment decisions led to lower-than-expected return on investments. These three factors combined to leave the pensions underfunded.

STOP agrees Maryland must address this shortfall, but we propose real solutions to the underlying problems. If the state dumps some or all of these pensions obligations onto localities, the results will be disastrous. When the state stopped paying for Social Security for teachers some years back, class sizes increased dramatically and school construction ground to a halt. Students attended school in too-hot or too-cold trailers instead of classrooms.

Transferring pensions does nothing to address real problems.

It would merely pass the buck–really billions of bucks–in a way that would exacerbate local fiscal problems. The same crunch Maryland faces on the state level is also hurting localities, leaving budgets overstressed and putting jobs and services on the chopping block. The counties and Baltimore City cannot afford to shoulder the pensions burden. Shifting that burden will not make it any smaller or easier to bear.

Shifting pensions obligations would hit Montgomery County particularly hard, but all local jurisdictions will suffer. MoCo has a restrictive revenues formula, making it very difficult to increase revenues. If the counties and Baltimore have to pay for pensions, they will lose many of the best teachers, and have to slash public services, layoff workers, and close facilities including schools, libraries, and county offices.

We’ve seen this problem coming for some time. WTOP.com reported in January 2009: “[Montgomery County Executive Ike] Leggett plans to make sure that Montgomery County does not get stuck with the state’s bill for teacher pensions. The pensions [transfer] would add another $100 million to the county’s current fiscal shortfall of approximately $500 million.” Quoting Leggett’s analysis of the problem, “I don’t think that was some kind of conspiracy,” says Leggett, “It’s just simply a reflection of some of the errors and negligence that occurred at the state level.”

Fast forward to September 2010, and WTOP.com reported the same concerns. “[Ike] Leggett projects a more than $200 million shortfall for fiscal year 2012, or more depending on income tax returns and whether the state shifts more costs to the county. [Former] County Council President Nancy Floreen says it’s too early to say where cuts should come. ‘The other things on the table this year are what’s going to come out of Annapolis,’ Floreen says. One of the big questions is whether state lawmakers will require counties to pay for teacher pensions. Currently, the state pays teacher pensions.” See: http://www.wtop.com/?hlpage=255&nid=706&sid=1565430 (2009 article) and http://www.wtopnews.com/?sid=2063361&nid=25 (2010 article).

STOP agrees Maryland lawmakers must take decisive action to address this shortfall, but we propose real solutions to the underlying problems, not treating the pension obligations like a hot potato. Last year, then-Delegate, current State Senator Roger Manno filed HB 10 to protect education and public services by fully funding pensions on the state level. He called for combined reporting, progressive taxation, and other state-level revenues to shore up the pensions trust funds. Combined reporting would close a loophole some corporations use to avoid paying all or part of their taxes on income earned in Maryland. Other states have enacted combined reporting, and found that it’s a fair and effective method to accurately determine how much corporations should pay to states. The formula is precise and detailed, leading some to claim it’s “too complicated.” The complexity is required to accurately assess tax burdens. See: http://mcprogressive.wordpress.com/2010/01/09/wth-is-combined-reporting-and-why-do-we-need-it/

An article prepared by the New Rules Project explains combined reporting: “Many retail chains earn profits at stores nationwide, but have developed an accounting scheme to evade paying their full share of state corporate income taxes. Tax experts believe the practice is costing states billions of dollars in lost revenue. It has also given chains an advantage over locally owned businesses, which must pay state income tax on all of their earnings. Twenty-one states are not vulnerable to these tax-evasion schemes, because they have enacted a policy known as combined reporting.” The article lists corporations using loopholes to avoid taxes in Maryland and other states including The Gap, Home Depot, Ikea, Kmart, Kohl’s, Limited Brands (which owns Bath & Body Works, Victoria’s Secret, The Limited, Payless Shoes, and other chains), Staples, and Wal-Mart as companies that escape taxes, but which would be forced to pay their fair share under combined reporting.

Also from the New Rules Project: “As of November 2010, twenty-three states have adopted combined reporting. These states are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.” By contrast Maryland is one of the states that “have not adopted combined reporting and are vulnerable to chains escaping their state tax obligations by shifting income to subsidiaries.” See: http://www.newrules.org/retail/rules/level-playing-field-taxation/combined-reporting

Maryland can and should close this loophole, and STOP believes Maryland should use those and other revenues to address the pensions short fall–as outlined in HB 10. STOP remains open to any and all proposals that actually address the situation while protecting public schools and local services.

We need your help. Support public schools and local services. Please contribute to STOP. (PayPal is the safe way to pay online without revealing your credit card number. Contributions to STOP are not tax deductible.)

7th Annual Progressive Picnic in Montgomery County

Progressive Picnic in Montgomery County

Saturday August 28, 2010 2 PM to 5 PM

Wheaton Regional Park Picnic Shelter “A”

2002 Shorefield Road, Wheaton, MD 20902

Hot Dogs, Burgers, Veggie Burgers, Veggie Dogs etc. Provided.
Please pre-register so we’ll have enough food for you!

Suggested Donation: $15.00 per person now, $20 at the door.
For info. or to pay by check, email: mikehersh@mikehersh.com

Confirmed candidates appearing: MD Senate Candidate Del. Roger Manno; Delegate Tom Hucker; MD Delegate Candidates Dana Beyer, Eric Luedtke, Lara Wibeto, Elihu Eli El, and Neeta Datt; County Council Members Marc Elrich, Duchy Trachtenberg, Nancy Floreen, and George Leventhal; County Council Candidate Sharon Dooley.

Garland Nixon: Montgomery Municipal Cable TV and 89.3 FM WPFW Pacifica Radio Raucous Caucus Host. Music by Jessica Sharp!


