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An Open Letter to Montana Senators on Federal Refugee Funding from the Montana Chapter of MWEG
Dear Senators, On behalf of the Montana Chapter of Mormon Women for Ethical Government, we strongly encourage you to reinstate the federal pass-through funding for the refugee resettlement program in HB2. Federal pass-through funding for the refugee resettlement program is beneficial to the state. This funding does not incur costs for the state of Montana. It contributes to healthy communities through job creation and funding in the areas of health and human services, education, and housing. When refugee communities benefit, the state benefits as well. Montana has a history of welcoming displaced people since the ’70s, when the state welcomed Hmong families who had helped the United States during the…
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HR1/S1 — the For the People Act: Campaign Finance Reforms
HR1/S1, the For the People Act, is a democracy reform bill that was reintroduced in the House of Representatives in early January 2021. It passed in early March and now awaits a vote in the Senate. These documents examine some of the important measures in this bill related to campaign finance reforms. To download the one-page highlights document, click here or on the image below under “Highlights.” To download the in-depth four-page document, click here or on one of the images below under “In Depth.” Highlights In Depth
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HR1/S1 — the For the People Act: Voting Reforms
HR1/S1, the For the People Act, is a democracy reform bill that was reintroduced in the House of Representatives in early January 2021. It passed in early March and now awaits a vote in the Senate. The bill is designed to improve access to voting for all citizens, decrease the harmful impact of big money in our democracy, and strengthen ethics rules and regulations. These documents examine some voting reform aspects of HR1/S1. To download the one-page highlights document, click here or on the image below under “Highlights.” To download the in-depth three-page document, click here or on one of the images below under “In Depth.” Highlights In Depth
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HR1/S1 — the For the People Act: Ethics Reforms
HR1/S1, the For the People Act, is a democracy reform bill that was reintroduced in the House of Representatives in early January 2021. It passed in early March and now awaits a vote in the Senate. The bill is designed to improve access to voting for all citizens, decrease the harmful impact of big money in our democracy, and strengthen ethics rules and regulations. These documents examine some of the aspects of ethics reforms of HR1/S1. To download the one-page highlights document, click here or on the image below under “Highlights.” To download the in-depth four-page document, click here or on one of the images below under “In Depth.” Highlights In Depth
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Call to Action: Support Dreamers and Pass the Dream Act of 2021
UPDATE: On July 16, 2021, a federal judge ruled that accepting new DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) applications is illegal. While this does not change the status of current DACA recipients, it does bar new applicants, emphasizing the need for legislative action. The House passed the Dream Act, but the bill is currently held up in the Senate. We need to continue to encourage our senators to work together to find a legislative solution to ensure Dreamers are protected from deportation and are provided a reasonable pathway to permanent status. The American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 is a bipartisan bill that would provide permanent protection and a…
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Practical Peacemaking Week 4: Working Cooperatively to Transform Conflict into Peace (Intro to Mediation)
During Week 1 of our Practical Peacemaking series, we discussed the idea of having five main choices for addressing conflict in our lives: avoiding, accommodating, compromising, competing, and collaborating. As the most skill intensive and character demanding of the five approaches, collaborating will be our focus this week as we learn to engage with others in the facilitative negotiation setting of mediation. Nelson Mandela once said, “If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.” Even in intensely trying circumstances, Mandela knew he needed to engage with those who opposed him to make progress toward his respective goals…
