Bay State Banner: Challengers hit streets in 14th Suffolk District race

“Challengers hit streets in 14th Suffolk District race” — Yawu Miller, Bay State Banner (7/18/2018)

Scaccia, however, stands apart from the other incumbents in both the length of time he’s served — the better part of five decades — and his less-than-progressive record in office. He received an “F” rating on his Progressive Massachusetts scorecard, putting him on par with most of the state’s Republicans.

Scaccia did not respond to requests for an interview with the Banner.

He did turn out for a candidate forum May 4 sponsored by Progressive West Roxbury/Roslindale, an affiliate of Progressive Massachusetts. There, according to the news website Universal Hub, he expressed support for a tax on millionaires and said he’s “somewhat progressive on taxes.”

MassLive: A Progressive Challenge in Springfield

“Amaad Rivera seizes ‘progressive’ label as sole challenger to state Sen. Jim Welch” — Shira Schoenberg, MassLive (6/24/2018)

Rivera points out that Welch has a “D” rating from Progressive Massachusetts, when the average Senate Democrat scored a “C.” Welch’s rating was based mainly on several criminal justice votes he took, voting in favor of establishing new mandatory minimum sentences for assault and battery on a police officer and for trafficking carfentanil, reimposing mandatory minimums for cocaine offenses and selling drugs in school zones, and raising fines on habitual drunk drivers.

Bay State Banner: A Pragmatic Incumbent and Idealistic Challenger

“An idealistic challenger takes on a pragmatic incumbent in J.P./Mission Hill district” — Yawu Miller, Bay State Banner (6/13/2018)

Elugardo says she decided to challenge Sánchez because she is frustrated with the slow pace of progressive change in Massachusetts and the apparent unwillingness of legislators to pass measures such as the Safe Communities Act to counter the Trump administration agenda.

Sánchez, she notes, was given a C+ grade by the group Progressive Massachusetts.

Bay State Banner: Candidates Face off in JP

“Candidates face off in JP Progressives debate” — Yawu Miller, Bay State Banner (6/11/2018)

Meanwhile, 15th District resident Jenny Hochstadt borrowed Elugardo’s sentiment in expressing that “this is one of the most progressive states, and Sanchez just isn’t progressive enough.” Elugardo has repeatedly used this phrase and criticized Sanchez for the slow pace of progressive change in Massachusetts, often citing his C+ grade by the group Progressive Massachusetts.

It became clear that the large crowd, comprised of Sanchez’s base supporters and progressives looking to challenge the Legislature’s leadership, would not all fit inside the 140-seater venue, and some residents were turned away.

The debate was hosted by three progressive, political groups: JP Progressives, a grassroots organization affiliated with Progressive Massachusetts, which aims to mobilize the voters of Jamaica Plain; the Boston chapter of Our Revolution, a non-profit organization whose work is inspired by Bernie Sanders’s 2016 presidential campaign; and Amplify LatinX, a non-partisan group who campaign for increased Latino representation in government and corporate leadership.

SHNS: Automatic voter registration now in place in 10 states

“Automatic voter registration now in place in 10 states” — Katie Lannan, State House News Service (8/29/2017)

“The new law will add roughly one million new eligible voters to the voter rolls,” said the statement, signed by Pam Wilmot of Common Cause Massachusetts, Meryl Kessler of the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, Beth Huang of Mass Voter Table, Janet Domenitz of MASSPIRG, Cheryl Clyburn Crawford of MassVote and Jonathan Cohn of Progressive Massachusetts. “Similar laws in other states have been proven to increase turnout and make elections more secure by modernizing the voter registration process. It is a common sense and long overdue reform.”

