The Political Power of Takin’ it to the States

[eridani]

http://www.thenation.com/article/the-political-power-of-takin-it-to-the-states/

It all makes for a difficult political landscape, but, fortunately, groups like SiX are stepping up. SiX stands for State Innovation Exchange, and its self-described mission “is to create and maintain a policy, communications, and political infrastructure that supports long-term progressive policy gains in the states and beyond, focusing the goals of progressives more on our communities, and less on Congress and the federal government.” To this end, SiX has combined the efforts and resources of the Progressive States Network, ALICE, and the Center for State Innovation. The idea is for progressives to approach the state capitols more proactively and aggressively, a remarkable about-face from the defensive catch-up that progressives have been forced to play in recent decades. You cannot watch the federal government repeatedly flirt with shutdown before recognizing that there is a better way, and that progressives stand ready to direct us there.

SiX has worked at state capitols this year to quash ill-conceived, Indiana-style “religious freedom” laws, and the organization puts the welfare of working families ahead of the balance sheets of corporations. Writes Nick Rathod, SiX’s executive director, “For nearly a generation, conservatives have outpaced us at the business of movement-building in states. They have focused hard on it, poured resources into it, and have been ruthlessly efficient at it. Starting now, we will do the same.” Called an “ALEC-killer” (after the pro-corporate American Legislative Exchange Council) by Politico when it was founded last year, SiX has real momentum behind it. The desire to fight ALEC’s profit-driven, corporate agenda is indeed fierce.

The Six Conference, which will convene in Washington this Thursday, October 1, and run through October 3, will serve as both a confab and launchpad for progressives who are intent on creating progressive change at the state level. This year—the conference’s second—expects to host nearly 300 legislators, from all 50 states, double last year’s turnout. New York City’s Bill de Blasio—example A for progressivism on a local level—will address the conference on Friday, October 2.