Late last night Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and JoeAi??ManchinAi??(D-WV),Ai??together with Patty Murray (D-WA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Brian Schatz (D-HI),Ai??introduced an amendment on the Senate floor to expand Social Security benefits.Ai??As a result,Ai??each Senator who was present is now on-the-recordAi??as for or against expanding Social Security benefits.

PCCC CO-FOUNDER ADAM GREEN ON WARREN-MANCHINAi??AMENDMENT TO EXPAND SOCIAL SECURITY:

“Elizabeth Warren has done it again — pushing a bold economic populist idea that is popular with voters, all while expanding it’s political appeal inside the Beltway. This is why she’s a bold progressive hero. Props to JoeAi??ManchinAi??for knowing that expanding Social Security benefits instead of cutting them is a no-brainer for seniors back home in West Virginia — even Republican ones.”

— Adam Green, Progressive Change Campaign Committee co-founder

The Warren-Manchin amendment:

Supports ai???the sustainable expansion of benefits under the Social Security program.ai???
Supports ai???making permanently solventai??? the Social Security and Disability Trust Funds.
Would require those changes to be fully paid, deficit-neutral.

Full text of amendment 1094Ai??here.Ai??

Political significance:

Third Way attacked Warren’s economic populism inAi??a WSJ op-edAi??in Dec 2013 andAi??admitted laterthat the attack was prompted byAi??herAi??floor speechAi??onAi??Nov. 13Ai??saying, “we should be talking about expanding Social Security benefits ai??i?? not cutting them.” PCCC and othersAi??defendedAi??Warren, got multiple Third Way co-chairs to drop their affiliation, and a PCCC protest at Third Way’s officesgot them to admitAi??the majority of their money comes from Wall Street firms that would love to privatize Social Security.
Tom Harkin, from the first presidential state of Iowa, was theAi??initial senatorAi??to propose expanding benefits. Sherrod Brown from the key presidential state of OhioAi??will be re-introducingAi??it this Congress.
In 2014, Brian Schatz defeated a corporate Democrat by campaigning on Social Security expansion while his opponent left the door open to cuts. Fiscal …

“After Republicans took over the House and there was talk of a Grand Bargain, Harry ReidAi??caught the Washington chattering class by surprise and attracted the affection of millions of Americans when he declared, ‘Leave Social Security alone.’ He has been one of the most stalwart protectors of Social Security, and it’s fitting that he announced his retirement hours after voting to expand Social Security benefits — the Warren-Manchin amendment.

“HarryAi??ReidAi??has been a strong fighter in the Senate for working families, standing against corrupt trade deals like the Trans Pacific Partnership, and we’re grateful he’ll be there for this important fight the next 22 months. Americans thank HarryAi??ReidAi??for his many years of hard work and his strong values.

“Fortunately, Senate Democrats have a great bench — an increasingly progressive bench with leadership on many issues.

“Last night, Elizabeth Warren led Senate Democrats to near unanimity around the need to expand Social Security benefits, and she led them to unanimity on her bill to reduce student loan interest rates. Her lifetime of fighting for the little guy against Wall Street power — including her upset victory on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — shows she can think big, wage tough fights against powerful interests, and win key votes in the Senate. She’s the definition of a leader, and that’s why her colleagues and millions of Americans respect her and are inspired by her rise. There will likely not be a coronation to replace HarryAi??ReidAi??as Senate Democratic Leader, and Elizabeth Warren is right up there with others as someone who would be taken very seriously.”

— The Progressive Change Campaign CommitteeAi??

Contact TJ Helmstetter, director of media relations.

After hearing from thousands of members across the nation, today the PCCC is kicking off a grassroots campaign to ensure every presidential candidate knows: Americans are ready for boldness.

It starts with a big announcement.

Over 200 leaders in the highly coveted first presidential primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire are joining the PCCCAi??on a statement saying, “Presidential candidates must campaign on big, bold, economic populist ideas” like debt-free college, expanding Social Security benefits, reforming Wall Street, campaign finance reform, clean-energy jobs, and more pay for workers.

Signers include Iowa’s longtime U.S. Senator Tom Harkin, members of Congress, dozens of state legislators, union presidents, and other progressives.

