Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

  • Shop
  • Subscribe to BMG
  • Contact
  • Log In
  • Front Page
  • All Posts
  • About
  • Rules
  • Events
  • Register on BMG

A Progressive Legislative Agenda for 2017-2018 (plus, your action needed)

January 31, 2017 By Progressive Massachusetts

Progressive Massachusetts proudly announces our 2017-2018 Legislative Agenda for the 190th session of the Mass General Court.

The Moral Urgency of Now: Massachusetts Must Lead.

We are watching the federal government under President Donald Trump, with little braking from the Republican Congress, move us rapidly in a fascist direction that deeply contradicts Massachusetts values and liberties. Resistance is imperative.

What are the ways we can resist? Where can we effect the most dramatic changes, shape a progressive alternative and protect the most people vulnerable under this regime? Our efforts on the national scene are important–but our impact, as liberals served by Democrats in a majority Republican Congress–is unfortunately, realistically, quite limited.

On the other hand, we can make Massachusetts a blue, progressive fortress against Trumpism. There is no real excuse for not passing the a vigorous progressive agenda in one of the bluest states in the country.

We are no longer in normal times. We cannot abide our super-majority Democratic lawmakers playing by the old rules, old hesitancies and cautions. This is a moral imperative: through our democratic system, we can must resist, chart an alternative, progressive, path forward and firmly and proudly establish and protect a system of true justice–in all its dimensions–for all.

Our recent member survey of their (your) issues of top concern serves as the prioritization rubric for the Progressive Mass Issues Committee (PMIC). The committee reached out to legislators, advocates, and allies, to learn about their priorities and the bills to be filed that address them, to explore what bold proposals would galvanize Beacon Hill, and assess the issue movements with advocacy momentum.

Setting Progressive Goals and a Road-Map for Action

Through this intensive process of research, outreach, deliberation and member input, PMIC has crafted our multi-issue 2017-2018 Progressive Legislative Agenda. Following the four broad planks of our Progressive Platform, the Progressive Legislative Agenda represents a multi-issue road map for the next two years of advocacy for the progressive activist.

As many in the BMG community already know, there are specific points of inflection in the life cycle of legislation, when grassroots action and advocacy is more important and has greater impact. Simply stated, timing matters. We aim to reach out to our progressive network and membership at time-sensitive moments and ask for your action. The first action of many over the next two years: pushing legislators for Co-Sponsorship. And it needs to be done by Friday.

ProgressiveMass.com/takeaction:

Before Friday (the House’s deadline), please contact your State Representative and State Senator, and ask them to cosponsor the bills on our progressive agenda (both House and Senate versions, House and Senate members can cross-cosponsor). All the information, including plain text to copy/paste, if you should require that, is at our action kit: ProgressiveMass.com/takeaction

Note–while the deadline to cosponsor House bills is Friday, February 3rd at 5:00 pm, State Representatives and State Senator can cosponsor Senate bills at any point in the two-year session.

As a statewide, multi-issue, grassroots organizations committed to pushing our state Legislature and Governor to be more progressive, and hold them accountable when they’re not, Progressive Mass believes that the first step towards building a progressive agenda on Beacon Hill begins with outreach and conversations with your state legislators, and asking them to cosponsor and support critical legislation.

And when you do reach out to your legislators, Progressive Mass wants to hear what the responses are. Send the information you learn to issues @ progressivemass.com

Please share widely!
fb-share-icon
Tweet
0
0

Filed Under: Subscriptions, User

Comments

  1. Christopher says

    January 31, 2017 at 4:42 pm

    I can see the portion that is front-paged, including the graphic at the top, but when I click “There’s More”. I get an image of a yellow disc that says “premium” and a message that says, “This is premium content. Only premium members can access this.” with fine print saying, “please login or register”. Since I’m typing this comment I’m obviously logged in, but even if I weren’t I should still be able to see all content, right? I know some opt to subscribe to hide ads, but I really hope BMG is not starting to limit certain content to paid subscribers. Please advise or fix.

    • sabutai says

      January 31, 2017 at 8:13 pm

      This comment can only by viewed by Premium Members.

      ..okay, old Internet joke. I’m getting the same issue.

    • David says

      January 31, 2017 at 8:22 pm

      It should not be there – probably a rogue Google ad. Try reloading or maybe clearing your cache, or just wait a bit. These things usually go away on their own.

      • Peter Porcupine says

        February 2, 2017 at 2:34 am

        Content is still Premium.

        • centralmassdad says

          February 2, 2017 at 9:13 am

          I( still see the premium thing, too, in Chrome, Firefox, and Explorer, and on two machines.

          • Mark L. Bail says

            February 2, 2017 at 9:38 am

            last night. I don’t know if the editors saw it. I don’t know if anyone saw it. I can’t see it, except on my dashboard.

            • centralmassdad says

              February 2, 2017 at 3:51 pm

              I think the published posts are invisible to everyone, until you comment on your own post. Then it shows up in recent comments, and people can read, recommend, or (those who can) promote.

