How To Access Free COBRA Coverage Through September

COBRA Continuation Coverage allows you to keep health insurance through your job after experiencing job loss or a reduction in hours. Under the American Rescue Plan, most workers who lose their employer-provided health insurance are entitled to free COBRA coverage, called "COBRA premium assistance," until September 30, 2021.

Eligibility

You are eligible for COBRA premium assistance if you meet ALL of the following criteria:

  • You lost your employer-provided insurance due to involuntary job termination or reduction in hours*
  • You elect to receive COBRA premium assistance**
  • You DO NOT have another employer health insurance available to you
  • You DO NOT qualify for Medicare

*If you voluntarily left a job or reduced your hours, you are not eligible for COBRA premium assistance.

**If your job was terminated (or hours reduced) before April 1, 2021, you may still qualify for COBRA premium assistance. The Georgetown University Health Policy Institute provides this example: "If someone was laid off from their job in August of 2020 but found the premiums too high to enroll at the time, he or she could come back and enroll for up to 60 days after being notified of the availability of the subsidies under the American Rescue Plan."

Accessing The Benefit

If you qualify for COBRA premium assistance, you should receive enrollment forms from your insurance provider or employer. 

If you believe you are eligible but have not received a notice, you may notify your employer by filling out a request for treatment as an "Assistance Eligible Individual". Once you receive the enrollment forms, you have 60 days to elect to receive COBRA premium assistance.

This page provides an overview of the COBRA premium assistance benefit under the American Rescue Plan. We compiled this information to help clarify the benefits; however we are not COBRA experts. For more information about accessing the COBRA continuation payment, visit the Department of Labor's FAQ page; contact a benefits advisor in the Employee Benefits Security Administration by visiting askebsa.dol.gov or calling 1-866-444-3272; or visit the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute.

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Under the American Rescue Plan, most workers who lose their job-based health insurance are entitled to free COBRA coverage.

Maryland Voters Want Investment In Communities, Higher Taxes On Corporations

A recent TargetSmart poll on behalf of the State Innovation Exchange and Strong Future Maryland found broad support among Maryland voters for public investment and raising taxes on the wealthy.

Do you think each of the following groups of people in Maryland pay to little in state taxes, about the right amount in state taxes, or too much in state taxes?

Three out of four Maryland voters support increased investment in families, small businesses, healthcare systems, and schools over a proposal for Maryland to "live within its means."

Support for progressive revenue proposals was underscored by a belief that middle and low-income residents pay too much in state taxes, while corporations and the wealthy pay too little.

Click here to see the full polling memo.

Winning the Narrative on Voting Rights

SiX Main Takeaways

1. The best defense is a good offense. There is off-the-charts support for pro-voter proposals and making COVID changes permanent. You have the backing to be bold and to define reforms on our terms. Check out our slide deck for poll numbers to use in your arguments. 

2. Even though Americans oppose anti-voter policies, there is a huge uptick in anti-voter bills— in 33 states, 165 bills have been introduced so far this year, focused in these areas: limiting who can vote by mail, adding barriers to casting your absentee ballot, new voter ID restrictions, reducing voter registration opportunities, and aggressive voter purging. 

3. Talk about what you're for, not what you're against. When messaging publicly on voting rights, lead with shared values (like freedom to vote, moving forward), center impacted folks, and highlight your positive vision for the future of our democracy. Avoid reacting defensively to the opposition’s narrative and refuting their false claims in public–it only strengthens their position and lies. Check out our slides for wording recommendations.

4. Coordination and coalitions are key. Winning good policy and defeating bad bills requires constant coordination. Work closely with your caucus, across chambers, and with the advocacy organizations taking the lead on the different bills, and echo and amplify each other’s work. Rep. Salman offered some examples of how she’s done this in Arizona. Follow her on Twitter, too.

5. Consider how to leverage internal divisions and in-fighting among legislators advancing voter suppression to kill, weaken, or stall bad bills.

6. Help communities recover from the pandemic. Right now, our legislatures should be focusing on recovering from this pandemic and strengthening our democracy–and this message can build public opposition to anti-voter bills. Reach out to SiX and Future Now if you need support.

Webinar Recording

Slide Deck

Confronting the Assaults on Our Democracy

Dear Legislators,

As we struggle to put into words our anger and grief at the attempted insurrection at both the U.S. Capitol and the attacks at many of your workplaces, we wanted to write a note of solidarity and concern. We are joining with other national organizations to demand accountability for all those involved–from the president to the state legislators in attendance—and for bold, transformative democracy reform that builds power for the people.

Let us be clear: yesterday’s attack on our country, on our people, and the very foundation of our democracy was brought on by a president who refuses to uphold our democratic institutions and accept that millions of us turned out to stand with and for each other. This direct assault is what treason looks like: an angry mob of armed white home-grown extremists who have heard loud and clear the direct and implicit invitations from the president to attack the U.S. Capitol and threaten our government, including the very Republican leaders complicit in the undermining of our democracy.

As legislative sessions begin this month and you step back into your own workplaces, we acknowledge that the attack on the U.S. Capitol was unfortunately not an aberration. Over this last year, we have all witnessed the increasing level of violence targeted at our state elected officials–from Michigan to Georgia to Kansas–emboldened and incited by the president himself.

This is an important time for each of you to familiarize yourself with the safety protocols of your capitol and to think about ways to protect your personal safety. This is especially true for Black, Brown, and women legislators who face additional threats on and offline. If you are unfamiliar with the safety protocols in your capitol (or if a rigorous safety protocol doesn’t yet exist), work with your legislative leadership to determine a plan.

These attacks happened because of the encouragement of some Republicans, and the silence of others, who spread lies about this election in order to undermine the will of the people and desperately attempt to hold onto power they clearly do not deserve. And these kinds of attacks, in your capitals and in Washington, will continue to happen unless and until they are forcefully stopped. Our republic is in danger. Every politician responsible, from the president to senators and house members to state legislators and state officials, who fed, fueled, and fomented these attacks must be removed or resign.

The work you do on the frontlines of governance is more critical than ever. True democracy requires integrity, resilience, and moral courage. We see you. We hear you. We stand with you. We may not be able to predict what will happen in the days, weeks, and months ahead, but we do know that the long arc of this work is rooted in building community–and we know you are doing that every day.

Take the space you need to grieve, to rage, to hold your loved ones close. The power of your leadership is rooted in your love for your communities and this country. What we all experienced yesterday is abhorrent. We cannot accept this as a new normal.

Let us know how you are, if you feel safe, and what you need–whether it be in the form of messaging, a conversation, or support for the particular situation in our state.

Thank you,
Jessie and Neha

State Innovation Exchange (SiX) Co-Executive Directors

Farmer Equity Act: A Policy to Improve Access for Farmers of Color

Historically, farmers and ranchers who are Black, Indigenous or people of color have faced systemic discrimination from state and federal agriculture institutions.

Racist policies have resulted in farmers of color being denied access to capital and ultimately losing land while historically being underserved by government agencies. These policies have created a ripple impact over the decades and have resulted in farmers of color not receiving the same resources as their white counterparts. In the 1990s, the United States Department of Agriculture recognized socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers as an officially distinct category. While this effort was a step in the right direction, for many farmers of color state agency resources remain unobtainable. In an effort to better serve their farmers of color, advocates and legislators partnered in California to pass the Farmer Equity Act, which created policies at the State Department of Food and Agriculture to ensure that their state agricultural agencies are accounting for farmer equity throughout the agency.

Now, three years after the bill was enacted into law a new department has been developed to ensure its implementation. Along the way there have been some challenges, some successes and a lot of lessons learned that may be of interest to other states considering similar action.

Participants:


Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, California State Assembly
Representative Sonya Harper, Illinois General Assembly
Thea Rittenhouse, Farm Equity Adviser, California Department of Food and Agriculture
Chanowk Yisrael, Chief Seed Starter, The Yisrael Urban Family Farm

Farm and Food Chain Workers: Equity and Justice in the Food System

SiX Main Takeaways

  1. Farmworkers make up just one link of the food supply chain—there's also processing, distribution, retail, and restaurant and service workers. In total, 21.5 million people are food chain workers in this country. Policies should take into account all types of food chain workers.
  2. Food and farmworkers are some of the lowest-paid and exploited workers in the country because they are not covered by many federal labor laws. State legislators can fill in the gaps where the federal system has failed.
  3. Protecting food workers means more than just raising wages because workers are also endangered by heat, toxic chemical exposure, substandard housing, COVID-19, smoke from wildfires, and more. Some states have already passed bills to address these problems.
  4. Even in states with progressive legislatures, large growers and other agricultural interests have a lot of influence at the state house. Changing the system requires buy-in from a variety of stakeholders.
  5. The best policies will come from including farm and food workers at the table. These are skilled laborers and they know what policies are necessary.
  6. National grassroots coalitions can help connect legislators to farm and food worker organizations in every state. SiX can help connect you!

Multi-State Poll: Opinions on Economic Response to COVID-19

During the briefing, you’ll hear:

SiX and TargetSmart fielded a poll in ten states to assess voter concerns and preferences on a variety of revenue and economic policies. The poll was fielded in late June/early July while economic and budget implications of the pandemic intensified and with racial justice protests sweeping the country.

What the Pandemic Primaries Can Teach us for November

SiX and the National Task Force on Election Crises discuss lessons learned from the 2020 primary elections in the midst of a pandemic and what this means for ensuring the November election is safe and accessible.

The National Taskforce on Election Crises shares lessons learned and state-level implications from their new report, "Lessons from the Primary Elections: Recommendations for a Free and Fair Election in November."

What the Pandemic Primaries Can Teach Us for November

SiX and representatives from the National Task Force on Election Crises to discuss lessons learned from the 2020 primary elections in the midst of a pandemic and what this means for ensuring the November election is safe and accessible. The National Taskforce on Election Crises will share lessons learned and state-level implications from their new report, "Lessons from the Primary Elections: Recommendations for a Free and Fair Election in November."

The conversation will include action items for state legislators to contribute to urgent election preparations happening in your states. Join this conversation to deepen your knowledge of voting processes and to learn about the most critical issues facing the 2020 General Election.

New Resource: Surprise Medical Billing Policy Playbook.

SiX has just released our Surprise Medical Billing Policy Playbook.

Surprise medical billing refers to when a consumer is unaware that health care services will be charged at out-of-network rates, whether by their insurer or by the out-of-network provider. For example, if a patient receives emergency care at an out-of-network hospital or care from an out-of network provider at an in-network hospital, they could receive a surprise medical bill.

As we face the first global pandemic of the 21st Century, our nation confronts a health care system that is not prepared to deal with an infectious disease at this scale. One of the many challenges we face will be patients who delay or defer care because they are unsure if their visit to a testing facility, urgent care center or emergency room will result in a surprise bill, not covered by their insurance.

These bills can be astronomical and show up despite the consumer's best efforts to obtain covered medical care. During the coronavirus outbreak and subsequent economic downturn, the last thing anyone needs is a surprise medical bill for thousands of dollars. Find out how you can protect your state from surprise medical bills here. 

Become a part of CROP: SiX's Agriculture Cohort

We wondered: Do SiX legislators want or need program-specific resources to help engage in rural, agricultural or local foods policy?

Our staff criss-crossed the country, traveled to your states, spoke with some of you over the phone, connected with your colleagues, reached out to your partners and the verdict is in:

SiX legislators not only need, but are EAGER to have resources developed specifically to support you as a progressive champion to engage in rural and agriculture policy-making.  

So we created CROP: the Cohort for Rural Opportunity and Prosperity, and we're providing you with those resources. Whether you are a policy maker who is an expert and passionate about rural and agricultural issues or if you are brand new to these topics looking to learn more and connect with others working in the same space, we invite you to join the Cohort for Rural Opportunity and Prosperity (CROP).

Join CROP: SiX's Agricultural Cohort

CROP is an internal group that is being developed in coordination with steering committee of amazing legislators (who you'll hear more about in coming days!) to ensure that the resources developed meet the needs on the ground in states. This Cohort is intended to be a safe space for you to learn, connect and get the support you need to be a progressive champion for regenerative agriculture, soil health, local food economies, family farms and everything food and "farmy" in between! 

By joining this new and growing cohort, you will have access to issue-specific resources, information about happenings in other states, the opportunity to connect with elected officials in other areas doing similar work, and you will have the opportunity to connect with farmers, ranchers and partner organizations who you likely are not always hearing from.  We will also be hosting opportunities that bring together partners and legislators for shared-learning and deeper strategic collaboration. 

Join us!

New Resource: Paid Family and Medical Leave Playbook

Ultimately, nearly all workers need to take time away at some point to deal with a serious personal or family illness or to care for a new child. Laws providing paid family and medical leave allow workers to meet these needs without jeopardizing their economic security, which strengthens working families and thereby grows the economy. 

Our Paid Family and Medical Leave Policy Playbook is a summary of resources that we have compiled from state and national advocates, organizers, and leading policy organizations across the country. You will find communications and messaging guidance, a menu of policy solutions, example legislative language, and national organizations and experts who can support your efforts.

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State Innovation Exchange's own polling in six states shows strong support for paid family and medical leave programs:

Census Get Out the Count Toolkit for State Legislators

The 2020 Census officially kicks off March 12th, when households across the country have started receiving mailed invitations with instructions to respond to the census.