Sign the statement and tell any Democrat running for president: America is ready for boldness on economic populism issues.

The New York Times, the Washington Post, MSNBC, Politico, NH Journal, theAi??Des Moines Register, and the Sioux City Journal have already reported on today’s big news.

Hillary Clinton and others want support from key leaders, passionate activists, and voters — and they’ll take notice as our “Ready for Boldness” campaign gains momentum and shows them the way.

Big Elizabeth Warren-style ideas are popular, and making them central to the 2016 presidential election is key if Democrats want to win.

Our letter was signed by:

Tom Harkin, longtime U.S. Senator from Iowa
Carol Shea-Porter and Paul Hodes, recent New Hampshire members of Congress
Dave Loebsack, Iowa Congressman
Roxanne Conlin, Former Iowa Democratic Party Chair
Dozens of Iowa and New Hampshire state legislators
Iowa’s SEIU Local 199 and CWA Presidents, and New Hampshire’s NEA President
And many others

Tell the next Democratic nominee America is ready for boldness.

For the next couple weeks, we’ll take this “Ready for Boldness” campaign national — telling the media as we gain momentum.

Then, …

The Congressional Progressive Caucus introduced a budget that is focused on helping Americans, called The People’s Budget. CPC Co-Chair Rep. Keith Ellison sent this email to PCCC members:

Hi. This is KeithAi??Ellison, Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Yesterday, House Republicans offered their same old budget that privatizes Medicare and hurts seniors, students, and working families.

Today, I’m proud to stand with my colleagues, unions, the PCCC, economists, and others in announcing The People’s Budget — the progressive budget alternative.

The People’s Budget endorses many of the “big ideas” that progressives like you and voters of all political stripes support: Investing in millions of good-paying jobs, making college debt-free, expanding Social Security benefits, reforming our broken campaign finance system, and investing in clean energy. It closes tax loopholes for corporations that ship jobs overseas and makes Wall Street, millionaires, and billionaires pay their fair share.

Our budget will get a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives.

Will you help show the wide public support for The People’s Budget by joining me as a citizen co-sponsor today?

There are 70 of us in the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Your signature will help us convince our colleagues to vote for these big, bold, economic populist ideas. I talk to colleagues on the House floor all the time, and telling them about grassroots momentum really makes a difference.

Support our budget here.

Here is some of what’s in The People’s Budget:

Investing over $1.9 trillion in America’s future.
Creating 8.4 million good-paying jobs by 2018.
Investing $820 billion in rebuilding our roads, schools, and bridges.
Making college debt-free through federal assistance to states for public colleges and universities.
Endorsing an expansion of Social Security benefits to keep up with seniors’ true costs.
Eliminating egregious tax loopholes, including for corporations that ship jobs overseas and executives who pay themselves in stock options instead …

“Jesús “Chuy” García is running a similar people-powered campaign in Chicago and that’s why I am proud to announce that I am endorsing him as the progressive choice to be Chicago’s next mayor.”

The endorsement comes as progressive groups are trying to boost Garcia in a campaign that was written off by some before Emanuel failed to get the more than 50 percent of the vote he needed to avoid an April 7 runoff.

MoveOn, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and and the DFA have all backed Garcia. They are painting Emanuel as a mayor for the wealthiest Chicagoans, not poorer and minority residents, which resonates with their economic populist supporters.

It is not often that a serious contender for a U.S. Senate seat announces her candidacy with talk of grassroots environmental activism, fighting for union jobs, “protecting women’s reproductive rights from Tea Party attacks” and a pledge to answer proposals to “compromise away Social Security and Medicare” with absolute opposition—“no ‘ifs,’ ‘ands,’ ‘buts’ or ‘willing to considers’.”

Then again, it is not often that Senate races feature candidates like Donna Edwards, the Maryland congresswoman who entered politics only after a long career as an activist who was on the outside demanding that Congress act on behalf of women, people of color, workers and abandoned communities.

Progressive groups began last week to openly urge Edwards to consider a run. Democracy for America and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee launched campaigns to draft Maryland’s first African-American congresswoman into the contest. ” Donna Edwards has proven time and again that she’s a bold progressive,” wrote PCCC’s Adam Green in a “Donna’s On Our Side” message.

