On month three of ‘infrastructure week’, we know that it’s far-past time to pass comprehensive climate legislation. This week, Data for Progress Political Director Marcela Mulholland argued just that as a panelist at the Ecomodernism 2021 conference. Professor Mark Vin Paul and ‘Journalist’ Matt Yglesias joined her on the panel to discuss whether “quiet climate policy” —  basically, policy that aligns with our current sociopolitical and economic framework — was enough to combat climate change.

The consensus was a resounding no; incremental change is not enough to save our planet (surprise, surprise), and it’s why the work the progressive movement is doing to push the ball forward on climate action is so important. We’re proud to continue to support progressives in that effort, and with your support we can continue to provide polling and message testing to get important climate policy over the finish line.

Here are some other highlights from DFP over the past week:

NOVA’s Continued Swing Left: Virginians Want Progressive Criminal Justice Reform 

Despite Republicans claims that Commonwealth Attorneys are ‘out of touch’ with their constituents, our latest polling in Virginia’s Fairfax and Loudon counties finds voters are in favor of progressive criminal justice reform. Our latest polling out this week finds likely voters in Fairfax and Loudon Counties  agree that racial inequality is still a major problem today and that it’s one the state should be addressing directly by +40-point and +20-point margin respectively. We also find that these voters are also in favor of progressive reforms to their county criminal justice systems like alternative sentencing and eliminating mandatory minimums. 

Read the full poll here.

Dems Should Be Creative with Cancelling Student Debt

There’s no sugar-coating it: the impact of the student debt crisis is vast, and we need comprehensive policy solutions to combat this problem and bring relief to struggling Americans. Our polling finds that voters support a multitude of potential solutions to this problem including: cancelling student loans for healthcare and essential workers affected by the pandemic, people with permanent or total disabilities, and people unable to pay loans for several years.
 

The full memo by DFP Analysts Kirby Phares and Evangel Penumaka takes a look at the wide-ranging crisis that currently affects 45 million Americans and polls these (and more) potential policy solutions. Read the full memo on our website here.

Donate to Our Latest Green New Deal Slate Candidates

This week we announced our Second Green New Deal slate of 2021, a list of endorsements with Lead Locally to support and raise funds for local climate champions across the country. From Boston to Virginia to Ohio and beyond, these local candidates are running on bold climate action for their communities, and include:
 

Massachusetts:

• Michelle Wu for Boston Mayor

• Tracy Valletti for Peabody Municipal Light Commission

• Tanya Lobo for Taunton City Council

Washington’s Ports: 

• Toshiko Hasegawa and Hamdi Mohamed for the Port of Seattle

• Elizabeth Pew and Mary Bacon for the Port of Tacoma

Virginia State House:

• Joshua Cole

• Debra Gardner

Ohio:

• Justin Bibb for Cleveland Mayor

• Reggie Harris for Cincinnati City Council

• Michelle Dillingham for Cincinnati City Council

Kansas:

• Ma'Ko'Quah Abigail Jones for Lawrence City Commission

Minnesota:

• Azrin Awal for Duluth City Council

• Mike Mayou for Duluth City Council

Michigan:

• Abdullah Hammoud for Dearborn Mayor

In 2020, we raised more than $200,000 for 13 Green New Deal candidates, who are working to implement climate solutions big and small in communities across the country. We’re proud to continue this work with our latest slate, candidates who can only win with grassroots supporters like you. Take a look at the full slate — and then kick in a few bucks! — on our website.

 

DFP In The News 

Time: Americans Overwhelmingly Back Funding Home Care for the Elderly. Will It Survive in Democrats' Spending Bill?

Rolling Stone: Joe Manchin Just Cooked the Planet

The Hill: White House seeks to flip debate on agenda price tag

Axios: The end of vice: laws change around drugs, sex, gambling

Salon: Progressives play hardball — with Biden's support — and confuse the media

MSNBC: Build Back Better agenda maintains support, despite GOP pushback

E&E News: Moderates love Dems’ climate agenda. What changed from 2009?

The New Republic: Let’s Call Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema What They Are: Extremists

Truthout: Big Pharma Makes More Off of US Sales Than Rest of the World Combined

New Jersey: Party chairman: New Jersey Democrats must stand with President Biden | Opinion

News-Herald: Prepare for the next pandemic today

VTDigger: Lisa Winkler: The Freedom to Vote Act is crucial for our democracy

Deseret News: Why Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s brand of centrism has Arizona progressives promising a primary

Mother Jones: Biden’s Women-Focused Economic Agenda Is Getting Destroyed by Joe Manchin

Texas News Today: Video: How cheap renewable energy and active activity are changing climate politics

Little Village: The ‘War on Meat’ isn’t real, but small Iowa farmers have long faced an uphill battle against Big Ag

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Zine of the Week

Senator Ed Markey’s office released a new zine on the fight for a liveable future — which includes some of our very own polling! You can download and read the zine yourself on the Senator’s website.