Crunch time, undecideds!
The case I would like to make, and tried to make back in July, goes something like this:
Progressive politics is a slow grind, and commitment to progressive values means commitment to their only hope for success, which in our great country is the Democratic Party. Therefore I believe you should place your trust in someone who shares that long commitment to the Reason We’re All Here.
But, time is short. You have alternatives, and you want change to come more quickly. I sympathize.
Let’s take a look at Steve’s Issues page (all of the following quotes are from it):
Earned Sick Time
Steve believes it’s morally wrong and economically unwise to force our citizens to choose between job security and physical or emotional well-being. That’s why Steve provided earned sick time to his own employees, and that’s why in 2006, he was the first business owner in Massachusetts to testify in favor of earned sick time. Steve has supported earned sick time long before anyone else began polling the issue, let alone vigorously supporting it.
(snip)
Steve wants earned sick time to become the law of the Commonwealth, either through the legislature or through a ballot initiative in 2014. But if it does not, earned sick time will be the first bill he files as governor in 2015.
Education
As chairman of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), Steve believes that in addition to great teachers, students also need great schools with great technology. He wants to make every school in the Commonwealth digital learning ready by 2016 to bring every student, in every neighborhood, the 21st century learning environment they deserve.
Steve will place greater emphasis on investing in our vocational-technical high schools, which are central to our plan to enhance advanced and precision manufacturing.
Steve wants to take every child off the waiting list for pre-K and provide those children too often left behind – children with a single parent, children from immigrant families, and children from low-income families – with the resources they need to get ahead.
The League of Women Voters link Senator Jehlen provided has some interesting additional details on Steve’s proposal.
The next section is long but worth quoting in full.
Empowering Women
As Governor, Steve Will:
Continue to support a woman’s right to choose and ensure that all women have access to the full range of reproductive health care options, resources, and services they need and deserve.
Ensure that all women have access to health care clinics.
Advocate for legislation mandating that comprehensive sex education programs be taught in all public schools across Massachusetts.
Build on his track record of challenging and demanding that corporate America play a leadership role in advancing the career growth of women.As Treasurer, Steve Has:
Hired women to fill the roles of deputy treasurer, chief of staff, executive director of the Massachusetts State Lottery, and executive director of the Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust.
Revised the proxy voting guidelines at the Pension Reserves Investment Management (PRIM) Board, which he chairs. Treasury has zero tolerance for zero diversity, meaning it votes against corporate boards of directors without women or people of color 100 percent of the time.
Created the Small Business Banking Partnership, a pioneering initiative that has helped generate more than $1 billion in loans to small businesses, with an emphasis on businesses owned by women, minorities, immigrants, and veterans.
Created new procurement guidelines making it easier for women-owned businesses to secure business opportunities with the Commonwealth.As a Small Business Owner, Steve Has:
Been proud to have equal pay for equal work at his fourth-generation family owned company, and finds it unacceptable that even in 2014, women across the country still earn just 77 cents for each dollar men make.
Provided paid family leave to his own colleagues for more than 25 years. That’s why in 2006, he was proud to be the first business owner in Massachusetts to testify in favor of earned sick time.As a Community Leader, Steve:
Served in leadership roles in organizations that seek to empower women, people of color and underserved communities, including Crittenton Women’s Union, the Lenny Zakim Fund, Project Bread, Dimock Community Health Center, and the Walk for Hunger.
Currently serves as chairman of the advisory board of Cambridge College and is an advisory board member of the Women’s Lunch Place.
Focuses on addressing the unmet needs of women and their families. He has worked to strengthen the boards and financial structures of the organizations mentioned above to better prepare them to meet current and future challenges.
I also enjoyed the “Empowering the Creative Economy” section, but this is getting long.
But we all know it could be longer. Steve has been an important voice for progressive causes for his entire life, and he will continue to be, win or lose tomorrow.
I hope he wins, and I ask you one more time to consider voting for Steve Grossman for Governor.
And an extra recommend for making no negative references to either of his opponents. I would argue, had Grossman stated his case as effectively and succinctly as you just did, he wouldn’t be where he is in the polls.
I’ll be voting for Steve tomorrow. He has done more than any other candidate in this race to make progressive change a reality through decades of service to the Democratic party, charitable organizations, state government, and his own family business. Martha Coakley’s career has been spent as a successful attorney and prosecutor. Don Berwick’s as a successful physician and health care expert. They are good, smart Democrats, but Steve Grossman is the only candidate who has made it his life’s work to bring about the progressive change I care about through activism at every level. He’s earned my confidence in his ability to govern and to beat Charlie Baker this fall.
I have a post as well but it’s not quite done.
n/t