Tammy Green Baldwin was a
Democratic member of the
United States House of Representatives, representing the 2nd district of
Wisconsin since 1999. She was "the first openly LGBT candidate ever elected to Congress as a non-incumbent."
[1]
In 2012, she was elected to the US Senate, from
Wisconsin.
Her long time partner is
Lauren Azar.
In 2017 Senator Baldwin serves on the Senate Appropriations
Committee, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
(HELP), and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation.
[2]
Background
Tammy Baldwin was born on February
11, 1962 in the area she now represents in Congress; and traces one
branch of her family tree back to 1866 in Sauk County (Baraboo). Raised
in Madison jointly by her mother and maternal grandparents, Tammy
graduated first in her class of 510 students at Madison West High School
in 1980. She received an A.B. degree from Smith College in Northampton,
Massachusetts in 1984 with majors in government and mathematics. In
1989, while an active member of the Dane County Board of Supervisors,
Tammy earned her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School and
practiced law from 1989-1992.
[3]
Political career
Tammy Baldwin served four terms as a
Dane County (WI) Supervisor (1986-1994), representing the downtown
Madison area, including the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. In
1986, Tammy also served briefly on the Madison Common Council, filling
an aldermanic vacancy.
Tammy Baldwin "won a seat in the Wisconsin State House of Representatives" in 1993, with help from the
Victory Fund, who "was instrumental in assisting
Tammy Baldwin’s winning congressional campaign."
[4]
She served three terms as a WI State Representative for the 78th
Assembly District (comprising central and south Madison) from January
1993 to January 1999.
[5]
The Rainbow
According to
Paul Ortiz;
- Likewise, there were many Obama activists who had campaigned
for the Rev. Jesse Jackson in 1984 and 1988. It is impossible to imagine
Senator Obama's victory without the precedent of Jackson's Rainbow Coalition.
The Rainbow excited and recruited tens of thousands of gay, Latino,
Native American, white, Asian, and African-Americans into electoral
politics, social movements and union organizing in the US in the 1980s.
The Rainbow sustained and supported numerous progressive politicians,
including Paul Wellstone, Tammy Baldwin and Harold Washington. The Rainbow Coalition
- and Jackson as leader - had many limitations. Even so, the
organization provided one of the few spaces for progressive movement
organizing to take place in the Age of Reagan. The Rainbow increased
working-class voter registration, promoted Shirley Chisholm
for vice president, stood in solidarity with the Pittston coal strike,
and was a counterweight to the conservative Democratic Leadership
Council.[6]
Tammy Baldwin, who worked for the Rainbow in
Wisconsin,
entered politics and fashioned a coalition of students, farmers,
workers, environmentalists and progressives that would, by 1998, elect
her to Congress, the first woman in the state’s history and the first
openly gay nonincumbent in the nation’s.
When Baldwin talks about building support both inside Washington
and outside in the communities for universal healthcare or daycare or
civil rights, she echoes Jackson’s campaigns.
[7]
Legislative successes
Tammy Baldwin led successful
efforts in the House in 2009 to pass expanded hate crimes legislation.
As Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus,
she is leading efforts to advance the Employment Non-Discrimination Act
(ENDA) and other civil rights initiatives. She is the lead author of
legislation to extend benefits to same-sex partners of federal
employees. A strong consumer advocate, Tammy also has crafted
legislation to repeal antiquated antitrust exemptions protecting freight
railroads from competition. The Railroad Anti-Trust Enforcement Act has
strong support from business and consumer groups and from bipartisan
Members of both Houses of Congress.
[8]
Institute for Policy Studies connections
IPS grades "progressive"
In 1998 fourteen new Members of Congress were elected who ran on progressive platforms.
The 14 were gauged "progressive" by the
Institute for Policy Studies after comparing their campaign literature and past activities with the
Progressive Challenge
"Fairness Agenda for America." On issues
ranging from shifting budgetary priorities from military spending and
corporate giveaways to health care and education, to promoting worker
and environmental rights, fair trade, and equality, these 14 candidates
stood for the liberal values that recent polls show most Americans
embrace. The 14 new progressive members included:
- Tammy Baldwin, won in Wisconsin's 2nd district after a tough
grassroots campaign. She has led the fight on progressive issues
throughout her career in the Wisconsin state legislature, proposing
bills on a range of issues from living wage and workers rights, to
support for public education and strong environmental protection. She
has advocated a progressive tax system, universal health care and
women's rights. She is also the first openly gay, nonincumbent elected
to Congress."
"This vote represents a vital shift in the U.S. Congress towards progressive Democrats," said
Karen Dolan of the
Institute for Policy Studies.
"It is important to point out that Tammy Baldwin and the other new
progressives in Congress won by impressive mobilization at the
grassroots," concluded
Shelley Moskowitz, Political Director of
Neighbor to Neighbor." Baldwin, for example, had 1,500 volunteers in the field on primary day."
[9]
Progressive State of the Union Address, 1999
January 19, 1999, members of the
Congressional Progressive Caucus, and
Institute for Policy Studies,
talked about issues that they are planning to address in the upcoming
year, at the Progressive State of the Union Address. Some of the issues
they intend to address are poverty in the United States, national
defense, the global economy, Medicare, and education. Rep. Conyers
stated that the House disregarded the views the majority of the American
people when the House impeached the president.
Speakers were
Tammy Baldwin [D] Wisconsin,
John Cavanagh Co-Director
Institute for Policy Studies,
John Conyers, [D] Michigan,
Peter DeFazio [D] Oregon,
Karen Dolan, Coordinator
Institute for Policy Studies,
Earl Hilliard, [D] Alabama,
Maurice Hinchey, [D] New York,
Stephanie Tubbs Jones, [D] Ohio,
Barbara Lee, [D] California,
Jerrold Nadler,
[D] New York,
Grace Napolitano, [D] California,
Major Owens, [D] New York,
Bernie Sanders, [I] Vermont, Jan Schakowsky, [D] Illinois.
[10]
Clinton/Chile letter
February 24, 2000, 31 members of the U.S. House of Representatives
have sent a letter to President Clinton requesting full U.S. cooperation
with the Spanish case against former Chilean General Augusto Pinochet, a
thorough investigation into the car-bomb assassination of
Orlando Letelier and American citizen
Ronni Moffitt, and the release of all U.S. documents pertaining to human rights abuses in Chile.
- Dear President Clinton,
- We would like to take this opportunity to commend your
Administration's recent activity concerning the ongoing investigation
into former Chilean General Augusto Pinochet's role in the 1976 car
bombing of Orlando Letelier and Ronni Moffitt in Washington D.C. We also
appreciate your efforts to release documents pertaining to human rights
abuses in Chile.
