In Ohio, voters were determining the future of collective bargaining rights for hundreds of thousands of public employees. In Mississippi, voters were facing a so-called “Personhood” Amendment that would have declared that life begins at conception.
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Last night President Barack Obama went before Congress and introduced a bill that will get Americans back to work doing the jobs that we need to grow our economy. His bill, the American Jobs Act, is not only big enough to tackle our problems but small enough that it will also be paid for. It is realistic for the needs we have as a people but also bipartisan enough that it should be passed and should be passed NOW!
1. Tax cuts to small businesses who either give raises or hire new people.
2. Fix 35,000 American schools
3. Fund badly needed transportation projects, including the dozens of bridges right here in Maryland that are in need of repair.
4. Rehabbing homes in hard hit foreclosure areas such as Baltimore City and Prince George’s County, two of the hardest hit in America.
5. Put thousands of teachers back to work in our classrooms teaching our children to win the future. As South Korea rushes to hire new teachers we are rushing to lay ours off.
6. Give tax credits to companies that hire veterans who have risked their lives overseas but come home to only have to now fight for a job.
7. Provide hundreds of thousands of summer jobs to young people while at the same time reducing crime rates in our inner cities. The best crime prevention plan is always a jobs plan.
8. A $4,000 tax credit to companies who hire people who have been unemployed for 6 months to get long term unemployed people back to work.
While this is a very big bill there are two things the President made clear tonight…there will be NO EAR MARKS and the bill WILL BE PAID FOR. This bill is what America needs but it won’t happen unless we stand with the President and demand that congress #PASSTHISBILL.
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Yesterday supporters of a comprehensive immigration policy that is both tough and humane received two important announcements. As Congress continues to be locked in bitter partisan gridlock that prevents the entire nation from moving forward to fully reform our immigration laws, states like Maryland and local communities like Montgomery County are doing the right thing by allowing young people brought to this country by no fault of their own to continue to achieve their dreams. This is why the Young Democrats of Maryland were proud to support the Maryland DREAM Act and look forward to defending it on the ballot next fall. It is also why we applaud yesterday’s decision by the Circuit Court of Montgomery to dismiss a suit brought by out-of-state interest group Judicial Watch to bring down the progressive in-state-tuition program at Montgomery College.
In bringing their lawsuit Judicial Watch claimed that the long-standing program cost the county and taxpayers, but that was contradicted by an independent study that said instead of imposing additional taxes on Montgomery County residents, the policy actually saved the county money.
We also applaud President Barack Obama on his announcement yesterday that his administration would use “prosecutorial discretion” on the more than 300,000 open cases of deportation and categorize them from low to high priority. His decision to have those identified as low priority cases dropped represents the realistic approach to leadership on this issue we need. By taking this step undocumented immigrants who have no criminal backgrounds will be able to continue seeking to become documented.
As the president announced this decision yesterday, his administration noted that this is the first in a series of actions they plan to take in search for a more comprehensive policy around immigration. The target group of people who will make up the low priority cases are those who have no criminal history and instead are students, veterans who have served their country and spouses of those who are serving now.
These steps taken by the Obama administration have to only be the start of a larger conversation around immigration that we, the Young Democrats of Maryland, feel is suited for the floors of both the House of Representatives and Senate.
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At noon today the House of Representatives adjourned for the weekend without getting their work done. By six o’clock today Republican Speaker John Beohner had walked away from serious talks to not only lift the debt ceiling of the United States but take serious cuts to our long-term deficit that have been ignored by both Democrats and Republicans for decades.
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I’d like you to join me, Maryland Minority Caucus Chairwoman Sugar Stallings, and many more for the unveiling of a very important conference call with the United States Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis next week.
Secretary Solis will release her department's report, The African American Labor Force in the Recovery, which will highlight both the struggles and successes about people of color during the current economic slowdown on Thursday, July 7th at 1:30PM.It will help frame the debate about just how people of color are surviving in this economy and where we should go from here.
