Healthcare Task Force: State and National Health Care Campaign News
Hands Off Medicaid Campaign: We’re fired up to be in this fight with so many great advocacy groups and the tens of millions of people who use Medicaid for their health care. In Maryland, one out of four of us use Medicaid or CHIP (the Children’s Health Insurance Program) for our health care needs: seniors in nursing homes, people with disabilities, children, and people who are struggling financially and can’t afford to buy health insurance and many others.
We want our tax dollars to support all of them and all of us, not Elon Musk and his businesses and greedy allies! That’s especially true now, in these uncertain economic times with all that Trump is doing to decimate the Federal government work force, small businesses, and schools and universities. ALL of us benefit when people have access to good health care and when our rural and urban clinics and hospitals have the resources they need to stay open, deliver services and create jobs.
We need you in this fight! No prior experience is necessary, all are welcome. Sign up now!
If you live in Congressional District 1 please use this tool to call Rep. Andy Harris to urge him to vote NO on cuts to Medicaid: Click here to make the call. Contact Patty for more information.
Environmental Justice Task Force: EJTF Earns Colossal Victory over Incinerator Companies!
The 90-day legislative session came to a close on April 7, known as Sine Die, the last day for lawmakers to convene. On this day, legislators voted to end the financial strain on Maryland ratepayers by enacting the Reclaim Renewable Energy Act (RREA) within the framework of the Next Generation Act. This milestone reflects the dedicated work of Environmental Justice Organizer, SirJames, and the Environmental Justice Task Force (EJTF), who raised awareness among South Baltimore residents about the misleading practices of incinerator companies, effectively concluding 14 years of economic exploitation.
In light of this legislative modification, now, only 17 states throughout the country will grant subsidies for the incineration of garbage.
We also want to highlight that this significant legislative achievement is partly due to the groundwork laid by the South Baltimore Community Land Trust and its coalition allies before Progressive Maryland's involvement in 2021.
Recently, Jeff Barnes, a member of the EJTF and a resident of the Brooklyn neighborhood, was interviewed by Adam Willis from the Baltimore Banner about this significant victory.
With the excitement growing after this significant legislative achievement, Progressive Maryland's Communications Department has produced an Instagram reel showcasing EJTF leader and former Cherry Hill resident Mikal Rashid. We encourage you to view and share it on your Instagram.
To commemorate this significant achievement against incinerator companies and to support the financial relief of frontline residents in South Baltimore and across Maryland, SirJames and the EJTF are organizing a victory party, likely to take place at Federal Hill Park in mid-May.
Further details about this event will be shared soon. This celebration will energize our efforts as we move into the next phase of our campaign to permanently shut down the Win Waste incinerator. No cash for trash!
Acknowledgments:
We extend our gratitude to Neka Duckett-Randolph of Out4Justice, CASA Baltimore chapter, Jennifer Kunze from Clean Water Action, Food & Water Watch, the Sunrise Movement Baltimore Chapter, and the South Baltimore Community Land Trust for their efforts in advocating for the termination of funding for incinerator companies.
Victory!
