Jamie is a leading scholar in the field of Constitutional law. He has written a number of publications on the subject with a strong focus on educating young people about how the Constitution protects us all as Americans. Jamie’s race in Maryland is shaping up to be a battle that will represent new leadership in the 20th district.

“On the issues of public education, the environment, transportation, and civil rights, Jamie brings creative and visionary leadership not controlled by special interest money…” – Kweisi Mfume

What Makes Jamie an Extraordinary, Visionary Leader?

Among countless specific policy proposals, Jamie has an extraordinary vision for environmental progress in the Mid-Atlantic region. His plan bypasses federal inaction on climate change and makes the environment a local issue again. Jamie proposes establishing a regional compact between the Mid-Atlantic States that would adopt drastic restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions similar to those of the Kyoto Protocol.

For Maryland jobs, Jamie is advocating a raise in the minimum wage to $7.00 per hour in 2008, $7.50 in 2009, and a permanent indexing of the wage for inflation.

On voting, Jamie is championing a 100 percent voter registration of all Maryland students before they graduate or leave high school. Jamie also is proposing a state ban on corporate and partnership contributions.

Jamie also has bold plans for community development. Among his visionary ideas for affordable housing in Maryland, Jamie wants to:

1. Alleviate regressive property taxes that drive up rents and squeeze long-term residents out of the community
2. Promote inclusionary zoning policies and housing rules that ensure creation of new affordable housing units
3. Grant power to local governments to declare housing emergencies during periods of real estate frenzy and then regulate and slow down the pace of condo conversions, to ensure that local families have a fair opportunity to stay in their apartments and to purchase them.

Among other visionary ideas, Jamie is also calling for universal healthcare in Maryland, so the modest gains of labor are not immediately consumed by health insurance plans.

Background

A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, where he was editor of the law review, Raskin served as assistant attorney general in Massachusetts before moving to Takoma Park in the late 1980s. He then served as the general counsel of the National Rainbow Coalition, working with Rev. Jesse Jackson to expand the base of the Democratic Party and open it up to new voices, new communities, and new ideas.

In 1990, he became a law professor at American University’s Washington College of Law, and later academic dean of the law school. He currently directs the school’s Program on Law and Government.

Race Facts

Race Type: Primary Challenger
Primary Opponent: Sen. Ida Rubin (Incumbent)
Primary Date: September 12, 2006
Primary Election Results: Won Primary
General Opponent: None
General Election Date: November 7, 2006
General Election Results: Won, no challenger