Other guests and candidates welcome and expected. Contact mikehersh@mikehersh.com to confirm appearance.

Cosponsors: Montgomery County Progressive Alliance, Progressive Democrats of Maryland, Democracy for Montgomery County, Health Care NOW! Maryland, Fair And Clean Elections MD, Organizing for Montgomery, and Peace Action Montgomery.

More co-sponsors welcome: suggested donation $50 (includes 3 admissions)
Contact mikehersh@mikehersh.com to co-sponsor.

Please bring a dish or drink to share with 10 people. If your last name begins with:
* A-F please bring salad / side dish
* G-L please bring a dessert
* M-R please bring water
* S-Z please bring soft drinks

Directions to Shorefield Area: From I-495 take Exit 31 for Georgia Avenue/MD 97 North. Follow Georgia Avenue for almost 3 miles, then turn right onto Shorefield Road. Continue on Shorefield Road until you reach the parking area. Keep left as you enter the park. Shelter “A” is the closest to the parking area.

Google map: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=2002+Shorefield+Road+Wheaton+MD+20902
Public transportation: take Y5 or Y9 Bus from Wheaton Metro stop.

Suggested Donation: $15.00 per person now, $20 at the door.

RSVP: https://www.paypal.com/

For info. or to pay by check, email: mikehersh@mikehersh.com

Reps. Donna Edwards & Chris Van Hollen+More!

==========================================================================================

*** Progressive Events in Our Area featuring Van Hollen, Arts Festival
MCPA Mtg, Legislative Wrap Up, MORE! ***
Planning a progressive event? Please send complete details for inclusion
in future updates to mikehersh2007@gmail.com

==========================================================================================

* Get Involved: support progressive candidates and issues. Become a
supporting member of the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance (MCPA).

1. April 23-25, The First Amnesty International Arts Festival in
downtown Silver Spring -- See: http://www.humanrightsartfestival.com/

2. Saturday, April 24, Congresswoman Donna Edwards will hold coffee
conversations in Suitland (8:30 AM) and Silver Spring (10:30 AM).

3. Sunday, April 25th, 2 to 5 PM The 2010 General Assembly Session: What
did it accomplish? Progressive Working Group, Delegates, State Senators,
and Constituents in Laurel.

4. Tuesday, April 27th, 7 PM Meet Marcy Winograd, Progressive Democratic
Candidate for Congress from California at the New Busboys in D.C.

5. Thursday, April 29th, 7 to 8:30 PM Rep. Van Hollen and Sanford
Gottlieb discuss and sign "Red to Blue: Congressman Chris Van Hollen and
Grassroots Politics" Original Busboys in D.C.

6. Tuesday, May 4th, 7:30 to 9 PM Progressive Alliance Meeting in
Wheaton--Mobilizing for progressive candidates, events and issues.

7. Saturday, May 8th, Peace Luncheon of Peace Action Montgomery, PAX
Christi and the Social Justice Committee of the Universalist Church of
Rockville, at the church in Rockville.

==========================================================================================

* Get Involved: support progressive candidates and issues. Become a
supporting member of the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance (MCPA).

If you live in the Montgomery County Maryland area--or support our
efforts here--please join the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance.
MCPA is local, independent coalition of organizations. We organize
debates, forums and other events to inform the public and advance
progress in Montgomery County and throughout Maryland. We're gearing up
for an exciting, important election cycle this year. MCPA will endorse
candidates and launch issue campaigns to educate the general public. To
help us achieve everything we should, please support MCPA now. Contact
mikehersh@mikehersh.com to work with MCPA. Become a supporting member of
MCPA here:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=9559742

==========================================================================================

1. The First Amnesty International Festival, Downtown Silver Spring, MD.
April 23-25, Schedule, information, etc.:
http://www.humanrightsartfestival.com/about.html

==========================================================================================

2. Congresswoman Donna Edwards will hold coffee conversations in
Suitland and Silver Spring
The Congresswoman will meet with us, provide a legislative update, and
discuss a variety of issues.

Saturday, April 24, 8:30 AM
Suitland Dunkin Donuts--8:30 am - 9:30 am 6100 Allentown Rd. Suitland,
MD 20746
Short Bus 30 ride from Branch Ave. Metro (Green Line) See:
http://www.wmata.com/
Map/Directions:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=6100+Allentown+Rd.+Suitland+MD+20746-4552+(Dunkin'+Donuts)

Saturday, April 24, 10:30 AM
Silver Spring Kefa Café--10:30 am -11:30 am 963 Bonifant Street Silver
Spring, MD 20910
3 Blocks from Silver Spring Metro (Red Line) See: http://www.wmata.com/
Map/Directions: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=963
Bonifant+Street+Silver+Spring+MD+20910

For more information about Congresswoman Edwards, please see:
http://www.donnaedwardsforcongress.com/

==========================================================================================

3. Legislative Wrap-Up: "The 2010 General Assembly Session: What did it
accomplish?"

Join the Progressive Working Group (PWG) to discuss issues with Senators
Raskin, Harrington, and Lenett, and Delegates Manno, Montgomery, Hixson,
Bobo, Hucker, and Ali (invited and expected.)

Sunday, April 25th, 2 to 5 PM
Laurel Regional Hospital (J. Russell Jones Room)
7300 Van Dusen Road, Laurel, MD 20707
Map/Directions:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=7300+Van+Dusen+Road+Laurel+MD+20707

Where do your state legislators stand on key issues including: the
Environment, Campaign Finance and Transparency in Government,
Healthcare, Education, Labor, Gender Issues, Separation of Church and
State, Peace and Justice, and more. Share your legislative priorities
for the 2011 session.

