Our Presbytery & General Assembly
Work for Legislative Justice

 
Julie Erickson, Director of Public Policy for the Presbytery of Baltimore, sent a year end review of how our faith-based legislative initiatives seek to help those in need and provide justice to the marginalized.  These may seem like incremental steps, but removing each speck from the eye of justice helps fulfill Jesus' call for justice and mercy (Micah 6:8).
 
Responsible Purchasing Initiative helps us be savvy shoppers who buy goods produced through fair labor practices.   The Baltimore Presbytery overtured the G.A.to sponsor a consortium that will explore and recommend socially-conscious manufacturers and suppliers to us.  It passed.  The list will debut in 2009.

The Sweatfree Bill requires MD state contractors, who supply textile goods such as uniforms, shoes, badges, etc. to the state, to be in compliance with fair trade laws.  This bill will likely become an executive order by Governor O'Malley.  Our Presbytery helped support this bill.

Healthy Air Act of 2007  led to Maryland's membership in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which requires reductions in the emissions of greenhouse gases and funding for increased energy efficiency in low-income homes. The Baltimore Presbytery is working to see that that funding stream is not cut during this economic shortfall.

Faith-Based Advocacy for the Working Poor - Governor O'Malley's budget cuts, expected to total $500 million in 2009, will affect our most vulnerable residents. Homelessness is on the rise due to unscrupulous lending practices.  Most shelters will not take a husband and a wife, so our entire Temporary Assistance to Needy Families system is designed to separate wives, children, & husbands.  Our Presbytery is collaborating with other faith-based entities to preserve State funding for working poor families. 

The Global Warming Solutions Act - will be reintroduced this year, and again our Presbytery will work to support it.  Our scriptures remind us to be good stewards of all creation.  Resource depletion, fossil-fuel consumption, air pollution, and fresh water contamination must be addressed to maintain a healthy world.

Want to contact your delegates and/or senators? 

Use www.mlis.state.md.us <http://www.mlis.state.md.us>  to get their email addresses or email Julie at jerickson@baltimorepresbytery.org for assistance.

Bonnie Clarke, Elder
December 5, 2009