Reminder: March 7th--Summit in Annapolis

Progressive Working Group and Progressive Maryland
Invite you to the First Annual
Progressive Summit and Lobby Night in Annapolis

Hosted by House Ways and Means Chairwoman Sheila Hixson.

With Senators: Jamin Raskin, Roger Manno, Karen Montgomery, Paul Pinsky, Victor Ramirez, and Bill Ferguson; and Delegates: Liz Bobo, Al Carr, Anne Healey, Tom Hucker, Eric Luedtke, Joseline Pena-Melnyk, and Heather Mizeur. Others expected to participate.

Monday March 7, 4:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

in the House Ways and Means Committee Hearing Room 131, House Office Building

6 Bladen Street (off College Avenue)

SCHEDULE for the Summit:

4:30 PM Fund Our Communities news conference
5:00 PM Registration and informal discussion
5:30 PM Summit begins, followed by lobbying

Featured issues:

• The Health Security Act
  
• Campaign Finance Reform
  
• Corporate Tax Combined Reporting
• Marriage Equality
• Fund Our Communities / Cost of War Campaign
• Offshore Wind Farm
  
• Transparency in Government / Public Information Act Expansion
• The Maryland DREAM Act
• Clean Water Bills

Progressive Working Group Members include: Democracy for Montgomery County, Equality Maryland, Healthcare Maryland, Healthcare-Now of Maryland, Maryland United for Peace and Justice, Montgomery County Civil Rights Coalition, Montgomery County Progressive Alliance, Montgomery Health Care Action, Peace Action Montgomery, Patients' Union, Peace and Justice of Prince George's County, Progressive Cheverly, Progressive Democrats of America, Progressive Neighbors, Save Our Votes, Transparency and Equal Access in Government, Upcounty Action, and WeGreen Global.

Leaked EPA Documents Expose Decades-Old Effort to Hide Dangers of Natural Gas Extraction

From Democracy Now:

Leaked EPA Documents Expose Decades-Old Effort to Hide Dangers of Natural Gas Extraction

Efforts by lawmakers and regulators to force the federal government to better police the natural gas drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," have been thwarted for the past 25 years, according to an exposé in the New York Times. Studies by scientists at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on fracking have been repeatedly narrowed in scope by superiors, and important findings have been removed under pressure from the industry. Joining us is Walter Hang, president of Toxics Targeting, a firm that tracks environmental spills and releases across the country, based in Ithaca, New York, where fracking is currently taking place. Watch/Listen/Read

Natural Gas Industry Attacks Oscar-Nominated Film “Gasland” for Chronicling Devastating Impact of Hydraulic Fracking

The environmental contamination and human health risk associated with the extraction of natural gas using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” was little known across the United States for years, until a documentary film brought the issue to the national stage. Josh Fox directed the film Gasland, which chronicles the devastation affecting communities where fracking is taking place and the influence of the natural gas industry over regulation of the techniques and chemicals used in the process. Watch/Listen/Read

Peace in Maryland / Fund Our Communities

Jean Athey writes:

Dear Fund Our Communities Activists,

I have three items to remind you of:

    * Please remember that we are having a press conference on Monday, March 7, 4:30 p.m., in the Ways and Means Committee Conference Room, Room 131, House Office Building, Annapolis. Try to come! It should be quite interesting and it will be important for us to make a strong showing.

      At this press conference, the letter from Maryland senators and delegates to our Congressional delegation asking them to work to change national priorities will be released. If you haven't seen the letter, you can read it here:  http://ourfunds.org/files/2011/01/2011-01-20-raskin_hixson_congressional_letter.pdf

      It's not too late to persuade recalcitrant legislators to sign the letter. I've pasted below the list of those who have signed it to date. If there are any legislators from your area of the state who haven't yet signed, please ask them to do so! They have the rest of this week to sign!!