State legislators have a uniquely strong platform and a responsibility to get out the count in communities all across the country. And SiX is here to help.

Check out our Census Get Out the Count Toolkit for State Legislators, which:

Feel free to email the SiX Democracy Team with any questions or for support. 

Quick action step! Post SiX's census graphic and use this link to update your Facebook profile frame showing your support for the census!

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First Revision SiX Facebook Frame census

New Legislator Resource: Ending Prison Gerrymandering

State legislators have a crucial role in advancing accurate and equitable redistricting. That means ending prison gerrymandering: the harmful practice of counting incarcerated people as residents of prison districts instead of at home. 

SiX and Prison Policy Initiative are thrilled to release a new resource on prison gerrymandering.

Our brief includes messaging guidance, policy design considerations, practical lessons on bill drafting, coalitions, and implementation, and sample legislation.

Why take on prison gerrymandering? Because the 2020 Census is about to count more than 2 million people in the wrong place. Counting incarcerated people at home is a crucial correction that will make redistricting in your state more accurate and equitable.

Shout out to Colorado legislators, Reps. Kerry Tipper and James Coleman, whose bill to end prison gerrymandering is currently on the Governor's desk! Check out their op-ed on why this reform matters for the state. Legislators in eleven other states have also filed prison gerrymandering bills this session (CT, FL, IL, LA, MI, MN, NE, PA, RI, VA, WI). If you've already sponsored a bill, review our resource to see how your proposal could be strengthened and how to talk about this issue effectively. And reach out to SiX and Prison Policy Initiative for support!

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Many thanks to Prison Policy Initiative for their partnership and support to state legislators ending prison gerrymandering across the country!

Reach the prison gerrymandering brief here.

Wage Theft Policy Playbook

No matter where we come from or what our color, most of us work hard for our families. But today, our families, local economies, and communities are being exploited by certain greedy CEOs who are stealing billions of dollars in wages earned by working Americans.

Fortunately, thanks to progressive state legislators, anti-wage theft policies are being advanced across the nation to punish greedy employers and support workers. Check out our brand new Wage Theft Policy Playbook for communications and messaging guidance, a menu of policy solutions, and additional resources to support your efforts to combat wage theft in your state. 

See the playbook for more information about the problem, the solution, and how to advocate for workers. 

As always, reach out to helpdesk@stateinnovation.org with any questions or suggestions. 

Health Care Messaging Strategy Briefing for Colorado Legislators

Application for Interested Legislators

Join SiX for a strategy meeting on Tuesday, February 18th, from 11:00-12:00 at the Colorado State Capitol. SiX is excited to bring nationally renowned pollster Celinda Lake to Denver to support legislators on health care messaging. Celinda will present national-level health care research and work with legislators on adapting her findings to a Colorado audience. This is an open invitation to state legislators to participate – all state legislators are welcome to apply. SiX encourages applicants to apply based on their belief and support for policies that ensure economic security for working families, an open and accessible democracy, affordable and accessible health care, and safe schools and communities. Given that there are limited spaces in this training, we will prioritize applicants with a demonstrated commitment to these issues and highly encourage diverse candidates to apply.

Sign up here.

Training opportunity! Progressive Governance Training in Portland, Maine on January 11th and 12th, 2020

The Progressive Governance Academy (PGA) will be hosting a two-day governance training for progressive state and local elected officials from the state of Maine on January 11th  and 12th in Portland, Maine. The training will take place tentatively from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, January 11th and will run from 9am to 12pm on Sunday, January 12th. Participants are expected to participate in the entirety of the training.

We encourage any state or local elected officials from the state of Maine with a demonstrated commitment to racial, economic, gender and environmental justice to apply for this training. Space is limited, so please apply as soon as possible. Applications are due by end of day on Friday, December 20th.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR THIS TRAINING

The Progressive Governance Academy (PGA) is a newly-launched pilot project between the State Innovation Exchange (SiX), Local Progress, and re:power to build and develop the leadership and governance skills of progressive state and local elected officials across the country. Legislators will learn how to navigate complex challenges, strategically build power, and collectively govern.

Please contact John Magnino, Senior Director of Legislative Affairs, at john@stateinnovation.org

Application disclaimer: The Progressive Governance Academy is a cross-organizational project of Local Progress, re:power and the State Innovation Exchange (SiX) aimed at building the key skills that elected officials at the state and local level need to govern effectively. This project is meant for public officials that share a commitment to racial, economic, gender and environmental justice and have demonstrated a commitment to these values in their personal and professional lives. This project is a 501(c)3 educational project. Curriculum is aimed at building elected officials’ governing skills and in no way involves lobbying or briefing officials on any particular policy area or issue. We reserve the right to deny applicants if they have existing sexual harassment or unresolved legal issues. We also reserve the right to deny applicants that have not demonstrated a commitment to racial, gender, economic, and environmental justice in their time in the legislature. Applicants will be notified of their participation status in the weeks following the submission of this application.

Training opportunity! Progressive Governance Training in Minnesota on January 24th and 25th

The Progressive Governance Academy (PGA) will be hosting a two-day governance training for state legislators from the state of Minnesota on January 24th  and 25th in St. Paul – exact location to be confirmed. The training will take place tentatively from 1-5pm on Friday, January 24th and will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, January 25th. We encourage any state legislators from the state of Minnesota with a demonstrated commitment to racial, economic, gender and environmental justice to apply for this training. Space is limited, so please apply as soon as possible.

The Progressive Governance Academy (PGA) is a newly-launched pilot project between the State Innovation Exchange (SiX), Local Progress, and re:power to build and develop the leadership and governance skills of progressive state and local elected officials across the country. Legislators will learn how to navigate complex challenges, strategically build power, and collectively govern.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Application disclaimer: The Progressive Governance Academy is a cross-organizational project of Local Progress, re:power and the State Innovation Exchange (SiX) aimed at building the key skills that elected officials at the state and local level need to govern effectively. This project is meant for public officials that share a commitment to racial, economic, gender and environmental justice and have demonstrated a commitment to these values in their personal and professional lives. This project is a 501(c)3 educational project. Curriculum is aimed at building elected officials’ governing skills and in no way involves lobbying or briefing officials on any particular policy area or issue. We reserve the right to deny applicants if they have existing sexual harassment or unresolved legal issues. We also reserve the right to deny applicants that have not demonstrated a commitment to racial, gender, economic, and environmental justice in their time in the legislature. Applicants will be notified of their participation status in the weeks following the submission of this application.

SiX Expands Reproductive Rights Team

As abortion restrictions in state legislatures ramp up across the country, the SiX Reproductive Rights team is expanding.  Three new staff members join Kelly Baden, Director of Reproductive Rights, and Sophia Kerby, Deputy Director of Reproductive Rights, and will grow the power of the Reproductive Rights team to provide state lawmakers the support they need to advance reproductive freedom. 

SiX welcomes:

Eme Crawford, Associate Director of Communications, Reproductive Rights

She/her/hers

Eme joins SiX to lead the reproductive rights communications work, including partnering with national and state partners and working to advance SiX’s narrative and amplify legislators in the press. Eme is based in Columbia, South Carolina, and has spent the last few years as the Director of Communications and Learning for the Women’s Rights Empowerment Network (WREN). Contact Eme if you need support on messaging, talking points, or press opportunities.

Fran Linkin, Associate Director of Research, Reproductive Rights

She/her/hers

Fran joins SiX to establish a program connecting legislators in hostile states to local and regional clinical, public health, and social science family planning researchers to ensure legislators have the tools they need to fight abortion restrictions using sound science. Fran originated the roles of Manager of Policy and Advocacy Research and Senior Manager of Research, U.S., at the Center for Reproductive Rights. She is based in New York City. Contact Fran if you are seeking data and research on a specific reproductive health issue.

Jasmen Rogers-Shaw, Senior Associate of Reproductive Rights

She/her/hers

Jasmen is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and most recently served as the Staff and Policy Director at the Miami Workers Center, where she spent the last few years building statewide coalitions to amplifying the political power of Black women through storytelling, organizing, and legislation. Jasmen will be working to support and cultivate RFLC legislators around the country. Contact Jasmen if you're interested in having the RFLC host an educational briefing or training in your state.

SiX’s growing reproductive rights team will catalyze the Reproductive Freedom Leadership Council, a cohort of hundreds of legislators from around the country who endorse a Vision and Values Platform and receive access to invitation-only skills-building events, trainings, and media opportunities.  The RFLC equips state legislators with skills-building, information-sharing, media positioning, technical assistance, and in-person trainings.

Since launching in January 2018, the RFLC has 

State legislators looking to join the RFLC can click here and unlock access to:

Follow @SiXRepro on Twitter to keep up with the team and follow state action on reproductive rights. 

Television Media Training in Colorado

Media Training Application for Interested Legislators

Join the State Innovation Exchange for a media training on Friday, June 28th from 9:00-1:00 at Colorado Education Association. This half day training will provide advice around media interviews and on-camera practice for participants so that they may be more knowledgeable about messaging on policy priorities important for working Coloradans. This is an open invitation to state legislators to participate – all state legislators are welcome to apply. SiX encourages applicants to apply based on their belief and support for policies that ensure economic security for working families, an open and accessible democracy, affordable and accessible health care, and safe schools and communities. Given that there are limited spaces in this training, we will prioritize applicants with a demonstrated commitment to these issues and highly encourage diverse candidates to apply.

Sign up here.

Statement from State Legislators on the Abortion Ban Crisis

The statement below was coordinated by the Reproductive Freedom Leadership Council, a first-of-its-kind national network of over 350 pro-choice state legislators from across the country. The RFLC is a project of the State Innovation Exchange (SiX).

"The 2019 state attacks on the legal right to abortion are a crisis. As state legislators from around the country and members of the Reproductive Freedom Leadership Council, we condemn this coordinated political strategy to overturn Roe v. Wade and are outraged by efforts to criminalize doctors or patients seeking abortion care.

We envision a nation in which each of us can make our own decisions about our reproductive health, pregnancy, and parenting, free from political interference. We’re calling on our fellow legislators, governors, and the courts to stop these abortion bans and instead take action to ensure all people can access reproductive health care with dignity and respect, no matter where they live or the size of their bank account. We respect the sacred duty of public office and we honor our charge to act for a better future for our constituents and communities - and that means protecting abortion rights."

