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EMILY’s List
Maggie Hassan Wins New Hampshire!
Of the 50 US Governors, only 6 are female, two Democrats and four Republicans. When both Bev Purdue (North Carolina) and Christine Gregoire (Washington) retire at the end of their term this year, they’ll leave only one, newly elected female Democratic Governor, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire.America Votes in conjunction with state and national partners worked tirelessly to elect Ms.Hassan to the Governor’s office as a part of a program to elect progressives across the state.
New Research on Female Political Candidates
Our friends at the The Barbara Lee Family Foundation have just published new research showing gains for women candidates in campaigns for executive office and pinpoints key areas for women to master. The research shows that in 2010:• Women candidates ran on a more level playing field;• Voters prioritized more gender-neutral traits than in past years;• Women candidates showed some distinct advantages over men;• Younger women are no longer a reliable voting bloc.
Turning Point: The Changing Landscape for Women Candidates is the latest addition to their landmark Governors Guidebook Series, Turning Point is designed to be accessible and relevant to citizens, students, campaign consultants, and candidates at all levels and across parties.
Abortion Legislation and Lawmaker's Commentary
When Kansas state Representative Pete DeGraaf made comments about his recently-passed law requiring women to hold a separate insurance policy for abortions in case they ever are raped as appropriate measures to "plan ahead," women were not as angered as CNN Opinion writer LZ Granderson felt they should be. The fact is that there have been other similar comments made by lawmakers trivializing rape and the effects it can have on women and there has not been enough pushback against these comments.
Not only is Representative DeGraaf comparing his new policy toward abortion to holding life insurance or carrying a spare tire, but Idaho State Representative Brent Crane went as far as to say that rape, "is the hand of the Almighty at work." Furthermore, Tea Party member Sharron Angle of Nevada said that women who become pregnant through rape or incest and don't have an abortion are taking a "lemon situation and making lemonade."
People with these views are shaping policy regarding everyday women's rights and only those women can make the moves toward preventing these policies by not voting for candidates who play down issues such as rape. It is all a matter of increased awareness and participation so we don't have to hear any more silly clichés or metaphors made about serious issues that women, no matter what their political affiliation, should care about.
Women in Politics
Did you know that women hold less than 20% of House and Senate seats and less than 25% of seats in state legislatures? In a recent blog on the Huffington Post's website, Yashar Ali discusses the lack of women in public office and political campaign work, which he blames on the men running the campaigns.
Ali notes that it is hard for women to be motivated to run for office when it is always men running the campaigns. The downward trend of women's involvement needs to be fixed, as America is ranked 92nd in women's parliamentary involvement out of 181 countries for which data was provided.
The issue of women in positions of power was addressed this morning further on Morning Joe on MSNBC. Host Mika Brzezinski has recently published a book entitled "Knowing Your Value," and discussed the differences between women and men in the workplace that may lead to the issues Ali talked about in his blog. Brzezinski and her Morning Joe counterparts brought up some points that women often wait to be noticed while men more typically assume they have the right to lead. Watch more of the discussion.
Senate Republicans Still Stalling
The "Lame Duck" session of Congress is underway this week, and just as they have throughout the 111th Congress, Senate conservatives are still using the filibuster to keep important pieces of legislation from moving forward.
Rebecca Lefton reports for Think Progress that today the Senate voted 58-41 against allowing debate on the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would strengthen the Equal Pay Act and help end discriminatory pay practices against women. The bill had already passed the House and would have surely been sent to the President's desk had it received 2 extra votes.
Every Republican (except Lisa Murkowski, who was not present) as well as Ben Nelson (D-FL) voted against cloture, including Maine Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins. Both Collins and Snowe voted for the Lilly Ledbetter Pay Act at the beginning of the term, helping to remove barriers for workers seeking compensation for discriminatory pay practices.
According to the National Women's Law Center, even after the passage of the landmark Equal Pay Act, women still earn $0.77 for $1 men make, translating into $10,000 in lost wages per worker per year. Furthermore, mothers are the primary or co-primary breadwinners of 2/3 of American families.
Another important piece of legislation pending in the lame duck session is the extension of unemployment benefits. But Arthur Delaney reports for the Huffington Post that Democrats have not scheduled a vote on an extension because they don't believe they have the necessary votes to overcome the filibuster.
Jobless benefits are set to expire at the end of the month, putting 2 million people in jeopardy with the holiday season fast-approaching. Republicans have consistently opposed extensions, arguing that they add to the deficit. Reauthorization of benefits for a full year would cost at most $65 billion.
However, Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island argues that the same people who oppose extensions for the unemployed because of deficit concerns have no problem supporting an extension of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.
On the one hand they want to provide $700 billion in tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans but not pay for them. And on the other hand they're demanding that UI benefits for the middle class be paid for. That's a little like someone on a diet who orders a Diet Coke and a Big Mac simultaneously.
Not surprisingly, one union has jumped into the action as well. Visitors to the AFL-CIO's homepage are greeted with a clock counting down until benefits expire.
UPDATE: The White House released a statement condemning a minority of the Senate from preventing debate on the Paycheck Fairness Act. It highlights that it not only helps families ensure they aren't bringing home smaller paychecks than they deserve, but also businesses that are at a disadvantage for not using such discriminatory practices.
UPDATE: Pro-Choice women's group EMILYs List published a blog post yesterday calling on the Senate to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act. Read it here.
EMILY's List Takes on 'Boehner's Boys'
Amanda Terkel reports in the Huffington Post that EMILY's List, the progressive pro-choice organization dedicated to electing women to office, is starting a new campaign targeting John Boehner's 'Boehner's Boys'.
Using twitter and a campaign website, the Boehner's Boys campaign is targeting candidates who are opposed to pro-choice measures, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to prevent wage discrimination and health care reform.
The organization, an America Votes partner, ran a similar campaign against Sarah Palin's "mama grizzlies," the 49 candidates Palin endorsed in the midterm election, launching a web site and an ad against her in the weeks leading up to the election.
EMILY's List president, Stephanie Schriock said, "The GOP may be pleased as punch about their new 'Boy's Club' leadership team, but Boehner's good ol' boys are up to no good when it comes to representing women,". "For those of us who care about equal representation, it's just a sad throw-back to a time we thought we'd left behind. We need leadership that gives voice to everyone; and so today EMILY's List re-launches Boehner's America to tell John Boehner and his cronies not to turn back the clock for America's women. Like ashtrays in offices, some retro ideas should stay in the past."
AV Partners in the News
According to Politico, EMILYs List is working to turn out women voters in support of female incumbents across the nation.
A few America Votes partners have been in the news over the last 24 hours.
Alexander Burns writes for Politico about how EMILYs List is targeting female "surge" voters this cycle, especially in districts represented by their endorsed incumbents. According to a recent poll commissioned by EMILYs List, health care and abortion rights remain very important to these surge voters, and the pro-choice group is seizing on these issues in their GOTV efforts. Such GOTV efforts have already proven successful, as evidenced by Team EMILY! - a grassroots initiative that helped power EMILYs List endorsed candidate Ann McLane Custer to a 40 point win in the Democratic primary for NH-2.
At the Daily Kos, Mark Sumner interviewed Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune about the future of the environmental movement over the next few years. Brune discusses a path to reduced dependency on coal and oil (even if Republicans make gains this year), mountaintop removal mining, auto fuel efficiency and much more.
Last but not least, the Minnesota AFL-CIO held its state convention and a key focus was rallying attendees to support DFL candidates, especially gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton. Sen. Al Franken also urged labor to vote this November, and Tarryl Clark, the DFL candidate opposing Rep. Michelle Bachmann received a standing ovation. The convention was perhaps best summarized by AFL-CIO national secretary-treasurer who urged attendees to "roll up your sleeves"
New Hampshire & Wisconsin Primary Round-Up
Seven states plus the District of Columbia held primaries yesterday, including two AV states.
In New Hampshire, the big news was that establishment pick Kelly Ayotte survived a late challenge from Tea Party favorite Ovide Lamontagne to win the Senate GOP nomination. The race was incredibly close as Ayotte won by less than 2,000 votes out of more than 136,000 votes cast. She will face Rep. Paul Hodes in what many consider a toss-up election to suceed retiring Sen. Judd Gregg (R).
