Fresh Updates from RAC

Earlier this month, RJV hosted its annual Advocacy Day in Albany and with our voices raised as one, we spoke on behalf of New York State’s vibrant Reform Jewish community urging state legislators to support the Women’s Equality Agenda and implement fair election reform.  Our actions were noted by legislators, staff and the local press:

• Capitol Confidential (Times Union): Reform Jewish group pushes for women’s agenda
• Capital Tonight (YNN): Here and Now, May 6^th

Just one day after RJV was meeting with legislators about the need for fair election reform, the state Assembly passed a public financing bill by a wide margin (88-50). The measure would implement a 6-to-1 public fund matching program similar to the one in New York City. The bill now proceeds to the Senate. If you are a New York resident, you can see how your member of the Assembly voted here and take a moment to send an email to your Senator urging them to support public funding of elections now!

All New Yorkers can also continue to take action on the Women’s Equality Agenda and encourage legislators to support the 10-point plan, especially the provisions intended to safeguard women’s reproductive health decisions and ensure pay equality.

Take a look at some of our pictures from the day and check out our new website here to learn more about RJV’s work on the Women’s Equality Agenda and fair elections.

Stand up for Reform Jewish values and discover the intersection of public policy, New York State politics and the Reform Jewish Movement at Reform Jewish Voice of New York State’s annual Advocacy Day!

On Monday, May 6^th, join us in Albany to hear from our guest speakers, state Senators Neil Breslin and Andrea Stewart-Cousins and meet with your state legislators about campaign finance reform and the Women’s Equality Agenda, with a particular focus on reproductive health and pay equality.

For all the latest information about Advocacy Day, head over to our Advocacy Day 2013 website and encourage your friends, family and fellow congregants to attend as well! Download a flyer here and spread the word at synagogue; make an announcement at Friday night services, include information in your weekly emails and temple bulletin and reach out to those you think might be interested.

We will prepare you with all the tools you need to become an effective advocate—from prep calls and memos on the issues to lobbying tips, we have everything you need to become an advocate for the Reform Jewish Movement in New York State.

So join us on Monday, May 6^th at the State Capitol in Albany to take part in our Movement’s storied tradition of advocacy that stretches from Moses “lobbying” God to students at the RAC’s L’Taken Social Justice Seminar lobbying their elected officials on gun violence prevention measures, reproductive rights and the environment, among others. Register for Advocacy Day here!

This year, we are heading to Albany on Monday, May 6^th and we hope you will meet us there! Advocacy Day is a unique opportunity to discover the convergence of public policy, New York State politics and the Reform Jewish Movement. In the coming weeks, we will be announcing the issues we will focus on this year. In the past, we have spoken out on protecting reproductive rights, raising the minimum wage, marriage equality and campaign finance reform.

We will prepare you with the tools to turn yourself into an effective advocate—from prep calls and memos on the issues to lobbying tips, we have everything you need to become an advocate for the Reform Jewish movement in New York State.

So join us on Monday, May 6^th at the State Capitol in Albany to take part in our Movement’s storied tradition of advocacy. Register for Advocacy Day here!

Earlier this month, Governor Cuomo’s State of the State address focused on a myriad of issues, many of which show up again in his budget proposal. There is a 4.4% increase in education spending, $1 billion over five years for affordable housing projects, $21 billion in state funds for disaster relief, recovery and mitigation and a provision to raise the state minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $8.75 effective July 1, 2013.

The minimum wage provision is the center of many conversations in Albany. Should this provision remain intact when the state legislature passes the budget, it would mean a $1.50 increase per hour for nearly one million minimum wage workers in the Empire State. This item could gain some Republican support, but Democrats are not pleased that it does not include a provision to index the minimum wage for inflation. Read more…

Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York indulged in the annual right of passage afforded a state executive and delivered his “State of the State” address this afternoon to a crowd of legislators, journalists and politicos in Albany. Just last month he wrote an op-ed for the Times Union outlining his “litmus test” of ten issues the legislature should tackle this year, ranging from education reform and protecting a woman’s right to choose to raising the state minimum wage and campaign finance reform.