DigBoston: The Progressive Mass Agenda

“The Progressive Mass Agenda” — Dig Staff, Dig Boston (5/10/2017)

In addition to identifying Massachusetts politicians who share common values with those of us who believe that evil corporations should be punished (and who agree with other sensible leftist ideals of that sort), the advocates at Progressive Massachusetts also have an actionable list of promising bills broken down into four categories: Infrastructure and Environment; Shared Prosperity; Racial and Social Justice; Good Government. We encourage you to check out the group’s legislator scorecard, as well as all its research at progressivemass.com. In the meantime, here’s a snapshot of the priorities for Progressive Mass in 2017. -Dig Editors

SHNS: Beacon Hill progressives call for action on legislation

“Beacon Hill progressives call for action on legislation” — Katie Lannan, State House News Service (5/4/2017)

“We have a fully Democratic Legislature, supermajorities. We have a governor who’s a Republican, but we have veto-proof majorities, so what’s the issue there?” said Harmony Wu, who serves on the group’s board of directors. “Something’s been missing. Many things have been missing, but one piece that we haven’t had in Massachusetts is a sustained, long-term, grassroots-organizing, citizen-advocacy push where we are speaking up with one voice saying we are tired of this way, we’d like to see leadership in this way.”

…..

John Kirk, a member of the group’s Needham chapter, said the lobby day is part of an effort to help the state “fulfill its progressive promise” by letting them know “the passion’s real” behind the issues.

“Since it’s a Democratic-controlled Legislature, why don’t we pass these obvious bills that everybody’s in favor of and make perfect sense? Well, we’re trying to figure that out,” said Kirk.

WGBH: Before 2018, Progressives Hope To Push Legislature And Baker On Taxes, Justice Reform And More

“Before 2018, Progressives Hope To Push Legislature And Baker On Taxes, Justice Reform And More” — Mike Deehan, WGBH (9/4/2016)

“The progressive activist base is really, really frustrated with the status quo of the Democratic party and leadership in the Legislature,” Progressive Massachusetts board member Harmony Wu told WGBH News. “And honestly, the House does seem to be the bigger problem.”

“The Senate does seem to move more on stuff, but as a whole, the party does not feel like it is responsive to the progressive interest, which is I think is the animating base of the party,” Wu added.

SHNS: Progressive group stakes out position on ballot questions

“Progressive group stakes out position on ballot questions” — Andy Metzger, State House News Service (9/1/2016)

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Progressive Massachusetts, a political nonprofit, has endorsed ballot questions that would legalize marijuana and restrict animal products sold in the state, and opposed measures that could open the door to an additional slots parlor and more charter schools.

The group, which has about 350 members according to its president, voted “overwhelmingly” to join the campaign opposing Question 2, which would allow for 12 new or newly expanded charter schools annually, regardless of the existing statutory cap.

“I think there’s a recognition, particularly on Question 2, that public schools are a community benefit, and that really having an unlimited drain of funding without local democratic control isn’t something to build communities,” Josh Tauber, a Somerville Democrat and Progressive Massachusetts volunteer who chairs the group’s elections and endorsement committee, told the News Service.

Charter proponents note the schools are public and say limits on charters exclude students in troubled districts from educational choice.

Susan Davidoff, the president of Progressive Massachusetts, said the group has been around for five years, has chapters around the state, and has worked to support a surtax on high earners, minimum wage increases and paid sick leave.

The group’s endorsements were announced this week after an email poll.

Davidoff said the group “most enthusiastically” opposed the charter school question and would not be as active on the three other questions.

This year the group opposes Question 1, which would allow an additional slots parlor next to a race track; and supports Question 4, legalizing marijuana; and Question 3, which requires ample room for egg-laying hens, veal calves and pigs whose products are produced or sold in Massachusetts.

Tauber said for him personally the marijuana question is a “social justice” issue, as criminal records for marijuana crimes can limit people’s opportunities.

“Drug policy in this country has been so messed up for so long that frankly we need to start over on a lot of it,” Tauber said. Voters in 2008 decriminalized possession of up to an ounce of marijuana, and in 2012 they legalized marijuana for medical purposes. Gov. Charlie Baker, Attorney General Maura Healey, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh are among the officials who have joined the campaign opposing Question 4.