Signed,

Representative Zack Fields Alaska
Representative Geran Tarr Alaska
Representative Isela Blanc Arizona
Representative Andres Cano Arizona
Senator Andrea Dalessandro Arizona
Representative Rosanna Gabaldon Arizona
Representative Daniel Hernandez Arizona
Senator Juan Mendez Arizona
Representative Athena Salman Arizona
Senator Joyce Elliott Arkansas
Representative Vivian Flowers Arkansas
Assemblyman David Chiu California
Assemblymember Laura Friedman California
Speaker KC Becker Colorado
Senator Lois Court Colorado
Senator Jessie Danielson Colorado
Representative Daneya Esgar Colorado
Senator Steve Fenberg Colorado
Senator Rhonda Fields Colorado
Senator Joann Ginal Colorado
Representative Chris Hansen Colorado
Representative Leslie Herod Colorado
Representative Edie Hooton Colorado
Senator Pete Lee Colorado
Representative Susan Lontine Colorado
Representative Barbara McLachlan Colorado
Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet Colorado
Senator Brittany Pettersen Colorado
Representative Jonathan Singer Colorado
Representative Dominique Jackson Colorado
Representative Mike Weissman Colorado
Majority Leader Bob Duff Connecticut
Representative Joshua Elliott Connecticut
Senator Mae Flexer Connecticut
Representative Jillian Gilchrest Connecticut
Representative Gregory Haddad Connecticut
Representative Susan Johnson Connecticut
Representative Roland Lemar Connecticut
Senator Matthew Lesser Connecticut
Representative Cristin McCarthy Vahey Connecticut
Senator Marilyn Moore Connecticut
Representative Caroline Simmons Connecticut
Representative Edwin Vargas Connecticut
Representative Paul Baumbach Delaware
Representative Kamia Brown Florida
Senator Lori Berman Florida
Representative Anna Eskamani Florida
Senator Gloria Butler Georgia
Representative Park Cannon Georgia
Representative Patricia Park Gardner Georgia
Representative Deborah Gonzalez Georgia
Representative Shelly Hutchinson Georgia
Representative Sheila Jones Georgia
Representative Dar'shun Kendrick Georgia
Representative Bee Nguyen Georgia
Senator Nan Orrock Georgia
Representative Kim Schofield Georgia
Representative Renitta Shannon Georgia
Senator Nikema Williams Georgia
Senator Rosalyn Baker Hawaii
Representative Della Au Belatti Hawaii
Representative Linda Ichiyama Hawaii
Senator Donna Mercado Kim Hawaii
Representative Roy Takumi Hawaii
Representative Nicole Lowen Hawaii
Representative Sue Chew Idaho
Representative Carol Ammons Illinois
Senator Omar Aquino Illinois
Representative Kelly Cassidy Illinois
Representative Sara Feigenholtz Illinois
Senator Laura Fine Illinois
Representative Robyn Gabel Illinois
Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth Illinois
Representative Will Guzzardi Illinois
Senator Don Harmon Illinois
Representative Greg Harris Illinois
Senator Mattie Hunter Illinois
Senator Toi Hutchinson Illinois
Representative Camille Lilly Illinois
Representative Theresa Mah Illinois
Representative Robert Martwick Illinois
Representative Rita Mayfield Illinois
Representative Anna Moeller Illinois
Senator Elgie Sims Illinois
Senator Heather Steans Illinois
Senator Patricia Van Pelt-Watkins Illinois
Representative Emanuel "Chris" Welch Illinois
Representative Ann Williams Illinois
Representative Sam Yingling Illinois
Representative Joyce Mason Illinois
Representative Celina Villanueva Illinois
Representative Marti Anderson Iowa
Representative Liz Bennett Iowa
Senator Joe Bolkcom Iowa
Representative Molly Donahue Iowa
Representative Vicki Lensing Iowa
Representative Mary Mascher Iowa
Representative Elizabeth Bishop Kansas
Representative Dennis "Boog" Highberger Kansas
Representative Annie Kuether Kansas
Representative Joni Jenkins Kentucky
Representative Mary Lou Marzian Kentucky
Representative Attica Woodson Scott Kentucky
Representative Lisa Willner Kentucky
Senator Shenna Bellows Maine
Senator Catherine Breen Maine
Representative Kristen Cloutier Maine
Representative Janice Cooper Maine
Representative Donna Doore Maine
Representative Michelle Dunphy Maine
Representative Richard Farnsworth Maine
Representative Drew Gattine Maine
Speaker Sara Gideon Maine
Representative Nicole Grohoski Maine
Representative James Handy Maine
Representative Jay McCreight Maine
Representative Genevieve McDonald Maine
Senator Rebecca Millett Maine
Senator Dave Miramant Maine
Representative Matt Moonen Maine
Representative Teresa Pierce Maine
Representative Lois Reckitt Maine
Representative Deane Rykerson Maine
Representative Erik Jorgensen Maine
Representative Margaret O'Neil Maine
Representative Rachel Talbot Ross Maine
Representative Denise Tepler Maine
Representative Charlotte Warren Maine
Senator Bill Ferguson Maryland
Senator Cheryl Kagan Maryland
Delegate Robbyn Lewis Maryland
Delegate Karen Lewis Young Maryland
Delegate Brooke Lierman Maryland
Delegate David Moon Maryland
Delegate Ana Sol-Gutierrez Maryland
Senator Ronald Young Maryland
Delegate Shelly Hettleman Maryland
Delegate Ariana Kelly Maryland
Delegate Pamela Queen Maryland
Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins Maryland
Senator Mike Barrett Massachusetts
Representative Michelle Ciccolo Massachusetts
Senator Jo Comerford Massachusetts
Representative Carmine Gentile Massachusetts
Representative Danielle Gregoire Massachusetts
Representative Patricia Haddad Massachusetts
Representative David Linsky Massachusetts
Representative Jay Livingstone Massachusetts
Representative Liz Miranda Massachusetts
Representative Tram Nguyen Massachusetts
Representative Alice Peisch Massachusetts
Representative Denise Provost Massachusetts
Representative Tami Gouveia Massachusetts
Representative Natalie Higgins Massachusetts
Representative David LeBoeuf Massachusetts
Representative Jack Patrick Lewis Massachusetts
Senator Becca Rausch Massachusetts
Representative Lindsay Sabadosa Massachusetts
Minority Leader Jim Ananich Michigan
Senator Rosemary Bayer Michigan
Representative Jim Ellison Michigan
Representative Alex Garza Michigan
Minority Leader Christine Greig Michigan
Senator Curtis Hertel Michigan
Senator Jeremy Moss Michigan
Representative Kristy Pagan Michigan
Representative Rebekah Warren Michigan
Senator Winnie Brinks Michigan
Minority Fl Leader Stephanie Chang Michigan
Senator Erika Geiss Michigan
Representative Kara Hope Michigan
Senator Jeff Irwin Michigan
Representative Donna Lasinski Michigan
Representative Robert Wittenberg Michigan
Representative Jamie Becker-Finn Minnesota
Representative Raymond Dehn Minnesota
Senator D. Scott Dibble Minnesota
Representative Mike Freiberg Minnesota
Speaker Melissa Hortman Minnesota
Representative Fue Lee Minnesota
Representative Diane Loeffler Minnesota
Representative Carlos Mariani Minnesota
Representative Sandra Masin Minnesota
Representative Rena Moran Minnesota
Representative Dave Pinto Minnesota
Representative Frank Hornstein Minnesota
Representative Mary Kunesh-Podein Minnesota
Representative Jamie Long Minnesota
Representative Liz Olson Minnesota
Senator Sandy Pappas Minnesota
Senator Deborah Dawkins Mississippi
Representative Kathy Sykes Mississippi
Representative Richard Brown Missouri
Representative Sarah Unsicker Missouri
Representative Cora Faith Walker Missouri
Representative Mary Caferro Montana
Representative Mary Ann Dunwell Montana
Representative Jessica Karjala Montana
Representative Andrea Olsen Montana
Senator Jennifer Pomnichowski Montana
Senator Diane Sands Montana
Senator Frank Smith Montana
Senator Sara Howard Nebraska
Senator Julia Ratti Nevada
Assemblyman Steven Yeager Nevada
Assemblywoman Sarah Peters Nevada
Assemblywoman Ellen Spiegel Nevada
Assemblyman Ozzie Fumo Nevada
Assemblyman Rich Carillo Nevada
Representative Susan Almy New Hampshire
Representative Debra Altschiller New Hampshire
Representative Christy Bartlett New Hampshire
Representative Donald Bouchard New Hampshire
Representative Amanda Bouldin New Hampshire
Representative Renny Cushing New Hampshire
Representative Edith DesMarais New Hampshire
Representative Charlotte DiLorenzo New Hampshire
Representative Daniel Eaton New Hampshire
Senator Martha Fuller Clark New Hampshire
Representative Chuck Grassie New Hampshire
Representative Timothy Horrigan New Hampshire
Representative Mark King New Hampshire
Representative Peter Leishman New Hampshire
Representative Patricia Lovejoy New Hampshire
Representative Garrett Muscatel New Hampshire
Representative Sharon Nordgren New Hampshire
Representative Allison Nutting-Wong New Hampshire
Representative Lee Oxenham New Hampshire
Representative Marjorie Porter New Hampshire
Representative Katherine Rogers New Hampshire
Senator Cindy Rosenwald New Hampshire
Representative Kris Schultz New Hampshire
Minority Leader Stephen Shurtleff New Hampshire
Senator David Watters New Hampshire
Assemblyman Raj Mukherji New Jersey
Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle New Jersey
Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg New Jersey
Representative Deborah Armstrong New Mexico
Senator Elizabeth Stefanics New Mexico
Senator Mimi Stewart New Mexico
Representative Elizabeth Thomson New Mexico
Representative Christine Trujillo New Mexico
Representative Andrea Romero New Mexico
Senator Alessandra Biaggi New York
Assemblymember David Buchwald New York
Assemblymember Patricia Fahy New York
Assemblymember Deborah Glick New York
Assemblymember Richard Gottfried New York
Senator Liz Krueger New York
Assemblymember Felix Ortiz New York
Assemblymember Dan Quart New York
Senator Gustavo Rivera New York
Assemblymember Nily Rozic New York
Assemblymember JoAnne Simon New York
Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins New York
Assemblymember Latrice M. Walker New York
Representative John Ager North Carolina
Representative Johnnie Newton Autry North Carolina
Representative Mary Belk North Carolina
Representative Cecil Brockman North Carolina
Representative Deb Butler North Carolina
Senator Jay Chaudhuri North Carolina
Representative Susan Fisher North Carolina
Senator Valerie Foushee North Carolina
Representative Rosa Gill North Carolina
Representative Pricey Harrison North Carolina
Representative Verla Insko North Carolina
Senator Floyd McKissick North Carolina
Representative Graig Meyer North Carolina
Representative Marcia Morey North Carolina
Representative Evelyn Terry North Carolina
Senator Terry Van Duyn North Carolina
Senator Mike Woodard North Carolina
Representative Sydney Batch North Carolina
Representative Christy Clark North Carolina
Representative Ashton Clemmons North Carolina
Representative Julie Von Haefen North Carolina
Senator Nickie Antonio Ohio
Representative Tavia Galonski Ohio
Representative Adam Miller Ohio
Representative Kent Smith Ohio
Representative Emilia Strong Sykes Ohio
Representative Thomas West Ohio
Representative Juanita Brent Ohio
Representative Erica Crawley Ohio
Representative Stephanie Howse Ohio
Representative Emily Virgin Oklahoma
Representative Julie Fahey Oregon
Senator Lew Frederick Oregon
Senator Sara Gelser Oregon
Representative Susan McLain Oregon
Representative Tiffiny Mitchell Oregon
Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson Oregon
Representative Carla Piluso Oregon
Representative Karin Power Oregon
Representative Brad Witt Oregon
Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson Oregon
Representative Tim Briggs Pennsylvania
Representative Carolyn Comitta Pennsylvania
Representative Tina Davis Pennsylvania
Representative Ed Gainey Pennsylvania
Senator Art Haywood Pennsylvania
Representative Leanne Krueger-Braneky Pennsylvania
Representative Steve McCarter Pennsylvania
Representative Chris Rabb Pennsylvania
Representative Peter Schweyer Pennsylvania
Representative Wendy Ullman Pennsylvania
Senator Maria Collett Pennsylvania
Representative Mary Jo Daley Pennsylvania
Representative Austin Davis Pennsylvania
Minority Leader Frank Dermody Pennsylvania
Representative Dan Frankel Pennsylvania
Representative Sara Innamorato Pennsylvania
Representative Summer Lee Pennsylvania
Senator Katie Muth Pennsylvania
Representative Mike Schlossberg Pennsylvania
Senator Lindsey Williams Pennsylvania
Representative Edith Ajello Rhode Island
Senator Melissa Murray Rhode Island
Representative Evan Shanley Rhode Island
Representative Teresa Tanzi Rhode Island
Senator Dawn Euer Rhode Island
Senator Gayle Goldin Rhode Island
Senator Bridget Valverde Rhode Island
Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter South Carolina
Representative John King South Carolina
Senator Margie Bright Matthews South Carolina
Representative Steven McCleerey South Dakota
Senator Susan Wismer South Dakota
Representative G.A. Hardaway Tennessee
Representative Jessica Farrar Texas
Representative Mary Gonzalez Texas
Representative Jennifer Dailey-Provost Utah
Representative Elizabeth Weight Utah
Representative Tim Briglin Vermont
Representative Annmarie Christensen Vermont
Majority Leader Sarah CopelandHanzas Vermont
Representative Maxine Grad Vermont
Representative James McCullough Vermont
Representative Mike Mrowicki Vermont
Representative Ann Pugh Vermont
Representative Barbara Rachelson Vermont
Majority Leader Jill Krowinski Vermont
Delegate Jennifer Boysko Virginia
Senator Barbara Favola Virginia
Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn Virginia
Delegate Elizabeth Guzman Virginia
Delegate Mark Keam Virginia
Delegate Kaye Kory Virginia
Senator Jennifer McClellan Virginia
Delegate Marcia Price Virginia
Representative Eileen Cody Washington
Senator Jeannie Darneille Washington
Representative Beth Doglio Washington
Representative Joe Fitzgibbon Washington
Representative Mike Sells Washington
Representative Tana Senn Washington
Representative Derek Stanford Washington
Representative Gael Tarleton Washington
Senator Lisa Wellman Washington
Senator Emily Randall Washington
Representative Kristine Reeves Washington
Senator Claire Wilson Washington
Delegate Danielle Walker West Virginia
Representative Jimmy Anderson Wisconsin
Senator Janet Bewley Wisconsin
Representative Jodi Emerson Wisconsin
Senator LaTonya Johnson Wisconsin
Representative Debra Kolste Wisconsin
Senator Chris Larson Wisconsin
Representative Greta Neubauer Wisconsin
Representative Melissa Sargent Wisconsin
Representative Christine Sinicki Wisconsin
Representative Lisa Subeck Wisconsin
Representative Chris Taylor Wisconsin
Representative JoCasta Zamarripa Wisconsin
Representative Cathy Connolly Wyoming

To Achieve Economic Freedom, Young People Need Access to Reproductive Care, Including Abortion

By: Victoria Torres, 1 in 3 Campaign Activist with Advocates for Youth

Victoria Torres, 21, is 1 in 3 Campaign activist with Advocates for Youth, a national organization dedicated to uplifting policies and programs that allow young people to make the best decisions about their own reproductive and sexual health. 

As a peer wellness educator and activist for over six years, I’ve seen first-hand how financial barriers to reproductive health put families, especially low-income families, at risk.

The high school I attended offered sexual health education and contraceptives, but like many programs encouraged abstinence. The reality is that teens are having sex and young people need comprehensive sexual health programs that teach us the full range of reproductive health.

I am a first-generation Latina who comes from a low-income background. My mother is from Mexico—she came to America looking for a better life and to get away from the generational poverty she lived in. My dad is from Puerto Rico. And even though my parents are no longer together, they have always wanted more for me. Money has always been an issue, but my mother was doing all she could to make ends meet.

