This program area aims to do public education and policy work to ensure that all Montanans have access to their economic human rights. These rights include a livable wage, adequate housing, quality healthcare, and efficient social safety net programs. We work on these issues by engaging ballot measures, holding community events, and working to educate and mobilize Montanans on legislative issues. By working with our members and allies, we have:
Gathered over 26,000 signatures in support of 3 different ballot measures (Minimum Wage, Healthy Montana Kids, and Capping Interest Rates on Payday Lenders).
Worked to ensure that health insurance works better for Montanans through regulatory efforts like the Medical Loss Ratio (making sure that more of Montanans' premium dollars go toward paying for medical care instead of administration and profit).
Working to make sure that the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (federal healthcare reform) is efficient and effective for Montanans (including Medicaid expansion in the state)
Working with allies in the Partnership for Montana's Future to educate the public on fair tax policy and protecting essential public services and structures. This included taking a lead role in organizing three separate rallies during the 2011 legislative session, and holding community meetings across the state on what state revenue and budget decisions mean to residents.
Economic Human Rights
Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:
(1)Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
The Economic Human Rights program works in alliance with other organizations to promote economic security for all Montanans. We organize to promote and pass public policy that ensures that Montana individuals and families can meet their needs. Over the past 5 years, this project has organized around raising wages and expanding access to healthcare in Montana; promoting transparency and accountability in the way that services are provided; and, working to build support for the idea that our state budget should reflect the values that Montanans share.
Some of our Efforts and Campaigns for Economic Human Rights
Raise Montana: 2006 campaign to raise Montana's minimum wage.
Healthy Montana Kids: 2008 campaign to provide healthcare for more Montana kids.
Healthcare as a human rights trainings and actions during the 2009-2010 national debate.
Confidential Reporting of Incidents of Discrimination, Harassment and Violence
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