David Mott, Rest in Power, Our Ally, Brother, Mentor, Social Justice Warrior

It is with heavy hearts that the MD PPC State Coordinating Committee conveys news that saddens us enormously. As you may have already heard, our beloved State Coordinator, devoted activist and ally, David Mott, whom many of you have met, has passed on from our planet; leaving a legacy of which to be proud. He filled so many shoes with the #PoorPeoplesCampaign, including regional activist in MoCo, songleader, and Partner Coordinator.

 

Eneshal Miller, longtime MD PPC member, remembers David as a committed leader, a principled advocate, and a true friend to many across Maryland’s justice and anti-poverty movements. “His work and moral clarity strengthened our communities and advanced collective action rooted in fairness and compassion. David Mott’s legacy will continue through the people he mentored, his policies he fought for and the lives he touched.”

 

We ask that you hold David’s family in your thoughts and prayers. Their generosity in sharing him with us made it possible for all he did in his unwavering pursuit of justice.

 

While other organizations have already shared their memories and love for David, our email took time as Tri-Chair Mike Puskar was creating a video compilation in remembrance of this special friend. The video includes previously unreleased footage of David performing "The Long Black Veil" in Rockville at 7:26pm this very day, December 20, 2023. May you take comfort in this video, also released at 7:26pm.

 

mdppc.org/mott

 

David will be greatly missed. Forward Together! #Toodles

Take Action to Stand Up for Healthcare Rights!

 

Call Senators to Extend ACA Tax Credits!

Members of Congress have failed to act, and now there are less than 30 days left to address the expiring Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") tax credits, putting 22 million Americans at risk of major hikes to their health insurance premiums. These individuals currently rely on subsidies to reduce their monthly premiums; without them, average costs could rise sharply, in many cases doubling.

 

The Senate may hold a vote on extending these tax credits as early as next week (the week of December 8).

 

Why Do Calls

We need Congress to extend these tax credits NOW!

Democrats are already on board, but it will need some Republican support.

 

Members of Congress need to hear what impact this will have on their state and our country. This step in our strategy is to call Republican Senators who have expressed openness to extending the tax credits.

 

Everyone of us should call all these Senators, so please share this action far and wide.

 

Who to Call & Recommended Script

 

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC)  (202) 224-6342

 

“We need you to step up for North Carolina where 63,000 additional individuals will become uninsured due to ACA subsidies disappearing. For those able to keep their insurance plan, cost of coverage will skyrocket - combine this with the impact of the Big Beautiful Bill and we will have 300,000 more uninsured in North Carolina. Thank you for your support on this matter - we need you to talk to your colleagues now and convince them - Extend the ACA Tax Credits!”

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) (202)-224-6665

 

“We need you to step up for Alaska where 2,400 more individuals will become uninsured due to ACA subsidies disappearing. For those able to keep their insurance plan, cost of coverage will skyrocket on average by 125% - combine this with the impact of the Big Beautiful Bill and we will have 25,000 more uninsured in Alaska. Thank you for your support on this matter - we need you to talk to your colleagues now and convince them - Extend the ACA Tax Credits!”

Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) (202) 224-3004

 

“We need you to step up for Alaska where 2,400 more individuals will become uninsured due to ACA subsidies disappearing. For those able to keep their insurance plan, cost of coverage will skyrocket on average by 125% - combine this with the impact of the Big Beautiful Bill and we will have 25,000 more uninsured in Alaska. Thank you for your support on this matter - we need you to talk to your colleagues now and convince them - Extend the ACA Tax Credits!”

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO)  202-224-6154

 

“We need you to step up for Missouri where 26,000 more individuals will become uninsured due to ACA subsidies disappearing. For those able to keep their insurance plan, the cost of coverage will skyrocket on average by 108%. Combine this with the impact of the Big Beautiful Bill and we will have 163,000 more uninsured in Missouri. Thank you for your support on this matter - we need you to talk to your colleagues now and convince them - Extend the ACA Tax Credits!”

 

 

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) (202) 224-2523

 

“We need you to step up for Maine where 3,000 more individuals will become uninsured due to ACA subsidies disappearing. For those who will keep their insurance plan, the cost of coverage will skyrocket. Combine this with the impact of the Big Beautiful Bill and we will have 32,500 more uninsured in Maine. Thank you for your support on this matter - we need you to talk to your colleagues now and convince them - Extend the ACA Tax Credits!”

