Is peace breaking out on Beacon Hill?
With a new arms race beginning and white nationalism in the White House, it’s critical that the states step forward to speak out for sane alternatives. Citizens are loudly calling on legislators to act!
Over the next month, four hearings and a teach-in will address the Commonwealth Peace Agenda: nuclear war, the People’s Budget, divestment from the Yemen War and from nuclear weapons, the State Flag and Seal, and the right to boycott. Let’s make peace break out: Attend these events, and speak at the hearings!
Teach-in on the Dangers of Nuclear War
Tuesday, October 22, 11am, room 437
Dr. Ira Helfand, Prof. Elaine Scarry, and David Wright will join Sens. Jo Comerford and Patrick O’Connor for a briefing on “Back from the Brink”, a package of 5 measures to prevent nuclear war. State legislators and the public are invited.
Hearing on People’s Budget Resolution
Tuesday, October 22 @ 1:00 pm – Room B-2
The Joint Committee on Revenue will hear testimony on the People’s Budget Resolution (H.3220/ S.1659; only S.1659 will be heard on Oct. 22). It calls on Congress to pass a federal budget that creates millions of jobs, invests in infrastructure, moves towards single payer healthcare, makes college free, expands housing, makes corporations and those with high incomes pay their fair share, and reduces military spending. It also forms a commission to report on the impact this re-prioritized budget would have on Massachusetts.
Hearing on Taxpayers’ Information and Communication Act
Thursday, October 31 @ 1:00 pm – Room A-2
The Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight will hear testimony on the Taxpayers Information and Communication Act (H.2738;S.1819), which mandates that the State Treasurer send an annual, easy to understand report to Massachusetts taxpayers on how their Federal and state income taxes were spent in the prior year.
Hearing on Divestment from War
November 12 – November 22
The Committee on Public Service will hear testimony on two bills. Nuclear Weapons Divestment (H.2202; S.1516) would divest state pension funds from corporations involved in the manufacture or maintenance of nuclear weapons. Divest from the Yemen War/Raytheon (H.2349) would divest state pension funds from companies selling weapons to Saudi Arabia. The hearing date will be between Nov. 12 and 22, but we don’t yet know the exact date or time. Sign up to speak or attend: bit.ly/divest-war-hearing
Hearing on State Flag & Seal and Right to Boycott
Tuesday, November 19 @ 10:30 am – 5:00 pm, Gardner Auditorium
The Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight will hear testimony on two key bills. Change the State Flag and Seal (H.2776, S1877) would form a commission to redesign the state flag, seal, and motto, which currently depict the conquest of Massachusetts from Native Americans. We oppose the second bill, An Act prohibiting discrimination in state contracts (H.2719), which seeks to penalize those who boycott for Palestinian rights. We defeated it last year, but it has been re-filed. Sign up to speak or attend: bit.ly/flag-seal-boycott-hearing