In my culture, talking about sex and birth control is forbidden. There’s an unspoken rule about sex – don’t have it. I had to find resources and answers to my questions on my own. And at 19 years old and a sophomore in college I became pregnant. I was sexually active and the recommended birth control for my body size cost more than $120 per month. I could not afford it and took the generic $20 option. I was also an uninsured college student because my university insurance cost more than $1,200 a year. As a struggling college student there was no way I could afford it.

When I found out I was around three months pregnant I automatically knew I did not want to be a parent. I was still in school and wanted to get my degree. I knew that abortion was something I wanted. When I sought out resources I came across Aid for Women, a crisis pregnancy center that gave me misleading medical information and basically tried to talk me out of my abortion. It was incredibly belittling and hurtful. All I wanted was an abortion and someone who knew nothing about my background tried to make me feel like I was in a crisis, which I knew I wasn’t. In that moment I needed access to healthcare, not their judgement.

I reached out to Planned Parenthood and was able to get the care I needed. There they offered a sliding scale payment process so I didn’t have to pay as much.


Now at 21 years old, I’ve had two abortions and do not regret either of them. For my second abortion, I remember a nurse came out and said, “line up if you’re here for the abortion.” She corrected herself and called out a list of numbers that were associated with a pregnant individual. I stood in line with 11 other women, all of whom identified as women of color. I felt empowered and unafraid because most of us were talking about how this wasn’t our first abortion. There’s an extra level of stigma associated with having more than one abortion but being open about the financial barriers and stigma helped me understand I was not alone.

My ability to make my own reproductive health decision on abortion was focused on costs. I knew I wanted the procedure. The question was not if I should or should not have an abortion, instead it was whether I could afford it. For many, the unforeseen costs associated with having an abortion, such as transportation, foregone wages, and childcare if needed, put many people in the tough decision of deciding whether or not to carry a pregnancy that they know they don’t want. I know that if I was unable to overcome the financial barriers of getting an abortion, I would have been stuck in the generational poverty that my mother was trying to get away from.

Reproductive and sexual freedom is at its core an economic issue, and we need to provide young people with the information and resources they need to make the best decisions about their own reproductive and sexual health.

Statement from the Reproductive Freedom Leadership Council on the 46th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

The Reproductive Freedom Leadership Council is the only national, cross-state cohort of pro-choice state legislators in the country, with 326 members from 46 states. The RFLC is a project of State Innovation Exchange (SiX).

The 46th anniversary of the United States Supreme Court’s landmark decision Roe v. Wade comes at a critical time in our country. While we are experiencing a hostile federal government and a highly-politicized judiciary comprised of opponents of reproductive rights and justice who are emboldened to test the powers of their political reach, we also see the rising of voters and elected officials intent on centering the clear majority of Americans who support our constitutional right to reproductive freedom.

As a cohort of 326 state legislators from 46 states, we recognize the urgency of this moment and the obligation we have to protect our constitutional right to abortion, to recognize where the rights established under Roe v. Wade have fallen short for many of our communities, and to take action to ensure all people can access the reproductive health care they need with dignity and respect. Where some see a political opportunity to erode or dismantle Roe v. Wade, we see a duty to fight back against the ongoing assaults on our rights and a chance to re-envision what reproductive health, rights, and justice should look like in the United States.

While abortion has been legal for 46 years, anti-abortion politicians have already pushed abortion out of reach for poor women, young people, and people of color by enacting more than one thousand state-level restrictions in that time. States have a choice. We can align with those who wish to take us backwards and criminalize a health care procedure that nearly one in four women will receive in her lifetime, or we can rise to reclaim our government for the people and in pursuit of gender, racial, and economic justice, including reproductive health care and rights for all. We won't just fight back against the ongoing assaults, but will fight for more than the protections established in Roe v. Wade. We will create a future where all Americans, have access to reproductive care.

Our country is at a crossroads. We boldly accept the challenge before us. We commit to raising our voices and using our platforms as state legislators to continue advancing the reproductive health care services that our communities deserve, in 2019 and beyond.

Signed,

Legislators in the Reproductive Freedom Leadership Council

Representative Geran Tarr Alaska
Representative Isela Blanc Arizona
Senator Andrea Dalessandro Arizona
Representative Rosanna Gabaldon Arizona
Representative Daniel Hernandez Arizona
Senator Juan Mendez Arizona
Representative Athena Salman Arizona
Senator Joyce Elliott Arkansas
Representative Vivian Flowers Arkansas
Assemblyman David Chiu California
Assemblymember Laura Friedman California
Majority Leader KC Becker Colorado
Senator Lois Court Colorado
Senator Jessie Danielson Colorado
Representative Daneya Esgar Colorado
Senator Steve Fenberg Colorado
Senator Rhonda Fields Colorado
Senator Joann Ginal Colorado
Representative Chris Hansen Colorado
Representative Leslie Herod Colorado
Representative Edie Hooton Colorado
Representative Dominique Jackson Colorado
Senator Pete Lee Colorado
Representative Susan Lontine Colorado
Representative Barbara McLachlan Colorado
Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet Colorado
Senator Brittany Pettersen Colorado
Representative Mike Weissman Colorado
Majority Leader Bob Duff Connecticut
Representative Joshua Elliott Connecticut
Senator Mae Flexer Connecticut
Representative Jillian Gilchrest Connecticut
Representative Gregory Haddad Connecticut
Representative Susan Johnson Connecticut
Representative Roland Lemar Connecticut
Senator Matthew Lesser Connecticut
Senator Marilyn Moore Connecticut
Representative Caroline Simmons Connecticut
Representative Edwin Vargas Connecticut
Representative Paul Baumbach Delaware
Senator Lori Berman Florida
Representative Anna Eskamani Florida
Senator Gloria Butler Georgia
Representative Park Cannon Georgia
Representative Patricia Park Gardner Georgia
Representative Deborah Gonzalez Georgia
Representative Sheila Jones Georgia
Representative Dar'shun Kendrick Georgia
Representative Bee Nguyen Georgia
Senator Nan Orrock Georgia
Representative Kim Schofield Georgia
Representative Renitta Shannon Georgia
Senator Nikema Williams Georgia
Senator Rosalyn Baker Hawaii
Representative Della Au Belatti Hawaii
Senator Donna Mercado Kim Hawaii
Representative Nicole Lowen Hawaii
Representative Roy Takumi Hawaii
Representative Sue Chew Idaho
Representative Carol Ammons Illinois
Senator Omar Aquino Illinois
Representative Kelly Cassidy Illinois
Representative Sara Feigenholtz Illinois
Senator Laura Fine Illinois
Representative Robyn Gabel Illinois
Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth Illinois
Representative Will Guzzardi Illinois
Senator Don Harmon Illinois
Representative Greg Harris Illinois
Senator Mattie Hunter Illinois
Senator Toi Hutchinson Illinois
Representative Camille Lilly Illinois
Representative Theresa Mah Illinois
Representative Robert Martwick Illinois
Representative Rita Mayfield Illinois
Representative Anna Moeller Illinois
Senator Elgie Sims Illinois
Senator Heather Steans Illinois
Senator Patricia Van Pelt-Watkins Illinois
Representative Emanuel "Chris" Welch Illinois
Representative Ann Williams Illinois
Representative Sam Yingling Illinois
Representative Marti Anderson Iowa
Representative Liz Bennett Iowa
Senator Joe Bolkcom Iowa
Representative Vicki Lensing Iowa
Representative Dennis "Boog" Highberger Kansas
Representative Annie Kuether Kansas
Representative Joni Jenkins Kentucky
Representative Mary Lou Marzian Kentucky
Representative Attica Woodson Scott Kentucky
Senator Shenna Bellows Maine
Senator Catherine Breen Maine
Representative Dale Denno Maine
Representative Donna Doore Maine
Representative Michelle Dunphy Maine
Representative Richard Farnsworth Maine
Representative Drew Gattine Maine
Speaker Sara Gideon Maine
Representative James Handy Maine
Representative Erik Jorgensen Maine
Representative Jay McCreight Maine
Senator Rebecca Millett Maine
Senator Dave Miramant Maine
Representative Matt Moonen Maine
Representative Margaret O'Neil Maine
Representative Lois Reckitt Maine
Representative Deane Rykerson Maine
Representative Rachel Talbot Ross Maine
Representative Denise Tepler Maine
Representative Charlotte Warren Maine
Delegate Shelly Hettleman Maryland
Senator Cheryl Kagan Maryland
Delegate Ariana Kelly Maryland
Delegate Robbyn Lewis Maryland
Delegate Karen Lewis Young Maryland
Delegate Brooke Lierman Maryland
Delegate David Moon Maryland
Delegate Pamela Queen Maryland
Delegate Ana Sol-Gutierrez Maryland
Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins Maryland
Senator Mike Barrett Massachusetts
Representative Carmine Gentile Massachusetts
Representative Patricia Haddad Massachusetts
Representative Natalie Higgins Massachusetts
Representative Jack Patrick Lewis Massachusetts
Representative David Linsky Massachusetts
Representative Jay Livingstone Massachusetts
Representative Tram T. Nguyen Massachusetts
Representative Alice Peisch Massachusetts
Representative Denise Provost Massachusetts
Senator Becca Rausch Massachusetts
Representative Lindsay Sabadosa Massachusetts
Minority Leader Jim Ananich Michigan
Senator Winnie Brinks Michigan
Minority Floor Leader Stephanie Chang Michigan
Senator Erika Geiss Michigan
Minority Leader Christine Greig Michigan
Senator Curtis Hertel Michigan
Representative Kara Hope Michigan
Senator Jeff Irwin Michigan
Representative Donna Lasinski Michigan
Senator Jeremy Moss Michigan
Representative Kristy Pagan Michigan
Representative Rebekah Warren Michigan
Representative Robert Wittenberg Michigan
Representative Jamie Becker-Finn Minnesota
Representative Raymond Dehn Minnesota
Senator D. Scott Dibble Minnesota
Representative Mike Freiberg Minnesota
Representative Frank Hornstein Minnesota
Speaker Melissa Hortman Minnesota
Representative Fue Lee Minnesota
Representative Carlos Mariani Minnesota
Representative Sandra Masin Minnesota
Representative Rena Moran Minnesota
Representative Liz Olson Minnesota
Senator Sandy Pappas Minnesota
Representative Dave Pinto Minnesota
Representative Kathy Sykes Mississippi
Representative Richard Brown Missouri
Representative Sarah Unsicker Missouri
Representative Cora Faith Walker Missouri
Representative Mary Caferro Montana
Representative Mary Ann Dunwell Montana
Representative Jessica Karjala Montana
Representative Andrea Olsen Montana
Senator Jennifer Pomnichowski Montana
Senator Diane Sands Montana
Senator Frank Smith Montana
Senator Sara Howard Nebraska
Assemblywoman Sarah Peters Nevada
Senator Julia Ratti Nevada
Assemblywoman Ellen Spiegel Nevada
Assemblyman Steven Yeager Nevada
Representative Susan Almy New Hampshire
Representative Debra Altschiller New Hampshire
Representative Christy Bartlett New Hampshire
Representative Amanda Bouldin New Hampshire
Representative Renny Cushing New Hampshire
Representative Edith DesMarais New Hampshire
Representative Charlotte DiLorenzo New Hampshire
Representative Daniel Eaton New Hampshire
Senator Martha Fuller Clark New Hampshire
Representative Chuck Grassie New Hampshire
Representative Timothy Horrigan New Hampshire
Representative Mark King New Hampshire
Representative Peter Leishman New Hampshire
Representative Patricia Lovejoy New Hampshire
Representative Sharon Nordgren New Hampshire
Representative Allison Nutting-Wong New Hampshire
Representative Lee Oxenham New Hampshire
Representative Marjorie Porter New Hampshire
Representative Katherine Rogers New Hampshire
Senator Cindy Rosenwald New Hampshire
Representative Kris Schultz New Hampshire
Minority Leader Stephen Shurtleff New Hampshire
Senator David Watters New Hampshire
Assemblyman Raj Mukherji New Jersey
Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle New Jersey
Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg New Jersey
Representative Deborah Armstrong New Mexico
Representative Andrea Romero New Mexico
Senator Elizabeth Stefanics New Mexico
Senator Mimi Stewart New Mexico
Representative Elizabeth Thomson New Mexico
Representative Christine Trujillo New Mexico
Assemblymember David Buchwald New York
Assemblymember Deborah Glick New York
Assemblymember Richard Gottfried New York
Senator Liz Krueger New York
Assemblymember Felix Ortiz New York
Assemblymember Dan Quart New York
Senator Gustavo Rivera New York
Assemblymember Nily Rozic New York
Assemblymember JoAnne Simon New York
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins New York
Assemblymember Latrice M. Walker New York
Representative Johnnie Newton Autry North Carolina
Representative Sydney Batch North Carolina
Representative Mary Belk North Carolina
Representative Cecil Brockman North Carolina
Representative Deb Butler North Carolina
Senator Jay Chaudhuri North Carolina
Representative Christy Clark North Carolina
Representative Susan Fisher North Carolina
Senator Valerie Foushee North Carolina
Representative Rosa Gill North Carolina
Representative Pricey Harrison North Carolina
Representative Verla Insko North Carolina
Senator Floyd McKissick North Carolina
Representative Graig Meyer North Carolina
Representative Marcia Morey North Carolina
Senator Terry Van Duyn North Carolina
Representative Julie Von Haefen North Carolina
Senator Mike Woodard North Carolina
Senator Nickie Antonio Ohio
Representative Erica Crawley Ohio
Representative Tavia Galonski Ohio
Representative Stephanie Howse Ohio
Representative Adam Miller Ohio
Representative Kent Smith Ohio
Representative Emilia Strong Sykes Ohio
Representative Thomas West Ohio
Representative Emily Virgin Oklahoma
Representative Julie Fahey Oregon
Senator Lew Frederick Oregon
Senator Sara Gelser Oregon
Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson Oregon
Representative Carla Piluso Oregon
Representative Karin Power Oregon
Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson Oregon
Representative Brad Witt Oregon
Representative Tim Briggs Pennsylvania
Senator Maria Collett Pennsylvania
Representative Carolyn Comitta Pennsylvania
Representative Mary Jo Daley Pennsylvania
Representative Tina Davis Pennsylvania
Representative Austin Davis Pennsylvania
Minority Leader Frank Dermody Pennsylvania
Representative Dan Frankel Pennsylvania
Representative Ed Gainey Pennsylvania
Senator Art Haywood Pennsylvania
Representative Sara Innamorato Pennsylvania
Representative Leanne Krueger-Braneky Pennsylvania
Representative Summer Lee Pennsylvania
Representative Steve McCarter Pennsylvania
Senator Katie Muth Pennsylvania
Representative Chris Rabb Pennsylvania
Representative Mike Schlossberg Pennsylvania
Representative Peter Schweyer Pennsylvania
Senator Lindsey Williams Pennsylvania
Representative Edith Ajello Rhode Island
Senator Dawn Euer Rhode Island
Senator Gayle Goldin Rhode Island
Representative Evan Shanley Rhode Island
Representative Teresa Tanzi Rhode Island
Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter South Carolina
Representative John King South Carolina
Senator Margie Bright Matthews South Carolina
Representative Steven McCleerey South Dakota
Senator Susan Wismer South Dakota
Representative G.A. Hardaway Tennessee
Representative Jessica Farrar Texas
Representative Mary Gonzalez Texas
Representative Jennifer Dailey-Provost Utah
Representative Elizabeth Weight Utah
Representative Tim Briglin Vermont
Majority Leader Sarah Copeland Hanzas Vermont
Representative Maxine Grad Vermont
Majority Leader Jill Krowinski Vermont
Representative James McCullough Vermont
Representative Mike Mrowicki Vermont
Representative Ann Pugh Vermont
Representative Barbara Rachelson Vermont
Delegate Jennifer Boysko Virginia
Senator Barbara Favola Virginia
Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn Virginia
Delegate Elizabeth Guzman Virginia
Delegate Mark Keam Virginia
Delegate Kaye Kory Virginia
Senator Jennifer McClellan Virginia
Delegate Marcia Price Virginia
Representative Eileen Cody Washington
Senator Jeannie Darneille Washington
Representative Beth Doglio Washington
Representative Joe Fitzgibbon Washington
Senator Karen Keiser Washington
Senator Emily Randall Washington
Representative Mike Sells Washington
Representative Tana Senn Washington
Representative Derek Stanford Washington
Representative Gael Tarleton Washington
Senator Lisa Wellman Washington
Senator Claire Wilson Washington
Delegate Danielle Walker West Virginia
Senator Janet Bewley Wisconsin
Senator LaTonya Johnson Wisconsin
Representative Debra Kolste Wisconsin
Senator Chris Larson Wisconsin
Representative Melissa Sargent Wisconsin
Representative Christine Sinicki Wisconsin
Representative Lisa Subeck Wisconsin
Representative Chris Taylor Wisconsin
Representative JoCasta Zamarripa Wisconsin
Representative Cathy Connolly Wyoming

