U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey has a five-decade progressive record on racial justice, economic equality and environmental action that merits serious consideration for another six-year term in the Senate.
Voters casting ballots in the Sept. 1 Democratic primary have a clear choice between Senator Markey and U.S. Representative Joseph Kennedy III.
Senator Markey has the experience and perspective allowing him to see America’s big picture at a crucial time in this country’s history. He called out President Trump as a “criminally negligent” racist in an Aug. 1 interview at The Item and clearly stated that Congress must lead the nation during one of its most trying times.
We respect Congressman Kennedy’s recognition, in his words, that “structural racism is built into the core of the American system.” During his four terms in office, he has embraced progressive causes, including climate change, economic inequality and racism.
While we applaud Congressman Kennedy’s passion and promise, we need Senator Markey’s experience.
He rolled out the Green New Deal with U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in February 2019. But Senator Markey also drafted legislation 10 years earlier to prepare the U.S. for climate change.
He authored bills to fight insider trading and its damaging impacts on the U.S. economy and he led legislatively to ensure students from kindergarten-12 have access to home internet connectivity.
Alzheimer’s Disease claimed the life of Senator Markey’s mother, Christina, and he spoke with emotion at The Item about how his father cared for his mother at home.
Senator Markey in 2014 crafted legislation to devote federal spending to Alzheimier’s research with a regular update required on progress being made.
Senator Markey can clearly define what justice means to Americans in 2020. He supports reparations studies. He supports stripping away qualified immunity from police. He pledged to make immigration reform his top 2021 priority.
Senator Markey understands how high the stakes are for America in 2020. He draws strong parallels between the challenges Americans face today with Donald Trump and COVID-19 and those of 1932, when the Great Depression held the country captive and Franklin Delano Roosevelt harnessed innovative programs like the Works Progress Administration to lead Americans out of hopelessness.
Senator Markey said the Green New Deal can create environmentally-friendly jobs to put communities of color — and all other Americans — back to work to overcome coronavirus’ economic blow and start waging the war against climate change in earnest.
Echoing FDR’s call to arms, Senator Markey said, “The country is being challenged to stand up.”
Senator Markey understands the Americans hit hard by coronavirus’ economic impact include immigrants in essential-worker jobs. “To deny them the help they need is absolutely immoral,” he said.
He understands at-home learning imposed by the pandemic underscores the “digital divide” leaving minority children stranded without the educational technology capability they need and deserve.
Senator Markey says “we have to think big” to solve 2020’s problems. We agree.
Who better to serve in the U.S. Senate than Ed Markey, with his clear understanding of our problems and decades-long experience helping to solve them.
