Diane Denish on NM-1: “We need women’s voices in the U.S. Congress”

By Francesca Ernst on 05/25/2012 @ 12:05 AM

Tags: Why Women, Michelle Lujan Grisham

With only two weeks until her June 5th primary, Michelle Lujan Grisham has surged in the polls and is now under attack. One of our EMILY’s List alums, Former New Mexico Lt. Governor Diane Denish, wrote an op-ed stating, “Now, more than ever, we need women’s voices in the U.S. Congress. It is so important to making sure that the rights of our families – not just women — are preserved. This recent attack by her opponent only solidifies my commitment to vote for Michelle Lujan Grisham for Congress.” We couldn’t agree more! Click here to read her full op-ed.

“Just like EMILY’s List, Diane has been a loyal supporter of Michelle from the very beginning. She understands the real need we have for women’s voices at all levels of government. A big thanks to Diane from all of us for standing strong for Michelle.” EMILY’s List President Stephanie Schriock noted after reading Denish’s op-ed.

Michelle Lujan Grisham needs your support! The primary is June 5th and we have to help her stay strong and fight back against these attacks. Support Michelle Lujan Grisham by donating today!

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By Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on 05/17/2012 @ 04:23 PM

Tags: Why Women, Eleanor Holmes Norton, DC, Abortion

Today an all-male panel of Member of the House will hear witnesses on H.R. 3803, a bill banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy only in the District of Columbia. The Democrats on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution have called a D.C. resident, Professor Christy Zink, whom we recommended to testify, because she had to have an abortion after 20 weeks under tragic circumstances. Her testimony will be front and center. Even before the hearing, however, Republicans have created yet another controversy by refusing to extend me the courtesy of testifying on behalf of the residents I was elected to represent, a long-standing congressional tradition.

Republican bullying tactics began with a bill that passed the House (but not the Senate) that would permanently prohibit the District of Columbia from spending its own local funds on abortions for low-income women. The same Judiciary Committee Republicans have now escalated their attack, from low-income women in the District to all women in the District, as well as women across the region who are cared for by physicians and health care personnel here. Under the bill, physicians who perform post-20-week abortions are subject to fines and up to two years in jail.

Senators, Members of the House, and women throughout the country have Tweeted their outrage. They understand this bill for what it is -- a stalking horse for overturning Roe v. Wade and attacking the reproductive rights of women across the nation. My constituents are the Republicans’ chosen guinea pigs. Now is the time for women across the country to protest what the Republicans are doing to us and to stop them before they reach their chosen destinations nationwide. And now is the time to send more women to Congress, so the voices of women from every state and district can be heard.

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Happy Mother's Day

Motherhood and Politics

By Jenn Addison on 05/15/2012 @ 10:15 AM

Tags: Why Women, Mother's Day

Last weekend was a celebration of mothers, a celebration of women -- the women who shaped our lives and paved the way for generations to come.

In a special Mother’s Day interview on MSNBC’s “UP with Chris Hayes,” Rep. Chellie Pingree and her daughter Hannah Pingree, former Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, discussed the intersection of women’s political ambitions, family life, and modern day policy battles over motherhood.

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And Chellie’s story couldn’t be a better example. Her daughter Hannah pushed her to pursue running for office, telling her mother to “go for it.”

Influenced by her mom, Hannah grew up to become involved in politics herself, becoming Speaker of the House in the Maine State Legislature. “[She] probably is how I got the political bug and why I got so involved in politics today. For me it was amazing to have a mom as a political role model and obviously that’s how we change politics, to have a lot more moms as political role models,” Hannah said of her Mom’s role in her choice to pursue politics.

Chellie explained, “When you get women who have been mothers, who are thinking about family issues, the cost of childcare, the cost to feed your kid, what it takes to get a kid through school and educate them in college, women bring a different sensibility to that.” We couldn’t agree more.

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Meet Gloria Romero Roses

By Staff Writer on 05/15/2012 @ 10:15 AM

Tags: Why Women, Gloria Romero Roses

In a race against scandal-plagued Republican Congressman David Rivera, businesswoman Gloria Romero Roses has stepped into the ring to fight for Florida’s middle class families. Born in Colombia, Gloria has lived in the Sunshine State since age seven. She’s managing partner of Nexus Homes, LLC, which connects investors with high-quality assisted living facilities, and she’s ready to take her business acumen and solutions-oriented approach to Congress. But for Gloria to compete in the newly-drawn 26th Congressional District, she will first have to clear a Democratic primary -- and her campaign is off to a strong start.

Gloria has been “living the American dream” with her family, and she wants to protect programs like Medicare that ensure those dreams don’t get derailed. Meanwhile, her opponent David Rivera has been investigated for criminal and ethical violations. As reported by the Miami Herald, prosecutors said Rivera “‘essentially live[d] off’ campaign contributions for almost a decade while serving as a part-time state lawmaker, paying mortgages on four different properties and jetting around the globe though he never held a full-time job or earned more than $28,000 a year.”

All of this adds up to an opportunity to unseat an unscrupulous Republican with a fresh face like Gloria. Though she’s a first-time candidate, Gloria has been working behind the scenes to support pro-choice, Democratic women as Statewide Vice Chair and Regional Chair of Ruth’s List Florida. She still mentors students at her alma mater, Florida International University, and she’s been involved in educational issues in her community. Gloria’s combination of common sense and dedication to lifting up others is exactly what Florida’s 26th district deserves.

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Show Me a Better Candidate

By Staff Writer on 05/15/2012 @ 10:00 AM

Tags: Why Women, Teresa Hensley

No one is sure about the origin of Missouri’s unofficial slogan, the “Show-Me” state . In an 1899 speech, Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver said, “I come from a state that raises corn and cotton and cockleburs and Democrats, and frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I am from Missouri. You have got to show me.” Though he may not have coined “show-me,” Vandiver certainly popularized the phrase that embodies the no-nonsense character of Missourians.

Cass County Prosecutor Teresa Hensley has the show-me spirit in spades, and she’s ready to bring that approach to Congress so she can fight for the families of the 4th District . She has deep Missouri roots and strong ties to the community she protects by prosecuting criminals . She’s serious about women’s safety, and was recognized by the Missouri Attorney General with a Justice Award for Domestic Violence Prevention . Teresa wants to serve in Congress so she can protect Medicare and Social Security for her parents, union jobs for workers like her brother, and Pell grants for students like her nephew.

Currently representing the 4th District is Tea Partier Vicky Hartzler , swept into Congress on the Republican wave of 2010. Hartzler didn’t get the memo on Missouri’s motto. Apparently, she thought it meant “show me the money” from oil companies (to the tune of over $36,000) and from the Koch Brothers. And she got it wrong again, saying she had “a lot of doubts” about President Obama’s birth certificate and that she didn’t “understand why he didn’t show that right away .”

It’s high time to show Missourians a better candidate, and Teresa Hensley fits the bill.

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