              If your comment gets swept off the page by a surge of sniping, then just comment on the post again.

              • Peter Porcupine says

                February 3, 2017 at 4:11 pm

                This is like the 99 cent pay wall for the Glob. I can’t read anything but the headlines on that either.

            • Christopher says

              February 2, 2017 at 3:59 pm

              …that you email them at blue@vps28478.inmotionhosting.com to alert them that you posted a new diary so they can promote it.

  2. SomervilleTom says

    January 31, 2017 at 8:37 pm

    The single largest obstacle to progressive legislation in Massachusetts is Speaker Bob DeLeo. I see absolutely nothing in this agenda that even obliquely makes any reference to this reality.

    I’m sorry, but I find all those lovely words about resistance and our “moral imperative” completely empty when the elephant isn’t even named.

    Until we do something about Bob DeLeo, we are wasting our time.

    • johntmay says

      January 31, 2017 at 8:53 pm

      As in not the donkey? A man who will not raise taxes on the rich and pushed for casinos that prey on the working class…..is that a Democrat? Or is it an elephant?

    • Mark L. Bail says

      February 2, 2017 at 9:41 am

      My understanding from talking to reps and such is that DeLeo is much, much better than the alternatives. The state legislature is not a liberal body. It’s easy to blame DeLeo for that.

      We tend to forget that our reps and senators represent their districts as well as our party. What we see as recalcitrance is often them representing the will of their districts.

      I don’t mean to stop pushing, but we should know what we’re pushing against and why there’s so much friction.

      • fredrichlariccia says

        February 2, 2017 at 10:46 am

        ” The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.” 🙂

        Fred Rich LaRiccia

  3. johnk says

    January 31, 2017 at 11:47 pm

    (img src=”http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii295/johnk_2008/Untitled_1.jpg?t=1485834227″>

    • johnk says

      January 31, 2017 at 11:47 pm

      • johnk says

        January 31, 2017 at 11:48 pm

  4. Progressive Massachusetts says

    February 1, 2017 at 2:20 pm

    The blog is over at Progressive Mass… We are all seeing the same thing as John and others, above.
    progressivemass.com/2017_01legislativeagenda_cosponsor

    Progressive Massachusetts proudly announces our 2017-2018 Legislative Agenda for the 190th session of the Mass General Court.

    The Moral Urgency of Now: Massachusetts Must Lead.

    We are watching the federal government under President Donald Trump, with little braking from the Republican Congress, move us rapidly in a fascist direction that deeply contradicts Massachusetts values and liberties. Resistance is imperative.

    What are the ways we can resist? Where can we effect the most dramatic changes, shape a progressive alternative and protect the most people vulnerable under this regime?

    Our efforts on the national scene are important–but our impact, as liberals served by Democrats in a majority Republican Congress, is unfortunately, realistically, quite limited.

    But, we can make Massachusetts a blue, progressive fortress against Trumpism. There is no excuse for not passing a vigorous progressive agenda in one of the bluest states in the country.

    We are no longer in normal times. We cannot abide our super-majority Democratic lawmakers playing by the old rules, the old hesitancies and cautions. This is a moral imperative: through our democratic system, we can must resist, chart an alternative, progressive, path forward, and firmly and proudly establish and protect a system of true justice–in all its dimensions–for all. 

    Our recent survey of our members’ (your) issues of top concern served as a guide for the Progressive Mass Issues Committee (PMIC). Over several weeks, committee reached out to legislators, advocates, and allies, to learn about their priorities and the bills to be filed that address them, to explore what bold proposals would galvanize Beacon Hill, and to assess the issue movements with advocacy momentum and energy behind them.

    Setting Progressive Goals and a Road Map for Action

    Through this intensive process of research, outreach, deliberation, and member input, PMIC has crafted our multi-issue 2017-2018 Progressive Legislative Agenda. Following the four broad planks of our Progressive Platform, the Progressive Legislative Agenda represents a multi-issue road map for the next two years of advocacy for the progressive activist. 

     

    As many in the BMG community already know, there are specific points of inflection in the life cycle of legislation, when grassroots action and advocacy is more important and has greater impact. Simply stated, timing matters.

    We aim to reach out to our progressive network and membership at time-sensitive moments and ask for your action. The first action of many over the next two years: pushing legislators for Co-Sponsorship. And it needs to be done by Friday.

    ProgressiveMass.com/takeaction:

    Before Friday (the House’s deadline), please contact your State Representative and State Senator, and ask them to cosponsor the bills on our progressive agenda (both House and Senate versions, House and Senate members can cross-cosponsor). All the information, including plain text to copy/paste, if you should require that, is at our action kit: ProgressiveMass.com/takeaction

    Note–while the deadline to cosponsor House bills is Friday, February 3rd at 5:00 pm, State Representatives and State Senator can cosponsor Senate bills at any point in the two-year session.