To RSVP for the call-in phone number visit http://s.dol.gov/GF.
Sincerely,
Joseph Lynn Kitchen Jr.
Executive Vice-President
Young Democrats of Maryland
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In 2005 a close friend of mine told me the news he had been infected with the HIV virus. I remember hearing the news in my car one night outside his home and not knowing what to do. Six days later I decided to take control of my own life and get tested because if it could infect him, I knew it could infect me as well. Since then every six months I have regularly been tested for HIV/AIDS and often use days like today, National HIV testing day, as the best time to get tested.
National HIV testing day was created by the National Association of People With AIDS in 1995 in response to the steady growth of the disease in marginalized communities. NAPWA noticed at the time that the spread was reaching epidemic stages, especially in communities of color and men, as well as middle class areas where according to NAPWA their response often was, “it doesn’t’ happen here.” NAPWA understood that everyone needed to know their status if they were truly going to take control of their lives and to know people needed to take the test at least once a year.
Today at community health centers all over the region people will be able to walk in unannounced and get tested. In Prince George’s County where I live residents can simply go to Cheverly location of the Prince George’s County Health Department. To find a location near you visit http://www.hivtest.org/.
Joseph
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On September 22, 1862 President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation and announced it would be effective on January 1, 1863. Since most slaves lived in states still controlled by the confederation it had little impact on the lives of most slaves until June 18th and June 19th of 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger marched 2,000 federal troops into Galveston, Texas and took possession of the state enforcing the emancipation. On June 19th the general stood from the balcony of the city’s Ashton Villa and read the contents of “General Order No. 3.”
Today and tomorrow throughout much of Maryland and the entire country, hundreds of thousands of American’s will celebrate this day which began the process of changing our country and moving it toward a more just and free society. Today, 146 years later, more African-Americans and people of color are graduating from colleges of higher education than ever before. The number of people of color serving their communities at the local, state, and even federal levels are unmatched than at any time in our history. It is easy to look at the today in relationship to our country from that day and not realize that the progress we’ve made must not be the end but is only the very beginning of the society we all hope to create.
The Young Democrats of Maryland today are honored to celebrate this annual tradition and use it as an opportunity to reinforce our commitment to a more just society of economic empowerment, educational opportunity, equality for all, and the very American goal of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
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“With the death of Osama bin Laden, our nation’s ten year search for justice has come to a close. Tonight marks a victory for all those around the world who are committed to peace and security. The Young Democrats of America are grateful to the U.S. military, the global intelligence community and President Obama for their resolve.
“Our generation was profoundly impacted by the tragic events of September 11, 2001, and on this night, our thoughts and prayers are once again extended to the victims and their families. The death of Osama bin Laden is an important step in our country’s search for healing.
“We recognize that the struggle against terrorism is not finished, and we stand beside President Obama and the security community as they work to keep us safe in the days, weeks, months and years to come. May we stand as one American family.”
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When I was born in 1986 William Donald Schaefer was about to leave the Baltimore City Hall. I was in elementary school when he was preparing to leave the governor's office in Maryland but when I arrived here in Prince George's County he was one of the first statewide politicians I met. This maybe why I was shocked and saddened to hear about his death last week and even more why today as he lies in state in Annapolis I like so many other Marylanders will mourn his life and his service.
As a kid interested in politics at a young age, Donald Schaefer was the type of politician I loved to learn about. A big man with an even bigger personality Donald Schaefer knew the proper role that government could play in the lives of its citizens and even more, how if used correctly it could direct meaningful investments that pave the way for better communities in the future. In the 1980's as large manufacturing companies moved out of Baltimore and the unemployment rate started to rise, then-mayor Schaefer fought hard for public investment in building a new tourism industry that today is the city's second largest industry bringing in more than $450 million in tax revenue. Schaefer knew then what a lot of right-wing republicans today would do good to learn, the right investments by government can and often do pay huge dividends in the end.
