Lots to Do Before Spring Break

Hey Dems,

Although Spring Break is fast approaching, we have an action-packed schedule filled with speakers and lobbying before then.

Thursday is an especially exciting day. At 3:45, we will meet at Faunce with members of emPOWER and walk down to the State House to attend hearings in support of H5706, a bill that will place a cap on carbon emissions in Rhode Island. Showing your support can help ensure that this green legislation passes!

At 8:00, in Wilson 101, we will be hosting our Progressive Potpurri, where leaders from Ocean State Action and Fair Vote RI talk about the fight for universal health care and government reform. Pizza will be provided!

Then, on Monday, March 16 (location TBA), we will have our first legislative committee meeting to review the bills currently being debated at the State House and decide what issues we will lobby for. Help us set the Democrats' priorities!

Finally, on Thursday, March 12, at 8:00pm in Wilson 101, State Rep. Pacheco, the youngest member of the legislature, will speak about the work he is doing. You won't want to miss this dynamic speaker!

Yours Truly,
The Dems Board

Bubble Bill

As we mentioned in the last post, the Brown Democrats have written our very own bill, which we hope to introduce this legislative session! "The Bubble Bill" is based off a law in Colorado, but several other states, including Massachusetts, have passed similar legislation.

The bill seeks to protect the personal space of anyone going into a health clinic (eg. an abortion clinic) by providing a six-foot "bubble" between them and protesters. Protesters' rights to free speech are protected - you can easily talk to someone, display signs, or pass literature from six feet away - and patients and staff will have unobstructed access to health care facilities.

Last year, the state legislature considered, but did not pass, a bill creating a 100 foot buffer zone around a health clinic. We believe that bill sacrificed protesters' right to free speech for the safety of those going into a clinic - it is impossible to protest a clinic when you can barely be on the same block! The Bubble Bill strikes a perfect balance of protecting free speech and ensuring safe passage in and out of a health center.

Stay tuned as we keep working on this exciting piece of legislation!

Thanks for your support,
The Brown Democrats E-Board

Dems, 2009

To the wonderful Dems who missed reading our blog,

First, we want to apologize. Last semester, we all tried to spend every free moment (when we had a free moment, anyway) campaigning for PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA (yes, we still like writing that.) What a semester it was. The Democrats increased their majorities in the House and Senate, and we won back the White House! It was a really great opportunity for us to be out canvassing and on the phones, and I know we all share the that we were a part of Obama's historic victory.

But now that we have elected more Democrats, it is time to hold them accountable and make sure that they support the progressive values we care about. That means meeting our elected officials and lobbying them too.

We have already accomplished a great deal in the past few weeks. We met with Councilman Seth Yurdin and State Reps. Chris Fierro and David Segal. We learned about their priorities, and encouraged them to support ours'. We even authored our own legislation, the Bubble Bill, to protect women seeking access to health care facilities.

However, our work is not done yet. We need to push state legislators to support our Bubble Bill, ensure that Senate vacancies are filled by special elections, and reform the state's education system to improve equity and performance. And we need you all to help us. Come to our weekly meetings on Thursday at 8:00 in Wilson 101 to find out how you can lobby for these very important progressive priorities.

We hope to see you there!

Yours Truly,
Your Faithful Dems Executive Board