Priorities Include Passing Legislation to Ban Political Spying
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2008
CONTACT: Meredith Curtis, ACLU of Maryland, 410-889-8555; media@aclu-md.org
ANNAPOLIS – The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland today announced our legislative agenda for the 2009 General Assembly session, the centerpiece of which is a bill to ban police spying on peaceful political activists. Our legislative program is dedicated to protecting the rights and liberties of all Marylanders, and works with local, statewide, and federal leaders to realize the promise of our Constitution and Bill of Rights. The following are ACLU of Maryland’s priorities for 2009 General Assembly session:
FREE SPEECH
· First Amendment Protection Act of 2009: Maryland has no law that protects our most basic First Amendment rights to organize, to peacefully assemble and to petition our government. The legislation will prohibit covert criminal intelligence investigations and dossier compilation of individuals and groups based solely upon political, social or religious activities and beliefs, absent articulable suspicion of criminal activity. It will also establish oversight and accountability to ensure law enforcement activities are related to legitimate law enforcement purposes. And it will provide remedies for wrongful targets of objectionable law enforcement spying and First Amendment violations. A lobby night and rally to call for passage of the “no spying” bill will be held on Monday, February 9 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. in Annapolis.
PRIVACY
· Oppose the implementation of the federal Real ID Act, which would waste precious taxpayer dollars on a program that would turn our state driver’s license into a national identity card that would enable tracking of individuals and increase the threat of identity theft.
· Monitor legislation affecting the privacy of Marylanders’ personal information including privacy of genetic information, health records, consumer records, as well as the practices of data brokers and data aggregators.
VOTING RIGHTS
· Election Day Registration: Increase voter participation by allowing individuals to register to vote on Election Day.
· Election Integrity: Protect and advance transparent and accountable elections in Maryland. Support voluntary public campaign funding to end politicians' reliance on special interest money and provide an alternative way for candidates to finance their campaigns.
· Early Voting: Support the implementing legislation of the approved amendment to the state Constitution allowing early voting in Maryland. Support an early voting station in every county that is accessible to all voters, including voters with disabilities.
· Ex-Offender Voting Rights: Remove lingering barriers to full enfranchisement for ex-offenders.
· Disability Access: Adopt recommendations of the American Bar Association to correct the election law language that broadly denies a specific group of individuals with disabilities the right to vote without a specific finding that they are not competent to vote.
DEATH PENALTY
· Abolish Maryland’s death penalty and substitute for execution the punishment of life without the possibility of parole.
LGBT RIGHTS
· Civil Marriage Equality: Establish full rights and much-needed legal protections for same-sex couples and their families while confirming the freedom of religious groups to define and recognize religious marriage consistent with their beliefs and practices without state interference.
· Support legislation adding gender expression to Maryland’s anti-discrimination statute.
· Support legislation removing inheritance tax inequities.
EDUCATION REFORM:
· Oppose reductions in state funding for education and school construction.
· Oppose the diversion of state funding for private school vouchers under any guise, including Building Opportunities for All Students and Teachers bill (BOAST).
· Reduce chances of disparities and discrimination in education by eliminating excessive, inordinate suspensions and expulsions.
IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS
· Combat anti-immigrant initiatives that undermine our rights to due process and increase discrimination while also seeking to deprive Marylanders of basic social services.
REPRODUCTIVE CHOICE
· Continue to defend Maryland women’s right to reproductive freedom against any legislation that threatens that right.
· Oppose state funding for Crisis Pregnancy Centers that promote solely a religious doctrine, and use false and misleading information to deter women from exploring all reproductive options to an unintended pregnancy, including the “Real Alternatives” program.
###