CPA News       September 2002 YOU'RE INVITED...  CPA's Summit on the States  - November 23-24,  Capital Hilton, Washington, DC Discuss the impact of the 2002 elections and prepare for the 2003 legislative sessions at CPA's Summit on the States. Workshop topics include: Fiscal Crisis in the States, Education Reform, Prescription Drugs, Corporate Accountability, Reproductive Health, Unemployment Insurance, Death Penalty, and much more! For more information, visit CPA's website or contact Quinta Martin at (202) 956-5132. Register now! CPA's 2002 Awards Dinner - Friday, November 22, Omni-Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC   Please join us on this special evening to pay tribute to outstanding progressive leaders. At this year's Awards Dinner, CPA will honor CPA will honor AFSCME International President Gerald McEntee, Fannie Mae Foundation President and CEO Stacey H. Davis, Washington State Representative Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney, and Kate Kahan, Executive Director of Working for Equality and Economic Liberation. For more details, or to purchase tickets, please click here or contact Chris Rutledge at (202) 956-5151. PROGRESS ON POLICY...  California Enacts Law to Provide Emergency Contraception for Rape Victims   Last week, California became the second state this year, after Washington, to mandate that hospitals provide rape survivors with immediate access to emergency contraception, also known as the "morning-after pill." Emergency contraceptives, which are different than the abortion pill RU-486, are used to prevent pregnancies after unprotected sexual intercourse and should be taken within 72 hours. The measure, authored by Assemblywoman Carole Migden, will help reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies resulting from rape. If patients cannot afford emergency contraceptives they will be provided to them free of charge. Click here to view CPA's emergency contraception model legislation and policy summaries. Arizona Reverses Electricity Deregulation Trend On August 27, Arizona utility regulators voted unanimously to halt a six-year drive toward a deregulated electricity market. Panel members agreed that continuing its plan would risk exposing consumers to market manipulation, price gouging, and the kind of energy crisis experienced in California last year. For state-by-state developments on electricity deregulation and restructuring, visit the Energy Information Administration's webpage. Federal Appeals Court Upholds Florida Medicaid Drug Rebate Program On September 6, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a drug industry challenge to a Florida law that enables the state to negotiate lower prices from drug manufacturers. Eleven other states (HI, IL, KY, LA, MI, MN, MS, NC, NM, VT, WV) have enacted laws similar to the one that was upheld. In its ruling against PhRMA, the Court found that Florida's program "steered doctors and patients toward certain preferred drugs," but it didn't "prevent access" to nonpreferred drugs. Click here for a copy of CPA's model bill and policy summary partially based on Florida's program. California on the Verge of Enacting Landmark Paid Family Leave Measure   On August 30, a bill was sent to California Gov. Gray Davis that would allow workers to collect partial wage replacement for up to six weeks while they take time off to care for a new child, or an ill spouse, domestic partner or other family member. If enacted, the measure sponsored by Sen. Sheila Kuehl and supported by a coalition organized by the California Labor Federation would help workers use their right to take family medical leave. A 2000 survey by the U.S. Department of Labor reported that 78% of eligible employees who needed family or medical leave did not take it because they cannot afford to go without pay. The program would be funded exclusively by employee contributions, costing employers nothing. WEBSITE OF THE MONTH...www.pollingreport.com If you are fascinated by survey research, check out PollingReport.Com, a website that collects the latest publicly-released poll results and arranges them by subject. See recent measures of public opinion on such topics as education, environment, health care, crime, gun control and abortion. The site also addresses political and cultural trends. National polls are free while state-by-state results are available to subscribers only. YOU SHOULD KNOW... CPA Midwest Regional Conference - August 16-17, Milwaukee, WI CPA's final Regional Conference of 2002 was held in the heart of Milwaukee and attended by over 50 state legislators, grassroots leaders, labor advocates, and policy experts. Conference participants enjoyed in-depth strategy sessions on prescription drugs and unemployment insurance as well as policy workshops on mercury poisoning, workers' rights, and education reform. Keynote speaker Joel Rogers, Director of the Center on Wisconsin Strategy, advocated a "high road" strategy to promote socially responsible economic growth. TAKE ACTION... Join 170 Nations in Supporting Women's Equity: Urge US Ratification of CEDAW Now CPA urges you to take action now to help ratify CEDAW, the Treaty for the Rights of Women. Created in 1979 as the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Treaty for the Rights of Women is the most comprehensive international agreement on the basic human rights of women. 170 countries have ratified the treaty. Only 21 nations, including the U.S., Iran, and Afghanistan have not. CEDAW has passed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and is waiting for a floor vote in the Senate this month. It will require a 2/3 majority to pass, or approval from 67 Senators. Ratification would be a powerful statement of our continuing commitment to ending discrimination against women worldwide and in our country. For more information and to take action, log on to www.womenstreaty.org.