For more information, please call: 443-604-2298

==========================================================================================

4. Meet Marcy Winograd, Progressive Democratic Candidate for Congress
from California

Tuesday, April 27th, 7 PM
New Busboys and Poets 5th & K Sts. NW
1025 5th Street NW, DC 20001
Map/Directions: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1025+5th+Street+NW,+DC+20001
3.5 blocks from the Convention Center metro (Green/Yellow line)

Marcy Winograd is a long-time activist for peace and social justice
running against corporate / Blue Dog incumbent Jane Harman (CA-36) in
the June 8 Democratic primary. Marcy wants to redirect our priorities
from war spending and corporate greed to job creation, world-class
education, health care, and energy independence through a Green New
Deal. While Jane Harman famously called herself "The Best Republican in
the Democratic Party," the Party named Marcy a "Democrat of the Year."
Come see why the San Francisco Chronicle named this one of seven
national races to watch.

==========================================================================================

5. Congressman Chris Van Hollen and Sanford Gottlieb discuss and sign
"Red to Blue: Congressman Chris Van Hollen and Grassroots Politics"

Thursday, April 29th, 7 to 8:30 PM
Original Busboys and Poets, 14th & V. Sts. NW
2021 14th St NW DC 20009
Map/Directions: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=2021+14th+St+NW+DC+20009
2 blocks from U Street Cardozo Metro stop (Green Line)

Link to the webstore and book description:
http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9781594514890

==========================================================================================

6. Progressive Alliance Meeting in Wheaton--Mobilizing for progressive
candidates, events and issues

Tuesday, May 4th, 7:30 to 9 PM
Saigonese Restaurant, 11232 Grandview Ave Silver Spring (Wheaton), MD 20902
Map/Directions:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=11232+Grandview+Ave+Silver+Spring+MD+20902
2 blocks from Wheaton Metro (Red Line)

Agenda: Mobilizing for progressive candidates, events and issues. We're
making progress in our county and state on Healthcare, Verifiable
Voting, the Environment, Education, Labor, Transportation, Energy and
other issues. We're building up our coalition and lobby efforts on the
state and national level, planning special events, forming a steering
committee, and working on meetings with elected officials and other
organizations.

==========================================================================================

7. Peace Luncheon of Peace Action Montgomery, PAX Christi and the Social
Justice Committee of the Universalist Church of Rockville

Saturday May 8th 11:30 AM to 2 PM
Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville
100 Welsh Park Dr, Rockville, MD 20805
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=100+Welsh+Park+Dr,+Rockville+MD+20805
Public transportation: http://www.wmata.com/

Keynote speaker: Ray McGovern. Delegate Sheila Hixson and Senator Jamie
Raskin will be honored for their work on the ASVAB legislation Help
raise funds for Afghan women. Raffle for a motorized bike! More info.
see: http://washingtonpeacecenter.net/node/2994

==========================================================================================

* Get Involved: support progressive candidates and issues. Become a
supporting member of the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance (MCPA).

If you live in the Montgomery County Maryland area--or support our
efforts here--please join the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance.
MCPA is local, independent coalition of organizations. We organize
debates, forums and other events to inform the public and advance
progress in Montgomery County and throughout Maryland. We're gearing up
for an exciting, important election cycle this year. MCPA will endorse
candidates and launch issue campaigns to educate the general public. To
help us achieve everything we should, please support MCPA now. Contact
mikehersh@mikehersh.com to work with MCPA. Become a supporting member of
MCPA here:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=9559742

==========================================================================================

Progressive Alliance Meeting in Wheaton--Mobilizing for progressive candidates, events and issues

Tuesday, May 4th, 7:30 to 9 PM
Saigonese Restaurant, 11232 Grandview Ave Silver Spring (Wheaton), MD 20902
Map/Directions: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=11232+Grandview+Ave+Silver+Spring+MD+20902
2 blocks from Wheaton Metro (Red Line)

Agenda: Mobilizing for progressive candidates, events and issues. We're making progress in our county and state on Healthcare, Verifiable Voting, the Environment, Education, Labor, Transportation, Energy and other issues. We're building up our coalition and lobby efforts on the state and national level, planning special events, forming a steering committee, and working on meetings with elected officials and other organizations.

Upcoming Progressive Events in Maryland and DC

Upcoming Progressive Events in Maryland and DC

===============

* Get Involved: support progressive candidates and issues. Become a
supporting member of the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance (MCPA).

1. April 23-25, The First Amnesty International Festival in downtown
Silver Spring, MD.

2. Sunday, April 25th, 2 to 5 PM The 2010 General Assembly Session: What
did it accomplish? Join the Progressive Working Group (PWG) and
progressive Delegates, State Senators, and Constituents

3. Tuesday, April 27th 7 PM Meet Marcy Winograd, Progressive Democratic
Candidate for Congress from California

4. Thursday, April 29th, 7 to 8:30 PM Rep. Chris Van Hollen and Sanford
Gottlieb discuss and sign "Red to Blue: Congressman Chris Van Hollen and
Grassroots Politics"

5. Tuesday, May 4th, 7:30 to 9 PM Progressive Alliance Meeting in
Wheaton--Mobilizing for progressive candidates, events and issues

6. Saturday, May 8th Peace Luncheon of Peace Action Montgomery, PAX
Christi and the Social Justice Committee of the Universalist Church of
Rockville

===============

* Get Involved: support progressive candidates and issues. Become a
supporting member of the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance (MCPA).

If you live in the Montgomery County Maryland area--or support our
efforts here--please join the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance.
MCPA is local, independent coalition of organizations. We organize
debates, forums and other events to inform the public and advance
progress in Montgomery County and throughout Maryland. We're gearing up
for an exciting, important election cycle this year. MCPA will endorse
candidates and launch issue campaigns to educate the general public. To
help us achieve everything we should, please support MCPA now. Contact
mikehersh@mikehersh.com to work with MCPA.