    * Don't forget to think of a location to place the cost of war sign! You can program the sign to display a rolling message and/or to count up war costs. It's huge and beautiful--very impressive!

    * PLEASE plan to come to our mini-conference on March 26 in Bethesda. This will be a hugely important meeting for our movement. It will begin at 9 a.m. and last until 12:30. We want to have at least one representative per organization at the conference. We now have forty organizations in the coalition, so we are growing very fast. You can see the list of organizations here: http://ourfunds.peacepress.info/about/

      The conference will be at Cedar Lane Unitarian Church, 9601 Cedar Lane, Bethesda. We will have an excellent speaker, Miriam Pemberton, from the Institute for Policy Studies, and a great panel of activists representing some of the organizations in our coalition. And, we'll have plenty of time to strategize together. So, PLEASE plan to come!! We need you!!!  If you can't attend, please identify someone else to represent your organization at the conference.

Hope to see you on Monday!

In peace and solidarity,
Jean


General Assembly Letter Signers:

Senators

Ulysses Currie – D25                  (1/24)
Brian Frosh –D16                        (1/25)
Delores Kelley – D10                  (1/20)
Nancy King – D39                        (2/7)
Richard Madaleno – D18           (1/31)
Roger Manno – D19                    (1/31)
Karen Montgomery – D14          (2/7)
Paul Pinsky – D22                       (1/21)
Catherine Pugh – D40                (1/21)
Jamie Raskin – D20
Ronald Young – D3                     (1/25)

Delegates
Sam Arora – D19                         (1/20)
Elizabeth Bobo - D12B              (1/20)
Alfred Carr – D18                        (1/21)
Bonnie Cullison – D19               (1/20)
Steven DeBoy – D12A               (1/28)
Barbara Frush – D21                   (2/1)
Cheryl Glenn – D45                     (1/28)
Ana Sol Gutierrez – D18            (1/21)
Hattie Harrison – D45                (1/25)
Sheila Hixson – D20
Tom Hucker – D20                      (1/31)
Anne Kaiser - D14                       (1/21)
Ariana Kelly – D16                      (1/24)
Benjamin Kramer – D19            (1/24)
Susan Lee – D16                         (1/20)
Mary Ann Love - D32                 (1/20)
Eric Luedtke – D14                     (1/20)
Heather Mizeur – D20               (2/7)
Aruna Miller – D15                     (1/21)
Dan Morhaim – D11                   (1/20)
Peter Murphy – D28                    (1/24)
Doyle Niemann – D47                (1/20)
Kirill Reznik – D39                      (1/25)
Shane Robinson – D39             (1/31)
Samuel Rosenberg - D41          (1/21)
Michael Summers – D47            (2/2)
Joseph Vallario – D27A             (1/21)
Mary Washington – D43            (1/25)

Gasland Saturday

Saturday, March 5,communityresearcch@igc.org  2:30 p.m. College Park City Hall, Council Chambers, 2nd floor,  4500 Knox Road, College Park, MD    Sierra Club, Community Outreach screens award-winning documentary Gasland,  exploring  the environmental and public health consequences of fracking.  Learn about H.B. 852 and SB 634, the Marcellus Shale Safe Drilling Act of 2011. regarding the leasing of 100,000 acres in Western Maryland for drilling.  Refreshments and discussion lead by Heather Mizeur  to follow.  Free.  Contact Janis Oppelt at janiso@erols.com  240 888 6972.   visit:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s//GaslandScreening_EnergyAction   and www.gaslandthemovie.com. 

For More Information about HB 852 and SB 634 -- The Marcellus Shale Safe Drilling Act of 2011:
Visit the General Assembly Web Site at:  http://mlis.state.md.us/2011rs/billfile/HB0852.htm
Or the Sierra Club at:   http://maryland.sierraclub.org/action/p0319.asp
And read Delegate Mizeur's op-ed at:   http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-12-20/news/bs-ed-shale-natural-gas-20101220_1_marcellus-shale-natural-gas-gas-companies

 

Voters spoke in the last election, "We want Jobs."

