Progressive MD Launches Voter Contacts for Budget Committee Senators // Direct Mail Hits D32 Sen. Ed DeGrange & Others

UPDATE: On a related note, hundreds of AFSCME members are planning to rally in Annapolis tonight to urge legislators to pass measures to expand collective bargaining rights, protect important services and close tax loopholes for millionaires and corporations. The rally will be at Lawyers’ Mall in front of the State House tonight -- Monday, March 5, from 6:00pm – 7:00pm.

Liberal advocacy group Progressive Maryland is pushing Annapolis legislators to consider restoring Maryland's millionaires tax and close corporate tax loopholes --  before placing additional burdens on working families in the Free State. They are now targeting members of the Senate Budget & Tax Committee (aka B&T) with direct mail and constituent contacts in their home districts. See sample direct mail pieces in Senator Ed DeGrange's District 32 below. In an email message to Maryland Juice, Progressive Maryland also provided some background:

We wanted to reach out to you about Progressive Maryland's ongoing tax fairness campaign, specifically to close corporate tax loopholes and reinstate the millionaire's tax that was allowed to sunset at the close of 2010. 2011 was an incredibly difficult year for us, and many thought we wouldn't be able to hang in there. The good news is that we're building back stronger than ever.

Members of B&T are taking notice of the work we're doing. I've spoken with a few lawmakers who want us out of "their districts." In fact, Sen. DeGrange mentioned the PM mailers at a recent budget hearing. He thanked us for the nice mailers that shared his picture with his constituents, but said that were were wasting our money. We don't think so.

It is time for the members of B&T, including our friends, to do the right things for working families and tax millionaires and big corporations so they pay a fair share. It's amazing to me that in a blue state like MD, we aren't able to close corporate tax loopholes by passing combined reporting like 23 other states, including Texas, have done.

We're doing all that we can to raise awareness and apply pressure. Last Saturday, our members and supporters delivered campaign materials to 8,172 target voters and we're figuring out what else to do during this critical period for the state budget.

Progressive Maryland D32 Direct Mail - Senator Ed DeGrange (Back)

Progressive Maryland D32 Direct Mail - Senator Ed DeGrange (Front)

Progressive Maryland D32 Direct Mail - Ed DeGrange Millionaires Tax