California - Making Progress

 

March 19, 2009 Dear Friends, The growing progressive movement in the United States finds itself at a historic and propitious crossroads. The 2008 presidential election not only solidified demographic and partisan shifts toward the Democratic Party but also marked a significant turn in the ideological landscape of the electorate. This month two CAP reports looked at this emerging progressivism in our country. In the "State of American Political Ideology, 2009," CAP Senior Fellow John Halpin examined current values and ideological beliefs in America. And in another report, Senior Fellow Ruy Teixeira explained that the "New Progressive America" is a result of the past 20 years in which we have seen shifts in demography, geography, and attitudes that herald a new progressive majority. On Tuesday, Center for American Progress Action Fund senior fellow Judy Feder testified at the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health's hearing, "Making Health Care Work for American Families: Ensuring Affordable Coverage." And on Wednesday, Reuben Brigety testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing "Striking the Appropriate Balance: The Defense Department's Expanding Role in Foreign Assistance.". If you missed the live webcast of the National Clean Energy Project: Building the New Economy, featuring CAP President and CEO John Podesta, former President William Jefferson Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), you can watch the full event video here. Please save the date for a special Earth Day conversation on April 18th at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica. And special congratulations go out to two of our California-based senior fellows who have recently joined the administration. Kit Batten is now the Science Advisor in the Office of the Deputy Secretary of the Interior and Van Jones is now serving on the Council on Environmental Quality as special White House advisor for green jobs, enterprise, and innovation. Warmest, Anna, Nina, and Shana   More Links Interactive Map: Unemployment Rising in Every State Expressing Faith Through Marriage Equality Obama Wants to Move the Center Left   The Center for American Progress Action Fund is the sister advocacy organization of the Center for American Progress. The Action Fund transforms progressive ideas into policy through rapid response communications, legislative action, grassroots organizing and advocacy, and partnerships with other progressive leaders throughout the country and the world. The Action Fund is also the home of the Progress Report.