Martin O'Malley: A Hillary Alternative

There are many Democrats around the country that aren't ready to just hand Hillary Clinton the Democratic nomination next year, many of us feel that she needs to earn it first.  That is why many of us are looking for an alternative. Unfortunately, alternative Democrats are hard to find at the moment. It seems they are afraid of the Clinton juggernaut unless that is, you're the former governor of Maryland and your name happens to be Martin O'Malley.

O'Malley has been quietly going around Iowa and New Hampshire seeking support in advance of his own 2016 campaign announcement.  He hasn't been flashy or made a lot of headlines as of yet but he is a true progressive, isn't afraid to show it and he has a record to stand on. Martin O'Malley is a former a two-term Mayor of the city of Baltimore and a former two-term Governor of Maryland:

"Called “the best manager in government today,” Governor O’Malley has been nationally recognized for his skillful leadership of Maryland through the recession, as well as his success in implementing critical progressive priorities such as raising the minimum wage to $10.10, signing marriage equality into law, abolishing the death penalty and passing the DREAM Act to provide in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants. During his two terms, O’Malley recovered 100% of the jobs lost during the recession, first and foremost by investing in education, innovation and infrastructure. Under his leadership, Education Week magazine named Maryland’s public schools #1 in the nation for an unprecedented five years in a row, the College Board listed Maryland as one of the top states in the country for holding down the cost of college, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce named Maryland #1 in innovation and entrepreneurship three years in a row. As a leader in sustainability, O’Malley expanded renewable energy, accelerated energy conservation, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and took bold action to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay. 

Prior to serving as Governor of Maryland, O’Malley served two terms as Mayor of Baltimore. Governor O’Malley received his bachelor’s degree from Catholic University and his law degree from the University of Maryland..."

Check out his website and his Twitter page @GovernorOMalley to start familiarizing yourself with him. I think he makes an attractive alternative for the anti-Hillary crowd.

NEW JERSEY DEMOCRATS DARE TO DREAM

For Immediate Release:
Nov.14th, 2013

State Vice Chair Urges Passage of Equal Educational Opportunity Bill Despite Governor Christie's Inconsistency

(Trenton) – Today, the New Jersey Democratic State Committee Vice Chair, Lizette Delgado-Polanco called for equal educational opportunity in the state. Addressing the Senate Budget Committee, she urged swift passage of S. 2479, legislation similar to the one known nationally as the DREAM Act, which allows young New Jerseyans in the state school system to access the same college education opportunities as their classmates regardless of pending citizenship status.

For thousands of New Jersey students aspiring to the American dream, a dream of a higher education delayed is a dream denied. Undocumented immigrant students, despite remaining academically competitive and contributing to the tax base, are precluded from receiving in-state college tuition or from applying for state financial aid. For the students subject to this inequity, a college degree becomes cost-prohibitive.

The highest ranking female in the state Democratic Party organization, Delgado-Polanco also serves as Executive Director of the SEIU New Jersey State Council. "Now is the time to remove roadblocks that stand in the path of young men and women who want to better themselves, their families, their state and their country. Capable students should not be stopped from achieving their dreams," said Delgado-Polanco, who is of Dominican heritage, and the first in her family to be born in the United States. "The state has already invested in these student's primary schooling. If the state can find $24 million for an unnecessary, low-turnout special election then surely it can allow promising students to receive in-state tuition rates and to apply for financial aid."

Governor Christie's position on tuition equality for undocumented New Jerseyans has been inconsistent. Or, arguably, he has been consistent in taking both sides of this issue, among others. Christie opposed the federal DREAM Act and initially pledged to veto its state equivalent saying that he doesn’t believe in subsidizing the education of DREAMers with taxpayer money. Last month, however, as the election approached, he switched his position, promising, “We will get it done in the lame duck.” Calling it a moral requirement to provide every child the opportunity to reach their God-given potential, he also said politicians, like himself, should be "held to account for our deeds, not just our words."

