Moving a National Progressive Message through State Policy
Whether it's attacking immigrant rights, attempting to nullify health care reform, banning gay marriage or promoting anti-abortion policy, for decades the right wing has systematically used state legislation, resolutions and ballot initiatives to move their broader national political message. Meanwhile, the filibuster and compromises at the federal level have made national policy an increasingly inefficient vehicle for clear ideological messaging—especially for progressives. This panel will explore how progressive state legislators, issue advocates and the netroots can use state campaigns not only to frame policy and political battles in individual states, but also to drive a national progressive message by increasing coordination across state lines. It will highlight recent high-profile fights in the states around immigration and health care as well as progressive messaging successes on issues like tax and budget policy and unemployment insurance reform. State lawmakers will join advocates, activists and state bloggers to talk about how best to work together in 2010, 2011 and beyond to build the progressive movement and drive a national message through action in the states.
Kyrsten Sinema serves as the Assistant Leader to the Democratic Caucus in the House of Representatives and represents central Phoenix in the Arizona Legislature District 15. Now in her third term, she is the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, and also serves on the House Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee.
Kyrsten holds both a law degree and a Master’s degree in Social Work from Arizona State University, and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in the School of Justice and Social Inquiry at ASU. She is an adjunct professor in the School of Social Work at ASU and practices law when not in session.
Kyrsten has worked on initiatives in Arizona and around the country for a number of years, and in 2006 chaired Arizona Together, the first and only successful effort in the country to defeat a same-sex marriage ballot initiative. In 2008, she chaired Protect Arizona’s Freedom, the coalition that defeated Ward Connerly’s effort to place an initiative on the state ballot to eliminate equal opportunity programs. She continues to consult with political groups around the nation on electoral and legislative strategy.
Representative Sinema was chosen last year as one of 32 state lawmakers nationwide, and the only legislator from Arizona, for the White House Health Reform Task Force. As a member of the Task Force, Sinema has worked with Arizonans to help shape national health reform so that middle-class families can have access to quality and affordable health care. The historic passage of health reform in Congress was signed into law on Tuesday, March 23rd 2010.
Kyrsten is a strong voice for the community at the national level, appearing on CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, and she speaks regularly at national conferences on a variety of issues including health care, immigration, equal rights, ballot initiatives, messaging strategy, coalition building.
Kyrsten’s first book, Unite and Conquer: How to Build Coalitions that Win and Last, was released in July 2009 by Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
Maurice Emsellem is the National Employment Law Project’s (NELP) Co-Policy Director. NELP is a research and advocacy organization that delivers on the nation’s promise of economic opportunity. Mr. Emsellem specializes in government systems of support for unemployed workers and the employment rights of people with criminal records. He and his colleagues at NELP have co-authored several publications, including scholarly articles that appeared in the Stanford Law & Policy Review and the University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform. Mr. Emsellem was a Soros Justice Senior Fellow (2005), and a Visiting Public Interest Mentor at Stanford Law School (2003). He received his B.A. in 1982 from the University of Michigan and his J.D. in 1986 from Northeastern University School of Law.
Representative Jefferson Smith is the Founding Chair of the Oregon Bus Project and one of the Northwest’s foremost spokespersons on voter mobilization and developing new civic leadership. His work with the Bus Project—a grassroots political incubator—has engaged thousands of new people new in the political process and successfully advocated for forward-thinking public policy.
A product of Portland public schools and Oregon native, Jefferson worked as a cowhand on a Hermiston farm and attended the University of Oregon. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School and took a job with one of the nation’s highest-paying corporate firms in New York City. Conflicted about defending big tobacco, Jefferson left the position and returned to his native state to found the Oregon Bus Project.
The Bus Project was born in 2001 and has grown to national prominence in recent years. Jefferson and the team's hard work and community organizing engaged thousands of volunteers and knocking on literally hundreds of thousands of doors. Former Oregon Governor Barbara Roberts called the Bus “the most exciting thing in Oregon politics in the last 20 years.”
In November 2008, Jefferson was elected to the Oregon State Legislature as the Representative for House District 47. In his first session alone, he has passed innovative bills ranging from online voter registration and government transparency to progressive water policy and broadband accessibility. Among Jefferson's current legislative priorities are two major bills, one to retrofit public school buildings and another boost Oregon's small business development efforts. He has also become an outspoken advocate for the needs of his constituents.
Media outlets have dubbed Jefferson a “a progressive hero," one of the “Top 20 to Watch," and someone with “vision, youth to help us find a new Path.” Ultimate Northwest Magazine made him their Rethinking Politics coverboy, noting,“He’s saving democracy. What are you doing?”
Charles has been active participant in the progressive blogosphere since 2002, and has years of professional experience in new media, online organizing, and communications for progressive campaigns and causes. He founded and ran the unofficial “LamontBlog,” an early and influential blog covering Ned Lamont's primary campaign against Sen. Joe Lieberman in Connecticut in 2006, and went on to serve as Deputy Internet Communications Director for the Lamont 2006 general election campaign, Online Communications Director for Jim Himes’ (D-CT) successful campaign for Congress in 2008, and ran a watch blog covering the actions of Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN) in 2009. Charles currently coordinates communications and new media for Progressive States Network, a national nonprofit working to build a network of progressive state legislators and advocates to move progressive policy and transform the political debate across the fifty states.