    As a statewide, multi-issue, grassroots organizations committed to pushing our state Legislature and Governor to be more progressive, and hold them accountable when they’re not, Progressive Mass believes that the first step towards building a progressive agenda on Beacon Hill begins with outreach and conversations with your state legislators, and asking them to cosponsor and support critical legislation. And when you do reach out to your legislators, we want to hear what you learn. Drop us a line:  issues @ progressivemass.com  

Recommended Posts

  • No posts liked yet.

Recent User Posts

Predictions Open Thread

December 22, 2022 By jconway

This is why I love Joe Biden

December 21, 2022 By fredrichlariccia

Garland’s Word

December 19, 2022 By terrymcginty

Some Parting Thoughts

December 19, 2022 By jconway

Beware the latest grift

December 16, 2022 By fredrichlariccia

Thank you, Blue Mass Group!

December 15, 2022 By methuenprogressive

Recent Comments

  • blueeyes on Beware the latest griftSo where to, then??
  • Christopher on Some Parting ThoughtsI've enjoyed our discussions as well (but we have yet to…
  • Christopher on Beware the latest griftI can't imagine anyone of our ilk not already on Twitter…
  • blueeyes on Beware the latest griftI will miss this site. Where are people going? Twitter?…
  • chrismatth on This site (will be disabled on) December 31, 2022I joined BMG late - 13 years ago next month and three da…
  • SomervilleTom on Geopolitics of FusionEVERY un-designed, un-built, and un-tested technology is…
  • Charley on the MTA on This site (will be disabled on) December 31, 2022That’s a great idea, and I’ll be there on Sunday. It’s a…

Archive

@bluemassgroup on Twitter

#mapoli

headlineoptics Headline Optics @headlineoptics ·
3 Apr

OTR: Diana DiZoglio discusses potential retaliation from Mass. Legislature over audit https://www.masspolicyreport.com/2023/04/03/otr-diana-dizoglio-discusses-potential-retaliation-from-mass-legislature-over-audit/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter @masspolicy #MApoli #Massachusetts

Reply on Twitter 1642902408245420032 Retweet on Twitter 1642902408245420032 Like on Twitter 1642902408245420032 Twitter 1642902408245420032
masspolicy MassPolicyReport @masspolicy ·
3 Apr

Mass. Conservatives Win Big in Second MassGOP Caucus: Crush Baker 2.0/Establishment Candidate https://www.masspolicyreport.com/2023/04/03/mass-conservatives-win-big-in-second-massgop-caucus-crush-baker-2-0-establishment-candidate/ #Massachusetts #MApoli #bospoli #MassPolicyReport

Reply on Twitter 1642902143123202050 Retweet on Twitter 1642902143123202050 Like on Twitter 1642902143123202050 Twitter 1642902143123202050
sabadosama Lindsay Sabadosa @sabadosama ·
3 Apr

A huge pleasure to join @RepDylan as he launched the #Massachusetts Friends of UK Legislative Caucus at the home of the @FCDOPeterAbbott. It was wonderful to talk about how we can collaborate to benefit constituents and deepen long-standing ties! #mapoli

2

Reply on Twitter 1642900909020569600 Retweet on Twitter 1642900909020569600 Like on Twitter 1642900909020569600 Twitter 1642900909020569600
theaaholcomb Thea Holcomb @theaaholcomb ·
3 Apr

If you're familiar with #mapoli I have questions for you!

My intern is applying for an internship there - obvs I'm thrilled. 😊 What should she know about how the MA legislature is staffed? What other essential knowledge would you pass along?

Reply on Twitter 1642899676125970436 Retweet on Twitter 1642899676125970436 Like on Twitter 1642899676125970436 1 Twitter 1642899676125970436
masspolicy MassPolicyReport @masspolicy ·
3 Apr

Mounting evidence that the citizens of MA are over taxed https://www.masspolicyreport.com/2023/04/03/mounting-evidence-that-the-citizens-of-ma-are-over-taxed/ #Massachusetts #MApoli #bospoli #MassPolicyReport

Reply on Twitter 1642898875705970690 Retweet on Twitter 1642898875705970690 Like on Twitter 1642898875705970690 Twitter 1642898875705970690
erintiernan Erin Tiernan @erintiernan ·
3 Apr

It's April in #mapoli which means budget season is in full swing. The House will soon pitch a tax relief proposal alongside their 2024 fiscal plan.
- @MBTA staffing shortage cou;d keep trains from running on time
- Auditor DiZoglio won't back down
https://masster-list.com/2023/04/03/massachusetts-house-tax-package-could-be-a-tango-with-healey/

Reply on Twitter 1642898790221770752 Retweet on Twitter 1642898790221770752 1 Like on Twitter 1642898790221770752 Twitter 1642898790221770752
Load More

From our sponsors




Google Calendar







Search

Archives

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter




Copyright © 2023 Owned and operated by BMG Media Empire LLC. Read the terms of use. Some rights reserved.