Signatories were
George Miller (D-CA),
Maurice Hinchey (D-NY),
Bernie Sanders (I-VT),
Sam Gejdenson (D-CT),
Anna Eshoo (D-CA),
Neil Abercrombie (D-HI),
Cynthia McKinney (D-GA),
Jim McGovern (D-MA),
John Conyers (D-MI),
Barney Frank (D-MA),
Pete Stark (D-CA),
Henry Waxman (D-CA),
Lane Evans (D-IL),
Luis Gutierrez (D-IL),
Lynn Woolsey (D-CA),
Lloyd Doggett (D-TX),
Peter DeFazio (D-OR),
Maxine Waters (D-CA),
Tim Roemer (D- IN),
Howard Berman (D-CA),
John Olver (D-MA),
Mel Watt (D- NC),
Nancy Pelosi (D-CA),
Patsy Mink (D-HI),
Marcy Kaptur (D- OH),
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI),
John Tierney (D-MA),
Jan Schakowsky (D-IL),
Xavier Becerra (D-CA),
Martin Sabo (D-MN), and
Bob Filner (D-CA).
[11]
Progressive Majority Advisory Committee
In 2003 Rep.
Tammy Baldwin served on the
Progressive Majority Advisory Committee.
[12]
IPWS awards ceremony
Every year the far left Washington, D.C.-based
Institute for Policy Studies gives two awards -- one domestic and one international -- to what are described as "heroes of the progressive movement."
In 2011, representatives from
Madison Teachers Inc. accepted the national
Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights Award
on behalf of Wisconsin progressives involved in demonstrations last
spring against anti-union legislation proposed by Republican Gov. Scott
Walker.
The Madison teachers union was cited for its role in helping
organize last spring's massive protests at the state Capitol in response
to Walker's efforts to eliminate collective bargaining rights for most
public workers, as well as other legislation including strict voter ID
requirements that are likely to limit voting by college students, the
elderly, the poor and immigrants.
In a release from the Institute for Policy Studies, executive director
John Cavanagh
wrote, "MTI, along with a rainbow of other groups, were leaders in the
demonstrations against Walker's proposed legislation in February and
March."
They were described as "gallantly fighting to preserve workers' rights and dignity in Wisconsin."
John Matthews, executive director of MTI for 43 years and
Peggy Coyne, a middle school teacher and MTI president, accepted the award in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 12. Rep.
Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, presented the award.
[13]
IPS donors
Lynn Raskin, a Washington D.C. realtor, and her husband,
Marcus Raskin, a cofounder of the
Institute for Policy Studies,
contributed to progressive candidates in several tight congressional
races during the 2012 election cycle. They donated to Rep.
Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Rep.
John Conyers (D-Mich.), and
Elizabeth Warren, the Democrat running for Senate in Massachusetts. They've also given money to Sen.
Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio).
[14]
PDA across Wisconsin
Friday, November 2nd they hosted a guided discussion at the the
Wisconsin Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals offices in Milwaukee, moderated by
John Nichols (
The Nation , MSNBC Contributor). Guest speakers included: PDA's National Director
Tim Carpenter, NNU's Director of Public Policy
Michael Lighty,
Communist Party USA member
Judith LeBlanc from
Peace Action, and Dr.
Robert Kraig from
Citizen Action of Wisconsin.
Lighty and Carpenter joined with author/commentator
Jim Hightower at the UAW Local 95 Hall in Janesville Saturday November 3rd, 11 am to 1 pm.
Rob Zerban--who was challenging Paul Ryan in Wisconsin's 1st District--and
John Nichols also appeared. Then, from 2:30 to 3:30 pm. Carpenter and Lighty appeared in Madison, WI, with
Mark Pocan,
Congressional Candidate in Wisconsin's 2nd District, one of the leaders
of the Wisconsin walkout. All three Wisconsin events also sought to
help Congresswoman
Tammy Baldwin, win her close race for the U.S. Senate.
[15]
Hightower on Baldwin
Jim Hightower
said, "PDA, NNU, and I are joining together to make sure Tammy Baldwin
carries Wisconsin. She is now under a slanderous last-minute attack from
Karl Rove! I once wrote a book called 'If the Gods Had Meant Us to Vote
They Would Have Given Us Candidates.' Well, the Gods mean for us to
vote--and donate--and make phone calls--this year, because you don't
find great progressive candidates like
Tammy Baldwin and
Mark Pocan and
Rob Zerban every day."
[16]
Hosting PDA
According to a New Year 2013 press release from
Progressive Democrats of America;
- Progressive Democrats of America accomplished a lot in
2012--thanks to your help and support. Together, we helped defeat Tea
Party extremists and helped elect strong progressives to Congress. We
educated members of Congress every month in our home districts, and in
the halls of Congress in Washington, DC. Now, PDA is starting 2013 in a
big way!
- In just a few days, on January 3rd, our team will be on
Capitol Hill as special guests of our newly elected and re-elected
progressive candidates including our board members our friends
Representatives Alan Grayson, Dr. Ami Bera, and Mark Pocan; as well as newly-elected Senators Tammy Baldwin and Elizabeth Warren.
If you're going to be in the DC-area, join us for these exciting
swearing in ceremonies, and help us pass out leaflets for our exciting
January 19th events![17]
PDA connection
In June 2013
Progressive Democrats of America assigned activists to deliver their material to almost every US Congressman and several Senators.
Rob Hansen was assigned as contact for Sen. Baldwin.
[18]
Tribute to Communist Clarence Kailin
In 1999
Tammy Baldwin honored Madison
Communist Party USA veteran
Clarence Kailin, and the communist led
Abraham Lincoln Brigade.
From the Congressional Record Volume 145 , Number 149 Pages E2209m Extensions of Remarks, Thu, Oct. 28, 1999.
- Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Mr. Clarence Kailin of Madison,
and the brave men and women who volunteered to serve in the Abraham
Lincoln Brigade during the Spanish Civil War, especially those
courageous volunteers from my home state of Wisconsin.
- They, along with 45,000 volunteers from over 50 different
countries, fought side by side during the early struggle against
fascism. Their foresight in recognizing the rising tyranny of fascism
was a call to arms that went unheeded by the free world, and resulted in
the long and bloody conflict that became World War II.
- Mr. Speaker, I want to express my gratitude to these men and
women who helped to defend the democratic Spanish Republic from fascist
aggression, at a time when the fate of democracy in Europe was being
threatened by all sides of the political spectrum.