Voters spoke in the last election, "We want Jobs." Well, cutting the necessities that have created prosperity for most Americans is not the path to sustained economic growth and the jobs we so badly need. I just asked my Congress member to support two bills to help reduce the deficit without causing further economic hardship on millions of Americans. I hope you will, too.

Click on this URL to take action now
http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/utr/2/?a=29569501&i=102311152&c=

If your email program does not recognize the URL as a link,
copy the entire URL and paste it into your Web browser.

Progressive Summit and Lobby Night Monday March 7

Progressive Working Group and Progressive Maryland Invite you to the First Annual Progressive Summit and Lobby Night in Annapolis Hosted by House Ways and Means Chairwoman Sheila Hixson. With Senators: Jamin Raskin, Roger Manno, Karen Montgomery, Paul Pinsky, Victor Ramirez, and Bill Ferguson; and Delegates: Liz Bobo, Al Carr, Anne Healey, Tom Hucker, Eric Luedtke, Joseline Pena-Melnyk, and Heather Mizeur. Others expected to participate. Monday March 7, 4:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. in the House Ways and Means Committee Hearing Room 131, House Office Building 6 Bladen Street (off College Avenue) SCHEDULE for the Summit: 4:30 PM Fund Our Communities news conference 5:00 PM Registration and informal discussion 5:30 PM Summit begins, followed by lobbying   Parking: Best is Navy Stadium; take shuttle every 15 minutes or less. MAP Hear reports and lobby on issues: The Health Security Act Campaign Finance Reform Corporate Tax Combined Reporting Marriage Equality Fund Our Communities / Cost of War Campaign Offshore Wind Farm Transparency in Government / Public Information Act Expansion The Maryland DREAM Act Clean Water Bills We especially need you if you live in: Baltimore City or Howard, Prince George's, Montgomery or Anne Arundel Counties, or Districts 12, 15, 16, 21, 23, 24, 26 27, 28, 30, 43, 46.  To RSVP or for further information reply to this message. Progressive Working Group Members include: Democracy for Montgomery County, Equality Maryland, Healthcare Maryland, Healthcare-Now of Maryland, Maryland United for Peace and Justice, Montgomery County Civil Rights Coalition, Montgomery County Progressive Alliance, Montgomery Health Care Action, Peace Action Montgomery, Patients' Union, Peace and Justice of Prince George's County, Progressive Cheverly, Progressive Democrats of America, Progressive Neighbors, Save Our Votes, Transparency and Equal Access in Government, Upcounty Action, and WeGreen Global.

SEMINAR on Energy Efficiency and Energy Audits

You are Invited to

An Information packed SEMINAR on Energy Efficiency and Energy Audits

WeGreen USA, a citizens action group, is helping individuals and communities take action in reducing the carbon footprint, greenhouse gases and environmental pollution. Ours is the collective strength of individuals working together for making our communities more energy efficient and sustainable.

 

To help Maryland reduce per-capita electricity usage by 15% by 2015, WeGreen USA is organizing an information packed seminar on Energy Efficiency and Energy Audits:

When: Sunday, March 20^th Time: 2 - 4 pm
Where: Marilyn J. Praisner Library  –  Meeting Room
Address: 14910 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, MD 20866

Directions: (please see below)
Free to Maryland residents, but registration is required.
To register click this link: http://www.wegreen-usa.org/event-registration.html

TOPICS:

• Why energy efficiency?
• How can an Energy Audit help you save money?

• Is Your Home Operating at Peak Efficiency?
• What is an Energy Audit?
• What is Thermal Imaging?
• What is a Blower Door Test?
• How to get an Energy Audit done?
  

GUEST SPEAKER: Robert Hopkin

President, Pro-Tec Inspection Services, Inc.

