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Press Releases

  • Sep 16, 2008
    New York - Despite a mainstream media narrative trumpeting 2008 as the year of anti-immigrant legislation, a report released today by the Progressive States Network reveals that most anti-immigrant legislation never passed, while positive policies working to integrate new immigrants into our communities have actually fared far better in states around the country.
  • Jul 31, 2008

    Boston - In a voice vote late last night, the Massachusetts Senate adopted legislation to enter the state into a growing interstate compact to replace the current Electoral College apportionment system with a national popular vote system.  The bill, which was approved by the state House of Representatives by a 119-37 vote last month, is now awaiting a procedural vote by both houses to send it to the desk of Governor Deval Patrick.

  • May 07, 2008

    Hartford - The Progressive States Network, a national group that tracks state initiatives to achieve quality and affordable health care, lauded the Senate's passage of the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership (HB 5536) and strongly urged Governor Rell to sign the legislation. Connecticut would be the first state to allow small businesses and municipalities to buy into the non-profit group health plan currently provided to state employees - potentially saving local taxpayers millions of dollars and reducing small employer premiums.

    Allowing small businesses, non-profits, and municipalities to join the 200,000 members-strong state plan will foster competition among health insurance carriers and give employers, municipalities and working families the clout they need to negotiate a better deal for health insurance.

  • Apr 23, 2008

    Hartford - Tonight, in a 102 to 43 vote, the Connecticut House of Representatives approved legislation that would dramatically reduce health insurance costs for tens of thousands of Connecticut residents by allowing them to buy into the group plan currently provided to state employees.

    By allowing small businesses, non-profits, and municipalities to join the 200,000 members-strong state plan, the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership would foster competition among health insurance carriers and enable employers to access extensive benefits with lower premiums, deductibles and co-pays for their employees.

  • Mar 12, 2008

    Providence - Amidst the recent national uproar over lead in children’s toys, the Rhode Island legislature joined statehouses across the country in turning its attention to a new set of poisonous chemicals showing up in children's toys: phthalates and bisphenol-A.

  • Mar 10, 2008
    Madison, WI - Healthy Wisconsin, a legislative package that would guarantee affordable health care to all Wisconsinites, is gaining steam as a national model for state health care reform.  As the revised Healthy Wisconsin bill (SB 562) had its public hearing today before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, the Washington State Legislature neared final passage of legislation authorizing a detailed study of a proposal modeled after Healthy Wisconsin. 
  • Mar 07, 2008
    Brooklyn, NY - At a press conference this afternoon, New York State Representative James Brennan (D, Brooklyn) and State Senator Frank Padavan (R, Queens) unveiled a new bill that would place a one year moratorium on all court-ordered foreclosures in the state.
  • Mar 06, 2008

    Washington D.C. - Legislators and policy experts assembled at the Center for American Progress Action Fund today for a panel to discuss the emerging national trend toward progressive immigration policy in the states.

    At the event, PSN and dozens of partner legislators announced the formation of the Network of State Legislators for Progressive Immigration Policy, a national coalition that will work to facilitate information sharing and collaboration across state lines among progressive legislators and advocates working to build off of the recent progressive gains in the immigration debate.

  • Feb 22, 2008
    Hartford, CT - This Wednesday, Progressive States Network joined with the Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Connecticut to promote legislation designed to stem the flow of toxic toys into the hands of the state’s children.
  • Jan 23, 2008
    Olympia, WA — At a press conference this morning at the State House, in Olympia, State Senator Karen Keiser (D, Des Moines) unveiled an ambitious new bill, called the Washington Health Partnership, that would bring health care to all Washingtonians and introduce new measures to reduce costs and increase quality of care.  At her side was Wisconsin State Senator Jon Erpenbach (D, Madison), author of the Health Wisconsin reform package on which Keiser’s legislation is modeled.