 

Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) 202-224-5744

 

“We need you to step up for Alabama where 28,000 more individuals will become uninsured due to ACA subsidies disappearing. For those able to keep their insurance plan, the cost of coverage will skyrocket on average 92%. Combine this with the impact of the Big Beautiful Bill and we will have 49,000 more uninsured in Alabama. Thank you for your support on this matter - we need you to talk to your colleagues now and convince them - Extend the ACA Tax Credits!”

 

Senate Majority Leader Sen. John Thune (R-SD) (202) 224-2321 

 

“We need you to step up for South Dakota where 2,400 more individuals will become uninsured due to ACA subsidies disappearing. For those able to keep their insurance plan, the cost of coverage skyrocket will on average 116%. Combine this with the impact of the Big Beautiful Bill and we will have 12,000 more uninsured in South Dakota. Thank you for your support on this matter - we need you to talk to your colleagues now and convince them - Extend the ACA Tax Credits!”

2025 Gaithersburg City Election

The #PoorPeoplesCampaign principles state "the need to organize at the state and local level," so it's important that people vote at the local level; this year, the city of Gaithersburg has an election this coming Tuesday, November 4, for the Mayoral race and 2 City Council seats.

While the PPC is also non-partisan – and thus we cannot endorse specific candidates – our principles also state the following that remind us we should lift impacted leaders and support issues such as housing justice, food justice, and universal healthcare:

• We are committed to lifting up and deepening the leadership of those most affected by systemic racism, poverty, the war economy, and ecological devastation and to building unity across lines of division.
  
  
• We believe that people should not live in or die from poverty in the richest nation ever to exist. Blaming the poor and claiming that the United States does not have an abundance of resources to overcome poverty are false narratives used to perpetuate economic exploitation, exclusion, and deep inequality.
  
  
• Whereas the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism blames poor and oppressed people for our poverty and oppression, our deepest religious and constitutional values insist that the primary moral issues of our day must be how our society treats the poor, those on the margins, women, LGBTQIA2S+ folks, workers, immigrants, the disabled and the sick; equal protection under the law; and the desire for peace, love and harmony within and among nations.

We ask that Gaithersburg residents review the candidates as published by Bethesda Magazine or progressive sources; and make your choice for whom to vote as you find most fitting to the principles listed above.

Forward Together! Not One Step Back!

Candidates are presented in the images in reverse-alphabetical order.

It's Tri-Chair Mike's Birthday! Please RISE UP! Oct 25 with Mike and others!

Would you like to abolish poverty for your birthday? 

My name is Mike Puskar. I am both an impacted member of the Maryland Poor People's Campaign and one of its Tri-Chairs.

Today, October 23, is my 48th birthday. I would like nothing more than to abolish poverty for my birthday, yet instead we have a president literally destroying the People's House, after this entire year of destroying lives and livelihoods.

So, for my birthday, I ask that you RISE UP! this Saturday, October 25, with me, my fellow Tri-Chair Linnell, Westside Church of Christ, and many more who are frustrated, worried, or even fearful of the sheer destruction to our Constitution — and I'm not talking about a piece of paper but of #WeThePeople.

We must demand the continuation of SNAP, Medicaid, and other programs facing cuts due to the Big Ugly Bill; and demand an end to all of the detriments besieging our poor and low-wage friends and family.

So come one, come all, to stand with us... and please share this far and wide. The more we have attend, the greater the gift will be, not just to me to but to everyone. We must break this ring of pain. We Won't Be Silent Anymore!

Forward Together! #143

Mike ( @mbpuskar )

RSVP at mdppc.org/westside

Are you frustrated? Are you worried? Is this a democracy?

How does GOD feel about what's going on with this country?

RISE UP! with Westside Church of Christ and the MD PPC as we stand up for the programs such as SNAP and Medicaid that HR1, the Big Ugly Bill, is taking away from the poor and low-wealth residents of Maryland.

 

Approximate Times:

9:20am - Meet outside of Security Square Mall

9:30am - March to the Westside Church of Christ @ 7009 Johnnycake Rd; Windsor Mill, MD 21244

10:00am - Program at Westside Church Begins

RSVP to RISE UP!

How will Marylanders be impacted by the 2025 federal budget (H.R.1) cuts?

 

MD PPC 2025 Book Circle: Poverty, by America (Sign-Up Selection)

Sign Up to RISE UP in Edmondson Village on April 26

 

What's at stake? RISE UP with movement activists and community leaders in Edmondson Village (Baltimore) as we unite to protest the dangers coming from the current administration: these are High Moral Stakes that are presented.   FEEL FREE TO BRING YOUR OWN SIGNAGE! (non-violent & non-partisan)

RSVP at mdppc.org/ev2025

Moral Mondays in DC

 

Will you join us for one or both days?   NATIONAL SERMON: "Stand, Having Done All You Can Do, Just Stand!" Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II Sunday, April 27th  Bishop Barber will deliver his first sermon as Prophetic Preacher-in-Residence for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Please register today to join us in-person or via livestream and stand tall with us.

RSVP for Sunday's Sermon

MORAL MONDAY: Moral Witnesses Stand Against a Budget That Destroys People! Monday, April 28th This sacred action is a bold response to an immoral budget and unjust policies that harm the poor, women, children, and workers. Grounded in Micah 6:8 and the prophetic traditions of justice and mercy, we will stand together to say No to oppression and Yes to love, justice, and the sacred dignity of all. Sign up now and declare: “We will not be silent anymore.”

RSVP for Moral Monday

Volunteer to Deliver Report to Congress Attention all people of moral conscience including clergy, advocates, poor and low-wage persons who want to speak directly to Congressmembers and help to deliver the High Moral Stakes Report to all 535 Congressional offices during our Moral Monday Action on Monday, April 28th. No prior experience required! Bring your energy, movement discipline, and commitment to justice! Forward Together, Not One Step Back!

Click to Volunteer

Pope Francis In Memoriam

"How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points? This is a case of exclusion. Can we continue to stand by when food is thrown away while people are starving? This is a case of inequality." - Pope Francis

MD PPC Special Edition Calls to Action - Tax Day 2025

 

This Special Edition is a supplement to our Community Update.   Also be sure to check out Our Moral Movement, the new Substack newsletter by PPC's Bishop William Barber and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove!

"All for freedom and for healthcare Make the rich man pay his fair share Everybody's got a right to live!"   READ THRU TO THE END…

Break The Silence: PPC Congressional Call-Ins Stop the SAVE Act Fair Share Maryland Coalition Victory

Break The Silence: Demand a Moral Budget! Poor People's Campaign Congressional Call-Ins

The Poor People's Campaign is launching a national effort, "Call Your Members of Congress," to demand they do more to stop proposed cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, Head Start, etc.   As representatives of the 140 million people in this country who are living in poverty, or one $800-emergency away from poverty, we know that our families and communities will be hurt first and worst by the legislative violence being proposed and pushed through by the Trump Administration and Republican-led Congress. This violence includes but is not limited to the Administration’s destructive and illegal Executive Actions, the devastating proposed federal budget cuts to the social safety net, and massive cuts to the federal agencies that support and administer this safety net.   We invite you to attend the upcoming Monday trainings, which are open to the public!

REGISTER NOW for APRIL 21 @ 2p!

REGISTER NOW for APRIL 28 @ 2p!

DON’T BE FOOLED! TIMELY ACTION NEEDED TO STOP THE SAVE ACT!

The SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act) is terrible for democracy! It will create powerful new barriers to voter registration for eligible US citizens and require that voters present “documentary proof of citizenship” (e.g., a vital document proving US citizenship like a US birth certificate, US passport, or naturalization certificate) to register to vote.   Tell Congress to STOP the SAVE Act and focus on protecting and expanding voting rights instead of making it more difficult for eligible Americans to vote.

Stop the SAVE Act!

Newly Enacted Legislation Taxes Maryland's Wealthiest

Together we ensured Maryland’s wealthiest will pay what they owe! The final budget includes key provisions to raise the income tax rate on our state’s wealthiest residents. #FairShareMD   But more can be done to close corporate loopholes. Read the article here.   Special thanks to the policy work of MD PPC members!

 

Watch Now! High Moral Stakes

There are mean things happening in this land, and we must overcome!   Watch our program "High Moral Stakes" now on YouTube, as we speak to the dangers we face under the current administration, pulling data from "The High Moral Stakes of the Policy Battles Raging in Washington" by Repairers of the Breach et al.

Watch the Program Here!