Staying in New Hampshire, the other big result for Democrats came in the 2nd Congressional District. Ann McLane Kuster, who had the backing of several high profile progressive organizations defeated Katrina Swett, former co-chair to Sen. Lieberman's 2004 Presidential bid. Kuster, who as we highlighted yesterday had the support of EMILY's List, the League of Conservation Voters, and other leading progressive groups, was leading Swett 65%-34% with many of New Hampshire's larger precints already reported when Swett conceded the race. Kuster will face former Rep. Charlie Bass in the general election. Bass claimed victory in defeating Jennifer Horn in a hard fought GOP primary.
Other notable New Hampshire results include Frank Guinta winning the GOP primary in the 1st Congressional District, advancing to face incumbent Carol Shea-Porter, and incumbent Democratic Governor John Lynch will seek re-election against Republican John Stephen.
Meanwhile in Wisconsin, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett cruised to the Democratic nomination while Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker easily defeated ex-Rep. Mark Neumann. In addition, Russ Johnson won the GOP Senate primary and will face Russ Feingold in the general election. He became the frontrunner almost immediately
Primary Day in New Hampshire & Wisconsin
New Hampshire and Wisconsin mark the last two America Votes states to hold their primaries, and each have exciting races to watch.
The main storyline in New Hampshire has focused on the GOP Senate Race. In recent weeks, Tea Party candidate Ovide Lamontagne has surged to challenge establishment and Sarah Palin-backed Kelly Ayotte, long considered the front runner and presumptive nominee. Polls conducted in the last week by PPP and Magellan have seen Lamontagne close the gap to seven points and four points, respectively. The winner of the primary will face outgoing Rep. Paul Hodes in what promises to be one of the most competitive Senate contests this November. But as John Distaso writes for the New Hampshire Union-Leader, while the Senate race may be the big story in the Granite State, it's just one out of four competitive GOP primaries taking place today.
While it's mostly Republican races that are drawing headlines, Democrats remain keenly interested in their outcomes. Along with the New Hampshire Senate contest, the GOP Senate contest in Delaware presents Republicans with a choice between an establishment candidate and a Tea Party candidate. Like Lamontagne, Christy O'Donnell has surged late in a challenge to Rep. Mike Castle in the First State. O'Donnell has drawn support in recent weeks from the Tea Party Express as well as Palin and Sen. Jim DeMint, who view Castle as too moderate. In both New Hampshire and Delaware, many Democrats are rooting for an upset of Ayotte and Castle, who they view as less radical and more electable. With Lamontagne and O'Donnell on the ballot, Democrats believe they have a better chance to win two crucial Senate seats. As DSCC chair Sen. Robert Menendez explains to the New York Times, "In a year where Republicans want these races to be all about Democrats, Republican nominees who have extreme positions help us make the contrasts we need to make."
While the Democratic side of the ballot may be quieter, the race to succeed Rep. Hodes in New Hampshire's 2nd Congressional District also promises to be very close. The Democratic primary pits Katrina Swett, the daughter of wife of former Reps. Tom Lantos and Dick Swett, against attorney Ann McLane Kuster. The race drew the attention of Politico reporter Alex Isenstadt as one of three races where progressive candidates have the opportunity to make hay. Isenstadt writes that Kuster has received support from a broad range of progressive groups including AV partners EMILY's List and the League of Conservation Voters.
Finally in Wisconsin, Jason Stein for the Milwaukee Sentinel-Journal reports that state officials are expecting a record-high turnout for today's primary. Leading the way is the GOP gubernatorial primary between Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and former Rep. Mark Neumann, with the winner advancing to face Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Also of note is the GOP Senate primary in which three Republicans, led by plastic manufacturer Ron Johnson, are vying to take on Sen. Russ Feingold in the general election.