- On October 31st, in James Madison Park, in the state capitol
of Wisconsin, a memorial will be dedicated to those sons and daughters
of the ``Badger State that joined the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. A
volunteer unit comprised of American citizens from all ethnic and
religious backgrounds and walks of life, were all equal in their resolve
to stem the tide of fascism. Our country's reluctance to aid the
Spanish Republican government did not deter these brave people who
understood what the consequences were if a legitimately elected
government were to fall.
- Mr. Speaker, for the first time in our country's long history
of isolationism, United State's citizens were reacting to threats to
liberty and freedom on the international level more passionately than
ever before. Mr. Kailin was one of those citizens, had it not been for
him and other brave volunteers in the Lincoln Brigade, the tide of
fascism would have swept over Europe unchecked. The corps of
international volunteers who came together in Spain would be the same
volunteers to comprise the victorious armies of the allied forces that
triumphed over the fascists dictators Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.
- Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to honor these
dedicated men and women in the same rightful fashion as my state. The
strength of character of Clarence Kailin and others from Wisconsin who
volunteered in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade are the qualities which we
all can take pride in and celebrate in this Congress.
Supported by Council for a Livable World
The
Council for a Livable World, founded in 1962 by long-time socialist activist and alleged Soviet agent,
Leo Szilard,
is a non-profit advocacy organization that seeks to "reduce the danger
of nuclear weapons and increase national security", primarily through
supporting progressive, congressional candidates who support their
policies. The Council supported
Tammy Baldwin in her successful House of Representatives run as candidate for Wisconsin.
[19]
2012 CLW Senate victories
2012 CLW Senate Victories were;
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI),
Sherrod Brown (D-OH),
Bob Casey (D-PA),
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY),
Martin Heinrich (D-NM),
Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)
Mazie Hirono (D-HI),
Tim Kaine (D-VA),
Angus King (I-ME),
Amy Klobuchar (D-MN),
Claire McCaskill (D-MO),
Chris Murphy (D-CT)
Bernie Sanders (I-VT),
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI),
Jon Tester (D-MT),
Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).
[20]
According to the
Council for a Livable World website;
- In her first race for Congress, Baldwin was supported by
Council for a Livable World’s PeacePAC. She has proved worthy of the
endorsement by scoring a perfect 100% on Council for a Livable World’s
PeacePAC voting scorecard over the past six years.
- Baldwin was one of the first House opponents of President
George W. Bush’s war in Iraq when she joined with 18 colleagues in a
press conference months before the conflict began. She has voted for
early withdrawal of American troops from both Iraq and Afghanistan.
- She has opposed deployment of National Missile Defense and
attempts to build new generations of nuclear weapons. She was one of
only 68 Representatives to oppose the U.S.-Indian nuclear cooperation
deal that undermined worldwide nuclear non-proliferation efforts. She
advocates negotiations with Iran to eliminate its nuclear weapons
program while some of her colleagues have advocated launching a military
attack.
CLW Inauguration event
Council for a Livable World and the
Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation hosted an event on Monday, January 21, 2013 celebrating the second inauguration of President
Barack Obama and Vice President
Joe Biden
and theirr endorsed candidates in the 113th Congress. The event was
held at the Phoenix Park Hotel ballroom across from Union Station and
just two blocks from the U.S. Capitol.
A number of prestigious guests attended the event, including Senators
Tammy Baldwin,
Martin Heinrich,
Angus King and
Bernie Sanders, U.S. Representatives
Suzan DelBene,
Lois Frankel and
Mark Takano,
United Steel Workers International President
Leo Gerard, host of The Ed Show on MSNBC,
Ed Schultz and
Vicki Hansen Thackray from the executive committee of Democrats Abroad.
Gary Collins, President of the board of
Council for a Livable World, kicked off the celebration with a short speech highlighting the work of the Council during the 2012 election cycle.
Chairman of the board,
Ira Lechner,
introduced one of the most inspiring leaders in the country today,
Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). Senator Baldwin, who made history in
November as the first openly gay member of the United States Senate,
received a warm round of applause from the Council enthusiastic
supporters who filled the ballroom. She expressed her gratitude for the
early grassroots support and encouragement in what was a hard-fought
victory..
[21]
Progressive Caucus SOTU Address
On Thursday, January 27 2000, from 3:30pm to 5:00pm in 2253 of RHOB, the
Congressional Progressive Caucus held its 3rd Annual Congressional Progressive Caucus' State of the Union Address. This event was also sponsored by the
Institute for Policy Studies'
Progressive Challenge coalition whose Fairness Agenda for America is endorsed by 200 public interest groups nationally.
Caucus Chair Rep.
Peter DeFazio(D-OR)
stated "The Progressive Caucus Alternative State of the Union will
provide a much needed reality check to politicians who would rather
ignore the priorities of Americans left out of the economic boom --
priorities like access to quality health care and education, repairing
crumbling schools, addressing the growing gap between the rich and poor,
and creating a sustainable global economy that works for everyone, not
just the corporate architects."
Anticipated speakers included:
Peter DeFazio (D-OR), House Minority Whip
David Bonior (D-MI),
Earl Hilliard (D-AL);
Dennis Kucinich (D-OH);
Cynthia McKinney (D-GA);.
Major Owens (D-NY)
Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI);.
Maurice Hinchey (D-NY);
Barbara Lee (D-CA);
Jerrold Nadler (D-NY); and
Lynn Woolsey(D-CA).
John Cavanagh,
director of the Institute for Policy Studies also made some remarks
regarding public interest groups support of a progressive agenda.
[22]
- The Congressional Progressive Caucus, Chaired by Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), consists of over a quarter of the House Democrats, one Independent and Senator Paul Wellstone.
The Caucus will be releasing position papers on Health Care and Income
Inequality, with reports on the Alternative Federal Budget, Social
Security, Minimum Wage, Education and the Global Economy.
Radfest 2002
RadFest 2002 was held May 31-June 2 at Aurora University's George Williams Lake Geneva Campus.
RadFest was sponsored by the
A.E. Havens Center for the Study of Social Structures and Social Change. Its director,
Patrick Barrett,
said that “the central goal of the conference is to provide an
opportunity for progressive activists, organizers and intellectuals to
come together to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern,
strengthen networks and devise strategies for progressive social,
economic and political change.”
The second conference plenary, titled “The State of Progressive Politics: Where Are We? Where Are We Going?” featured
Medea Benjamin,
David Newby of the
South Central Wisconsin Coalition of Labor (
AFL-CIO), Madison-based Nation columnist
John Nichols, Rep.
Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) and the
Green Party USA’s
George Martin. “We’re all here to see how we can make this a bigger movement when we leave here,” said Martin.
[23]
Health Care Access resolution
John Conyers promoted House Concurrent Resolution 99 (H. Con Res. 99)
Directing Congress to enact legislation by October 2004 that provides
access to comprehensive health care for all Americans. IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES April 4, 2001.
Sponsors:
John Conyers (for himself),
Jan Schakowsky,
John Tierney,
Barbara Lee,
Donna Christensen,
David Bonior,
Dennis Kucinich,
Earl Hilliard,
Maurice Hinchey,
Jerry Nadler,
Donald Payne Chaka Fattah,
Peter DeFazio,
John Lewis Tammy Baldwin,
Stephanie Tubbs Jones,
Barney Frank,
Henry Waxman,
Cynthia McKinney,
Jim Langevin,
George Miller Alcee Hastings,
Patsy Mink,
John Olver ,
Bennie Thompson,
Pete Stark,
Julia Carson, and
Mike Capuano submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce;
[24]
- Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), that the Congress shall enact legislation by October 2004
to guarantee that every person in the United States, regardless of
income, age, or employment or health status, has access to health care..
Supporting trade with Cuba
In Fall 2002, Cuba's
Fidel Castro
wined and dined American food producers in Havana, part of a well
crafted "charm offensive" aimed at weakening the U.S. trade embargo.
This spring, Castro made a public relations splash of a different
kind. He imprisoned dozens of Cuban dissidents and executed three men
for hijacking a ferry to flee the country.
The crackdown was denounced worldwide.
The House
Cuba Working Group, which opposes the embargo, includes two Wisconsin lawmakers: conservative Republican
Paul Ryan of Janesville and liberal Democrat
Tammy Baldwin of Madison.
Baldwin said she told Cuban officials recently that "these
arrests and persecutions were not going to make it any easier for those
of us trying to ease travel restrictions and increase trade to make our
case."
Said Ryan: "I think the crackdown may have helped buttress the
argument of people in favor of the embargo. But the argument is based on
a faulty premise: 'See how bad Castro is. We need to keep the embargo.'
What about China? They're bad too. They're doing horrible things every
day, but we think we should engage with them."
[25]
Greets Cuba "normalization"
December 18, 2014, members of Congress from Wisconsin welcomed President
Barack Obama's announcement that his administration will move toward normalizing relations with the communist country.
Democratic Sen.
Tammy Baldwin hailed the announcement as a "historic and positive step" that asserts American leadership by charting a new course with Cuba.
Democratic Reps.
Ron Kind of La Crosse and
Gwen Moore of Milwaukee joined Baldwin in embracing the move.
"It doesn't make sense to have economic relations with a
communist nation like China, yet stay closed off to a nation just 90
miles off our coast," said Kind, who called for eliminating the embargo.
Baldwin said that more than 50 years of U.S. policy to isolate
Cuba "has not achieved our national security objectives, (has) created
hardship for the Cuban people, and failed to weaken the Cuban regime."
At the Milwaukee-based
Wisconsin Coalition to Normalize Relations with Cuba, steering committee member
Art Heitzer
said Badger State residents and companies could benefit from the thaw.
He cited Harley-Davidson motorcycles and Johnson Controls air
conditioning systems as items that could potentially find a market in
Cuba if direct trade is allowed.
[26]
Posada letter
In 2005 several far left Congressmembers wrote to President Bush
urging him to extradite alleged terrorist Luis Posada Carriles to
Venezuela to face justice.
- We are writing to urge you to oppose the application for
asylum by Luis Posada Carriles, and to support the request for
extradition to Venezuela, where he is a fugitive from justice.
Signatories were;
Dennis Kucinich,
Barbara Lee,
Cynthia McKinney,
John Olver,
James McGovern,
Donald Payne,
Lane Evans,
Carolyn Maloney,
Tammy Baldwin,
Lynn Woolsey,
Jose Serrano,
Raul Grijalva,
Maurice Hinchey,
Bobby Rush,
Edolphus Towns,
Sam Farr,
Bennie Thompson,
Ed Pastor,
Sheila Jackson Lee,
Maxine Waters.
[27]
Peace Pledge Coalition
In 2007 90 Members of Congress, pledged in an open letter delivered
to President Bush: "We will only support appropriating funds for U.S.
military operations in Iraq during Fiscal Year 2008 and beyond for the
protection and safe redeployment of all our troops out of Iraq before
you leave office." The letter was initiated by the
Peace Pledge Coalition. The Coalition was led by
Tim Carpenter,
Progressive Democrats of America,
Bob Fertik,
Democrats.com Medea Benjamin,
CodePink,
Bill Fletcher, co-founder of
Center for Labor Renewal David Swanson,
AfterDowningStreet.org,
Democrats.com,
Progressive Democrats of America,
Kevin Zeese,
Voters for Peace,
Democracy Rising,
Brad Friedman, co-founder of
Velvet Revolution,
Bill Moyer,
Backbone Campaign.
Tammy Baldwin signed the letter.
[28][29]
Voted against cutting funding for ACORN
In September 2009, following the lead of their Senate colleagues, the
House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to cut off funds to
ACORN. the vote was 345-75. All of the 75 were democrats, and included
Tammy Baldwin.
[30]
Democratic Socialists of America
Tammy Baldwin's political career has been supported by
Democratic Socialists of America.
Strong "progressive"
After the 1998 Congressional elections
Bob Roman of Chicago
Democratic Socialists of America wrote
[31]:
In addition, the increase in numbers of Democrats in the House
was due to the election of Progressives. These include: Tammy Baldwin
(WI2), the first open lesbian to be elected to Congress and a strong
progressive
DSA support 2004
Democratic Left, Fall 2004, page 6
In 2004
Democratic Socialists of America
targeted local races where control of state houses were up for grabs
and where statewide electoral-vote outcomes hinged on successful local
district turnouts.
[32]
- Incumbent Tammy Baldwin vocally supports equal rights, gay
rights, and expanded health insurance benefits, and her public posture
as an out lesbian is symbolically important. Left critics widely view
her leadership, however, as disappointing and ineffective. Like
Feingold, she faces well-funded right wing opposition. DSAers also are
backing what they call “old-fashioned democrat” Dave Obey in the northwestern part of the state,.”
In
Democratic Socialists of America's
Democratic Left Winter 2004/2005,
Theresa Alt wrote;
[33]
- We reported on the candidates that DSAers were supporting in the last issue of Democratic Left. How did they do?