Not many people can say they have given fifty years of their life to anything or anyone. Over the longevity of his service to this state, Governor Donald Schaefer always understood that when you are doing the right things for the right people you always end up coming out on the right side of an issue. He will be missed by many Marylanders and leaves very big shoes to be filled.
If you would like to join the thousands who will pay their respects to the former councilmember, mayor, governor, and comptroller click here to get a run down of the days events, times, and locations.
Joseph Kitchen
Executive Vice-President
Young Democrats of Maryland
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It's April 1st. No staffer, no lobbyist, no legal of-age intern can be saved. For the third year running, I'm back in Annapolis taking numbers and getting dates.
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A year ago the United State Congress passed the Affordable Care Act. This legislation is so important to the young people of Maryland and Prince George’s County. The law allows young adults to stay on their parents’ health insurance until age 26. This translates to 25,700 young adults in Maryland now having health care. The law also encourages preventive care and now 701,000 residents in Maryland who have Medicare can now receive free preventive services. A repeal of this legislation would increase the federal deficit by one trillion dollars over the next twenty years which members of my generation will have to pay. This is counter to the promises that the Republicans made to lower the national debt. In these tough economic times we need to remember our elected officials who voted to help young adults save money in health coverage and access to preventive services.
Sincerely,
Nicole A. Williams
President of the Prince George’s County Young Democrats
YDM National Committeewoman
At-Large Member of the DNC Youth Council
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YDM believes marriage equality is a generational issue that requires the support of the most active youth organization in the State of Maryland. We feel it is incumbent on our organization to take a stand – front and center - and declare our vocal support for the loving LGBT couples that deserve the same legal protections under the law as straight couples.
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Come laugh at Jake!...
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YDMers,
Please see the message below from YDA DNC Committeeman Francisco Domenech.
Jake
Dear _____,
Last night the House of Representatives passed the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act) by a vote of 216 -198. This legislation provides hard-working, talented, undocumented young people with a path to citizenship in exchange for going to college or serving in the military...
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This Thanksgiving, we all have different things to be thankful for. Family, friends, employment, health, football (for some of us) and more. Politically, we also have plenty to be thankful for, with Governor O'Malley reelected for four more years, and strong representation throughout our state. Additionally, YDM has much to be thankful for with strong chapters and caucuses and growing membership and activities throughout the state...
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Welcome to the new YDM website!
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Hey everyone!
Well, I can’t believe it’s finally here--the last day of my summer internship. The summer went by way too quickly! When I first applied for this internship in April, I didn’t really know what to expect, since I’d never had an internship before. What would it be like working in an office for the first time in the middle of the 2010 election season?...
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Hey everyone! My name is Lauren Turek and I’m going to be the new intern for the Young Democrats of Maryland this summer!..
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Josh Kurtz’s article, “Wanted – Fresh Blood,” in Center Maryland yesterday missed the mark in a huge way...
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When we celebrated the passage of historic health care reform earlier this year, there were many much-needed new laws to celebrate. Allowing young adults to stay on their families' health insurance plans longer, stopping insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions, reigning in costs - these are all essential policies that will help families across the country. While there's been much discussion of these aspects of reform, I want to go a little more in depth about one of my favorite provisions of the bill: menu labeling! That's right, thanks to health care reform, fast food chains (with more than 20 locations) will soon be required to post how many calories are in each item right on the menu! While this may seem like a minor policy change, I think it is a key step in re-framing how Americans think about fast food...
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It’s that time of year again. As the Maryland General Assembly begins to wrap up a busy legislative session and Sine Die approaches, I approach a yummy lobbyist and ruthlessly mack on him (or her). What can I say - it’s a good time to be a girl in politics. So who was the Hottest Lobbyist of 2010 you ask? Mr. Pete Baron, the Legislative Director of the SEIU of MD/DC, took home this year’s award. Ladies and gentlemen, enjoy the interview below. And Pete? The answer is yes. Yes, you do need my vote. First six rounds of martinis are on me...
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I can't recall the number of times I had to defend Obama for his inaction on LGBT issues. During the campaign, many were divided between Hillary and Barack. Hill-dog was beloved by the community and seen as a great advocate for minority rights. Barack had past legal briefings where he wrote his support for LGBT equality when it related to his time as a lawyer. Both attended the first forum focused on LGBT issues hosted by Logo and were top performers. I preferred Kucinich and Gravel's statements since I am a crazy left winger...
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Not even the threat of winter weather could stop the dedicated members of the YDM platform committee from meeting on Saturday, December 5 at the Maryland Democratic Party headquarters. Representatives from Young Democrat county chapters from across the state converged in Annapolis to talk about and share ideas...
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The Maryland Association of Counties just finished their annual summer conference. Although not as well attended as in the past due to the economic hardships faced by all levels of government, the conference went very well with informative workshops and inspiring speeches. Our Governor gave his signature closing speech filled with realism and hope...
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I am one of the biggest fans of bi-partisanship. I’m not just saying that in the typical way that people in politics always do, rather it’s something I truly believe in. In undergrad, I co-founded a nonpartisan organization on advocacy for higher education issues and was a member of another nonpartisan organization. Some of my best friends are Republicans and I truly do believe that most people in politics, Democrat or Republican are involved because of a need to serve the greater good and make a change in people’s lives. In the case of healthcare insurance reform however, partisanship will be the only way we can move forward and make a necessary change...
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After 4 fun-filled days in Chicago at the YDA National Convention, it's back to the grindstone for me and everyone else in the Maryland delegation. Chicago was chocked full of action, and Maryland was an active force at this year's convention, landing national officer positions and winning awards! Congratulations to Julie Schafer for her election as Secretary of the YDA Disabilities Caucus, Joseph Kitchen for his election to Secretary of the YDA Labor Caucus, and to Sarah Holstine who is the newest chair of the YDA Jewish Caucus and another voice for Maryland of the YDA Executive Committee!..
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As the newest member of the YDM Executive Board, and a complete stranger to YDA, this convention has been eye opening. Participating in the trainings, committees, caucuses, and general sessions has given me a much more complete picture of the national organization...
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Hey All,
I'm posting here live from breakfast! Sitting here with Kevin Walling, John Ward, Frank Byrne and Zach Fang talking local poilitics, college involvement and how to make MD even more successful. The convention thus far has been incredible. Yesterday, we heard from Congressman John Conyers, people from the DCCC and OFA, Senator Kristen Gilibrand, candidates for four positions for YDA and others. In addition, we had two members from MD, Joseph Kitchen and Nicole Williams lead panels on religion in politics and local chapter growth respectivelly. We heard issue panels and healthcare and election reform and got to meet people from around the country. We topped the day off with 25 members of the Maryland delegation getting a great dinner at a local pizza place.
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I want to give a special shoutout to the Cecil and Harford County Young Democrats, who have taken the lead on blogging from the convention...
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Hello world and welcome to the blog for the Prince George's County Young Democrats. Right now I am at the Young Democrats of America National Convention in Chicago. It has been a great time thus far. I got in yesterday afternoon. As I was waiting in line to check into the hotel, former Chairman of the DNC, Howard Dean was also checking in. He was very nice and down to earth. He was the guest speaker at the opening reception last night. Of course the topic was on health care which is the hot topic right now.
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The trainings I've attended so far have been particularly helpful to me as a member of a local Young Dem chapter in a rural/suburban area. This morning I had the opportunity to listen to a roundtable on rural and agricultural policy issues. It was interesting to hear about the ways in which my fellow Young Democrats have successfully reached out to voters in traditionally conservative areas...
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As we near the YDA convention, I have been asked more frequently by YDM members who I will be supporting in Chicago. Before I answer that question and explain why, I wanted to share a couple of thoughts...
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Dear Friends:
As you may be aware, the Republican Women of Anne Arundel County have a message, prominently featured on the front page of their website, comparing President Obama to Adolph Hitler. For details, click here: http://www.rwaac.com...
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