Statement from the Reproductive Freedom Leadership Council on the future of Roe v. Wade and Judge Brett Kavanaugh

The reality is chilling: if conservatives have their way, the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision could be overturned and the legal status of abortion could be decided state by state, leaving millions of women to cross state lines in order to access legal abortion care. The risk of the Supreme Court of the United States taking us backwards by 45 years is more real than ever.

As state legislators, we recognize the extraordinary stakes of this generation-defining moment and we pledge to do everything we can to protect Roe v. Wade and legal abortion. We stand for reproductive freedom and we envision a nation in which each of us can make our own decisions about our reproductive health, pregnancy, and parenting, free from political interference. Therefore, we stand against the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court and for a new era in state-based efforts to champion policies that support meaningful access to reproductive health care. 

With more than 400 new abortion restrictions passed in states in the last eight years, many women already experience what it is like when abortion is technically legal but needlessly difficult and stigmatizing to get. It’s clear opponents of women’s health have been preparing for this moment for decades. Right now there are 12 abortion cases moving through the federal court system that could come before the Supreme Court, and at least 20 states are poised to immediately seek to ban abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned.

But as state legislators and members of the Reproductive Freedom Leadership Council, we strive to lead our colleagues into an era when, instead of standing by while new policies are enacted each year that restrict reproductive rights and health, we instead advance meaningful solutions to the health care needs, economic inequalities, and other challenges our constituents face. It’s not enough to oppose a Supreme Court nominee who could gut the right to abortion at the federal level; we must exercise leadership as state legislators to do our critical part in creating a world where people can exercise reproductive freedom.

Public support for the Roe v. Wade decision is higher than ever, and transcends political parties. But more important than polling data is what we know to be true: elected officials must uphold the sacred duty of public office by honoring our charge to act for a better future. We pledge to use our platforms as state legislators to advance the reproductive health care needs of the people we serve and to work with our communities to improve our state policies to protect and advance abortion rights and access.

 

Signed,

Representative Patricia Todd Alabama
Representative Geran Tarr Alaska
Representative Wenona Benally Arizona
Representative Isela Blanc Arizona
Senator Andrea Dalessandro Arizona
Representative Rosanna Gabaldon Arizona
Representative Daniel Hernandez Arizona
Senator Juan Mendez Arizona
Representative Athena Salman Arizona
Senator Joyce Elliott Arkansas
Representative Vivian Flowers Arkansas
Assemblyman David Chiu California
Assemblymember Laura Friedman California
Majority Leader KC Becker Colorado
Speaker Pro Tempore Jessie Danielson Colorado
Representative Daneya Esgar Colorado
Senator Steve Fenberg Colorado
Senator Rhonda Fields Colorado
Representative Joann Ginal Colorado
Representative Chris Hansen Colorado
Representative Leslie Herod Colorado
Representative Edie Hooton Colorado
Representative Pete Lee Colorado
Representative Susan Lontine Colorado
Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet Colorado
Representative Brittany Pettersen Colorado
Representative Joseph Salazar Colorado
Represenative Mike Weissman Colorado
Representative Dave Young Colorado
Senator Irene Aguilar Colorado
Senator Lois Court Colorado
Representative Mike  Foote Colorado
Representative Dominique Jackson Colorado
Senator Daniel Kagan Colorado
Representative Barbara McLachlan Colorado
Majority Leader Bob Duff Connecticut
Representative Josh Elliott Connecticut
Senator Mae Flexer Connecticut
Representative Gregory Haddad Connecticut
Representative Susan Johnson Connecticut
Representative Roland Lemar Connecticut
Representative Matt Lesser Connecticut
Senator Marilyn Moore Connecticut
Senator Gayle Slossberg Connecticut
Representative Edwin Vargas Connecticut
Representative Paul Baumbach Delaware
Senator Lori Berman Florida
Senator Gloria Butler Georgia
Representative Park Cannon Georgia
Representative Pat Gardner Georgia
Representative Deborah Gonzalez Georgia
Representative Sheila Jones Georgia
Representative Dar'shun Kendrick Georgia
Representative Bee Nguyen Georgia
Senator Nan Orrock Georgia
Representative Kim Schofield Georgia
Representative Renitta Shannon Georgia
Senator Curt Thompson Georgia
Senator Nikema Williams Georgia
Representative Della Au Belatti Hawaii
Senator Rosalyn Baker Hawaii
Senator Donna Mercado Kim Hawaii
Representative Roy Takumi Hawaii
Representative Phylis King Idaho
Representative Carol Ammons Illinois
Senator Omar Aquino Illinois
Senator Daniel Biss Illinois
Representative Kelly Cassidy Illinois
Representative Scott Drury Illinois
Representative Sara Feigenholtz Illinois
Representative Laura Fine Illinois
Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie Illinois
Representative Robyn Gabel Illinois
Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth Illinois
Representative Will Guzzardi Illinois
Senator Don Harmon Illinois
Representative Greg Harris Illinois
Senator Mattie Hunter Illinois
Senator Toi Hutchinson Illinois
Representative Camille Lilly Illinois
Representative Theresa Mah Illinois
Representative Robert Martwick Illinois
Representative Rita Mayfield Illinois
Representative Christian Mitchell Illinois
Representative Anna Moeller Illinois
Senator Kwame Raoul Illinois
Senator Elgie Sims Illinois
Senator Heather Steans Illinois
Representative Juliana Stratton Illinois
Senator Patricia Van Pelt-Watkins Illinois
Representative Litesa Wallace Illinois
Representative Emanuel Welch Illinois
Representative Ann Williams Illinois
Representative Sam Yingling Illinois
Representative Marti Anderson Iowa
Representative Liz Bennett Iowa
Senator Joe Bolkcom Iowa
Representative Vicki Lensing Iowa
Representative Dennis “Boog” Highberger Kansas
Representative Annie Kuether Kansas
Representative Joni Jenkins Kentucky
Representative Mary Lou Marzian Kentucky
Representative Attica Woodson Scott Kentucky
Senator Shenna Bellows Maine
Senator Cathy Breen Maine
Representative Dale Denno Maine
Representative Donna Doore Maine
Representative Michelle Dunphy Maine
Representative Richard Farnsworth Maine
Representative Drew Gattine Maine
Speaker Sara Gideon Maine
Representative James Handy Maine
Representative Erik Jorgensen Maine
Representative Jay McCreight Maine
Senator Rebecca Millett Maine
Senator Dave Miramant Maine
Representative Matt Moonen Maine
Representative Margaret O’Neil Maine
Representative Lois Reckitt Maine
Representative Deane Rykerson Maine
Representative Rachel Talbot Ross Maine
Representative Denise Tepler Maine
Representative Charlotte Warren Maine
Delegate Shelly Hettleman Maryland
Senator Cheryl Kagan Maryland
Delegate Ariana Kelly Maryland
Delegate Robbyn Lewis Maryland
Delegate Karen Lewis Young Maryland
Delegate Brooke Lierman Maryland
Senator Richard S. Madaleno Jr. Maryland
Delegate David Moon Maryland
Delegate Pamela Queen Maryland
Delegate Ana Sol Gutierrez Maryland
Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins Maryland
Senator Mike Barrett Massachusetts
Representative Carmine Gentile Massachusetts
Representative Patricia Haddad Massachusetts
Representative Natalie HIggins Massachusetts
Senator Barbara L'Italien Massachusetts
Representative Jack Patrick Lewis Massachusetts
Representative David Linsky Massachusetts
Representative Alice Peisch Massachusetts
Representative Denise Provost Massachusetts
Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich Michigan
Senator Steve Bieda Michigan
Representative Winnie Brinks Michigan
Representative Stephanie Chang Michigan
Representative Pam Faris Michigan
Representative Erika Geiss Michigan
Representative Christine Greig Michigan
Senator Curtis Hertel Michigan
Senator David Knezek Michigan
Representative Kristy Pagan Michigan
Senator Rebekah Warren Michigan
Representative Robert Wittenberg Michigan
Representative Donna Laskinski Michigan
Representative Jeremy Moss Michigan
Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn Minnesota
Representative Raymond Dehn Minnesota
Senator D. Scott Dibble Minnesota
Representative Mike Freiberg Minnesota
Representative Frank Hornstein Minnesota
House Minority Leader Melissa Hortman Minnesota
Representative Fue Lee Minnesota
Representative Carlos Mariani Minnesota
Representative Sandra Masin Minnesota
Representative Erin Maye Quade Minnesota
Representative Rena Moran Minnesota
Representative Liz Olson Minnesota
Representative Ilhan Omar Minnesota
Senator Sandy Pappas Minnesota
Representative Dave Pinto Minnesota
Representative Linda Slocum Minnesota
Representative JoAnn Ward Minnesota
Representative Kathy Sykes Mississippi
Representative Richard Brown Missouri
Representative Stacey Newman Missouri
Representative Sarah Unsicker Missouri
Representative Cora Faith Walker Missouri
Senator Mary Caferro Montana
Representative Mary Ann Dunwell Montana
Representative Ellie Hill-Smith Montana
Representative Jessica Karjala Montana
Representative Andrea Olsen Montana
Senator JP Pomnichowski Montana
Senator Diane Sands Montana
Senator Frank Smith Montana
Senator Sara Howard Nebraska
Assemblymember Amber Joiner Nevada
Senator Julia Ratti Nevada
Assemblywoman Ellen Spiegel Nevada
Assemblymember Steven Yeager Nevada
Representative Susan Almy New Hampshire
Representative Debra Altschiller New Hampshire
Representative Christy Bartlett New Hampshire
Representative Amanda Bouldin New Hampshire
Representative Renny Cushing New Hampshire
Representative Edith DesMarais New Hampshire
Representative Charlotte DiLorenzo New Hampshire
Representative Daniel Eaton New Hampshire
Senator Martha Fuller Clark New Hampshire
Representative Chuck Grassie New Hampshire
Representative Timothy Horrigan New Hampshire
Representative Mark King New Hampshire
Representative Peter Leishman New Hampshire
Representative Patricia Lovejoy New Hampshire
Representative Richard McNamara New Hampshire
Representative Sharon Nordgren New Hampshire
Representative Allison Nutting New Hampshire
Representative Lee Oxenham New Hampshire
Representative Marjorie Porter New Hampshire
Representative Katherine Rogers New Hampshire
Representative Cindy Rosenwald New Hampshire
Representative Kris Schultz New Hampshire
Minority Leader Stephen Shurtleff New Hampshire
Representative Ivy Vann New Hampshire
Senator David Watters New Hampshire
Assemblyman Raj Mukherji New Jersey
Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle New Jersey
Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg New Jersey
Representative Deborah Armstrong New Mexico
Senator  Elizabeth Stefanics New Mexico
Senator Mimi Stewart New Mexico
Representative Elizabeth "Liz" Thomson New Mexico
Representative Christine Trujillo New Mexico
Assemblymember David Buchwald New York
Assemblymember Deborah Glick New York
Assemblymember Richard Gottfried New York
Senator Liz Krueger New York
Assemblymember Felix Ortiz New York
Assemblywoman Christine Pellegrino New York
Assemblymember Dan Quart New York
Senator Gustavo Rivera New York
Assemblymember JoAnne Simon New York
Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins New York
Representative John Autry North Carolina
Representative Mary Belk North Carolina
Representative Cecil Brockman North Carolina
Representative Deb Butler North Carolina
Senator Jay Chaudhuri North Carolina
Representative Susan Fisher North Carolina
Senator Valerie Foushee North Carolina
Representative Rosa Gill North Carolina
Representative Pricey Harrison North Carolina
Representative Verla Insko North Carolina
Senator Floyd McKissick North Carolina
Representative Graig Meyer North Carolina
Representative Marcia Morey North Carolina
Representative Bobbi Richardson North Carolina
Senator Terry Van Duyn North Carolina
Senator Mike Woodard North Carolina
Representative Nickie Antonio Ohio
Representative Tavia Galonski Ohio
Representative Stephanie Howse Ohio
Representative Adam Miller Ohio
Representative Kent Smith Ohio
Representative Emilia Strong Sykes Ohio
Representative Thomas West Ohio
Representative Karen Gaddis Oklahoma
Representative Emily Virgin Oklahoma
Representative Julie Fahey Oregon
Senator Lew Frederick Oregon
Senator Sara Gelser Oregon
Representative Pam Marsh Oregon
Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson Oregon
Representative Carla Piluso Oregon
Representative Karin Power Oregon
Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson Oregon
Representative Brad Witt Oregon
Representative Carolyn Committa Pennsylvania
Representative Mary Jo Daley Pennsylvania
Representative Dan Frankel Pennsylvania
Representative Ed Gainey Pennsylvania
Senator Art Haywood Pennsylvania
Representative Leanne Krueger-Braneky Pennsylvania
Representative Steve McCarter Pennsylvania
Representative Chris Rabb Pennsylvania
Representative Mike Schlossberg Pennsylvania
Representative Peter Schweyer Pennsylvania
Representative Tim Briggs Pennsylvania
Representative Tina Davis Pennsylvania
Representative Sara Innamorato Pennsylvania
Representative Edith Ajello Rhode Island
Senator Jeanine Calkin Rhode Island
Senator Dawn Euer Rhode Island
Senator Gayle Goldin Rhode Island
Representative Jeremiah O'Grady Rhode Island
Representative Evan Shanley Rhode Island
Representative Teresa Tanzi Rhode Island
Senator Margie Bright Matthews South Carolina
Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter South Carolina
Representative Steven McCleerey South Dakota
Representative Susan Wismer South Dakota
Representative G.A. Hardaway Tennessee
Senator Lee Harris Tennessee
Representative Jessica Farrar Texas
Representative Mary Gonzalez Texas
Representative Elizabeth Weight Utah
Representative Tim Briglin Vermont
Representative Robin Chesnut-Tangerman Vermont
Majority Leader Sarah Copeland-Hanzas Vermont
Representative Diana González Vermont
Representative Maxine Grad Vermont
Majority Leader Jill Krowinski Vermont
Representative James McCullough Vermont
Representative Mike Mrowicki Vermont
Representative Ann Pugh Vermont
Representative Barbara Rachelson Vermont
Representative Valerie Stuart Vermont
Delegate Jennifer Boysko Virginia
Senator Barbara Favola Virginia
Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn Virginia
Delegate Kaye Kory Virginia
Senator Jennifer McClellan Virginia
Delegate Marcia Price Virginia
Delegate Elizabeth Guzman Viriginia
Delegate Mark Keam Viriginia
Representative Eileen Cody Washington
Senator Jeannie Darneille Washington
Representative Beth Doglio Washington
Representative Joe Fitzgibbon Washington
Senator Karen Keiser Washington
Senate Majority Leader Sharon Nelson Washington
Senator Kevin Ranker Washington
Representative Tana Senn Washington
Representative Derek Stanford Washington
Representative Gael Tarleton Washington
Senator Lisa Wellman Washington
Representative Terese Berceau Wisconsin
Senator Janet Bewley Wisconsin
Senator LaTonya Johnson Wisconsin
Representative Debra Kolste Wisconsin
Senator Chris Larson Wisconsin
Representative Melissa Sargent Wisconsin
Representative Christine Sinicki Wisconsin
Representative Lisa Subeck Wisconsin
Representative Chris Taylor Wisconsin
Representative JoCasta Zamarripa Wisconsin
Minority Floor Leader Cathy Connolly Wyoming

Guest Commentary: Massachusetts’ Bump Stock Ban

By: Representative David P. Linsky, D-Massachusetts

Last week, Massachusetts became the first state in the nation to ban bump stock and trigger crank devices after the Las Vegas tragedy. Following the tragedy in Las Vegas, in which bump stocks were used to murder 58 innocent people and wound hundreds more, I reviewed the Massachusetts General Laws and found a glaring loophole that allowed for these deadly devices to be legally owned, sold, and purchased in Massachusetts. So, I took immediate action to protect the citizens of the Commonwealth and filed a bill – which, I later re-filed as an amendment to a supplemental budget bill – to close this loophole in our gun laws, and ensure these deadly devices would not be allowed in our state. With the support of our Democratic House and Senate leadership, and our Republican Governor, it took only one month for Massachusetts to take action to ban these deadly devices. Where is Congress?

In the wake of yet another mass shooting tragedy, I find myself once again wondering when Congress is going to take action. Members of Congress continue to tweet their thoughts and prayers, and yet no action has been taken to address gun violence at the national level. Bipartisan bills were filed in Congress following the Las Vegas tragedy to ban bump stocks, and yet no debate has happened. No action has been taken. How many more mass tragedies need to occur before Congress finally takes meaningful action?

Now more than ever, it is important for states to take the lead. Every day that we allow Congress to get away with its inaction, we allow these tragedies to become normalized in our society. It is up to us – members of state legislatures – to ensure that our constituents are protected from senseless acts of violence. I urge each of you to look at your states’ gun laws, and see what type of legislation you can pass to protect the citizens of your state from senseless gun violence. Maybe then Congress will listen.

Note: On Nov. 1, 2017, SiX Action, the State Innovation Exchange’s 501c4 arm, released a state toolkit on bump stocks in partnership with Giffords, the anti-gun violence group founded by former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and Capt. Mark Kelly. The toolkit lays out examples of state-level bump stock bans and can serve as a guidepost for legislators considering taking action in their own states. 

SiX Expands with Addition of Chief Development and Strategy Officer, National Legislative Director, and State Directors in Arizona, Colorado, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, and Virginia

The State Innovation Exchange (SiX) is pleased to announce its continued growth this fall with the addition of eight new staff members, including Neha Patel as Chief Development and Strategy Officer and Victoria Simarano as National Legislative Director, positions that will help SiX deepen our ability to advance progressive policies in the states.

SiX is also proud to announce the addition of six new state directors in Arizona, Colorado, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, and Virginia.  These new state director positions will greatly expand SiX’s capacity to support legislators directly, with the addition of permanent, on-the-ground staff members based in state capitols.

“SiX’s expansion into the states and the work these state directors will be doing is unprecedented in state policy making.  The individuals joining SiX as state directors are among the best and brightest advocates in the country.  Each brings years of work experience and relationships to their respective states. Their expertise will allow us to build on the foundation we’ve laid over the past few years and enable us to have greater capacity to provide tailored support to legislators and legislative staff who are working every day to improve the lives and well-being of their constituents,” SiX Executive Director Nick Rathod said.

Neha Patel, Chief Development and Strategy Officer

As SiX's Chief Development and Strategy Officer, Neha will be overseeing organizational strategic planning, developing fundraising growth strategies, building out SiX's development function, and serving as part of the organizational management team.  Neha brings over 15 years of experience in strategy, business development, and partnership and program management. Neha previously worked with various domestic and international non-profit organizations and foundations, including FHI 360 and Open Society Foundations (OSF).

Victoria Simarano, National Legislative Director

As the National Legislative Director for SiX, Victoria will oversee a legislative team of more than a dozen staff, including SiX’s new state directors. Victoria brings over 20 years of experience working for social change across the governmental, conservation, university and political arenas as an organizer, executive director, and fundraiser. Victoria came to SiX from The Climate Reality Project, and previously worked for the Clinton Administration, WILD PAC, and the Sierra Club. 

Joaquin Rios, Arizona State Director

Joaquin comes to SiX having most recently served as the Chief of Staff to Phoenix City Councilwoman Kate Gallego. Rios is a licensed attorney and has also worked as a Staff Attorney in the Housing Unit at Community Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services to low-income Arizonans, and practiced immigration law. Joaquin has also served a wide variety of roles on progressive political campaigns in Arizona.

David Oppenheim, Colorado State Director

Prior to joining SiX, David served two separate stints as the Chief of Staff to the Colorado House Majority office where he helped to craft and execute progressive legislative agendas. David was also previously a Principal at Hilltop Public Solutions, a leading public affairs and political consulting firm.

Danna Hayes, Maine State Director

Danna comes to SiX from the Maine Women’s Lobby and the Maine Women’s Policy Center, where she served as Director of Public Policy. Danna previously spent two years clerking in New Hampshire Superior Courts, and worked as a community organizer advocating for policy solutions to hunger and poverty with the Preble Street Maine Hunger Initiative.

Tom Lenard, Michigan State Director

Prior to SiX, Tom served as Senior Advisor to Michigan Senate Democratic Leader Jim Ananich of Flint, Michigan. As such, he worked to help respond to the Flint water crisis, and led efforts to address the opioid epidemic, combat scrap metal theft, and push for paid sick leave. Prior to serving multiple roles in the state legislature, Tom worked in the Washington, D.C. offices of former Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut and former Rep. John Dingell of Michigan.

Chris Kukla, North Carolina State Director

Chris joins SiX with over two decades of policy, political and organizing experience. Chris spent the last 15 years at the Center for Responsible Lending, a nonpartisan, non-profit policy and research organization dedicated to ending abusive lending practices, where he regularly counseled legislators, regulators and law enforcement agencies in North Carolina and across the country.

Meredith Smith, Virginia State Director

Meredith brings over a decade of work in the Virginia progressive community to her role as SiX’s Virginia State Director. Meredith most recently served as a legislative consultant for various members of the Virginia General Assembly, responsible for training, crafting legislative strategy and setting up the offices of new legislators and staff.

 

SiX Announces Addition of Leigh Warren as Chief Operating Officer

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SiX is thrilled to announce the hiring of Leigh Warren to serve as our Chief Operating Officer, marking the first time the organization will have a senior staff member fully dedicated to overseeing our human resources, finance and compliance, and IT functions. As SiX enters an important period of growth and expansion, Warren will be critical to ensuring that our internal operations keep pace.

Prior to joining SiX, Warren was the Chief Operating Officer at EMILY’s List, a political action committee that helps elect pro-choice Democratic women to office. Before joining EMILY’s List, she held a variety of roles, from scheduler for a Congressman to managing director of a national polling firm. She also served as the Operations Director for America Coming Together (ACT).

Warren played an integral role in helping build EMILY’s List into the powerful organization it is today, and SiX is incredibly fortunate to be welcoming her to our leadership team.

“I am thrilled to be joining SiX at such an important time of growth in the organization,” said Warren. “The work SiX is doing at the state level to ensure a more progressive America is critical, now more than ever. I look forward to working with the SiX team and our partners across the country to help support legislators who are committed to enacting policies that reflect progressive values.”

“Leigh’s reputation precedes her in progressive circles—she has been central to building some of the movement’s most effective institutions, including EMILY’s List,” said SiX Executive Director Nick Rathod. “I couldn’t be more excited to have someone of her stature and experience join SiX at this vital point in the organization’s growth. It’s game-changing for us organizationally and especially critical to helping us continue to build progressive power in state legislatures across the country.”

SiX Launches Reproductive Rights Program to be Led by State Policy and Advocacy Expert Kelly Baden

kelly badenThis week, SiX is excited to announce a new program—led by state policy and advocacy expert Kelly Baden—that will expand our capacity to help legislators advance and defend policies that safeguard reproductive rights at the state level.

As SiX’s first-ever Director of Reproductive Rights, Baden will work to fully integrate this critical issue into the work of the organization and its network of more than 2,000 state lawmakers across the country. This development marks the first time SiX we will have an in-house, issue-specific policy program.

"States remain a critical battleground for reproductive rights, even as hostility to reproductive autonomy increases in Washington. In fact, it's more important than ever that state leaders have everything they need to not just hold the line on our rights but also take bold steps forward in advancing reproductive health," said Baden. "Through this new program, SiX will work closely with national and state advocacy organizations that are already doing vital work in this space, with the ultimate goal of supporting legislators in all 50 states and ensuring they have the tools they need to be true champions for women’s health. This is a major step forward for both SiX and the progressive movement, and I am thrilled to be leading this effort."

Baden, who will be based in New York City, comes to SiX from the Center for Reproductive Rights, where she served as Director of State Advocacy. In that role, she worked directly with state advocates and legislators, helped build the capacity of local partners through the development of policy resources and trainings, and oversaw technical assistance to state partners fighting abortion restrictions. She also previously served as the Director of Policy and Strategic Partnerships for the National Institute for Reproductive Health and NARAL Pro-Choice New York and a number of other reproductive rights organizations. Baden currently serves on the board of URGE (Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity), and in addition to appearing on national cable news, her expertise on reproductive rights policy has been featured in POLITICO, TIME, and the Associated Press.

"With the addition of Kelly to our team, SiX is gaining a nationally recognized reproductive rights expert—with a long history of collaboration and coalition building—to lead this new body of work," said SiX Executive Director Nick Rathod. "As a multi-issue organization, SiX has contributed to many different policy fights at the state level—from climate change, civil rights, and election reform to family economic issues like equal pay, paid leave, and higher wages. Under Kelly’s leadership, this new program will provide much-needed resources and support to progressive elected officials across the country, who are on the front lines fighting to advance and defend reproductive rights each and every day."

SiX Announces Expansion of Communications Team with Addition of National Press Secretary & Deputy Director for State Communications

As part of our ongoing work to support state lawmakers who are fighting to advance and defend progressive policies all across the country, SiX is thrilled to announce an expansion of our communications shop—with the addition of Press Secretary Karyn Bruggeman and Deputy Director for State Communications Katy Fleury.

Karyn Bruggeman, who is based in our Washington, D.C. office and manages our national press engagement strategy, comes to SiX from the National Journal, where she spent more than three years covering state and national politics—including the 2016 presidential election. During her time there, she appeared on national TV and radio outlets like CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, BBC World News, and Sirius XM Radio to discuss her reporting. Prior to that, Bruggeman provided research support at the Atlas Project, a national political data and research shop.

Katy Fleury will be based in our Denver office and fills a new role within the organization. As Deputy Director for State Communications, she will provide strategic communications and messaging support to state legislators and their staff, work with state legislative caucuses to build and enhance their communications capacity, and help promote progressive policy victories and battles in all 50 states. She previously served as Deputy Communications Director for the Colorado House Democrats and worked on the policy and communications team of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.

“Karyn and Katy will both play a vital role in taking our work in the states to the next level,” said SiX Executive Director Nick Rathod. “As SiX significantly expands our in-state presence and operations over the new few months—with permanent, on-the-ground staff being hired in at least a dozen states—and continues to build out our national office, we know that growing our strategic communications, media relations, and digital capacity will be central to that effort. As progressives continue the important and long overdue work of catching up to the massive political infrastructure that conservatives have built in the states, this expansion is a step in the right direction.”

 

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                 Karyn Bruggeman                                                           Katy Fleury

Guest Commentary- The secret behind creating the largest fund in U.S. history for building a green economy

By: Vien Truong, National Director of Green For All

As the head of Green For All, I travel the country working with grassroots leaders and state electeds to craft policies that prioritize families and workers living in the most polluted cities in America.

My heart breaks every time I hear about another Flint or Standing Rock. I know what it’s like to live in a struggling and polluted community. In Oakland, California where I raise my 3-year old twin boys, air pollution is so bad that where we live is known as the “toxic triangle.” I see dilapidated homes, a food desert, homeless families, and neglected schools on my way to work every day. It is because I see and live in the daily reality of what poverty and pollution look like that I have continued to feel the urgency to fight for communities like mine all across the country. Will you join me?

Trump says we can’t have clean air and good jobs. Nope, wrong. I know he’s wrong because I helped establish the largest fund in U.S. history to build a green economy -- creating jobs and opportunities for people in all walks of life.

In 2006, California passed the Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32), which committed the state to fighting climate change and reaching ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals. The Act was significant at a time when few states were taking action. But it lacked a plan for addressing greenhouse gases in low-income communities and communities of color specifically.

Big polluters have tried to kill the law every year since its passage. The truth is, it was a difficult fight to preserve it each year. And while the law guaranteed emissions reductions overall, it didn't go far enough to protect the communities facing the worst pollution. That’s when I decided to do something.

Through my work at the Greenlining Institute -- where I worked at the time -- I co-led the California Climate Equity Coalition to champion legislation known as Senate Bill 535 (State Sen. Kevin de León). The coalition initially consisted of four organizations: the Greenlining Institute, Asian Pacific Environmental Network, Coalition for Clean Air, and Public Advocates.

We wanted to make sure that families who were suffering the worst would see some relief in the Global Warming Solutions Act. The idea was simple: require a percentage of the state’s proceeds from cap and trade to fund projects that benefit the most disadvantaged communities.

In the first two years of implementation, nearly $1 billion was invested in reducing greenhouse gases and bringing the green economy to disadvantaged communities.

Those funds went to free solar and energy efficiency upgrades for working families, electric vanpools for rural areas that didn't have reliable public transportation, free bus passes for seniors and students, thousands of trees planted in concrete jungles, and much more. The impact was truly amazing. Check out these stories on how the fund changed people's lives.

SB 535 now allocates 35% of the funds from the program to frontline communities. This has created jobs, reduced costs, and improved lives for low-income communities and communities of color -- which has also helped these communities begin to see themselves in the environmental movement.

Today, the California Climate Equity Coalition has grown to include more than 150 groups that continue to fight for climate solutions prioritizing communities hit first and worst by poverty and pollution. Industry lobbyists now have zero chance of rolling back progress in California due to the robust political support we have built.

Now we are faced with a federal government that is attacking climate protections in every way possible. We need state leaders across the country to stand up for frontline families who will be hurt first and worst.

Green For All is proud to be partnering with the State Innovation Exchange (SiX) to offer our support to state legislators.

Watch our video on the #535Story at FrontlinesFirst.org and download the Legislator Toolkit here.

Guest Commentary - The Digital Citizenship and Media Literacy Movement: The Next Big Trend in Education Legislation?

JR Starrett is a Senior Director of National Advocacy for Common Sense Kids Action

Kids and teens today are using the immense power of digital media to explore, connect, create, and learn in ways never before imagined. With this power, young people have extraordinary opportunities, and yet they face potential pitfalls, too. Meanwhile, schools are dealing with the associated ramifications -- such as cyberbullying, digital cheating, and safety and security concerns. These issues underscore the need for students to learn -- and for teachers to teach -- digital literacy and citizenship skills.

Kids have never had as much access to the internet and mobile technologies at home and school as they do today. We must recognize that media and technology have become commonplace in all areas of our lives. In our classrooms, students must learn how to safely, ethically, responsibly, and effectively use media and technology resources. Schools can play a critical role by educating, empowering, and engaging children with the best practices around technology use. While media and technology have great promise for learning, young people need support and education to learn how to make sound judgments when navigating the digital world. School administrators and educators are now faced with new and at times overwhelming challenges, such as those related to privacy, digital footprints, cyberbullying, and sexting.

Policymakers around the country are now seeking legislative solutions. In 2016, Washington state championed the nation's first comprehensive digital citizenship and media literacy legislation. The bill calls on the State Education Agency (SEA) to develop and distribute a list of digital citizenship and media literacy best practices and recommendations to school administrators. It uses a state advisory committee that includes researchers, administrators, educators, and others to review digital citizenship and media literacy curriculum and policy. Governor Jay Inslee signed SB 6273 into law in March of 2016.

Other states are taking notice. Policymakers from Arizona, California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Rhode Island have introduced legislation that is modeled upon the Washington state approach. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) recently released a Legis Brief (Vol. 25, No. 07) discussing the legislative trends and successful strategies that have been identified within states across the country.

Common Sense Kids Action has been a leading resource for policymakers, school administrators, educators, and parents interested in learning additional ways to help kids thrive in a world driven by media and technology. We believe good online behavior mimics good offline behavior and that there is no differentiating between the two when it comes to safety, responsibility, and respect.

For questions, comments or consideration of digital citizenship and media literacy legislation within your state, please contact JR Starrett at jstarrett@commonsense.org.

VIDEO: SiX's Work to Resist and Rebuild in the States

We marched. Now what?

In states across the country, SiX is already on the front lines of the fight to protect the progress made over the last eight years. But we need your help. This video explains what SiX is doing and why it matters.

Want to help us spread the word? Share this video with your friends, family, and neighbors. And consider making a donation to keep SiX's work going in every corner of the country.

Thanks for all that you do.

-Nick

National Public Radio Interview with SiX Executive Director Nick Rathod

In a recent interview with National Public Radio, SiX Executive Director Nick Rathod sat down to discuss SiX’s work and how state lawmakers can lead the progressive resistance to President-elect Trump and his conservative allies in Congress.

“Let’s have some debates about policies and see where things shake out,” said Rathod during the interview. “I mean, I grew up in Nebraska, and when I talk with my conservative friends there, we’re pretty close on a lot of the issues. But the thing is that we just haven’t ever really sat down and talked to people about what it – what equal pay actually means. You know, do you care whether your daughter gets paid the same as your son? I think most people would say yeah. Do you care that people have a living wage, that people who are playing by the rules, working hard, I think people would say yes to that. Let’s have those conversations locally, and let’s shake out who is actually fighting for those things.”

You can listen to the full interview here.

SiX Hosts Regional Climate Academy in Denver for 40 Western State Legislators

In partnership with Conservation Colorado, Sierra Club, NRDC, and other environmental groups, SiX brought together 40 Western state legislators for a day-long Regional Climate Academy in Denver, Colorado.

During the academy, legislators had the opportunity to network with other state lawmakers in their region, learn more about effective communications and targeted messaging, and expand their knowledge around climate change, clean energy policy, and climate justice.

Learn more about SiX’s focus on climate change here.

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SiX Executive Director Nick Rathod Joins AM Joy on MSNBC to Discuss How States Can Lead Resistance to Trump

SiX Executive Director Nick Rathod recently appeared on AM Joy on MSNBC to discuss the North Carolina governor’s race, Rev. Barber’s Moral Monday movement, and how progressives can resist President-elect Trump’s agenda by organizing at the state and local level. “You can win back people’s hearts and minds by focusing and being where they are,” said Rathod during the segment.

Watch the clip here.

SiX Hosts 2016 National Legislator Conference, Bringing Together More Than 400 State Lawmakers from Across the Nation

From December 4-6, 2016, SiX hosted its national legislator conference in Washington, D.C. – bringing together more than 400 state lawmakers from across the nation. The conference was the first major gathering of state legislators, members of Congress, and progressive movement leaders since the 2016 election. Attendees discussed how to advance a positive vision of progressive governance and the vital role that states can play in contrast to what President-elect Trump and a conservative-controlled Congress will attempt to put forward from D.C.

Featured keynote speakers included U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Reverend Dr. William J. Barber II, and Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha.

Following the conference, SiX released a special edition of Six from SiX featuring key highlights throughout the event – including video and audio clips of keynote remarks, SiX’s press conference on the final day of the event, photos, and top media coverage. You can check it out here.

A roundup of press clips generated from the conference is available here.

SiX Welcomes Two New Staff Members: Press Secretary Margaret Ann Morgan and Deputy Director of Strategic Engagement Mandela Barnes

As the SiX staff continues to grow, we are thrilled to announce two new members of the team: Press Secretary Margaret Ann Morgan and Deputy Director of Strategic Engagement Mandela Barnes.

Barnes most recently served in the Wisconsin State Assembly. During his tenure there, he authored legislation to protect voting rights, provide small businesses with tax relief, safeguard children’s health, enhance public safety, encourage responsible gun ownership, and ban employment discrimination – along with a number of other policies. He served on the Committees on Corrections, Education, Jobs & the Economy, and Small Business Development and was also chairman of the legislature’s Black and Latino Caucus. Barnes is active in a number of organizations serving the Milwaukee area and has been recognized by NewDEAL as one of America’s top pro-growth progressive leaders.

Prior to joining SiX, Morgan served as press secretary for Correct The Record, a strategic research and rapid response team designed to defend Hillary Clinton from baseless attacks. There, she placed top surrogates on national networks during the 2016 campaign and assisted with rapid response communication. Morgan moved to Washington, D.C. after her time as a journalist in her home state of Mississippi, where she was the state’s top television reporter at WDAM in Hattiesburg, covering local and state politics and education policy.

Check out this POLITICO write-up on Morgan joining the SiX team.

In Latest Washington Post Column, The Nation Editor Katrina vanden Heuvel Calls on Progressives to Take Fight to States, Highlights SiX’s Work

In her latest column for the Washington Post, Katrina vanden Heuvel – editor and publisher of The Nation – called on progressives to take their fight to the states, with a Trump presidency looming.

“A state-based strategy also represents the best and perhaps only opportunity to advance progressive policy goals in the near term,” vanden Heuvel wrote. “Over the past eight years, conservative lawmakers in Wisconsin, North Carolina, Kansas and elsewhere have demonstrated that state policies can have an outsized impact – for better or worse – regardless of what the federal government does. At the same time, despite gridlock in Congress, states with Democratic legislative majorities have made significant strides on progressive issues including the minimum wage, equal pay and paid sick leave.”

The column also highlighted SiX’s work in the states and included a brief comment from our Executive Director, Nick Rathod, who said: “If you get out of D.C. and actually listen to people, establish policies that respond to local needs, and build narratives around what that means and why it matters, people will understand that government can actually be a force for good, and that progressive policies are more aligned with the needs of working and middle-class families of all races, religions, and cultures.”

Click here to read the full column.

Welcome to SiX’s New Website!

 

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As the State Innovation Exchange’s executive director, I want to be the first to welcome you to SiX’s brand-new website!

Our hope for the redesign of this site is to make it even more useful to the people we work with – the state legislators and staff, policy analysts and advocates, and activists and community members who are working to drive a progressive agenda forward in the states. Whether visitors to our site are looking for the state of play on a particular issue, the status of a specific piece of legislation, or more information about SiX and how they can get involved, we wanted those answers to be easy to find.

We also wanted to create a hub of sorts to browse and learn about what we do, why and how we do it, and the many individuals who make it possible.

With those goals in mind, this site includes many new features and enhancements:

We’re excited to be sharing this new resource with all of you. As always, let us know if you have any questions – and enjoy!

Nick Rathod is the founder and Executive Director of the State Innovation Exchange (SiX).

Some New Faces on the SiX Team

blogimage_octoberWhen three groups merged in late 2014 to form the State Innovation Exchange (SiX), the purpose of this consolidation was clear: we wanted to build an organization that was uniquely positioned to help legislators drive a progressive agenda forward in states across the country. And that's exactly what we are doing. Today, SiX supports a network of more than 1,500 elected officials nationwide who are working to strengthen our democracy, fight for working families, defend civil rights and liberties, and protect the environment.

Over the course of the past 18 months, we’ve had the good fortune of having a team that is incredibly passionate about helping to make an impact on people’s lives – a team that works tirelessly every day to ensure that legislators in all 50 states have the support needed to advance and defend progressive policies on the issues that matter. We have also had incredible support from groups like the Democracy Alliance and many other funders and donors, who understand the importance of our work and our potential for impact in statehouses across the country.

Because of the work of our staff and the support of our funders, we have been able to grow. Over the summer, we opened a new office in Washington, DC – adding to our offices in Denver, CO and Madison, WI. Over the past few months, we have also grown our staff. These exciting new hires include:

Arriana Belkin, Associate Legislative Director: Arriana is a recent graduate of the University of Denver, where she focused on economic and social justice. She has worked at America Votes and New Era Colorado, where she assisted with strategic planning and election work. She also served as a summer coordinator for State Rep. Leslie Herod’s successful campaign.

Vanessa Harmoush, Digital Communications Manager: Vanessa comes to the organization with a background in print, online, and broadcast media. She developed an interest in progressive politics after serving as a constituent outreach and media relations intern for former U.S. Senator Mark Udall. Most recently, Vanessa served as a production intern for the Al Jazeera News Network in Washington, DC.

Karen Moldovan, Associate Legislative Director: Prior to joining the SiX team, Karen led the policy teams of LiveWell Colorado and, before that, the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault. During that time, she developed policy strategies at the municipal, state, and federal level to advance healthy food access, active transportation, and health equity. She also conceptualized and championed numerous legislative efforts regarding the response to sexual violence in Colorado, with a focus on increasing access to critical medical services.

To see our full staff listing and biographies, click here.

We are thrilled to have Arriana, Vanessa, and Karen join the SiX family, as we continue to support the efforts of state legislators championing progressive work in every corner of the country. Thank you, as always, for all that you do.

Nick Rathod is the founder and Executive Director of the State Innovation Exchange (SiX).

SiX Releases 2016 End-of-Session Legislative Report

As we look back at 2016 legislative activity in statehouses across the country, and as partisan gridlock in Washington keeps Congress at a standstill, it’s clear the most important policy fights have shifted to the states. This year, progressives and conservatives continued to battle at the state level over laws that will impact our lives and our communities for years to come – and the contrast could not be clearer.

SiX’s 2016 End-of-Session Report examines some of the best – and worst – state policies from this year’s legislative sessions. It underscores the consequences of conservatives possessing disproportionate power in the states, where the corporate-backed right has quietly invested its resources for years and has the numbers to show for it:

With this pervasive control at the state level, in 2016, conservative legislators continued their full-scale assault on America’s middle class, combined with efforts to roll back progress on everything from criminal justice reform and voting rights to LGBTQ equality and women’s health. At the same time – and as our report details – progressive legislators fought back with bills aimed at ensuring equal pay for women, expanding paid sick leave, increasing the minimum wage, investing in clean energy, and modernizing our election systems.

While it is by no means exhaustive, this report aggregates legislative activity from all 50 states across nine key issue areas. Core highlights can be found below.

Economic Issues 

Progressive Vision: In 2016, progressives fought for a more secure middle class – increasing the minimum wage and state earned income tax credits (EITCs) and passing anti-wage theft legislation. Minimum wage increases became law in California (SB 3) and Oregon (SB 1532). In New York, the governor signed legislation that included a raise to the minimum wage on a gradual basis. And Illinois legislators passed a bill (SB 2931) that would raise the wage of home healthcare workers to $15.

Conservative Agenda: Conservatives continued their attack on working families, with laws making it easier for corporations to lay off workers and keep wages low – all while pushing for even bigger tax breaks for the wealthy few. Legislators in Mississippi, for example, pushed through a bill (SB 2858) cutting income taxes for corporations. At a cost of $575 million, these giveaways further squeeze education funding, when Mississippi has already drastically slashed funding for K-12 schools and higher education. In Kansas, Gov. Sam Brownback and conservative legislators responded to the state’s increasingly high levels of families and children in poverty with a law (H Sub for SB 402) that shortens the time limit for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) for the third time in five years. In addition to hurting those who need this assistance most, it does virtually nothing to ease the state’s massive budget deficit, which is the result of unsupportable tax cuts enacted in 2012 and 2013.

Earned Sick Days and Paid Family and Medical Leave

Progressive Vision: In 2016, New York became the fourth state with a paid family and medical leave law (SB 6406C – see Page 90, Part SS) on the books. It provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave – double the six weeks allowed in California and New Jersey and triple the four weeks allowed in Rhode Island. Vermont became the fifth state to codify paid sick days into law, joining California, ConnecticutMassachusetts, and Oregon.

Conservative Agenda: Legislation providing earned sick days was defeated by conservatives in 19 states.

Equal Pay 

Progressive Vision: In 2016, progressives in 29 states introduced bills to close the gender pay gap. Four saw equal pay bills actually signed into law: Delaware (HB 314), Maryland (SB 481/HB 1003), Nebraska (LB 83), and Utah (SB 185). Additionally, comprehensive pay equity legislation (SB 2107) is still active in Massachusetts.

Conservative Agenda: Conservatives blocked the majority of equal pay bills introduced this year. Notably, in New Jersey, legislation (SB 992/A2750) passed both chambers with progressive support, but it was vetoed by Gov. Chris Christie. And in Oklahoma, legislators made unprecedented progress in advancing an equal pay bill (HB 2929), but it was ultimately denied a final vote before the session ended.

Voting and Elections

Progressive VisionVermont (HB 458) and West Virginia (HB 4013) became the third and fourth states to enact automatic voter registration (AVR), which eliminates major barriers to voting. As of the release of this report, AVR legislation in Illinois (SB 250) had passed both chambers, and a ballot initiative in Alaska had secured enough support to be decided by voters in November. If both were to become law, nearly one-fifth of the country’s population would live in states where voter registration was automatic.

Conservative Agenda: In 2016, conservatives proposed, passed, or carried over at least 70 restrictive voting laws in 28 states – which included pushing new photo ID requirements, cutting back on early voting, and trying to eliminate same-day registration.

Reproductive Rights

Progressive Vision: In 2016, progressives continued to push for expanded birth control coverage and increased access to contraception. Legislators in Colorado restored funding to a program that provides access to long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) for low-income and uninsured women; this program reduced teen pregnancy and abortions by 48% between 2009 and 2014. In Vermont, the governor signed a bill (HB 620) that substantially expands access to birth control by requiring that health insurance plans provide contraception at no cost, in addition to increasing LARC coverage. Under legislation (SB 848/HB 1005) signed into law in Maryland, insurers are now required to cover contraception to the same extent that they cover other medication. And in Hawaii, a new law (SB 2319) requires insurers to cover 12 months of contraception rather than monthly or periodic coverage.

Conservative Agenda: As part of an ongoing assault on reproductive rights at the state level, conservatives tried to pass hundreds of restrictions this year that would eliminate access to safe and legal abortions and threaten women’s health. The last five years alone account for a quarter of all abortion restrictions enacted since Roe v. Wade.

Education

Progressive Vision: In addition to taking a new and holistic approach to education – one that recognizes the importance of communities as stakeholders and puts local educators and parents at the heart of the decision-making process – progressive legislators fought throughout 2016 to reduce the burden of student loan debt. This effort included bills advancing in Maryland (HB 1079), Rhode Island (SB 2453), and Michigan (HB 5583HB 5584HB 5585).

Conservative Agenda: Conservatives slashed K-12 and higher education budgets in IllinoisKentuckyArizona, TennesseeMississippi, Wyoming, and Kansas, among other states. They also expanded the scope and funding of charter, voucher, and other school privatization strategies in ten states: Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Washington, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Arizona.

Climate Change

Progressive Vision: In addition to 20 states moving forward with clean energy policies that will meet the target carbon pollution reduction goals set in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan, progressive legislators are advancing bills to expand the use of renewable energy. In Maryland, the governor signed legislation (SB 323) that expanded greenhouse gas reduction goals in the state.

Conservative Agenda: Conservative legislators – backed by the oil, gas, and fossil fuel industries – have been passing legislation to block or delay implementation of the Clean Power Plan (CPP) in states like ArizonaOhioSouth DakotaWest Virginia, and Wyoming. Conservatives are also working in the states to repeal or weaken renewable portfolio standards and to attach fees to net metering.

Other Issue Highlights

Conservative Preemption of Local Control: A dangerous trend in the states this year was the issue of preempting local control, as conservatives in state capitols went to great lengths to block localities from making their own policy decisions. This hypocritical effort is in direct opposition to the supposed conservative principles of local control and resistance to so-called “big government.” Conservatives have successfully preempted local laws on issues like wages and benefits – in Alabama, for example, the governor signed a bill (HB 174) that preempts all local laws dealing with collective bargaining, increasing wages, and allowing for leave or other employment benefits. Idaho approved a law (HB 463) banning localities from increasing wages, while Arizona legislators passed two separate bills stifling local control of benefits (HB 2579) and work schedules (HB 2191). Arizona conservatives even took the additional step of pushing through legislation (SB 1487) that strips localities of state-shared revenue for not complying.

LGBTQ Equality: Even though the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June 2015 extended marriage equality to all 50 states, fully inclusive non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people still do not exist in the majority of these states. This year, progressive legislators fought to close that gap and prevent continued discrimination against the LGBTQ community – introducing more than 60 pro-equality bills in more than 20 states. Meanwhile, conservative legislators introduced more than 150 anti-LGBTQ bills in more than 30 states. Perhaps the most controversial example was North Carolina’s anti-transgender “bathroom law” (HB 2), which has sparked nationwide outcry.

Immigration: In 2016, progressive legislators in several states across the country worked to advance bills aimed at protecting immigrant residents, keeping families united, and expanding access to government services, education, and job opportunities. Conservatives, on the other hand, introduced dozens of anti-refugee bills in states like South Carolina (SB 997), Tennessee (SJR 467), and Arizona (HB 2370). They also pushed legislation in more than 20 states attacking so-called “sanctuary cities,” which aim to protect the rights of all of their residents and keep families from being torn apart. These bills would force local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration agencies, while also encouraging racial profiling and further alienating immigrant communities from local law enforcement and government agencies.