PLI Bulletin
Human Rights, Sexual Harassment, July Fourth and More
Posted on July 3, 2019
Honor Human Rights Resolution: Since the Administration is turning the U.S. into a major violator of fundamental human rights, this is the time to introduce legislation to compel elected officials to take a side—for or against human rights. The Honor Human Rights Resolution calls on America to, at minimum, comply with Eleanor Roosevelt’s historic Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Why we celebrate the Fourth of July: Donald Trump is turning the traditional nonpartisan “Capitol Fourth” celebration in Washington, D.C. into a grotesque partisan rally featuring himself and military weaponry. This is wrong on so many levels. One is—it’s the opposite of why we celebrate the Fourth of July. For more, see the latest IdeaLog, our blog intended to raise eyebrows and engage minds.
Reforming Harassment Law in the States: This webinar, put on by our friends at the National Women’s Law Center, will highlight legislation against sexual harassment in the 2019 sessions, discuss next steps for 2020, and point you toward excellent resources to advocate for gender equity. To register, click here.
Nearly 6-in-10 Latinos experience discrimination: A new poll from the Pew Research Center finds that 58 percent of Hispanic adults have experienced discrimination, and that those with darker skin suffer markedly more discrimination.
Too many people are paying too much for housing: Harvard University’s Joint Center on Housing Studies just released it’s 2019 State of the Nation’s Housing report and we’ve got problems. There’s plenty of housing for the affluent but middle and lower-income people are being squeezed.
Public Leadership Institute featured in USA Today: See the USA Today story which reads, in part, “The group leading the women’s rights counterattack is the Public Leadership Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that has developed a 190-page handbook, “A Playbook for Abortion Rights,” that contains 29 model bills.
Internet Privacy, Crime Rate, Passive Voice and More
Posted on June 19, 2019
Internet Privacy Protection Act: Pushing back against a bad FCC ruling, several states have enacted laws to protect customers from Internet service providers, the most recent being Maine’s LD 946. The Internet Privacy Protection...
Abortion Rights Victories, Limiting Standardized Tests, Message Framing and More
Posted on June 5, 2019
Too Young to Test Act: Given their age, skills and abilities, it is developmentally inappropriate to administer standardized tests to students in prekindergarten through grade two, unless it is necessary for diagnostic screening. In...
Messaging Manipulation, Salary History, Community Schools and More
Posted on May 22, 2019
Salary History Anti-Discrimination Act: Both cities and states are banning employers from requesting a prospective employee’s salary history. The reason is that salary history unjustifiably perpetuates wage discrimination, most often against women and people...
Hate Speech, Teacher Pay, Tobacco Taxes and More
Posted on May 8, 2019
Tobacco Tax Act: Despite the fact that nearly all states have increased tobacco taxes in recent years, polls show that voters would gladly raise them again. The Tobacco Tax Act not only provides millions...
Foam Containers, Economics, Progressive Philosophy and More
Posted on April 24, 2019
Foam Food Container Prohibition Act: Expanded polystyrene is a lightweight material often used as foam food containers. After use, they often break into small beads, absorb toxins, and make their way into waterways where...
Five Words, Fifteen Podcasts, Advocacy Handbook and More
Posted on April 11, 2019
Prepare for an Aging Population Act: As the Baby Boom Generation ages, both state and local governments will need to respond with new programs and services. Shouldn’t we prepare now? The Prepare for an Aging...
Fair Pay, Gig Economy, Progressive Values and More
Posted on March 26, 2019
Fair Pay Act: For Women’s History Month, here’s a version of one of the strongest equal pay laws in the country. The Fair Pay Act provides that employers cannot engage in wage discrimination for...
Social Media, Youth Voting, Repro Rights and More
Posted on March 13, 2019
Transgender Equality Task Force Act: Based on legislation enacted in New Jersey, the Transgender Equality Task Force Act commissions a study to assess legal and societal barriers to equality and provide recommendations to the...
Cyber Security, Non-Verbal Communication, Youth Voting and More
Posted on February 27, 2019
Public Agency Cyber Security Act: Based on legislation that just passed the Virginia General Assembly, the Public Agency Cyber Security Act prohibits public agencies from using hardware, software, or other services that have been...