- In Wisconsin, progressive incumbents Feingold, Baldwin and Obey won. In a race for an open state senate seat, the favored Mark Miller won handily. However, progressive insurgent Bryan Kennedy lost badly..
DSA support 2012
Speaking to Reuters in May 2012
SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin vice president of politics and growth, and one time
Democratic Socialists of America member
Bruce Colburn said of Wisconsin Senate candidate
Tammy Baldwin... "We were looking for a champion, and Tammy fit the bill," .
Baldwin has won endorsement from the local
SEIU.
[34]
DSA approval
According to long time
Democratic Socialists of America member
Jack Clark,
the 2018 midterm campaigns are going to present DSA-ers with a “yes or
no option” in many cases. Democrats that are up for reelection are not
going to come out overnight and say they are socialists. However, if
their ideals and approaches approximate the vision of DSA, Clark said
it’d be silly not to at least give them a shot. Senators like
Elizabeth Warren (D-MA),
Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) represent a “pretty good group of Democrats” in Clark’s eyes.
[35]
Congressional Progressive Caucus
As of February 20 2009
Tammy Baldwin was listed as a member of the
Congressional Progressive Caucus.
[36]
EMILY's List
Baldwin has been supported by
EMILY's List during her campaigning.
"Impeach Cheney"
In January 2008, nine out of 23 Democratic members of the House
Judiciary Committee favor starting impeachment hearings against
Vice-President Dick Cheney. Six of the nine are co-sponsors of H.R. 799,
which contains three articles of impeachment. The nine Democrats on the
House Judiciary Committee who favored impeachment hearings were:
Robert Wexler, Fla.;
Luis Gutierrez, Ill.;
Anthony Weiner, N.Y.;
Tammy Baldwin, Wisc.;
Sheila Jackson-Lee, Texas;
Steve Cohen, Tenn.;
Keith Ellison, Minn.;
Maxine Waters, Calif.; and
Hank Johnson, Ga.
[37]
Calling on Israeli Govt. to lift Gaza Travel Ban
On Dec. 22, 2009, thirty-three U.S. Representatives wrote to Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton, calling on her to request that the Israeli Government end the ban on student travel from Gaza to the West Bank.
Tammy Baldwin was one of the signatories of the letter.
[38] The entire letter together with a complete list of signatories can be read by
clicking here.
Supported Lifting the Gaza Blockade
On Jan. 27, 2010, U.S. Representatives
Keith Ellison and
Jim McDermott led 52 other members of Congress in signing a letter addressed to President
Barack Obama, calling for him to use diplomatic pressure to resolve the blockade affecting Gaza.
Tammy Baldwin was one of the signatories of the letter.
[39] The entire letter together with a complete list of signatories can be read by
clicking here.
Committee to Stop FBI Repression
In mid November 2010, a delegation from the
Committee to Stop FBI Repression
( returned home from several days of bringing the "issue of the FBI
raids and grand jury subpoenas of people doing international solidarity
work and anti-war organizing to the U.S. Capitol". Three supporters of
the Marxist-Leninist
Freedom Road Socialist Organization/FightBack!,
Deb Konechne of the
Committee to Stop FBI Repression,
Anh Pham, who is facing a reactivation of her subpoena and
Joe Iosbaker,
whose home was raided, spent two days meeting with U.S. Representatives
on the issue. The delegation asked each Congressperson to sponsor a
“Dear Colleague” letter condemning the raids and grand jury subpoenas.
In the two days, the delegation met with either the Congressional
Representative’s staff or the Representative themselves from the
following 16 offices:
Tammy Baldwin (WI),
John Conyers (MI),
Danny Davis (IL),
Keith Ellison (MN),
Raul Grijalva (AZ),
Luis Gutierrez (IL),
Mike Honda (CA),
Jesse Jackson, Jr. (IL),
Dennis Kucinich (OH),
Barbara Lee (CA),
Jim McDermott (WA),
Jim McGovern (MA),
Bobby Rush (IL),
Linda Sanchez (CA),
Jan Schakowsky (IL),
Maxine Waters
(CA). The "meetings were positive, with all the offices expressing
genuine concern about the situation. In some cases, because of the
outpouring of calls from around the country, the U.S. Representatives
were aware that the delegation was in Washington D.C. and the offices
made time on their schedules to meet with the delegation. This
reinforces the continuing importance of the solidarity work taking place
around the country."
Rep. Conyers (MI), chair of the Judiciary Committee, directed the
Counsel of the Judiciary Committee to meet with the delegation. Also,
Rep. Ellison (MN) and his Congressional staff met directly with the
delegation for a significant amount of time. rep. Ellison sent a letter
to U.S. Attorney General
Eric Holder,
expressing concern over the situation and is continuing to work on
options to support his constituents affected. The delegation also
received face-to-face meetings with Rep Gutierrez and Rep Davis from
Chicago. Rep. Grijalva’s (AZ) office set up a meeting between the
delegation and the Executive Director of the
Congressional Progressive Caucus in the Congress of which rep. Grijalva is the chair. In addition, the office of
Jan Schakowsky (IL) and
Maxine Waters (CA) gave the delegation significant time and attention.
“It was clear that progressive Representatives of the Congress
are very concerned about the FBI investigation. Overall, they were very
thankful for our visit and for the information and analysis given to
them The level of awareness about the raids and grand jury was varied,
from little to full awareness, but the delegation certainly changed
that. After the two days, our presence and purpose definitely created a
stir in the halls of Congress. “The fact that we were able to interact
with 16 legislative aides or Congress people themselves, during an
extremely busy time of restructuring leadership in the Congress,
exemplifies the attention this matter is receiving”, stated
Joe Iosbaker.
[40]
FightingBobFest speaker
Tammy Baldwin has been a guest speaker at Wisconsin's annual progressive
Fighting Bob Fest, every year from 2004 to 2012.
[41]
Filibuster reform
The
Communications Workers of America
is to make filibuster reform a top cause and they're trying to bring
the rest of the union movement along. The union reiterated that goal in
post-election comments.
"The 2012 election makes the reform even more paramount," it said. "Seven Democratic senators-elect -
Tammy Baldwin (Wis.),
Martin Heinrich (N.M.),
Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.),
Mazie Hirono (Hawaii),
Tim Kaine (Va.),
Chris Murphy (Conn.) and
Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) - have all already pledged to Sen.
Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., to support rules reform. And Maine's Independent candidate, former Gov.
Angus King won on a platform included filibuster reform as a major campaign issue.