These issues have been topics of discussion for the past year in Albany, but ultimately glimmers of progress became few and far in between as the election in November loomed and legislators became increasingly concerned with retaining their seats.  But while all of the policy initiatives outlined by the Governor deserve to be accorded time and energy by legislators, the press and advocacy organizations, there is one issue that has skyrocketed to the top of the list. Read more…

With control of the New York state Senate still unsettled, Governor Cuomo took the time to outline his “litmus test” of issues the legislature should tackle and pointed out opportunities squandered by both the Republican and Democratic Conferences when they were in power. He took to the Times Union last week to discuss how he prefers to form his opinions of individual legislators—specifically, he looks to positions and actions on policy, not party or coalition affiliation. As he pointed out, “I have specific programs and progressive initiatives that I believe must be continued or enacted. I will give or withhold my support based on an individual legislator’s support of those issues.”

The Governor plans to detail his agenda in his upcoming State of the State address in January, but for now let’s take a look at some of his top priorities for the next legislative session that could have bearing on his relationship with the legislature.

1. Campaign Finance Reform: In last year’s State of the State, Gov. Cuomo detailed a two-pronged approach to reform campaign finance laws. In addition to limiting campaign contributions, he also called for system to publicly fund campaigns. The public funding option would most likely be based on the New York City model, which was recently discussed in a New York Times editorial as a possible “best practice” for the state to consider. Both the Union for Reform Judaism and the Central Conference of American Rabbis have resolutions strongly supporting campaign finance reform, and in February 2012 Reform Jewish Voice of New York State sent a letter to the Governor with over 100 other organizations urging him to stand by his State of the State pledge.
2. Raising the Minimum Wage: Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has a proposal on the table to raise the state minimum wage from $7.25/hour to $8.50. The Senate blocked this proposal last session, but there is a glimmer of hope depending on who participates in the final coalition. The Reform Jewish Movement has long been a voice of social and economic equality, and this proposal could ensure that justice for one million New Yorkers.
3. Protecting a Woman’s Right to Choose: Passing the Reproductive Health Act would codify the right to accept or refuse contraception and the right to a late-abortion, if the mother’s doctor determines that her life is in danger. New York was the first state to legalize abortion in 1970 and this legislation would continue New York’s tradition of protecting a women’s right to choose, even if Roe v. Wade was overturned. Protecting a woman’s right to choose is central to the Reform Movement’s work on women’s issues.

When the state legislature returns in January and Gov. Cuomo delivers his policy priorities in his State of the State address, Reform Jewish Voice will continue to be the voice of Reform Jewish social justice across New York State to pursue the issues our tradition emphasizes as vital. We will continue to encourage a collegial and functional relationship between the Governor and the legislature in the hopes that these crucial policies become a reality for New York State.

Rallies have occurred in front of the Governor’s Mansion, around Albany, and across the state. Some lawmakers have worked tirelessly to assuage fears and cajole constituents, while others have spoken up about the deficit of scientific data and the lack of enthusiasm from citizens. And celebrities have found a new cause to throw their support, voices and faces behind.

Despite the protests and célèbre, it seems that hydrofracturing is here to stay in New York. It has been reported that the state is set to issue guidelines for the controversial drilling procedure after Labor Day. New York has stood as an example of the power that citizens have to delay, and perhaps even halt, this method of drilling that involves a highly pressurized mixture of sand, water and unknown chemicals. States like North Dakota and Texas have embraced hydrofracturing as a means to obtain previously inaccessible natural gas deep below the Earth’s surface, but the disclosure of chemicals has remained elusive. It is only within the last year that Texas instated disclosure regulations. Across the border from New York, hydrofracturing is occurring in rural Pennsylvania. Read more…

Since the implementation of the first federal minimum wage in 1938, there have been several successful attempts to increase the wage on both the federal and state level to account for cost of living increases. The last increase at the federal level took place in 2007, when the minimum wage was increased $2.10 over a period of two years. In late July of this year, Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa introduced the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2012, which seeks to raise the minimum wage from $7.25 to $9.80 an hour by 2014.

This legislation has over 100 Congressional co-sponsors, including New York Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. The co-sponsorship by members of the New York delegation is highlighting the stalled attempts in the New York State legislature to raise the state minimum wage to $8.50 an hour. There are currently 1 million New Yorkers earning a living at minimum wage jobs, making $7.25 an hour, who would greatly benefit from a wage increase. Read more…