Become a supporting member of MCPA here:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=9559742

===============

1. The First Amnesty International Festival, Downtown Silver Spring, MD.
April 23-25, Schedule, information, etc.:
http://www.humanrightsartfestival.com/about.html

===============

2. The 2010 General Assembly Session: What did it accomplish? Join the
Progressive Working Group (PWG) and progressive Delegates, State
Senators, and Constituents

Sunday, April 25th, 2 to 5 PM
Laurel Regional Hospital (J. Russell Jones Room)
7300 Van Dusen Road, Laurel, MD 20707
Map/Directions:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=7300+Van+Dusen+Road+Laurel+MD+20707

Discuss issues with Senators Raskin, Harrington, and Lenett, and
Delegates Manno, Montgomery, Hixson, Bobo, Hucker, Ali (invited and
expected.)

Where do your state legislators stand on key issues including: the
Environment, Campaign Finance and Transparency in Government,
Healthcare, Education, Labor, Gender Issues, Separation of Church and
State, Peace and Justice, and more. Share your legislative priorities
for the 2011 session.

For more information, please call: 443-604-2298

===============

3. Meet Marcy Winograd, Progressive Democratic Candidate for Congress

Tuesday, April 27th, 7 PM
New Busboys and Poets 5th & K Sts. NW
1025 5th Street NW, DC 20001
Map/Directions: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1025+5th+Street+NW,+DC+20001
3.5 blocks from the Convention Center metro (Green/Yellow line)

Marcy Winograd is a long-time activist for peace and social justice
running against corporate / Blue Dog incumbent Jane Harman (CA-36) in
the June 8 Democratic primary. Marcy wants to redirect our priorities
from war spending and corporate greed to job creation, world-class
education, health care, and energy independence through a Green New
Deal. While Jane Harman famously called herself "The Best Republican in
the Democratic Party," the Party named Marcy a "Democrat of the Year."
Come see why the San Francisco Chronicle named this one of seven
national races to watch.

===============

4. Congressman Chris Van Hollen and Sanford Gottlieb discuss and sign
"Red to Blue: Congressman Chris Van Hollen and Grassroots Politics"

Thursday, April 29th, 7 to 8:30 PM
Original Busboys and Poets, 14th & V. Sts. NW
2021 14th St NW DC 20009
Map/Directions: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=2021+14th+St+NW+DC+20009
2 blocks from U Street Cardozo Metro stop (Green Line)

Link to the webstore and book description:
http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9781594514890

===============

5. Progressive Alliance Meeting in Wheaton--Mobilizing for progressive
candidates, events and issues

Tuesday, May 4th, 7:30 to 9 PM
Saigonese Restaurant, 11232 Grandview Ave Silver Spring (Wheaton), MD 20902
Map/Directions:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=11232+Grandview+Ave+Silver+Spring+MD+20902
2 blocks from Wheaton Metro (Red Line)

Agenda: Mobilizing for progressive candidates, events and issues. We're
making progress in our county and state on Healthcare, Verifiable
Voting, the Environment, Education, Labor, Transportation, Energy and
other issues. We're building up our coalition and lobby efforts on the
state and national level, planning special events, forming a steering
committee, and working on meetings with elected officials and other
organizations.

===============

6. Peace Luncheon of Peace Action Montgomery, PAX Christi and the Social
Justice Committee of the Universalist Church of Rockville

Saturday May 8th 11:30 AM to 2 PM
Unitarian Universalist Church of Rockville
100 Welsh Park Dr, Rockville, MD 20805
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=100+Welsh+Park+Dr,+Rockville+MD+20805
Public transportation: http://www.wmata.com/

Keynote speaker: Ray McGovern. Delegate Sheila Hixson and Senator Jamie
Raskin will be honored for their work on the ASVAB legislation Help
raise funds for Afghan women. Raffle for a motorized bike! More info.
see: http://washingtonpeacecenter.net/node/2994

Act now for progress with the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance

This is a long blog post, outlining several actions you can take, events to attend, etc. please bear with us!

1. Get Involved: support progressive candidates and issues with MCPA
2. Contact your State Legislators for more transparency, electoral fairness, and sound budget policies.
*  EMERGENCY ACTION ALERT: Act Now! Maryland needs voting machines we can trust.
3. Discuss budgets and revenues with elected officials, 1:30 PM February 7th 2010 in Wheaton
4. Sample Letter on Progressive Working Group Issues
5. Background, news, and information on these bills and policies
6. Keep us working for you! Support the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance

---------------------------

1. Get Involved! Support progressive candidates and issues! Join and Support MCPA
If you live in the Montgomery County Maryland area, please join the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance. MCPA is a grassroots, independent coalition of organizations. MCPA organizes debates, forums and other events to inform the public and advance understanding and progress in Montgomery County. More information: http://mcprogressive.wordpress.com/

We're gearing up for an exciting, important 2010. MCPA will endorse candidates and issue campaigns, educate the general public on issues, host events, and otherwise support progressive issues and campaigns as MCPA and in concert with other organizations. To achieve everything we should–to expand our meetings, hold more forums, extend outreach, and organize support for the best candidates–we ask you to become a paying member of MCPA now. Support our work: http://mcprogressive.wordpress.com/join-and-support-mcpa/

Contact mikehersh@mikehersh.com to work with MCPA.

---------------------------

2. Contact your State Legislators for more transparency, electoral fairness, and sound budget policies.
MCPA is a member of the Progressive Working Group (PWG), a coalition of 24 organizations* in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties--and most recently Howard and Baltimore Counties and Baltimore City--joining together to support 3 important issues: campaign finance reform, greater transparency/open access in Annapolis, combined reporting aka closing a massive corporate tax loophole. Following a PWG meeting with House of Delegates Speaker Michael Busch, we're hopeful we can achieve progress on all of these issues!

In fact, we've already seen progress. Quickly following efforts from PWG and coalition allies Ryan O'Donnell (Maryland Common Cause), Sean Dobson, (Progressive Maryland) and Maryland Transparency and Equal Access in Government, Speaker Busch and Senate President Mike Miller took steps to promote greater transparency in General Assembly operations, including posting committee votes online.

We're not satisfied with partial success on one issue area, however. We're asking you to adapt the following sample letter (see below) to write or call your state legislators. Please use your own words! Identical emails and calls are less likely to receive due consideration. You can find your legislators' contact information online here: http://mlis.state.md.us

* EMERGENCY ACTION ALERT! Maryland needs voting machines we can trust. The Maryland Legislature unanimously voted for paper-based, verifiable voting. Unfortunately, Governor O'Malley failed to fund the transition away from unreliable, error-prone, expensive and obsolete DRE voting machines in his current budget. The Board of Public Works will meet to consider funding the transition to more reliable, less costly paper ballot voting. Urge your state legislators to contact the Governor and demand voting machines we can trust in Maryland! (See sample letter below).

---------------------------

3. Discuss budgets and revenues with elected officials, 1:30 PM February 7th 2010 in Wheaton
Sunday, February 7th 1:30 to 3:30 PM. Panel discussion/forum on MD and MoCo Budgets.

While we welcome the Governor’s commitment to schools and other priorities in his just-released budget, many questions remain about remaining challenges. Join us for a panel discussion on these critical issues with Delegates Brian Feldman, Sheila Hixson, and Roger Manno, County Council President Nancy Floreen and School Board President Pat O'Neill. We're awaiting response from County Executive Ike Leggett and MCEA leadership. Free and open to the public.

Wheaton Library, (first floor large meeting room)
11701 Georgia Ave. Wheaton MD 20902
Public transportation: from Wheaton Metro take Y9 Bus (toward Montgomery Hospital).

More information and RSVP: Mark Woodard markdwoodard@comcast.net or Mike Hersh mikehersh@mikehersh.com

---------------------------

4. Sample Letter on Progressive Working Group Issues:

Dear (name and office of delegate or senator)

I am a member of the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance, a grassroots group with approximately 1100 members in Montgomery County. We are part of a coalition of 24 groups which supports campaign finance reform, greater transparency and equal access in Annapolis, and combined corporate income reporting. I urge you to support these issues in the current legislative session.

Maryland needs voting machines we can trust. We thank you for voting to purchase and deploy paper-based, verifiable voting machines. Although you and the rest of the Maryland General Assembly unanimously voted for it, Governor O'Malley failed to fund the transition away from unreliable, error-prone, expensive and obsolete DRE voting machines in his current budget. Please contact the Governor and convey your strong commitment to voting machines we can trust in Maryland. Urge him to fund the transition to more reliable, less costly, verifiable paper ballot voting machines when the Board of Public Works meets to consider funding priorities in Maryland early next month.

We need real campaign finance reform (CFR) including voluntary public financing of General Assembly elections. This would let you focus on important issues facing our state, rather than on raising funds for your campaign. I understand challengers can raise campaign funds during the session, but you are not allowed to do so. We believe CFR would fix this unfair situation, and help free you and your colleagues from the burdens of fundraising. This would increase public confidence in the General Assembly, and ultimately make your work more effective.

We've considered the impact the recent US Supreme Court decision may have on CFR, and we understand that public financing would likely survive judicial challenge by virtue of its voluntary nature. We also understand that Sen. Paul Pinsky is among the legislators like to sponsor such legislation during the 2010 session. We strongly urge you to do all you can to ensure the passage of public financing CFR into law.

Please support Del. Heather Mizeur's Maryland Open Government Act. Greater transparency/open access will let citizens better understand your efforts in Annapolis by facilitating access to information and participation in hearings. If enacted, the bill would allow free and total public access to services on the General Assembly's Web site--eliminating the $800 fee for legislative tracking. It would also provide for live webcasts of committee hearings and Board of Public Works meetings. To facilitate public participation in General Assembly committee hearings, it would require one-day advance online notice of committee hearing agendas, would let people sign-up online to testify, and would mandate the publication of standing committee votes on the General Assembly Web site.

These objectives enjoy wide support politically and geographically. Along with all 24 members and allies of the PWG in Baltimore City, Montgomery, Howard, Baltimore and Prince George's Counties, both House Speaker Busch and Senate President Miller endorse these principles. According to the Cumberland Times-News, "A legislative working group of the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce generally supported the Maryland Open Government Act." Clearly, the time for greater access and transparency has come. Please sign on as a co-sponsor of The Maryland Open Government Act in the House of Delegates, or parallel legislation in the Senate.

We support combined corporate income reporting which would require the largest multi-state corporations to pay their fair share and help support education, infrastructure, transportation and other basic needs in Maryland. During the current budget crisis, this is more important than ever. Combined reporting will not harm Maryland's economy or undermine efforts to attract and foster strong commercial growth. According to The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, which studied employment growth in states with combined reporting states from 1990-2006, "five of the seven states with the fastest employment growth use combined reporting" and "ten of the states with combined reporting had employment growth exceeding the national growth rate."

According to an article entitled "Combined Reporting" from the New Rules Project: "Many retail chains earn profits at stores nationwide, but have developed an accounting scheme to evade paying their full share of state corporate income taxes. Tax experts believe the practice is costing states billions of dollars in lost revenue. It has also given chains an advantage over locally owned businesses, which must pay state income tax on all of their earnings. Twenty-one states are not vulnerable to these tax-evasion schemes, because they have enacted a policy known as combined reporting." These states include--Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia.