"The American people want their elected officials to debate and
address the major issues of our time and to move past obstruction for
obstruction's sake," added CWA Legislative Director
Shane Larson.
[42]
Colombia connection
1993 visit to Colombia
Both
Tammy Baldwin and
Mark Pocan went to Colombia on a
Colombia Support Network delegation in 1993, and visited San José de Apartadó.
[43]
Colombia Support Network
On November 7, 2012, the Madison Wisconsin
Colombia Support Network, issued this statement.
[44]
- Colombia Support Network (CSN) celebrates the election last night of two great friends: Tammy Baldwin, elected to the United States Senate, and Mark Pocan,
elected to the United States House of Representatives. Tammy, with the
assistance of Mark, drafted our sister community resolution for Dane
County and Apartadó. Both Tammy and Mark went to Colombia on a CSN
delegation in 1993 and visited San José de Apartadó, 4 years before San
José declared itself a Peace Community. Mark has returned since, meeting
with Senator Manuel Cepeda - Vargas and 3 other leaders of the Patriotic Union movement days before Senator Cepeda was murdered. He is a former CSN Board Member and is currently on our Advisory Board.
- Tammy and Mark have provided great support to our human
rights and sister community work on Colombia. We look forward to their
solidarity from their new positions as Senator and Representative in
Washington D.C. We congratulate them on their election and on their
commitment to good government and support for a sensible U. S. foreign
policy toward Colombia.
Lobbying Feingold on behalf of the CSN
Not long after
Russ Feingold was elected to the United States Senate for his first term, (circa 1993) several members of the
Colombia Support Network Board went to meet him at his office, accompanied by future Congresswoman
Tammy Baldwin and future Wisconsin State Representative
Mark Pocan, at the time both members of the Dane County Board.
- Senator Feingold listened carefully to our concerns about the
dramatic situation in our sister community of Apartado, even though he
had no particular reason to be interested in Colombia, South America. [45]
CSN confirmed Baldwin's Colombia visit in a 2010 article;
- For the past 22 years the Colombia Support Network (CSN) in
Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin has had a sister community relationship
with Apartado, Colombia. During that time numerous delegations of United
States citizens have gone to our sister community and several visitors
have come from Colombia to visit us here in the United States. Among
those who have traveled to Apartado with us is Tammy Baldwin,
now a member of the United States House of Representatives. Among the
Colombians who have visited us here in Wisconsin was Apartado Mayor Gloria Isabel Cuartas Montoya, who was accompanied on her visit by Father Francisco Jose de Roux, now the Provincial (head) of the Jesuits in Colombia.[46]
Letter to Presidents Clinton and Samper
Action on Colombia, Summer 1994
In 1994 a letter was sent to US President
Bill Clinton, and Colombian President Samper, apparently from the
Colombia Support Network.
It called on the US to "cut off all aid to Colombia until the
violence has ended", and called for the appointment of a UN Rapporteur
on human rights in Colombia.
Endorsers
- Richard Phelps, Dane County executive
- Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin State Rep.
- Noam Chomsky
- Roy Bourgeois, School of the Americas Watch
- Blase Bonpane, Office of the Americas
- Larry Birns, Council on Hemispheric Affairs
- Martin Sheen
- Jean Gore, WILPF
- Marie Dennis, Maryknoll Society
- Fred Rosen, NACLA
- Mark Pocan, Dane County Supervisor
- Haskell Wexler
- David Newby, President Wisconsin AFL-CIO
- Rev. Tim Kehl, Colombia Support Network
CSN Advisory Board
In the Spring of 1995
Colombia Support Network developed an Advisory Board.
Initial members were;
Open Letter to the Colombian People, Aug. 1996
"Stop the Bloodshed in Uraba, Due Process for
Jose Antonio Lopez,
Nelson Campo and others, and an End to Faceless Justice and Political Repression".
- We, the undersigned, are North Americans and others who are deeply disturbed by the human rights situation in Colombia.
- Massacres, disappearances and torture happen continually in
the anguished region of Uraba. We can not understand how paramilitary
groups operate so freely in this militarized region where the Colombian
army is present in massive numbers, and which does not perform its
constitutional function of defending the civilian population. And we can
not understand why the regional paramilitary leader is not apprehended
and brought to justice for his crimes against humanity.
- We call upon all armed parties -- paramilitary units,
guerrillas, army, police, urban militias and commandos -- to immediately
cease all attacks upon both the civilian population and upon each
other. Justice, peace and a fruitful life is never found through murder,
torture, kidnapping and intimidation.
Tammy Baldwin signed the letter, from the
Colombia Support Network .
[47]
No to military aid to Colombia
On the same day (2000) that President Clinton used a White House
press conference to promote the $1.7 billion Colombian military aid
package -- which Congress has considered as part of the fiscal year 2000
supplemental appropriations bill -- U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison,
took to the floor of the House to say, "No mas.
Baldwin attacked the aid package as a misguided initiative that will not help the peace process in Colombia.
The aid package pushed by Clinton and congressional Republicans
"would spend a fortune to make everything in that Latin American country
worse. It seeks to direct U.S. money into Colombia's military, while
failing to address fundamental problems such as economic inequality,
lack of economic development and a corrupt judiciary".
"Peace is what Colombia needs. Peace will allow democracy to
flourish; peace will permit law enforcement officials to combat the flow
of illicit drugs; and peace will create the conditions to address the
income inequalities, the problems of displaced persons and economic
development issues that will truly improve the lives of Colombian
people,
said Baldwin.
"Unfortunately, the aid package we are considering today will not help the peace process,
the Madison Democrat told the House. "In fact, it fails to address the
underlying issues that are needed to promote peace in Colombia.
Baldwin, who visited Colombia in 1993 when she was a member of
the Wisconsin Assembly, has worked closely with the Madison-based
Colombia Support Network
to educate other House members about the failure of the Colombian
military to make a serious effort to disband right-wing paramilitary
groups. And she has long questioned whether sending more U.S. weapons to
the South American country will result in a reduction of drug
trafficking, as Clinton and his aides claim.
[48]
"Unfortunately, we seem to be playing a game of public relations when we should be pursuing peace in the region,
says Baldwin.
"Andean Region Contractor Accountability Act"
April 25, 2001 Rep.
Jan Schakowsky introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations
- To prohibit the United States Government from providing
financing for nongovernmental organizations or individuals to carry out
military, law enforcement, armed rescue, or other related operations in
the countries of the Andean region, including any operations relating to
narcotics control efforts.
This Act may be cited as the `Andean Region Contractor Accountability Act'.