The legislation, S. 2479, provides tuition equality at public colleges and universities and access to state aid for qualified undocumented students whose parents brought them to the United States illegally as children. Undocumented students must have attended at least three years of high school and received a diploma in New Jersey, and they must vow to seek legalization once they have that opportunity.

Mayors representing more than one million New Jersey residents also endorsed the legislation, because it will help create the diverse, highly skilled workforce needed to win the future.

Mayors Representing Over 1 Million NJ Residents Call On Legislature To Pass Tuition Equity & State Aid Bill For Undocumented Students

For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, November 12th, 2013

Mayors Demand Equality & Economic Opportunity

(Trenton, New Jersey) – Today, a group of New Jersey mayors released a letter of support for a plan allowing undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition and state scholarships. The letter calls for both the Senate and Assembly to adopt and approve s. 2479 - the Senate version of the bill. Signers include mayors of three of the state’s largest four towns, and represent more than one million New Jersey residents.
New Jersey’s Democratically-controlled state legislature is currently grappling with details of the bill - which, last month, Governor Christie signaled he would sign. The legislation - known nationally as the DREAM Act - is scheduled for a committee hearing in the State Senate this Thursday, November 14th.

Mayors signing the letter include:

Luis Quintana, Newark

Steven Fulop, Jersey City

Christian Bollwage, Elizabeth

Alex Blanco, Passaic

Timothy Dougherty, Morristown

Wilda Diaz, Perth Amboy

Timothy Cahill, New Brunswick

Dana Redd, Camden

Adrian Mapp, Plainfileld (Mayor-Elect)

Lester Taylor, East Orange (Mayor-Elect)


“Tuition equity and assistance to qualified, undocumented immigrant college students is necessary to give our state the diverse, highly skilled workforce we need to win the future,” the letter states. Citing the “unfair punishment” of placing barriers to higher education for students whose immigration status is unresolved through no fault of their own, the letter also points to the “terrible waste of municipal, state and federal dollars previously spent educating these young Dreamers in our local schools.”

“New Jersey Mayors know this: The more we invest in students, the better our towns become for all residents,” said Giancarlo Tello, an undocumented student and member of the New Jersey Dream Act Coalition. “Students from across New Jersey appreciate this support and are ready to mobilize to ensure Governor Christie signs a bill that includes tuition equality and state assistance this year.”

The current version of the Senate bill - sponsored by Senator Teresa Ruiz (LD 29) - includes tuition equality and access to state aid for undocumented students. This is provided they meet eligibility requirements: such as three years in a New Jersey high school, as well as graduation from a New Jersey high school, or having obtained a GED in New Jersey. Students must also file an affidavit promising to legalize their status as soon as they can. In the case of state aid, there is already a requirement for all applicants to prove they are paying taxes, which makes them eligible for access to funds they are already paying into.

The Assembly bill - A.3509 - is not yet scheduled for action, although an Assembly committee approved a bill in June that cut the state aid. Students and mayors alike are urging the legislature to pass the comprehensive Senate bill that includes the state aid.

******

HERE IS THE CONTENT OF THE LETTER SENT BY NEW JERSEY MAYORS IN SUPPORT OF THE DREAM ACT.

Dear New Jersey Legislators,

We reach out to you on behalf of the thousands of residents we represent in each of our cities, and the countless numbers of students we have expended collective resources to educate in the hope that they can pursue their dreams and aspirations and then give back to our cities, state and country.

As mayors of municipalities big and small, we recognize that an education and the promise of a bright future is a key factor in building communities, lowering crime, and ensuring the general wellbeing of the residents we proudly and tirelessly represent. Unfortunately, in New Jersey, many of our best and brightest are left out of this vital pursuit of higher education. Charging these students, at times three times the rate of their high school peers, and barring them from access to state aid is not only an unfair punishment on children who find themselves in an immigration status limbo through no fault of their own, but it is a terrible waste of municipal, state and federal dollars previously spent educating these young Dreamers in our local schools. To add to this shameful waste, setting such often insurmountable economic obstacles on our students results in a sense of loss and hopelessness. Denied access to education feeds a cycle of poverty that proves deeply detrimental. Tuition equity and assistance to qualified, undocumented immigrant college students is necessary to give our state the diverse, highly skilled workforce we need to win the future.