Robert Hopkin: Rob is the President of ProTec and has been doing both residential and commercial inspections for over 26 years. Rob has RESNET and CMC training as an Energy Professional. He is a Certified Building Inspector, member of ASHI, certified mold inspector and an accredited Level 1 Thermographer. Rob is licensed and certified to perform all sorts of building inspections and evaluations throughout the Washington metropolitian area. He speaks to groups on a regular basis to help other home inspectors, realtors, and contractors learn how to properly market and run their business. Rob and his wife, Michelle, recently won a $10,000 national award for business improvement and marketing.

DIRECTIONS FROM:
North (The Columbia area)

Drive south on Columbia Pike (Rt. 29).
Turn right at Spencerville Rd. (Rt. 198)
Take the next left at Old Columbia Pike. (Sandy Spring Bank is on the corner).
Continue for 1/4 mile to the library on the right.

South (The Silver Spring area)

Drive north on Columbia Pike (Rt. 29) to Greencastle Rd. (first traffic light after Briggs Chaney Plaza).
Turn Left on Greencastle Rd., continue to Old Columbia Pike.
Turn right on Old Columbia Pike.
Continue around the curve. The library is on the left and has a bright teal roof.

East (The Laurel area)

From Sandy Spring Rd. (Rt. 198) cross Columbia Pike (Rt. 29).
Take the next left at Old Columbia Pike. (Sandy Spring Bank is on the corner).
Continue 1/4 mile to the library on the right.

West (The Spencerville area)

From Spencerville Rd. (Rt. 198) drive to Old Columbia Pike and
Turn right at the Sandy Spring Bank.
Continue about 1/4 mile to the library on the right.

To REGISTER click this link: http://www.wegreen-usa.org/event-registration.html

TONIGHT! Progressive Coalition Meeting

TONIGHT! 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM Tues. March 1st
Saigonese Restaurant, 11232 Grandview Ave
Silver Spring (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 upcoming Progressive Summit in Annapolis, Progressive Conference in Arizona, progress in our county and state on Healthcare, Equality, 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.

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 there.

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

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

If you haven't already: Please contribute $15 for 2011 to keep this group going. Pay online: http://www.meetup.com/progressive-victory/dues/ or bring to a meeting.

Environmental Alert: March 5 Award-winning Documentary Gasland - Don't Let Big Corporations Frack Maryland

From: Greg Smith at Community Research communityresearch@igc.org

Saturday, March 5

Join Us for a Free Screening of the Award-Winning Documentary Gasland With Discussion to Follow

When:            2:30 pm
Where:           College Park City Hall
                          Council Chambers -- Second Floor
                          4500 Knox Road
                          College Park, MD
Sponsors:          City of College Park Committee for a Better Environment
                          Sierra Club - Maryland Chapter
                          Community Research 
Extras:          Refreshments will be served and discussion will follow.
Run Time:                Gasland runs about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Transit:                  The College Park City Hall is less than one block from Route 1 and is a five to 10-minute walk west of the College Park Metro station. The 83 and 86 Metrobuses, and perhaps others, stop nearby.

The Issues and The Documentary

Can you imagine turning on your faucet and being able to set fire to the water that comes from the tap?  This has happened in dozens of communities across the country, communities where corporations are using a highly controversial drilling process called hydraulic fracturing ("hydrofracking" or "fracking") to drill for natural gas.

Gasland explores the environmental and public health consequences of fracking, which has spread through our country like wildfire since the Bush-Cheney administration  revised the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to create a loophole for fracking.

Gasland calls fracking "one of the country's biggest environmental and public health challenges in history."

Don't Let Big Industry Frack Maryland

Western Maryland falls within the vast Marcellus Shale zone, and the gas industry has its site on the Marcellus Shale and on Western Maryland.

The industry reportedly has leased more 100,000 acres of land in Garrett County alone.

