[Platform] BALLOT INITIATIVES UPDATE. Consider putting them to work in your community! Join the ABWG.

[Gracegrnrnbw at aol.com]

Jill & everyone - I want to make it clear that I appreciate the huge amount 
of information that, Jill, you sent out - somenoe told me that my saying 
"thanks" at the end of an email is not always read as an actual "thank you" - I 
don't pick my words that lightly - thanks really means thanks!

Thanks! Grace
In a message dated 3/31/08 3:40:22 PM, Gracegrnrnbw writes:


> Jill - what vetting process are you suggesting for the Platform committee 
> to use?  And can someone give me a sense of how this fits with SPWG's 
> findings?
> 
> How will this be coordinated with strategy about which legislative districts 
> to target for which question? 
> 
> In addition, I don't think anyone has been in touch with the three locals in 
> the center of the state - How was it decided which locals to include and 
> which ones not to so far?
> 
> Thanks, Grace
> In a message dated 3/31/08 2:01:14 PM, jstein at massmed.org writes:
> 
> 
> 
> Dear Platform, CDLC, Locals, GRPers et al,
> 
> This is to update folks on the status of the local ballot question
> initiatives, which State Com voted to explore at the last meeting. The
> proposal suggested considering what ballot questions would have a base
> of support that would make them successful and enhance our presence in
> existing issue-oriented networks. Several volunteers, partly based in
> subcommittees of Platform, have been exploring this and have reported
> exciting progress on four possible initiatives, some of which is
> described below. The proposed initiatives thus far (that I'm aware of)
> are: Secure Green Future (Green Jobs and Fossil Fuel Phase-Out), Health
> Care, Housing Foreclosures, IRV. (Note, you'll have to scroll to the
> bottom of the discussion below to get to the health care proposal.)
> 
> Platform is also asked in the State Com ballot initiative proposal to
> establish an Advisory Ballot Working Group, (ABWG). We encourage anyone
> who is, or would like to commit to working on ballot initiatives, to
> consider volunteering for the ABWG. Members of locals who are interested
> in using one or more initiatives to do issue-based organizing in their
> communities are especially encouraged to join. One of ABWG's tasks is to
> consider how many such initiatives can be supported by the Party, what
> resources are available to do so, and what districts would be most
> productive to target.
> 
> We'll consider where the various initiatives stand at our next full
> platform phone meeting, (TBA). If you are interested in participating in
> the ABWG, please let me know and we'll keep you posted on upcoming
> meetings.
> 
> Thx.
> jill
> 
> UPDATE ON 4 DRAFT INITIATIVES CURRENTLY BEING WORKED ON:
> 
> I. IRV - Being explored by Dave England and Eli Beckerman. Potential to
> work jointly/co-sponsor with the World Citizens Party which is also
> committed to advancing IRV and other likely partners.  Here is rough
> draft language for the IRV question. There is an open question at this
> point on which offices to include:
> 
> Shall the Representative from this district be instructed to vote in
> favor of legislation or a Constitutional amendment establishing a system
> of ranked choice voting (also know as instant runoff voting) for all
> general and primary elections to statewide, state district, or federal
> office (including the United States President, Senate, and House of
> Representatives, the Governor, Treasurer, Auditor, Attorney General, and
> Secretary of the Commonwealth, as well as State Senator, State
> Representative, and Governor's Council).
> 
> 
> II. HOUSING FORECLOSURES - Spear-headed by Merelice along with members
> of the Rainbow Caucus and MAAPL (Chuck, Gary, Grace, Eva etc.).
> Legislative language is in the process of being adapted to ballot
> question format.
> 
> III. SECURE GREEN FUTURE (Green Jobs/Fossil Fuel Phase-Out) - Platform
> fossil fuel subcommittee (chaired by John Andrews) is coordinating.
> Getting extensive input on draft language from advocacy groups,
> especially State Com members fighting the coal plant expansion in Fall
> River (Nancy Lee Wood, Dave Dion, Joe Carvalho). Latest draft language:
> 
> DRAFT
> Secure Green Future
> 2008 Local Ballot Question
> Summary
> 
> Shall the representative from this district be instructed to vote in
> favor of legislation that:
> 
> 1) redirects taxpayer subsidies for fossil fuel energy, road and airport
> construction, and other carbon-intensive development, to an urgent
> carbon-reducing community-based green-jobs initiative, creating jobs in
> energy conservation and efficiency, non-nuclear local clean energy
> generation, recycling, and local sustainable food production; and
> 
> 2) phases out existing fossil fuel based power generation facilities in
> Massachusetts, beginning with the closure of coal-fed power plants, with
> a goal of 80% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020?
> 
> ****************************************
> Long Version
> 
> Shall the representative from this district be instructed to vote in
> favor of legislation to create a secure green future for the people of
> Massachusetts, such legislation to include:
> 
> 1) An EMERGENCY MOBILIZATION to address the severe triple-threat of job
> losses, sky-rocketing fossil fuel and food costs, and climate crisis
> with a green jobs initiative and a green energy transition plan, as
> described below, with a goal of ensuring full-employment and an 80%
> reduction in CO2 emissions by as early as 2020;
> 
> 2) A GREEN JOBS INITIATIVE redirecting taxpayer subsidies for fossil
> fuel energy production, over-development and corporate welfare
> (including subsidies for gambling casinos, dog-tracks, high-end housing,