Maryland has been considering enacting combined reporting for several years. The House of Delegates passed Combined Reporting during the recent special session, but the Senate did not. Other states currently considering combined reporting include Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina and Wisconsin. The 31 states which have passed or are considering combined reporting represent every region of the U.S.--a wide range of political and socio-economic character--which indicates that this is not a left or right, pro- or anti-business, or partisan issue. Combined reporting is a simple matter of basic fairness, sound economics, and honest accounting.

We urge you to support Del. Roger Manno's HB 10 which would dedicate funds from combined reporting to strengthen the state employees' and teachers' pension systems and prevent transfer of pension obligations to the counties and Baltimore City. Please co-sponsor HB 10 in the House, or sponsor and support parallel legislation in the Senate.

Thank you for your consideration of these important issues.

Sincerely,

Your name and address

---------------------------

5. Background, news, and information on these bills and policies

Campaign finance reform: 
Bill to be introduced soon. Fact sheet on campaign finance: http://progressivemaryland.org/public/documents/2010/ga/CleanElectionsBasicHandout2010.pdf

Fair and effective solutions to the budget crisis:
Teacher and Employee Pension Sustainability and Solvency Trust Fund (HB 10) (Manno) http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/HB0010.htm

Also see: "Combined Reporting" New Rules Project: http://www.newrules.org/retail/rules/level-playing-field-taxation/combined-reporting

Also see: "Corporate Lobbyist's Case Against Combined Reporting in New Mexico: A Rebuttal"
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3012

Also see: WTH is Combined Reporting http://mcprogressive.wordpress.com/2010/01/09/wth-is-combined-reporting-and-why-do-we-need-it/

Transparency and Equal Access in Government:
See "Crowdsourcing Maryland's Democracy" Washington Post Op-Ed: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-opinions/2009/12/crowdsourcing_marylands_democr.html

Also see Delegate Ali's bill at Legislative Voting Sunshine Act (HB 107) (Ali): http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/hb0107.htm

Also see: "Lawmakers to introduce Maryland Open Government Act today," Cumberland Times-News http://www.times-news.com/local/local_story_028094302.html

Also see: http://maryland-politics.blogspot.com/2010/01/busch-committee-votes-will-be-posted.html


Also see: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/annapolis/2010/01/miller_senate_to_post_committe.html?wprss=annapolis

Also see: Del. Mizeur legislative agenda: http://www.heathermizeur.com/pdf/2010/Mizeur2010LegislativeAgenda.pdf

Maryland Transparency and Equal Access in Government Coalition (MD TEAG) builds support for transparency/open access issues and needs more volunteers. TEAG has been meeting with legislators and others on these issues. For more information on TEAG's long range goals as well as its work in the current session and to become involved, contact Luis Zapata, Chair, MD TEAG Coalition, MDTEAG@gmail.com, 301-325-6754.
---------------------------

6. Keep us working for you! Support the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance. More information: http://mcprogressive.wordpress.com/

MCPA is a grassroots, independent coalition of organizations. MCPA organizes debates, forums and other events to inform the public and advance understanding and progress in Montgomery County.

We can't do anything without your help! Support our work: http://mcprogressive.wordpress.com/join-and-support-mcpa/

Contact mikehersh@mikehersh.com to work with MCPA. Join the MCPA Google Group, email mcprogressivealliance-subscribe@googlegroups.com

A Panel Discussion on County and State Budgets, Pensions and Revenues

Join the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance and the Greater Silver
Spring Democrats Club for a panel discussion of these important issues with:
Delegates Brian Feldman, Sheila Hixson, and Roger Manno; County Council
President Nancy Floreen and School Board President Pat O'Neill (confirmed).
Other panelists invited.


Sunday February 7th 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Wheaton Library (first floor large meeting room)
11701 Georgia Ave. Wheaton MD 20902

Map/directions:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=11701+Georgia+Ave+Wheaton+MD+20902
 
Public transportation: from Wheaton Metro take Y9 Bus (toward Montgomery
Hospital)


More information and RSVP: Mark Woodard markdwoodard@comcast.net
Mike Hersh mikehersh@mikehersh.com 301-933-7169 / 301-602-9388 (cell)

gearing up for an exciting, important 2010

Get Involved: support progressive candidates and issues
If you live in the Montgomery County Maryland area--or support our efforts here--please join the Montgomery County Progressive Alliance. MCPA is local, independent coalition of organizations. MCPA organizes debates, forums and other events to inform the public and advance understanding and progress in Montgomery County.

We're gearing up for an exciting, important 2010. MCPA will endorse candidates and issue campaigns, educate the general public on issues, host events, and otherwise support progressive issues and campaigns as MCPA and in concert with other organizations. To achieve everything we should--to expand our meetings, hold more forums, extend outreach, and organize support for the best candidates--we ask you to become a paying member of MCPA now. Contact mikehersh@mikehersh.com to work with MCPA.  Become a paying member of MCPA.


Paying members will help us establish our priorities, allocate our resources, and make a real difference.  For the low cost of $25/year, about $2 per month,  you can participate in the changes you want to see in Montgomery County. Contribute online or bring payment to any event or meeting.

Paying members will be eligible to serve on committees (including the new steering committee), participate in charting our course into the next year including formulating the process through which we will nominate candidates and voting to endorse candidates for office in 2010. Organizations and individuals are eligible to join MCPA. They will also participate in our planning and decision-making processes governing our role in state and local elections.

Our committees will study and make recommendations for MCPA's positions on issues facing all levels of government including: health policy, transportation and land use, energy and environment, equality under the law, accurate and transparent elections, clean politics including public campaign financing and other fundamental changes in access to our government, affordable housing, access to needed services, protection from public or private violations of basic rights, respect and support for all members of our community--regardless of race, age, gender, sexual identity, national origin, creed, denomination, religion or lack thereof.

If you haven't yet: please join our Meetup Group, our Google Group, and our Facebook Group.


Please donate to support our ongoing meetings, public forums, website, and more, or bring payment to any event or meeting.  Sponsor our Meetup Group. Attend our meetings and events, join our committees, help us organize more events and develop or endorsement process.

Thanks!

Mike Hersh
Executive Director, Montgomery County Progressive Alliance

What the Hell is Combined Reporting?

The Montgomery County Progressive Alliance and our allies including the Progressive Working Group, Democracy for Montgomery County, Progressive Democrats of America/Maryland, Progressive Maryland and many others support Combined Reporting to increase the fairness in our state, remove disadvantages which currently hinder small business growth, and help ameliorate crushing budget deficits. People ask us some important questions about this policy. I've searched the web and gathered answers to these questions:


What the Hell is Combined Reporting?
According to an article entitled Combined Reporting from the New Rules Project:

Many retail chains earn profits at stores nationwide, but have developed an accounting scheme to evade paying their full share of state corporate income taxes. Tax experts believe the practice is costing states billions of dollars in lost revenue.  It has also given chains an advantage over locally owned businesses, which must pay state income tax on all of their earnings. Twenty-one states are not vulnerable to these tax-evasion schemes, because they have enacted a policy known as combined reporting.

Which other states enacted Combined Reporting? Which haven't? Which other states are considering it?

[From the New Rules Project article] As of February 2008, twenty-one states have adopted combined reporting.  These states are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia. Lack of corporate income taxes makes combined reporting irrelevant in four states: Nevada, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming.

The remaining twenty-five states (as of February 2008), plus the District of Columbia, have not adopted combined reporting and are vulnerable to chains escaping their state tax obligations by shifting income to subsidiaries.  These states are Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

[B]ills to implement combined reporting were introduced in several other states, including Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina and Wisconsin."

If Maryland enacts Combined Reporting, won't we lose jobs as businesses flee the state?
Not according to "The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center [which] compiled this fact sheet describing employment growth in states with combined reporting states from 1990-2006.  They find that 1) five of the seven states with the fastest employment growth use combined reporting and 2) ten of the states with combined reporting had employment growth exceeding the national growth rate." (New Rules Project).

This indicates warnings that businesses will leave the state are unfounded. Companies that use tricks to evade state taxes--like retailers and other chains with many locations--cannot serve communities from afar. The Combined Reporting article lists The Gap, Home Depot, Ikea, Kmart, Kohl's, Limited Brands (including Bath & Body Works, Victoria's Secret, The Limited, and other chains), Payless Shoes, Staples, and Wal-Mart as companies that escape taxes, but which would be forced to pay their fair share under combined reporting.
As mentioned above, New Mexico is one of the states considering Combined Reporting. The article "Corporate Lobbyist’s Case Against Combined Reporting in New Mexico: A Rebuttal" addresses several arguments against Combined Reporting. The considerations are similar to those in other states, including Maryland including:

[C]laims that combined reporting unfairly taxes corporate profits not actually earned in New Mexico, will hurt New Mexico’s economy, and is unnecessary and ineffective as a revenue-raising strategy. In reality:
* The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected the claim that combined reporting unfairly taxes corporate income earned outside the taxing state and has upheld combined reporting as a fair means of measuring the portion of income that a member of a corporate group earns in a state.

* Adopting combined reporting is essential to nullifying a wide variety of aggressive tax-sheltering strategies that large multistate corporations are able to implement to reduce or even eliminate their income tax payments. The targeted measure Minzner recommends as an alternative addresses only one of those strategies, some of which can only be shut down effectively by combined reporting.

* The states that have had combined reporting in effect for the past 15-20 years have been disproportionately successful in retaining manufacturing jobs – the jobs theoretically most likely to be moved in response to state tax policies corporations find objectionable. For example, 9 of the 11 states that performed better than New Mexico in manufacturing job growth between 1990 and 2007 mandated combined reporting.

* Mandating combined reporting would raise substantial new revenue for New Mexico, particularly when corporate profits begin recovering from the recession. The state’s Legislative Finance Committee estimates a 20 percent corporate tax revenue increase would result – funds that will be available to preserve education, health or other services that are good for the state’s economy. A revenue estimate of this order of magnitude is consistent with estimates done in other states, including an especially careful estimate recently made in Maryland.

* Mandatory combined reporting would mitigate the competitive disadvantage that some small businesses now face relative to multistate, multi-corporation groups that can lower their taxes by artificially shifting income into other states.

How does it work? How do corporations use this trick to avoid paying state taxes?
The New Rules Project article explains:

The way chain retailers are evading their state tax obligations is by transferring profits to certain types of subsidiaries.  One common approach is to establish a trademark holding company.  Another is to set up a real-estate investment trust, or REIT.

In the trademark holding company scheme, a chain sets up a subsidiary in a state that does not tax certain types of income, such as Delaware, Michigan, or Nevada. Home Depot, for example, has a Delaware-based subsidiary called Homer TLC Inc. The subsidiary, which consists of little more than an address, owns the company's trademark. Home Depot stores in other states pay the subsidiary a hefty fee for using the trademark.  These fees are then deducted as business expenses from Home Depot's tax returns in those states. Meanwhile, because Delaware does not levy corporate income taxes on earnings from intangible assets such as trademarks, the profits are not taxed in that state either.

Often the subsidiary will also lend money to the rest of the corporation, enabling a second stream of profits to be transferred free of state taxes through the payment of interest on the loan.

The REIT method has been widely used by large retailers, most notably Wal-Mart.