“She’s not just an ally—she’s one of us,” declared Green.

National progressives are clamoring for Hillary Clinton vs. Elizabeth Warren. They might have to settle for the next best thing — Chris Van Hollen vs. Donna Edwards.

Edwards is “not just a progressive ally — she’s one of us,” said Stephanie Taylor, the co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a grassroots group that led an effort to draft Edwards into the race.

“Donna was a community activist, she led the National Network to End Domestic Violence, and she’s devoted her time in Congress to taking on powerful interests on behalf of everyday families. In the Senate, she’ll fight alongside Elizabeth Warren for an economic populist agenda that includes expanding Social Security benefits, making college more affordable, and holding Wall Street accountable.”

The latest endorsements come hours after Edwards announced that she, too, will seek the seat. A pair of national liberal groups, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy for America, have encouraged Edwards to run.

“Donna Edwards has proven time and again that she’s a bold progressive,” PCCC emailed to its members Tuesday. “She’s not just an ally — she’s one of us.”

And the Prince George’s County lawmaker took a subtle dig at Van Hollen in the video announcing her campaign, suggesting she would oppose cuts to Social Security “no ifs, ands, buts or willing to considers.”

Representative Donna Edwards on Tuesday announced that she would enter the race to replace Senator Barbara A. Mikulski of Maryland, setting up what is likely to be a competitive Democratic primary.

Ms. Edwards, who has served in Congress since 2008, announced her intention to run just under a week after Representative Chris Van Hollen said he would pursue the seat of Ms. Mikulski, who is retiring in 2017. She could pose a formidable challenge to Mr. Van Hollen, the ranking member of the House Budget Committee, who has received the support of Senator Harry Reid, the Democratic leader in the Senate.

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a liberal advocacy organization, threw its support behind Ms. Edwards immediately after her announcement. Stephanie Taylor, a founder of the group, offered a strong endorsement and pointed to Ms. Edwards’s background as a community activist.

“Donna Edwards has proven time and again that she’s a bold progressive,” she said in a statement. “She’s not just a progressive ally — she’s one of us.”

Democratic Rep. Donna Edwards on Tuesday announced her campaign to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, setting up a party showdown between liberals and the establishment.

“See, I’ve lived the American dream, a middle-class American dream, the one you have to work hard for just to hold on to, the one that’s slipping away for far too many Maryland families,” Edwards said in a video on her campaign website. “These are the people I fight for.”

If she wins her party’s nomination next year and is elected to the seat, Edwards would become the first African-American elected to the U.S. Senate from Maryland. Maryland’s black population is about 30 percent.

“Donna was a community activist, she led the National Network to End Domestic Violence, and she’s devoted her time in Congress to taking on powerful interests on behalf of everyday families,” said Stephanie Taylor, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee.

Edwards, 56, has enjoyed a level of independence from state Democrats that may prove to be a benefit as she moves forward with a campaign. She won in 2008 by challenging 15-year incumbent Al Wynn in the primary, and was boosted by an aggressive advertisement campaign paid for by national liberal groups and unions.

Some of those same groups are already backing Edwards for Senate, even though the field is not yet defined.

“Donna Edwards has proven time and again that she’s a bold progressive,” Stephanie Taylor, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, said in a statement. “In the Senate, she’ll fight alongside Elizabeth Warren for an economic populist agenda that includes expanding Social Security benefits, making college more affordable, and holding Wall Street accountable.”

The three-term congresswoman touted her work fighting for higher education funding, women’s reproductive rights, space industry jobs, and Social Security and Medicare.

Edwards is running to replace Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), who announced last month that she would retire in 2016. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of House Democratic leadership, is also running for the seat.

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee on Tuesday issued a statement in support of Edwards.

“Donna Edwards has proven time and again that she’s a bold progressive. She’s not just a progressive ally — she’s one of us. Donna was a community activist, she led the National Network to End Domestic Violence, and she’s devoted her time in Congress to taking on powerful interests on behalf of everyday families,” said Stephanie Taylor, the group’s co-founder. “In the Senate, she’ll fight alongside Elizabeth Warren for an economic populist agenda that includes expanding Social Security benefits, making college more affordable, and holding Wall Street accountable.”