> weapons manufacturing, road and airport construction and expansion and
> pharmaceutical companies) to the urgent development of energy-efficient
> local businesses and cooperatives that provide jobs which protect the
> environment and create a secure green economy, increasing jobs in
> 
> --local energy-conserving businesses (including home and business
> insulation, energy efficiency, and recycling)
> 
> --local renewable, clean, energy sources, (including wind, solar,
> geothermal and wave energy, but excluding nuclear, LNG and all other
> fossil fuel-based technologies), and
> 
> --local sustainable food production (including CSAs [Community Supported
> Agriculture], community gardens, food cooperatives, school and workplace
> gardens), and
> 
> --green community education to assist citizens of the Commonwealth in
> actualizing personal, household, neighborhood and community changes
> toward a sustainable future through public media campaigns, educational
> extension services and citizen information-sharing networks. 
> 
> 3) A GREEN ENERGY TRANSITION PLAN for phased closure of existing fossil
> fuel based power generation facilities in the Commonwealth of
> Massachusetts, beginning with the closure of coal-fed power plants, in
> order to achieve the 80% CO2 reduction by 2020.
> 
> 
> 
> IV. HEALTH CARE EMERGENCY BALLOT INITIATIVE - The language and content
> are still very much in flux. Members of several health care advocacy
> groups promoting single payer and fighting the mandate, are providing
> input and strategic advice, including MassCare and the
> Franklin/Hampshire Health Care Committee and an informal group of
> mandate opponents. Two prototype proposals being considered follow.
> 
> FIRST PROTOTYPE HC EMERGENCY BALLOT INITIATIVE
> 
> DRAFT 3/17
> 
> Ballot Initiative: An Emergency Plan For A Healthy Massachusetts
> 
> Possible Summary for the ballot
> Shall the representative from this district be instructed to vote in
> favor of a Healthy Massachusetts Plan consisting of :
> 1)      the URGENT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MASS. HEALTH CARE TRUST (MHCT)
> - a streamlined Medicare-like "single-payer" insurance system that
> provides comprehensive affordable health care for all without the costly
> overhead, bureaucracy, care gaps and inequities of the current system of
> private insurance - and
> 2)      the simultaneous PHASE-OUT OF THE MASS. HEALTH MANDATE (CHAPTER
> 58), a health plan with unsustainable sky-rocketing costs and an unjust
> mandate that forces working and middle-income families to pay
> unaffordable premiums for stripped-down coverage which does not protect
> health or financial security. 
> 
> Full Text
> Shall the representative from this district be instructed to vote in
> favor of the emergency passage of the Healthy Massachusetts Plan
> consisting of:
> 
> --The URGENT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MASS. HEALTH CARE TRUST (MHCT) - a
> streamlined Medicare-like "single-payer" insurance system that provides
> comprehensive affordable health care for all without the costly
> overhead, bureaucracy, care gaps and inequities of the current system of
> private insurance. The MHCT eliminates wasteful administrative expense
> and consolidates health care costs into one tax-based charge
> proportional to income. [accurate?] The plan controls cost inflation,
> ensures comprehensive coverage, and extends insurance to all without
> increasing current costs, as demonstrated in the actual performance of
> such systems in developed countries around the world, and affirmed by
> analyses of the Congressional Budget Office, the US General Accounting
> Office, and others.
> 
> --The simultaneous PHASE-OUT OF THE MASS. HEALTH MANDATE (CHAPTER 58), a
> health plan with unsustainable sky-rocketing costs, including
> multimillion dollar CEO pay. It is predicted to bring a $400 million
> overrun next year alone. Chapter 58 also includes an unjust mandate that
> forces working and middle-income families to pay unaffordable premiums
> for stripped-down coverage that fails to provide protection for health
> or financial security. Under the proposed "Emergency Plan For A Healthy
> Massachusetts", this complex, costly and inadequate plan will be phased
> out as comprehensive, universal insurance becomes operational under the
> Mass. Health Care Trust.
> 
> 
> SECOND PROTOTYPE BALLOT HC EMERGENCY BALLOT INITIATIVE
> >From Ben Day, MassCare. An abbreviated version of this (appropriate for
> appearing on the ballot) is under development.
> 
> "WHEREAS access to health care should be a right for all residents of
> Massachusetts and should be provided as a public good by the
> Commonwealth Massachusetts; and
> 
> WHEREAS health care sold as a commodity leads to unaffordable health
> care costs and high levels of discrimination in access to care based on
> one's place of residence, income, race, gender, age, and other social
> identities; and
> 
> WHEREAS it is unfair to penalize the uninsured for the failings of the
> current health care system, or to tie the health care crisis to the
> responsibility of individuals;
> 
> WE INSTRUCT THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS DISTRICT to support the
> implementation of a single payer health care system for Massachusetts,
> and to repeal individual mandates for Massachusetts residents."
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
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> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> **************
> Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL Home.
> (http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15&
> ncid=aolhom00030000000001)
> 




**************
Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL 
Home.
      (http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15&
ncid=aolhom00030000000001)