Despite a slate of state legislation attacking the rights of voters, a number of states are advancing legislation that would enhance the ability of U.S. citizens to exercise their right to choose their representatives. Among the most likely advances in voting rights in the states:

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) and Columbia University Professor Dorian Warren both say the best way to solve the nation’s economic crisis is to grow the middle class rather than allowing wealth to concentrate in fewer and fewer hands. Unions, they say, will play a vital role politically and economically in building a strong middle class.

O'Malley and Warren spoke on a conference call with reporters Friday to counter recent attacks by Republican lawmakers on workers and their unions.

Some 15,000 Maryland teachers, government workers and other public employees rallied and marched in Annapolis last night to protect public school funding and workers’ health and retirement security. Bills before the state legislature call for big cutbacks in all three.

Check out this great video from our team here that pulls together some of the many moments of people power in Wisconsin, Ohio and other states where governors and state legislatures are trying to take away the right of public employees to bargain for good middle-class jobs. It gives a glimpse of the huge outpouring of nationwide support and solidarity for workers under siege by lawmakers who are bought and paid for by billionaire CEOs like the Koch brothers.

Working people from across Maryland rallied yesterday at the state capital in Annapolis to show solidarity with public employees in Wisconsin who are fighting a plan to deprive workers of the freedom to bargain for a decent living. The rally was organized by the Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO.