January 21, 2009: Governor Paterson, Move Women Forward!
For Immediate Release
Contact: Amy Siskind
Email: NewAgendaPress@yahoo.com
Date: January 21, 2009
Governor Paterson, Move Women Forward!
The New Agenda, a new, nonpartisan women’s rights organization, celebrates our country taking an important step forward with the inauguration of its first African American President. Unfortunately, the women of this country did not fare well in the 2008 election. The New Agenda calls on Governor Paterson to fill Hillary Clinton’s Senate Seat with one of many qualified women.
After the 2008 election, ten states have lower representation of women in State Government positions. The U.S. Congress is still 84 percent male and women lost four seats overall. The U.S. Senate is 83 percent male, and women gained just one seat in the November election. This small gain will be lost if Governor Paterson appoints a man to fill Hillary Clinton’s Senate Seat.
Amy Siskind, co-Founder of The New Agenda said: “The women of New York State have always appreciated how Governor Paterson has fought for equality. Women’s representation in our Federal Government is astonishingly low and we ask Governor Paterson to not move us backwards.”
Hillary Clinton was the first woman to win a Senate Seat in New York State. This was an important step forward for the women of New York State, a state that ranks only 27th in representation of women in State Government.
There are a number of qualified women The New Agenda recommends to fill Senator Clinton’s shoes. The list includes:
• Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney
• Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand
• Congresswoman Nita Lowey
• Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy
• Congresswoman Yvette Clarke
• Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez
• Congresswoman Louise McIntosh Slaughter
• Caroline Kennedy
• City Council Speaker Christine Quinn
• Former President, Morgan Stanley, Zoe Cruz
• Former Citigroup, Inc. executive Sallie Krawcheck
“At The New Agenda, we know our country needs talented women in leadership positions and we need them now,” said Siskind. “New York has a deep bench of women who are ready to step into Senator Clinton’s heels.”
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