Hot Topics for March

Hi folks! This is my first column and so as to start out on the right foot (or would that be left foot?) I want to try to begin outlining what’s before us and how we might act or react to the various issues. There is a lot going on just now so I’ll take each item in order of immediacy.

The first item concerns our elected officials and how we feel about how well they perform at their jobs. There is a new organization called Accountability Now Pac which will attempt to hold our office holder’s “feet to the fire” primarily by threatening to put a new candidate against them in a coming primary.

A little less harsh is a new program organized by our state party’s Progressive Caucus which is tracking legislation in our state and which will attempt to lobby, persuade, and/or coerce elected officials to vote one way or the other on various legislation. I am the local liaison for this process. First on our plate is health care reform within the state. Mark Leno is carrying a new version of the single payer bill from committee to the senate. So, the point in bring all of this up, is whether we’d like to do something similar? We could focus on city and/or county issues?

Next, we have the coming CDC convention in Sacramento from April 24 to 26. I will be attending with fellow 16th AD delegate Alice Freid, Rob Bonta (Mary Hayashi appointee), Barbara Kahn and Jim Oddie (Pete Stark appointees), and Dan Wood (Sandre Swanson appointee). You can see that we are well represented. If any member of the club would like to submit a resolution for the convention, please contact me for the proper format and process. Also, the party is calling for volunteers and you can also go as an observer (contact me for a form). Cost is $120 (plus meals if desired). Of course, the caucuses are always open to all democrats and you may join any state party caucus.

The May 19th ballot will have at least 7 propositions. We need to start looking at the various initiatives and the club will address this need. Look here for the propositions.

Man, what a full plate. Yet, I would ask every club member to think about joining in with the greening of Chipman School. Ask Barbara for advice. And, i almost forgot that the county registrar of voters is looking for precinct workers for May. Go here to volunteer

You Democrats are awesome!

Mark
Issues Chair ACDC
mbriggs13@gmail.com