Established in the 1960s by Congress, REITs are exempt from paying taxes on dividends paid to their investors. Chain retailers have taken advantage of this by setting up their own REITs (often called "captive REITs"), which own the land and buildings that house their stores.  The chain then pays rent to the REIT and deducts the rent as a business expense from its state tax returns.  The REIT's income is then paid back to the chain as a tax-free dividend.

This is how the Wall Street Journal explained Wal-Mart's use of a captive REIT: "One Wal-Mart subsidiary pays the rent to a real-estate investment trust, or REIT, which is entitled to a tax break if it pays its profits out in dividends. The REIT is 99%-owned by another Wal-Mart subsidiary, which receives the REIT's dividends tax-free. And Wal-Mart gets to deduct the rent from state taxes as a business expense, even though the money has stayed within the company."  ("Wal-Mart Cuts Taxes By Paying Rent to Itself," by Jesse Drucker, Feb. 1, 2007.)

What's the big deal? Is this really costing Maryland money?

Again from the Combined Reporting article: [T]ax experts believe these schemes are costing states billions of dollars in lost revenue and likely account for a sizeable share of the decline in state corporate income tax receipts that has occurred in recent years.  In 1977, corporate income taxes accounted for 9.7 percent of total state tax revenue.  By 2001, their share had fallen to 5.7 percent and had dropped to an estimated five percent by 2004 (see The State Corporate Income Tax: Recent Trends for a Troubled Tax).

[...]

Between 1992 and 1994, Limited Brands transferred more than $1.2 billion from its stores to Delaware subsidiaries. Kmart shifted $1.25 billion into its Michigan subsidiary, Kmart Properties, Inc., from 1991 to 1995.

More recently, evidence submitted in a case in North Carolina revealed that, in one four-year period, from 1998 to 2001, Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores across the country paid captive REITs a total of $7.27 billion in "rent."  Based on an average state corporate income tax rate of 6.5 percent,  this enabled Wal-Mart to avoid about $350 million in state taxes over those four years, according to an analysis by three tax experts commissioned by the Wall Street Journal.

A report by Citizens for Tax Justice, a Washington-based nonpartisan group, and Change to Win, a labor coalition that represents 6 million workers, estimated that Wal-Mart's tax avoidance schemes helped cut its payments to state governments almost in half between 1999 and 2005. Over those seven years, Wal-Mart reported $77.4 billion in pretax U.S. profits. But it reported a total state income tax bill of only $2.4 billion, or 3.16 percent of those profits. The researchers' report said that if Wal-Mart paid taxes at the statutory state corporate tax rates for the same period, it would have paid $4.7 billion in state income taxes.

Is Combined Reporting a real solution?

Several court cases have dealt with the question of whether this practice constitutes a legitimate tax-reduction strategy or an illegal tax-evasion scam.  But the cases have produced mixed results.  Some courts have sided with the corporations and ruled that the practice is legal. Others have favored the states. A January 2008 decision by a North Carolina district court ruled that the state was right to collect an additional $33.5 million in taxes from Wal-Mart, which the chain had tried to avoid paying through a captive REIT scheme.

Rather than undertaking the expense and uncertainty of a lawsuit, a better way for states to block these tax-evasion schemes and level the playing field for local retailers is to enact a relatively straight-forward revision to the state tax code, known as "combined reporting" (and sometimes referred to as taxing companies on a "unitary basis").

Combined reporting requires that companies combine profits from all related subsidiaries, including captive REITs and trademark holding companies, before determining what portion of their profits are taxable in that state. (To determine how much of their total worldwide earnings are taxable in each state in which they operate, multi-state companies must apportion their profits according to formulas which consider how much of the firm's property, payroll, and sales are in each state.)

States with combined reporting are effectively able to tax the percentage of an out-of-state subsidiary's profits that can legitimately be attributed to a firm's in-state operations. Combined reporting has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

More information also thanks to the New Rules Project

• In 2004, Vermont enacted combined reporting legislation. View full text of Vermont's Act 152.
• In 2007, West Virginia implemented combined reporting.  View Full Text of SB 749
  

Pending Bills

• From 2005-08, bills to implement combined reporting were introduced in several other states, including Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina and Wisconsin.

Even more information:

• Selected Articles from the Hometown Advantage Recent news on efforts to enact combined reporting.

• State Tax Policy and Entrepreneurial Activity In this November 2006 study, the U.S. Small Business Administration found that states that have adopted combined reporting and throwback rules have higher entrepreneurship rates. The study hypothesizes that "the presence of these policies might represent an overall state tax climate that is less favorable toward larger businesses and perhaps more favorable toward small businesses."

• Building a Strong Economy: The evidence on combined reporting, public investments, and economic growth The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center compiled this fact sheet describing employment growth in states with combined reporting states from 1990-2006.  They find that 1) five of the seven states with the fastest employment growth use combined reporting and 2) ten of the states with combined reporting had employment growth exceeding the national growth rate.

• State Corporate Tax Disclosure: The Next Step in Corporate Tax Reform by Michael Mazerov, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, February 2007
• Combined Reporting of State Corporate Income Taxes: A Primer Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, 2007
• Combined Reporting: How Does Your State Stack Up? Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, April 2007
• Closing Three Common Corporate Income Tax Loopholes Could Raise Additional Revenue for Many States by Michael Mazerov, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, May 2003
• Combined Reporting: A Comprehensive Method of Closing Corporate Tax Loopholes Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, March 27, 2003
• Designing a Combined Reporting Regime for a State Corporate Income Tax: A Case Study of Louisiana by Michael J. McIntyre, Paull Mines, and Richard D. Pomp in the 2001 Louisiana Law Review
• The 'Single Sales Factor' Formula for State Corporate Taxes: A Boon to Economic Development or a Costly Giveaway? by Michael Mazerov, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, September 2001 (see especially Appendix C, "How 'Combined Reporting' Prevents  Artificial Interstate Shifting of Corporate Profits")