Candidate
to Watch: Krystal Ball
This NWPC-endorsed candidate faces an incumbent opponent whose voting record shows he is out of touch with the needs of the American people. Robb Whittman voted against the re-authorization of CHIP, the Children’s Health Insurance Program. He voted against the stimulus plan and against the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009, designed to help those hit hardest by the recession to keep their homes.
Many politicans and political groups have endorsed Krystal Ball, including Congressman Bob Filner, Women’s Campaign Forum, Women Under Forty PAC, Fredericksburg Democratic Committee, Emily's List, and eQualityGiving.
Dede Scozzafava
Forced to Back out of NY-23 Race;
Pro-Choice Democrat Bill Owens
Wins
Pro-choice Democrat Bill Owens won the NY-23 congressional race yesterday with 49% of the vote to Independent Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman's 46%.
The outcome proves that the majority of voters in a predominately Republican district which has not elected a democrat in over three decades do care about and vote on social issues such as the pro-choice issue.
Although NWPC endorsed Dede Scozzafava, (R) has an impeccable record in the New York Legislator, she was immediately attacked for her stand on social issues. It could not have been easy, but Dede never backed away from her pro-choice position or her stand in favor of equal marriage rights.
Scozzafava's social positions on gay rights and abortion split the Republican Party and rallied conservatives behind Doug Hoffman, an otherwise unknown Conservative Party candidate. Ultimately, after a panoply of attacks from rigid anti-choice conservative activists, Scozzafava was forced to step down from the race. She endorsed Bill Owens, the pro-choice Democrat in the race.
The National Women's Politicial Caucus is proud of our endorsement of Dede Scozzafava, the the Republican party's nominee for the special election in NY-23 to fill the vacancy created by John McHugh who was appointed Secretary of the Army by President Obama. As a multi-partisan organization, the NWPC has a proud history of endorsing qualified feminist pro-choice candidates regardless of party affiliation. Unfortunately, over the the past 15 years, pro-choice challengers or candidates running for an open seat have been unable to get through a Republican primary.
Niki Tsongas Endorses Martha Coakley for US Senate
October 29, 2009
Massachusetts congresswoman Niki Tsongas recently announced her endorsement of Martha Coakley for US Senate. If elected in the January 19th special election, Coakley will become Massachusetts's first woman senator. The special election is being held to fill the vacancy left by the death of Senator Kennedy.
Much speculation has been made regarding the apparent gender divide in who is endorsing whom among their congressional representatives, as Representative Tsongas is going against six of her congressional (male) peers in endorsing Coakley. However, Tsongas is quick to point out that her decision had nothing to do with gender, and that she is "supporting the candidate who will be the most effective U.S. Senator."
In a recent interview, Sheila Capone of the MA Women's Political Caucus deftly pointed out: "I wonder if people asked the same question when Congressman Frank endorsed Congressman Capuano. Is he endorsing him because he was a man?"
"A Woman's Nation"
In honor of the fact that women now comprise half of all U.S. workers and two thirds of primary breadwinners or co-breadwinners in American families, Maria Shriver and the Center for American Progress recently came out with a report detailing what this change means for our country. Their foremost point is that our country's institutions haven't kept up with these dramatic changes; they "rely on outdated models of who works and who cares for our families." For example, despite the fact that four out of five families with children at home are not "traditional" (with only the husband employed and the wife at home), the U.S. is still the only industrialized nation without a child-care policy. And despite the increasing size of the women's workforce, the wage gap persists.
Want to learn more? Download the report, or a section of it. You can also check out this outline of the five things you should know about the new proverbial woman's nation, Gloria Steinem's critique of the study, or watch this clip in which the report is discussed on Meet the Press.
National Women's Political
Caucus Announces
Endorsement of Dede Scozzafava for
US Congress in New
York's 25th Congressional
District
Today the National Women's Political Caucus (NWPC) announced their endorsement of New York State Representative Dede Scozzafava for the open congressional seat in NY 23 to replace John McHugh who resigned to become US Secretary of the Army.
Ms. Scozzafava, a strong leader in the New York State Assembly, has the distinction of being the first woman to serve as Minority Leader Tempore. In that capacity, she has distinguished herself as an effective floor leader with the ability to work in a bi-partisan manner to pass important legislation to benefit the citizens of the state of New York.
In announcing the endorsement, NWPC President Lulu Flores said: "Assemblywoman Scozzafava has a solid record as a strong advocate for women and children and protecting them from sexual abuse and domestic violence. We are particularly proud of her commitment to reproductive rights."
As a lifelong resident of North County, Dede Scozzafava is the ideal candidate to win this election. Both as an assemblywoman and as the former mayor of her hometown city of Gourverneur, she has dedicated her life to serving her community.
Sara
Manzano-Diaz Nominated for
Director of the
Women's Bureau, Department of
Labor
Sara
Manzano-Diaz has
spent her career in public service advocating
on behalf of working class
families, women, and girls. She has more
than 25 years of federal, state,
and judicial experience including 16 years in
senior management. Most
recently, she served as Deputy Secretary for
Regulatory Programs at the
Pennsylvania Department of State.
She holds a Bachelor's
Degree in Public Relations and Communications
from Boston University and a Law
Degree from Rutgers University School of
Law.
NWPC
Endorses Martha Coakley's
Candidacy For
Massachusetts
US Senator
The NWPC is delighted to announce their endorsement of Attorney General Martha Coakley in her campaign for US Senator for the state of Massachusetts.
Ms. Coakley is the best candidate running to fill this position. She has experience both in civil and criminal courts. In her eight years as District Attorney for Middlesex County, she worked not only to bring justice but also to support community leaders in preventing crimes. She was elected Attorney General in 2006, and has continued to use her credentials and office to serve the people of her state.
As Attorney General, Ms. Coakley has a strong record of advocacy for women's reproductive rights, including fighting to protect the patients and workers of reproductive health facilities by creating a buffer zone around the building. She has worked to support families facing foreclosure, fight against fraud in pharmaceutical companies, and make funds more accessible for academic and research institutions to do stem-cell research. We are confident that as Senator, Martha Coakley will be an important voice for women's rights in our great nation.
Judge
Sotomayor Sworn In
& Welcomed to
Supreme Court
Bench
September 9, 2009
On Tuesday, Judge Sotomayor - the third woman and first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice - was sworn in for her life-long judicial appointment. She was introduced by Attorney General Eric Holder and sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts. After her induction, she was met by her family at the base of the Supreme Court steps, pictured above. Yesterday's process was primarily ceremonial, as she was officially sworn in at a private event last month.
The newest Justice's work begins today, as the Court hears arguments in an important case regarding campaign finance laws.
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information:
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