The Discussion

Following the screening, join us for a discussion with Delegate Heather Mizeur (District 20), lead House sponsor of The Marcellus Shale Safe Drilling Act of 2011 (House Bill 852 and Senate Bill 634).  The Act would regulate drilling for natural gas in Western Maryland.

Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk (District 21), co-sponsor of HB 852 will attend the screening.

Recent Article Highlights Fracking's Toxic Impacts

The New York Times ran this article on February 26, detailing lax regulation of an process that the gas industry is deploying across the country and is hoping to deploy in Maryland.

"Regulation Lax as Gas Wells-Tainted Water Hits Rivers" http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/us/27gas.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=all

The Times also releases a damning, never-before-released reports by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and a confidential study by the industry.

Please RSVP  --  Requested Not Required
To RSVP, please visit:                     http://www.surveymonkey.com/s//GaslandScreening_EnergyAction    
RSVPs are requested and appreciated, but not required.

For More Information About The March 5 Screening
Please contact Janis Oppelt at: janiso@erols.com / 240-888-6972

For More Information about HB 852 and SB 634 -- The Marcellus Shale Safe Drilling Act of 2011
Visit the General Assembly Web Site at:  http://mlis.state.md.us/2011rs/billfile/HB0852.htm
Or the Sierra Club at:                              http://maryland.sierraclub.org/action/p0319.asp
And read Delegate Mizeur's op-ed at:              http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-12-20/news/bs-ed-shale-natural-gas-20101220_1_marcellus-shale-natural-gas-gas-companies

For More Information About Gasland and About Fracking
Please visit:                               http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/

Community Research is a Maryland-based nonprofit dedicated to:
protecting communities, the environment and public health;
enhancing corporate and governmental transparency and accountability;
and enhancing participation in civic and democratic processes.

Progressive Summit and Lobby Night Monday, March 7

Progressive Working Group and Progressive Maryland  invite you to the

Progressive Summit and Lobby Night

Monday, March 7, 2011 -- 5:00 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Hosted by House Ways and Means Chairwoman Sheila Hixson
Sponsored by Senators Jamin Raskin, Roger Manno and Karen Montgomery;
and Delegates Tom Hucker and Heather Mizeur (others TBA)
Following the Fund Our Communities Press Conference

All Maryland General Assembly members warmly welcomed!

House Ways and Means Committee Hearing Room
131, House Office Building 6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD

Senators Paul Pinsky, Victor Ramirez, and Bill Ferguson; and
Delegates Liz Bobo, Al Carr, Eric Luedtke, Anne Healey plan to participate.

The Summit will give organizations and legislators an opportunity to express
support for key legislation, and build progressive momentum in Maryland.

To sponsor (help promote event) or participate, please contact: membership@mdpwg.org
Please include: your name, district,and legislative priorities.

This year, PWG members voted to focus on six issues: Transparency in Government/Public Information Act Expansion, The Health Security Act, Campaign Finance Reform, Offshore Wind Farm, Cost of War/Fund Our Communities Campaign, and Combined Corporate Reporting--as well as to facilitate progress on other issues. We'll also discuss Marriage Equality, the Dream Act, and Clean Water issues. In past years, the PWG has focused on additional issues including Marriage Equality, Paper Ballot Voting, Privacy  (ASVAB, Anti-Spying), Immigrants' Rights, Global Warming Legislation, and more.

The Progressive Working Group supports a wide political, economic and social agenda for the state of Maryland based on progressive principles and practical, effective solutions to the challenges we face. We promote progressive campaigns and candidates to advance the quality of life for all. We work to promote activism and participation by Maryland residents through outreach and education. We challenge candidates and elected officials to advance progressive values in their legislative actions. Many progressive groups are working on issues in Annapolis, often with limited cooperation or communication with other groups. The Progressive Working Group will create opportunities for progressive organizations to share information, assess legislation, as well as learn from and cooperate with each other on issues affecting the well-being of Maryland’s residents.