- In this Act, the term `countries of the Andean region' means
the Republic of Bolivia, the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Republic
of Ecuador, the Republic of Colombia, the Republic of Panama, the
Republic of Peru, and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. [49]
The Bill was co-sponsored by Reps
Tammy Baldwin,
Dennis Kucinich,
Jim McGovern,
Jose Serrano and
Cynthia McKinney.
According to the
Colombia Support Network,
Reps Schakowsky, Baldwin and McGovern have all been to the Peace
Community of San Jose de Arpardato and have seen the effects of violence
in
Colombia.
[50]
Colombia Support Network letter
In 2002, the
Colombia Support Network organized a :dear colleague" letter to President Andres Pastrana Arango, of Colombia, through
Ned Steiner, a staffer in Rep.
Sam Farr's office.
The letter called on President Pastrana to end a military
blockade on the Colombian town of San Jose de Apartado, a sister
community of Madison Wisconsin, where the
Colombia Support Network is based.
- We write to you to bring your attention to the humanitarian
crisis facing the civilian population of the Peace Community San Jose de
Apartadó and its outlying settlements.
- We urge the appropriate authorities of your government to
dismantle the paramilitary checkpoint on the road between San Jose and
Apartadó, ensure the continued safety of the road, and fully investigate
recent threats and attacks on the Peace Community.
- The Peace Community San Jose de Apartadó and its settlements,
including the village of La Union, receive the permanent accompaniment
of international organizations.
- These include Peace Brigades International (PBI), as well as the U.S. Fellowship of Reconciliation
(FOR), which currently has two US citizens in La Union. We support the
work of these two respected organizations as well as the Peace Community
in its effort to build a non-violent alternative to the conflict.
Representatives who signed the
Colombia Support Network inspired letter in 2001 included
Tammy Baldwin.
[51]
Letter to Uribe urging dialog with FARC
In what has been regarded as a turning point in its policy of peace,
President Alvaro Uribe agreed to talk with the guerrillas in a small
town to find a solution to a humanitarian agreement to release hundreds
of hostages in Colombia.
Since taking office on August 7, 2002, Uribe had emphatically
warned not to allow the demilitarization of any point of the national
territory, as this "would demoralize the troops who have waged a
relentless war against armed groups" .
On July 26 2005, the government informed the rebels that is
willing to talk with them "whenever and wherever they want, with
security conditions that give them confidence, national or international
support as they decide."
All this happens 48 hours after
James McGovern,
Raul Grijalva and
Tammy Baldwin, US congressional Democrats, they asked President Uribe to "make an effort to negotiate a humanitarian agreement".
In the letter sent to the President the three lawmakers expressed
concern that situations like the failed rescue in May 2003 the governor
of Antioquia, Guillermo Gaviria and former Defense Minister Gilberto
Echeverry, where the hostages lost their lives recurrence.
"While we understand that the temporary withdrawal of the
military presence is not the best option, we believe remains superior to
an attempted armed rescue that endangers the lives of the hostages,"
the letter says.
In the letter, however, they say the agreement congresitas must
be accompanied by a commitment that FARC guerrillas released not return
to conflict and remind the government of France offered to host the
guerrillas freed in exchange. Indeed, three weeks an envoy of French
President Jacques Chirac ago, he met "somewhere in Colombia," with "Raul
Reyes", chief spokesman for the FARC, to advance negotiations to set
free Betancourt, who also has gala nationality and whose cause has
generated a worldwide crusade of solidarity with people who are hostage
in the country.
[52]
2006 letter to Condoleezza Rice on Colombia
Alleged Colombian Army killings prompted
Fellowship of Reconciliation to work with Representative
Sam Farr
to forge a response that would impact the 17th Brigade, the unit
allegedly responsible for the violence against San José de Apartadó and
communities throughout northwestern Colombia.
As a result, Reps.
Sam Farr and
Jim McGovern, wrote a letter to their colleagues in Congress urging them to join in calling on Secretary
Condoleezza Rice to cut funding for the Colombian military.
- Letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
- (Deadline for Congressional representatives to sign: February 22)
- We applaud the decision, noted in your certification letter
of August 2005, that the US "will not consider providing assistance to
the 17th Brigade until all significant human rights allegations
involving the unit have been credibly addressed." Because the Brigade is
a component of the Colombian Armed Forces' command structure and has
been implicated in the above referenced human rights violations, we
implore you to abide by both the letter of the law and the spirit of the
law by withholding human rights certification for Colombia until the
following conditions are met:
Signatories included
Tammy Baldwin.
[53]
Meeting Gustavo Petro
Colombia Action Summer 2007
In 2007
Jack Laun of
Colombia Support Network took Senator
Gustavo Petro of the
Polo Democratico Colombia to Congress. They met a staffer from
David Obey's office , with Rep.
Tammy Baldwin and with Senator
Russ Feingold and a representative of Senator
Ted Kennedy.
In his youth, Petro was a member of the militant guerrilla group
19th of April Movement, which later evolved into the
Alianza Democrática M-19, a political party in which Petro also participated.
"Dear colleagues" letter on Colombia
In September 2009 Rep. Tammy Baldwin was circulating a ‘Dear
Colleague’ letter, which urges members of Congress to sign a letter to
President Obama. This letter expressed concern and urged caution
regarding a U.S. military base agreement with Colombia.
[54]
2009 letter on Colombia
From November 6th through December 7th 2009, a letter calling for
change in U.S. policy towards Colombia was circulated through the House
of Representatives. This letter called for a decrease in U.S. aid for
Colombia's military and an increase in support for human rights and
humanitarian efforts. The initiators of this letter were
—Representatives
James McGovern,
Jan Schakowsky,
Donald Payne, and
Mike Honda.
- Dear Secretary of State Clinton,
- The FY 2011 budget will contain the twelfth year of a major
aid package to Colombia—an aid package originally slated to phase out
after six years.
- After eleven years, it is time to scale down assistance for
Colombia's military and more systematically "Colombianize" such
programs, within both the State Department and Defense Department
budgets.
Signatories included
Tammy Baldwin.
[55]
Make Progress National Summit 2013
Generation Progress'
Make Progress National Summit 2013 included speakers such as Senator
Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Senator
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Special Assistant to the President
David Simas, Representative
Keith Ellison (D-MN), Representative
Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Facebook Co-Founder
Chris Hughes, former Chief Technology Officer of the United States
Aneesh Chopra,
Amy Dacey of EMILY’s List, and
Alex Wagner of MSNBC.
[56]
ARA supporting Tammy Baldwin
Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans, supported
Tammy Baldwin with a Senior Power Lunch, November 28, 2012.