Rep. Donna Edwards will throw her name into the Maryland Senate race. She announced her move in a video and is the second Democrat to announce her candidacy, setting up a high profile primary for the Democratic nomination.

In addition to Edwards, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, the top Democrat on the Budget Committee and member of House Democratic leadership, also announced that he will run.

Edwards, who was the first African American woman to be elected to Congress from Maryland, has the backing of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, as well as other progressive groups, who have been encouraging Edwards to jump into the race. Van Hollen received the endorsement of Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) last week, an endorsement that came just hours after the New York Times published an interview with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi where she said she was encouraging Van Hollen not to run.

Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md) announced Tuesday she’ll run for the open Maryland Senate seat in 2016 to replace retiring Sen. Barbara Mikulksi (D-Md.).

Her entrance sets up a primary battle with Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and potentially several others.

“These are the people I fight for,” she continued. “The corporate special interests are going to come after me with all their money. But if you come with me on this fight, there’s no way we can’t when. And when I step into Barbara Mikulkski’s shoes as your next senator, you’ll always know where I stand. With you.”

Edwards is a favorite among progressives, who helped her knock off a long-time Democrat in a primary in 2008. Last week, two of those groups, Democracy For America and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, launched efforts to draft her to run for the open Senate seat in 2016.

Itai??i??s official — Donna Edwards is in! Thousands of PCCC and Democracy for America members across the nation urged Donna to run for U.S. Senate in Maryland, and she heard us loud and clear!

Donna sent PCCC a note this morning: “Thank you to all the PCCC and DFA members who urged me to run. You showed me the type of grassroots support I can count on. I’m in! Together, we will make this a people-powered campaign about bold progressive issues.”

Chip in $3 to help bold progressive Donna Edwards start her campaign with momentum!

Donna Edwards has proven time and again that she’s a bold progressive. She’s not just an ally — she’s one of us.

Donna started as a community activist. Then, she was aAi??founder of a progressive nonprofit. In Congress, she’s devoted her time to taking on powerful interests — even defeating an entrenched Wall Street Democrat to win her seat.

Donna was the first member of Congress to introduce an amendment to overturn Citizens United.Ai??She led the National Network to End Domestic Violence. And Donna agrees with Senator Elizabeth Warren that we should expand Social Security benefits — never cut them.

Donate $3 to fuel Donna’s campaign today!

Corporate “New Democrats” have been attacking the “Warren wing” in the press. They think the way to win is to cozy up to corporate interests and protect the status quo. The way bold progressives fight back is to elect more people like Donna Edwards.

Like Massachusetts, a state as blue as Maryland can give the nation the gift of a bold progressive leader.

Rep. Donna Edwards, the first black woman to represent a Maryland district in Congress, reportedly will jump into the Senate race to succeed Barbara Mikulski.

Edwards is set to formally announce her intentions on Tuesday, according to The Washington Post. She joins fellow Rep. Chris Van Hollen, who has already locked up the support of Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and sets up what could be a bruising primary battle next April in the heavily Democratic state.

First elected in June 2008, Edwards is viewed as a passionate liberal. She has been encouraged by groups such as EMILY’s List, Democracy for America and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee to join the once-in-a-generation race to replace Mikulski, who is retiring after 30 years in the Senate.

Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski’s retirement announcement has created a new round of turmoil for Maryland Democrats, exposing divisions within their party as it recovers from losing the governor’s mansion to the Republicans last November.

At the same time, the draft Edwards movement was announced by two nationally recognized progressive groups, Democracy for America — founded by former Vermont governor Howard Dean (D) — and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen secured the endorsement of several Montgomery County officials in his campaign for Senate on Monday and dismissed a pair of national liberal groups that are calling for Rep. Donna F. Edwards to enter the race.

The seven-term congressman is a reliable vote for Democrats and is close with House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi. But groups such as Democracy for America — the organization founded by former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean— have likened Edwards to Sen.Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts Democrat many progressives hope will run for president in 2016.

DFA and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee have sent emails to members asking them to support Edwards.

Rep. Donna Edwards, D-Md., will announce a run for Senate Tuesday to succeed retiring Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Md., the Washington Post reported Sunday.

In 2008, Edwards ousted another Democrat, Rep. Albert Wynn, to win her first term with backing from progressive groups. Some of those same groups — Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy For America — have launched petitions to draft Edwards into the Senate race.

But it’s not likely to work — and Maryland could be the next example of the simmering divide between the Democratic establishment and the liberals who would rather see Sen. Elizabeth Warren on the 2016 ticket than Hillary Clinton.

Progressive allies are increasingly convinced that Rep. Donna Edwards is about to enter the contest to succeed Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), who announced her retirement last week. Two potential national allies of Edwards told POLITICO Campaign Pro they expect her to announce a Senate bid this week.

Progressive groups — like the Howard Dean-founded Democracy for America and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee — have prodded Edwards to run for the seat. Her potential entrance is also a sign that Edwards believes she has a path to the Democratic nomination: She told MSNBC last week she’d run only if she thought she had a chance to win.

Rep. Donna F. Edwards said Friday she will likely make a decision in a matter of days about whether to run for Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski’s seat in 2016.

“I’m really close,” Edwards said in an interview with The Baltimore Sun on Friday. “This is really a critical decision and I just want to make sure that I’m doing it in a thoughtful way — talking to friends and supporters and looking at the numbers.”

Edwards, who defeated 15-year incumbent Al Wynn in the 2008 Democratic primary, would be a potentially powerful candidate. A pair of liberal groups, Democracy for America and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, have already indicated their support for her.

Though Edwards has not raised heaps of campaign money in the past, that could likely be overcome with outside help from a group such as EMILY’s List, which works to elect females to office.

Two progressive groups, Democracy For America and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, launched efforts this week to draft Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) to run for the open Senate seat in 2016. Edwards is a rising progressive star who knocked off a long-time Democrat in the primaries in 2008.

In their announcements, both groups took implied swipes at Van Hollen, saying Edwards was the strongest defender of entitlement programs in the wide-open field of potential Maryland Senate candidates.

“It’s unclear if other potential candidates considering a run will take the same strong stand on behalf of working families,” Charles Chamberlain, executive director for DFA said in a statement.

Maryland: Two national progressive groups, Democracy for America and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, say they’re raising money to encourage Rep. Donna Edwards (D) to get into the racefor retiring Sen. Barbara Mikulski’s (D) seat. Edwards has said she’s considering a run. DFA backed Edwards when she primaried then-Rep. Al Wynn (D), unsuccessfully in 2006 and successfully in 2008. (Washington Post) On the one hand, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D) has better fundraising chops than Edwards. On the other, they would split the D.C. ‘burb base, opening a hole for a Baltimore candidate.

As Hillary Clinton continues to come under fire for her use of private emails during her four years as US secretary of state, a groundswell of opinion suggests the Democratic party must stage a competitive search for its 2016 presidential candidate and avoid a Clinton coronation.

Progressives on the left of the party are pushing for greater debate that would clarify where the presidential candidates stand on core issues and potentially nudge them towards a more radical stance. The Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC), a grassroots campaign that supports the Massachusetts US senator and liberal firebrand Elizabeth Warren, argues that the discussion needs to be stepped up rather than dampened down.

“Hillary Clinton – or any Democratic candidate – will be stronger in the general election if they adopt an Elizabeth Warren-style economic populist agenda. We’re working to incentivize all Democrats who may run for president – including Clinton – to promote expanding Social Security benefits, making college debt-free, and breaking up the Wall Street banks that broke our economy,” said PCCC’s TJ Helmstetter.

A coalition of progressive groups launched a campaign Thursday to encourage Democratic Rep. Donna Edwards (Md.) to run in the primary to replace retiring Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) in 2016.

Those hoping Edwards hears their pleas are the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Democracy For America, Blue America and other Maryland-based progressive groups. Mikulski, the longest-serving woman in Congress, announced this week that she will retire at the end of her fifth Senate term.

“Donna was the first member of Congress to introduce a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United,” Carrie Biggs-Adams, a member of the PCCC, wrote in an email to her group’s members. “She led the National Network to End Domestic Violence. And Donna agrees with Elizabeth Warren that we should expand Social Security benefits — never cut them.”