AV News Round-Up: Tuesday, September 7, 2010
56 Days Til Election DayNot just jobs but good jobs and safe jobsRichard Trumka for Oregon Statesman-JournalAFSCME hits GOP over state aidBen Smith for Politico'They talk about me like a dog'Jonathan Martin for PoliticoGovernor's race: Rivals sharply divided on social issuesSteve Terrell for Santa Fe New MexicanIn an effort to get into the House, Ohio politicians are knocking on doorsAaron Marshall for The Cleveland Plain-Dealer
Not just jobs but good jobs and safe jobs
Richard Trumka for Oregon Statesman-Journal
Americans are worried about finding and keeping jobs
Many are desperate for any job at all in the worst recession since the Great Depression. Fifteen million people who want to work are stuck in unemployment lines. Just about as many are working part-time when they want to be working full time or have given up looking. It can be tempting to overlook dangerous workplaces and say now is not the time to prioritize workers' safety.
But disasters at the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia, the Tesoro refinery in Washington, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf and other workplaces tell us otherwise. There is never a right time for substandard and unsafe workplaces. Now, when economic conditions and our corporate culture give rise to corner-cutting, is exactly the time to safeguard working people on the job.
Every day, 14 workers die on the job, never to return home. Another 2700 workers are seriously injured every day. Additionally, in 2008, an estimated 137 workers died each day from occupational diseases like asbestosis, cancer and black lung.
These chilling statistics are a stark reminder that job creation alone is not enough. We cannot allow lowest-common-denominator jobs-unsafe, low-pay, no-benefit jobs-to be the norm.
AFSCME hits GOP over state aid
Ben Smith for Politico
At a moment when Republicans across the country are casting public workers and their unions as an increasingly dire threat to fiscal health, public labor giant AFSCME is set to announce a $1.5 million television, radio and Web campaign boosting Democrats and attacking Republicans in four battleground states: Michigan, Nevada, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
"We are going to do everything we can to make sure voters understand who worked to save our struggling economy and who chose to play politics with our lives and jobs," AFSCME President Gerald McEntee said in release announcing the ads. "We will support those who stood with us. The choice in this election is too important for anyone to sit on the sidelines."
The television spot aims most pointedly to reward Democrats - and punish Republicans - for their votes on an August jobs bill that included cash to help states avoid budget cuts that would have put teachers' jobs and Medicaid funding on the chopping block.
'They talk about me like a dog'
Jonathan Martin for Politico
Two years after appearing here on Labor Day to kick off the final stretch of his historic campaign, President Obama returned Monday to speak to union members, in a starkly different political environment.
The Democrats, on the ascent at Obama's 2008 "Laborfest" visit, are now unmistakably a party on defense.
The president touched on his historic accomplishments - healthcare reform and new financial regulations - but spent more time discussing a new infrastructure plan and warning what Republican victory would mean.
By rolling out a $50 billion transportation proposal two months before the mid-term elections and twice mentioning statements from "the Republican who thinks he's going to take over as Speaker," Obama testified to the straits Democrats now find themselves in: They urgently need to convince voters that they're working to bolster the still-wobbly economy - and find a reason to give the electorate pause about voting for the GOP to register their anger about the status quo.
Governor's race: Rivals sharply divided on social issues
Steve Terrell for Santa Fe New Mexican
Although the issues in the gubernatorial race mainly have centered on the economy, corruption, education, the environment and crime, there are a number of social issues that set Diane Denish and Susana Martinez apart.
These are issues such as abortion, gay rights and medical marijuana. Few would argue that these are anywhere near as important as problems like unemployment or failing schools. And yet, these are the issues that generate heat and inflame the passions.
In general, like the parties they represent, Republican Martinez, who is the district attorney of Doña Ana County, tends to fall on the socially conservative side, while Denish, the Democratic candidate, is more on the progressive side. In the three areas looked at here, the two find little, if any agreement.
In an effort to get into the House, Ohio politicians are knocking on doors
Aaron Marshall for The Cleveland Plain-Dealer
Forget the TV ads made by high-priced consultants. Skip the town hall meetings and the endless parades. Toss the mail pieces and stick the yard signs in the trash. And, please, log off of Facebook and Twitter.
For those who want to serve as one of the 99 members of the Ohio House of Representatives, the old ritual by which actual candidates meet actual voters at their doorsteps is still the best route to a November win.
Call it the last bastion of retail politics on the Statehouse level, but the door-to-door campaign is alive and knocking, particularly in pocket-sized House districts where 20,000 votes could put you in office. Both parties hope their candidates hit upwards of 1 million doors total across the state before Election Day.