Restoring the Promise of America, CPA’s fifth annual Progressive Agenda, covers 50 of the most innovative progressive solutions being debated and enacted in the states. Interested in receiving a copy? Email speri@cfpa.org. You can also download the complete Progressive Agenda and access sixty more policy briefs on our website.

Read our latest column, published by the action fund of the Center for American Progress. Executive Director Tim McFeeley explains how progressive state legislators are developing a national agenda based on progressive values. Read more...

S. 49, approved by both chambers, directs Vermont to join a drug importation program initiated by Illinois and endorsed by Kansas, Missouri and Wisconsin. Called I-SaveRx, the plan allows individuals to obtain prescription drugs from licensed and inspected pharmacies in Canada, the United Kingdom, and other European countries. Gov. James Douglas is expected to sign the bill.

Quinta A. Martin joins CPA’s full-time staff as the Senior Director of Leadership Development Programs, Conferences and Special Events. Quinta has provided invaluable services to CPA as a consultant over the past two years and her outstanding work is familiar to all who have attended events. Quinta will be responsible for designing and implementing the acclaimed Flemming Leadership Institute, expanding leadership elements into all CPA programs, planning events and conferences, and integrating the FLI into the fabric of other CPA programs. She can be reached at 202.956.9132 or via qmartin@cfpa.org.

CPA is one of only 50 organizations to receive contributions from Working Assets in 2005! Working Assets customers who:

• make long distance calls and wireless calls through Working Assets, or
• use Working Assets credit cards

will be able to support CPA and our work. By shopping or calling using Working Assets, you will build the pool of donations given to groups such as CPA. Also, by going online to the 2005 ballot, you can tell Working Assets to direct an increased share of this CPA, or whatever group you prefer. The best part is that you can help us simply by using these services to make purchases you ordinarily would make. More details are available at http://www.workingassets.com. We hope you will be able to take part.

As a freshman member of the Illinois House of Representatives in 1993, Carol Ronen watched a bill prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation pass through the House only to fail in the Senate. Once she became a Senator herself, Ronen was determined to ensure the bill's passage through the Senate. Last month, as chief Senate sponsor of SB 3186, Senator Ronen helped extend her state’s human rights protections to prohibit discrimination based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Read more...

This month, we would like to highlight a brand new component of the Center for American Progress' website that focuses exclusively on state and local issues. Here, you can access issue briefs, talking points, original articles, and links to additional resources on a host of progressive issues that specifically relate to the states. You can also sign up for CAP’s new monthly e-newsletter, State Progress.