Santa Cruz County Democrats

2008 promises to be an exciting political year!

January 2008

Greetings!

2007 was a busy year for Santa Cruz Democrats. In addition to individual and club work and activities, the county central committee:

Participated in a number of local events such as Cinco de Mayo, Gay Pride, Aptos 4th of July parade, and the county fair
Held several events such as our annual dinner and a reception for Congressman Farr
Did voter registration at all of these events, at local colleges, and in the community
Sent delegates to the state convention, several members were also appointed to state Party standing committees

But, with two primaries and a presidential election coming up this year, things are really heating up. We'll try to let you know what's going on so you can get involved. As always, we're grateful for your work as well as your financial support. And we urge you to get involved and stay involved in one of the most critical elections in decades.

To make it easy fo you to support our work, you can donate online at http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/18193

Santa Cruz Democratic Party Annual Dinner

Here's another way to support local Democratic actions--and one that's always a lot of fun! Come to the annual Democratic dinner. It's also a great way to meet local activists and elected officials.

Keynote speaker: Democratic Strategist Chris Lahane, a well-know politico
who worked in the Clinton White House and for Al Gore.
Democrat of the Year Award
Friday, Jan 25th
Social Hour 5:30
Buffet Dinner 7:00
Seascape Golf Club, Aptos

For more information, call Pat Emard: 662-9190
Tickets are $75 per person. Proceeds will be used to support local Democrats.

Laird Receives Prestigious Water Conservation Award

The California Urban Water Conservation Council (CUWCC) this week awarded Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) the 2007 Mike Moynanhan Excellence Award for Statewide Innovation. According to the CUWCC, this is the first time in the 8-year history of the award that it was been given to a legislator. Key criteria for award eligibility include innovation, commitment, dedication, integrity, creativity and outstanding service in the field of water resource efficiency. Specifically, Mr. Laird was recognized as the author of many bills related to water conservation. Part of the inscription on the award reads, "Your leadership in water conservation has been a boon for California. You are an example to the country, striking fear in water wasters everywhere."

2007 congressional roundup from Rep. Sam Farr

Vote to End the War in Iraq
It is long overdue, but finally, the House of Representatives passed a bill (HR 4156) that provides money solely for the purpose of withdrawing our troops from Iraq - this vote meant the difference between staying in Iraq with no exit strategy or getting out!

The bill has a tough road ahead, as it must now pass the Senate and the White House, but Farr is proud that the House of Representatives has done their part.

Conflict with Iran
Sam Farr was joined by five other Members of Congress to respond to recent anti-Iran rhetoric emanating from the White House. The Members convened to expose the fact that Congress is very concerned and angry with this administration's saber- rattling over Iran. There have been many measures introduced in the House and Senate to do something about it, that the American public has not been given the chance to hear about.

Also in attendance were Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), Rep. Jim McDermott (D- Wash.), Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), who each spoke of their fears that the administration plans to attack Iran.

Rep. Doggett said that Congressional hearings have suggested that the chances of the White House pursuing war with Iran is 50/50.

"It seems to me it's Iraq all over again," Rep. Farr said.

Unreported Accomplishments in the 110th Congress
Despite the stonewalling by the White House, Congress is still moving in the right direction. So far this past year accomplished in the House (but not yet in the Senate):

End to Iraq War - legislation to start bringing home the troops in 30 days, and all the troops home by December 31, 2008
Prohibited water boarding and other forms of torture
Passed comprehensive anti-predatory lending legislation
Strengthened the Head Start program
Raised the minimum wage
Increased access to colleges by increasing the availability of federal aid, and by lowering student loan rates
Reduced subsidies to big oil and enacted global warming legislation, including my effort to make the Capitol a model of energy efficient recycling.

Locally, Sam has fought hard to represent the interests of all three counties in the 17th Congressional District.

Marine Sanctuary has a new research patrol boat and will have new offices at the Coast Guard facilities in Monterey and an new visitors center in Santa Cruz.
The Dunes at Fort Ord will soon become the largest State Park on the Coast
Affordable housing is being built throughout Fort Ord, and there will soon be new housing for military families assigned to Monterey
Funds have been allocated toward alternatives research to help our organics industry and to cut back on pesticides on fresh fruits and vegetables.
Federal funds are being made available for gang suppression and intervention funding to help Salinas and Monterey County suppress and prevent young people from joining violent gangs.
Helped cut red tape that prevented Natividad Hospital from accessing funds from other health care providers to support the Natividad mission.

