Upcoming Events:
Monday, January 23 – Supreme Court Vigil in Commemoration of Roe v. Wade 5-6 p.m. Stand with your sisters in support of reproductive choice.(see Calendar)
Sunday, January 29 – Women's Legislative Briefing in Rockville. Issues workshops and reception. Come and meet your favorite elected official! (see Calendar)
Saturday, March 10 – Networking Event in Cumberland, MD. Stay tuned for specifics.
Sunday, March 18 – Women's History Conference at the Maryland Women's Heritage Center in Baltimore
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE:
YOUR HELP NEEDED TO END THE GRIDLOCK and To Save Social Security and Medicare!!! THE BUDGET DEAL IS NOT OVER!
The deal previously agreed to by Congressional Leadership did NOTHING to increase revenues, while severely cutting programs which impact those least able to pay. And a second round of cuts will follow after negotiations where one side has promised 1) no tax increases - not even elimination of "temporary" Bush-era tax cuts for the rich, and 2) more cuts in services for the unemployed, elderly, and children.
One OMB spokesman has stated that cuts will not do the job. Revenue increases, including eliminating the Bush tax cuts for the Super-Rich and corporate subsidies, are the only long-term method to start paying down our debt.
It's time that the Administration stops playing "Let's Make a Deal" using Social Security and Medicare as bargaining chips. For more info about this deal, check out the NOW website: ttp://now.org/press/08-11/08-01.html and the National Women's Law Center: http://www.nwlc.org/resource/unbalanced-debt-ceiling-deal-cuts-vital-programs-critical-fights-ahead
Then please email your Congressperson and tell them that we need to start taxing the folks who can afford to pay: http://www.house.gov/representatives/#state_md If we want to boost the economy, does it make sense to give more money to people who will park it in the Cayman Islands? Or to our neighbors, who will spend it in Maryland?
Tell Congress to stand firm and oppose any changes to Social Security and Medicare benefits and to the Medicare payments to providers. Whatever spending issues there are simply have not been caused by "entitlements". Let's look at the $2 BILLION PER DAY, spent just in Afghanistan! (If you support the wars, you should be willing to levy taxes to pay for them. Instead, Congress has kept war expenses "off the Budget" - not reflected in the "balanced budget".)
Please tell ALL your friends, especially those in other states! We need to remind our Congress and the President that the majority of Americans oppose cutting the safety net, especially Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. As noted here in November, this issue is not going away anytime soon!
Linda Mahoney
President, Maryland NOW
***EVERY Month should be Women's History Month*** Celebrate women's accomplishments by visiting the Maryland Women's Heritage Center in Baltimore! http://www.mdwomensheritagecenter.org
Celebrate women's contributions - in politics, healthcare, literature, arts, science and the environment. Here are some resources.
MD NOW Officers
Go to the About section and click on the officers link to contact any of them via email. You may use the contact form or call the MD NOW phone number: 410-347-1455..
Our Founding Mother's Scholarship Fund
In 2006 we lost a Maryland NOW member who clearly left her mark on each of us and our organization. Dolly Yvonne Packard was an extraordinary feminist who graced our NOW world for 40 years. In 2007, a former Maryland NOW President and Maryland NOW Council Member, Dot Howze, lost a battle with cancer. We also lost a leader in our Frederick Chapter, Sandra West, who over the years had been Maryland NOW Treasurer and PAC Treasurer as well a leader in her own community.
We created a scholarship fund for contributions that were made in honor of Dolly several years ago, and we plan to move from this to create an ongoing fund from memorials we've received from members and friends honoring all these women. We hope to pass the torch in this way for others to benefit from the honors others gave in these womens' names. Please contact our President for more information if you are interested in applying for a grant from this fund. Contact our Treasurer if you'd like to donate.