ARA endorsement, 2012
The
Alliance for Retired Americans endorsed Tammy Baldwin in 2012.
[57]
JStreet endorsement, 2012
In 2012, the the
JStreet
PAC endorsed seven Senatorial candidates, all of whom emerged
victorious. The Senate slate, which has more than doubled in size since
2010, included pro-Israel leaders Senate Intelligence Committee Chair
Sen.
Dianne Feinstein (CA), Sen.
Maria Cantwell (WA) and Sen.
Sheldon Whitehouse
(RI). The PAC also backed winning candidates in some of the most
competitive Senate races in the country, raising more than $100,000 each
for Sen.
Sherrod Brown (OH), Rep.
Tammy Baldwin (WI), Governor
Tim Kaine (VA) and Rep.
Martin Heinrich (NM).
In the handful of instances in this cycle when endorsees were
attacked by right-wing groups for their positions on Israel, JStreetPAC
turned the original offense into opportunity. When the Emergency
Committee for Israel attempted to label Tammy Baldwin an “extremist” and
her opponent, former Governor Tommy Thompson, called her “anti-Israel
and “anti-Jewish,” JStreetPAC raised tens of thousands of dollars for
Baldwin, mounted an earned and paid media campaign in her defense, and
turned out droves of activists to support her at community events across
the state.
[58]
2014
The socialist infiltrated, anti-Israel "two state solution"
JStreet PAC endorsed several "off cycle" Senators in 2014, including Tammy Baldwin.
[59]
2016
JStreet endorsed Baldwin in 2016.
- She is a strong supporter of Israel and two-state peace and
was also endorsed by JStreetPAC in her 2010 campaign for reelection to
the House of Representatives, as well as her 2014 election to her full
term in the United States Senate.[60]
Honduras letter
On Thursday, May 23, 2013, U.S. Senator Cardin (D-MD) circulated a
Senate sign-on "Dear Colleague" letter to Secretary of State John Kerry
addressing deepening concerns about Human Rights and the Rule of Law in
Honduras.
The letter states that violence and impunity for state security
forces in Honduras has reached intolerable levels and cites concerns
related to extrajudicial killings, linkages to death squads, and
increasing militarization of civilian law enforcement. The letter also
raises the concern that State Department certifications intended to
ensure that U.S. foreign aid supports the rule of law in Honduras may
contradict the reality on the ground.
The letter asks State Department to:
- provide Congress with a detailed assessment of the efficacy of
current Honduran government efforts to address this issue as mandated by
FY12 Appropriations language;
- conduct a detailed review of specific State Department actions to
help ensure that no U.S. funds are being used to support police
implicated in human rights violations; and
- make every reasonable effort to help ensure that Honduras' upcoming November 2013 elections are free, fair and peaceful.[61]
In addition to Cardin, the letter was cosigned by Senators
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI),
Patrick Leahy (D-VT),
Barbara Mikulski (D-MD),
Jeff Merkley (D-OR),
Tom Harkin (D-IA),
Ron Wyden (D-OR),
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI),
Jack Reed (D-RI),
Mark Udall (D-CO),
Martin Heinrich (D-NM),
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI),
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA),
Tim Kaine (D-VA),
Michael F. Bennet (D-CO),
Sherrod Brown (D-OH),
Chris Coons (D-DE),
Dick Durbin (D-IL),
Barbara Boxer (D-CA),
Al Franken (D-MN) and
Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).
[62]
Honoring Harvey Milk
Harvey Milk
was honored May 2014 by the U.S. Postal Service with the release of a
stamp featuring his image. At the ceremony unveiling the stamp, Sen.
Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., declared, "I am literally here because of the progress he helped make.”
The senator, who was the first lesbian elected to the House and
then to the Senate, delivered pitch perfect remarks. She recognized
Milk's courage and his vision. She noted, correctly, that many of Milk's
goals have been achieved since his slaying. And she explained, "America
is ready to take even more steps forward. But it's going to take more
acts of courage and conviction, like the ones that made Harvey Milk a
hero to all of us and so many others. After all, before he was an icon,
he was an organizer.”
“So let us use this moment not to simply celebrate the progress
Harvey made in his time but to redouble our efforts to make progress in
our own," said Baldwin, in remarks that captured the essential element
of Milk's electoral activism. As he explained in the 1970s, "I have
never considered myself a candidate. I have always considered myself
part of a movement."
[63]
Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act of 2015
S 299, the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act of 2015, principal sponsors are Sens.
Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and
Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.
[64]
By May 20, it had accumulated 33 co-sponsors, including 26 Democrats -
Sheldon Whitehouse,
Tom Udall,
Dick Durbin,
Thomas Carper,
Amy Klobuchar,
Barbara Boxer,
Jack Reed,
Debbie Stabenow,
Jeff Merkley,
Chris Murphy,
Benjamin Cardin,
Chris Coons,
Dianne Feinstein,
Jeanne Shaheen,
Sherrod Brown,
Mazie Hirono,
Brian Schatz,
Tammy Baldwin,
Ed Markey,
Heidi Heitkamp,
Jon Tester,
Claire McCaskill,
Ron Wyden,
Tim Kaine,
Al Franken,
Elizabeth Warren,
Michael Bennet,
Martin Heinrich .
[65]
Single Payer Bill
Sen.
Bernie Sanders
(I-Vt.) unveiled Wednesday September 13, 2017 a new version of his
plan to give everybody government-run health insurance, potentially
opening a new chapter in the ongoing debate over how to make health care
in the U.S. more affordable and available.
The plan calls for an overhaul of American health insurance with a
souped-up, more generous version of Medicare replacing nearly all
private health insurance ― and government exerting far more control over
the cost of medical care. It would arguably be the most ambitious
social welfare initiative in U.S. history, but Sanders told HuffPost in
an interview Tuesday that he believes America is ready for it.
“The American people are catching on to where the Republicans are
coming from, they see the limitations of the Affordable Care Act and
they’re looking at the alternatives,” Sanders said. “And this is a
rational alternative.”
That roster of co-sponsors includes a who’s-who list of potential Democratic presidential candidates for 2020, including
Cory Booker of New Jersey,
Kirsten Gillibrand of New York,
Kamala Harris of California and
Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Also backing the bill are
Patrick Leahy of Vermont,
Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island,
Al Franken of Minnesota,
Jeff Merkley of Oregon,
Ed Markey of Massachusetts,
Martin Heinrich and
Tom Udall of New Mexico,
Brian Schatz and
Mazie Hirono of Hawaii,
Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut,
Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and
Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin.
[66]
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