2008 Election Calendar
Don't forget, there will be three elections in California in 2008. We must all work together to make sure folks get out to vote!

February 5, 2008
Presidential Primary Election

June 3, 2008
California Primary Election

November 4, 2008
General Election

Resource Center for Non-Violence sponsors event on South Africa
South Africa: Building Civil Society & Resolving Conflicts

Dr. Boatamo Yvonne "Ati" Mosupyoe, African Studies Program Director, California State University, Sacramento, will be the special guest of a dinner hosted by the Resource Center for Nonviolence at El Palomar Restaurant, 1336 Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz on Thursday, January 10th at 5:30 p.m. and a 7:30 p.m. program at the Veterans Hall, 846 Front St.

Dr. Mosupyoe is an expert on mediation and interest-based negotiation, conflict resolution and civil society's role in mitigating and resolving conflicts. Mosupyoe will address Africa's unique contribution to the growing appreciation of mediation and conflict resolution methodologies and ethics in addressing regional and world problems. Her presentation will include various South Africa case studies.

Dr. Mosupyoe also serves on the Advisory Board of Global Majority in Monterey. She is a native of Tshwane, South Africa, received her PhD from UC Berkeley, and has published on a broad range of subjects, including Pan Africanism, ethnic studies, and "Mediation of Patriarchy and Sexism by Women in South Africa."

Dinner reservations are $40-100 sliding-scale and spaces are limited. A $5-10 suggested sliding-scale donation is asked for the 7:30 p.m. program, with no one turned away for lack of funds.

For more information, call 423-1626.

Planned Parenthood holds Santa Cruz County Pro-Choice Brunch

In observance of the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that made abortion legal throughout the United States, Planned Parenthood and the Reproductive Rights Network invite you to attend the annual Santa Cruz County Pro-Choice Brunch.

Featured Speaker: Kathy Kneer
President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California

Kathy Kneer is widely respected as an effective lobbyist, sophisticated political strategist, and unwavering advocate for reproductive choice.

Introduction by State Senator Joe Simitian

UC Santa Cruz Students for Reproductive Justice will also be honored.

Date: Saturday, January 19, 2008 at 10 a.m.
Where: United Methodist Church, 250 California Street in Santa Cruz

Sliding scale donation: $10-$25
Students are invited free of charge
For more information call 423-2356

Planned Parenthood is also asking for help with the latest parental notification initiative. Here's what they have to say:
Despite our success in defeating Propositions 73 and 85, a new parental notification initiative is currently in circulation. The new initiative is similar to the first two, but adds an additional "exception" which is designed to make it seem more flexible. It is not--and it represents an equally dangerous threat to vulnerable teens. Furthermore, as we already know, the proponents of the initiative do not support abortion or contraception in any situation, and are simply using parental notification as a first step toward further restrictions on choice. That is the real agenda.

At this point we have reports of volunteer signature gatherers in several California cities. However it will be almost impossible to gather a sufficient number of signatures using only volunteers. In each of their two previous efforts, anti-choice groups spent nearly $2 million on paid signature gathering just to get on the ballot.

Please keep a lookout for signature gatherers. If you see them, please make a note of the date, time, and exact location. Note any signs, buttons, banners, or other display materials. Take samples of any literature they are offering. See if they are gathering signatures on multiple issues, or just the parental notification issue. And if they are doing a bait-and-switch tactics, saying voters have to sign twice on another initiative and then having them sign PN3, we also need to know. Finally, and most importantly, ask them if they are being paid to gather the signatures or if they are a volunteer.

Please forward your reports on sightings with any materials you are able to gather to David Alois at PPAC at david.alois@ppacca.org as soon as possible.

California and Santa Cruz Democrats endorse Proposition 93

The California Democratic Party has endorsed only one Proposition on the February Ballot--Proposition 93, the Term Limits & Legislative Reform Act.

Here's what the state party had to say about it.

Proposition 93, the Term Limits and Legislative Reform Act reforms California's 17-year-old term limits law by reducing from 14 to 12 the number of years a legislator can serve and allows all 12 years to be served in either the State Senate or State Assembly.