We ask that you support and move SB 2479 in New Jersey, which gives undocumented students a shot at the American Dream by allowing those who grew up in the state to pay in-state tuition at colleges and universities.

SB 2479 is an important step on the road to common sense immigration reform across our state — and our nation as a whole. It will be a dream come true for thousands of bright, undocumented young men and women who are among the leaders of tomorrow. We urge New Jersey’s Senate and Assembly to do the right thing and open the door for these young people to lift themselves and their families into the middle class and help grow our state’s economy.

President Obama's Weekly Address 6/8/13: Time to Pass Commonsense Immigration Reform

In this week’s address, President Obama says that the United States Senate will soon take action to fix our broken immigration system with a commonsense bill, and urges lawmakers to act quickly to pass this bill so that we can continue to live up to our traditions as a nation of laws, and also a nation of immigrants.

Hearing from You

From the E-Newsletter of Congressman Rush Holt:


I appreciated the chance to hear the thoughts, ideas, and concerns of Central New Jerseyans when hundreds joined me for a telephone town hall meeting on Tuesday evening.  A recording of our conversation is now available online.

Among the questions raised:  Leonard in Somerset asked about the legal authority behind the President’s decision to defer deportation actions against certain undocumented immigrants.

Congressman Rush Holt

As you may have heard, the President’s action applies only to immigrants who were brought to the United States as children and who are now productive and law-abiding residents:  those who have, for instance, graduated from school or been honorably discharged from the U.S. military.

As I expressed on the call, the executive branch has the authority to determine America’s law enforcement priorities, and I believe that it is sensible to focus our limited resources where they can do the most good:  securing our borders and deporting violent offenders.  But the President’s actions are only a stopgap measure.  I am a cosponsor of the DREAM Act to make similar provisions permanent and have called for meaningful, comprehensive immigration reform.

Bill in Holmdel asked, “What’s going on with student loan interest rates that… we’re going to be burdening our kids with?”

I explained that, a couple of years ago, I helped write legislation to greatly reduce the interest rates that students pay for federal college loans.  But now there is trouble looming.  The House majority has failed to act to prevent student loan interest rates from doubling from 3.4 to 6.8 percent on July 1.  If nothing changes, 150,000 New Jersey students will face sharply higher college costs – on average, about $1,000 in additional loan payments each.  The Republican majority must act to support students.

Other issues raised on the call included the Supreme Court’s pending ruling on health care reform, the expiration of tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, and campaign finance reform.

Please stay tuned over the next few months for information on how to join further town halls, both over the phone and in person.

Stopping Flooding Before It Occurs

When Hurricane Irene hit New Jersey last year, it cast more than 10,000 people from their homes and left more than 190,000 utility customers without power.  We saw firsthand that the best time to address flooding is before severe weather occurs.

Earlier this month, the House of Representatives took a step toward preventing flooding in New Jersey and across the nation.  I offered, and the House passed, an amendment to increase funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide flood protection.  Many Corps projects are already underway across the nation to ensure disaster readiness, including New Jersey projects at Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook Bay in Middletown Township and at the Green Brook Sub-Basin of the Raritan River Basin.

Visit Ready.gov to make sure you are prepared in case of future hurricanes or other natural disasters.

Visiting Washington, D.C.

If you are planning a visit to Washington, D.C., I would be glad to offer assistance in arranging tours of the U.S. Capitol, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the Pentagon, the Library of Congress, and other popular sites.

Please note that many of these sites offer tours on a first-come, first-served basis, so the sooner you contact me, the greater the likelihood that I can help.  When possible, it is best to plan your trip three to six months in advance.

For further information or to request a tour, please visit my website.

Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress