Historic Anniversary

"The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."

It was with those powerful words of the 19th amendment, ratified into our Constitution on this day 90 years ago, that women in this country were granted the right to vote.

We have been great beneficiaries of all those who sacrificed to achieve this historic victory for civil rights. I know some of my most rewarding moments on the campaign trail are when I meet a young woman eager to cast her very first vote in an upcoming election.

Earlier today, I met with a group of women leaders from organizations across Massachusetts to commemorate this anniversary and to continue the important work of ensuring equality for all people.

I hope you too will take a moment to honor this historic day and that, together, we recommit ourselves to engaging in civic life.

With best wishes,

Martha

A Message from Martha: What We're For

We’ve been busy this summer out on the campaign trail. I’ve heard from so many people who want government focused on what’s important - to fight for their interests and get things done that matter in their lives.

That is exactly what we do in the Attorney General’s Office.

Let me give you just one recent example.

My office recently negotiated and approved a new contract that will significantly lower the costs of the Cape Wind project. As a result of our work, Cape Wind has agreed to lower its price by 10%, reducing costs for consumers and businesses by more than $450 million over 15 years.

I believe in the importance of renewable energy, but at a fair cost to already struggling ratepayers. This agreement should allow Massachusetts to move forward as a leader in developing green technologies, securing hundreds of new jobs in the process, while doing so at a lower cost for consumers and businesses.

As your Attorney General, I work to be your voice and to fight for your interests. Let others talk about all that they are against, we will continue to declare what we are for and then work to get it done.

Thanks for your continued support. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Best Wishes,

Americans with Disabilities Act Anniversary

This past Monday marked the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It is fitting that also this week, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced a settlement with the three largest movie theater chains in the Commonwealth, providing greater accessibility for hearing and visually impaired residents.

With this settlement, these theaters must ensure that every Massachusetts location is equipped with accessible technology, such as captioning technology and description technology. To see the complete settlement details, visit the Attorney General’s Office website.

This settlement is just one among many successful advocacy efforts taken on by Martha since being elected Attorney General. In September 2008, Attorney General Coakley and the National Federation of the Blind reached an agreement with Apple, Inc. , that required Apple to make its iTunes software accessible to blind consumers and students worldwide and to pay $250,000 to Massachusetts to be used to purchase assistive technology for blind students. The Attorney General’s Office also achieved a nationwide settlement with Cardtronics, Inc., the nation’s largest ATM operator, that will provide significantly improved access for blind consumers to the company’s machines.

And in May, Martha was honored with the President Award by the Perkins School for the Blind ,  in recognition of her office’s work to promote accessibility, particularly in technology, for children and adults with sight impairments.

Martha continues to be an advocate for individuals with disabilities, and today’s impressive victory was another step forward in this mission.

Historic Bill Signing with President Obama

Today, Martha joined President Barack Obama, as he signed into law the historic financial reforms included in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010.

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In an email to supporters today, Martha wrote:

These national reforms will help ensure that Massachusetts residents are better protected from abusive lending practices, and will not only help stabilize our economy, but will also help prevent future meltdowns. I applaud the House and Senate for their efforts in passing these reforms, and I was honored to be in attendance as President Obama signed it into law.

The bill signed by the President today provides for better accountability and transparency in our financial system, increased protections for American taxpayers by ending bailouts and preventing abusive financial services practices, and the creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to help protect consumers when they make investments, take out mortgages, and use credit cards. Learn more about this new law on WhiteHouse.gov.

Video and thumbnail image from WhiteHouse.gov.