Proposition 93 makes a modest reform to California's term limits. This reform strikes a reasonable balance between the need for new people and fresh ideas, and the need for experienced legislators with the knowledge and expertise to deal with the complex problems facing California. Issues like the rights of workers, universal health care, climate change, and civil rights.

Assemblymember John Laird has his own argument on the issue.

A path to better government
By John Laird

As I enter my sixth year in the legislature, I find my twin goals of serving my Assembly district and producing meaningful progressive legislation-on the environment, civil rights, education and sound fiscal policy-are not just difficult on their own, but challenged by structural flaws in California's governmental process.

I support fundamental reform in campaign financing and redistricting, the state budget process, California's revenue structure and term limits. These are not easy issues, and we should move forward on any one of them when given the opportunity. On February 5, voters will have the chance to improve one of these items by passing Prop 93.

Prop 93 shortens the maximum time a legislator can serve from 14 to 12 years-but allows that time to be spent all in one house, or any combination. Currently, a legislator can serve six years in the Assembly and eight years in the Senate. And yes, the measure would directly impact my future.

The reality of the current situation is that legislators spend a considerable amount of effort worrying about their next political move rather than the reason they were sent there: to legislate well for the people of California.

For example, with only six years to serve in the Assembly, many of my colleagues look to run for the first available Senate seat. After serving just two years in the Assembly, many start to run for a Senate seat and put their time and energy there.This is no way to run the government of the 8th largest economy of the world.

In this current session, 25 of the 48 Assembly Democrats were brand new. This has been a challenge at the time of a major budget shortfall, implementation of the climate change law, and comprehensive health care reform.

Last year, we enacted the landmark AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, which seeks to cut California's emissions by 25% before 2020. The state has taken the first urgent action steps and is now moving to a long-term plan. Legislative oversight of the state's implementation actions will be critical to our success in fighting global warming. However, many of us who took the lead on AB 32 will be leaving office next year, unless Prop 93 is passed.

The same is true for marriage equality, where a substantial number of legislative yes votes will leave next year-that's substantial, considering the bill passed each house at, or just above, the bare minimum of votes.

If you consider health care reform-where Assembly leaders and the governor have reached a tentative agreement to insure all of California's children and millions of additional adults-the leadership on that issue will also be term limited from office if Prop 93 does not pass.

And with a 2008 budget shortfall approaching $14 billion, we've come to a place where the easy fixes have been exhausted. Navigating this latest budget crisis is going to require political fortitude and a sense of innovation. With approximately a third of the legislature set to be termed out later this year, those are qualities that may be hard to find.

However, with the passage of Prop 93 and no longer suffering from "short-timer" syndrome, legislators will have greater incentive to work across party lines and actively work toward a more stable state budget.

There are people who oppose term limits all together. I am sympathetic to that position. But the people of California consistently support term limits, and this measure allows for flexibility within that system to improve how we operate now-making possible substantial progress on environmental, social justice and health care issues.

In private and public polls, this measure is ahead by double digits. But it's going to be a horse race and I expect the issue to go down to the February 5 wire. For most voters, Prop 93 is just coming onto the radar screen, and TV ads from both sides will heighten awareness.

Absentee voting begins January 7. I hope you'll consider California's future when going to the polls on Prop 93-and then we can move on to the other reform issues that will help California face with its future.

To volunteer locally, e-mail volunteer@supportprop93.com
Learn more at www.termlimitsreform.com

Senator Simitian invites citizens to "Education Update" meetings

In order for me to better serve our school communities, it's important that I stay in touch with education leaders and advocates in our region. As a member of the Senate Education Committee and the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education, and as Chair of the Senate Select Committee on California's Master Plan for Education, I cordially invite you to an "Education Update" meeting to discuss the education aspects of the Governor's budget and provide an update on K-12 policy proposals.

I'll host two meetings in our district. The meetings will be free and open to the public. The one in Santa Cruz will be:

Thursday, February 7, 2008
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Santa Cruz County Government Center Board Room
701 Ocean Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Please call (831) 425-0401 to RSVP. I look forward to seeing you, and hearing your insights and suggestions. Joe Simitian, State Senator, Eleventh District

Chris Finnie, newsletter editor
Santa Cruz County Democratic Central Committee