With a media assist from the Ventura County Star’s Timm Herdt, Tim Wunderman, CEO of the Bay Area Council, came to Ventura County August 2 to promote Repair California’s   plan for calling a state constitutional convention.  It  seeks to sidestep the legislature’s sole power to convene a constitutional convention by using  two constitutional initiatives on the November 2010 ballot.  The first would allow a convention to be called by initiative.  The second would call a convention, but limit its mandate to four specific topics so as to exclude controversial human rights subjects such as discrimination and abortion.

Wunderman assured the audience that experience in other states proves that a convention
can be trusted to stay within its mandated limits despite some disturbing historical precedents to the contrary. By a selection process still undetermined, he would exclude politicians and experts  as delegates.  “Plain citizens,” he claims, could avoid the partisan acrimony and career conflicts that produce deadlock. After sufficient education by experts, they could, in a climate of personal respect, resolve problems whose solutions have eluded partisan legislators. But can “plain citizens”  wrest  power and resources away from dominant vested interests without heated conflict.?  Would lobbyists provide the delegates’ education?  If not, then who?

A “pro-business” agenda accompanied Wunderman’s  call for nonpartisan politics.  He would amend but not repeal Proposition 13. Using data that contradicted figures supplied by Timm Herdt and the Legislative Analysts Office, he  ranted about “excessive” corporate and personal taxes.  While he supports extending term limits and overturning the 2/3 rule for budgets and revenue raising, his own  movement would drain resources from concurrent campaigns to make these changes by initiative. Without public campaign financing, what “plain citizen” could be elected as a delegate?   Reforms they adopt could not take effect before 2012, too late to help alleviate the current  economic crisis. Moreover a conservative judge on the panel warned that “judicial activists” would delay or rule unconstitutional  his whole procedure.

Given the magnitude of California’s current crisis, Repair California’s radical alienation from “politics as usual” is understandable. But opting out of partisan politics does not promise to break  the deadlock.  Wunderman attributes deadlock to partisanship, not to the concentration of the power of money in politics. He overlooks the vehemence that would be released by vested interests under attack.  He scapegoats legislators, a majority of whom have voted for “clean money” in a effort to escape dependence on  big money.   Repair California aims to recruit independents and voters disillusioned with party politics who, by registering “No Party,” forfeit participation in the only effective organizations possible in our winner-take-all-election system.   Repair California promises to replace partisan politics, but it expects the same voters who have repeatedly been stampeded by big money media campaigns in the past, using the same old rules, to vote  differently this time.   This is ultimate California dreaming.  Let’s get on with abolishing the 2/3 rule, imposing limits on lobbyists rather than legislators, freeing legislators from the tyranny of constant money raising with clean public money– reforms that are concrete and necessary now.  Meanwhile we can study proposals for instant runoff voting and abolition of the state senate as projects for a real convention in the future.
Al Dirrim

With a media assist from the Ventura County Star’s Timm Herdt, Tim Wunderman, CEO of the Bay Area Council, came to Ventura County August 2 to promote Repair California’s   plan for calling a state constitutional convention.  It  seeks to sidestep the legislature’s sole power to convene a constitutional convention by using  two constitutional initiatives on the November 2010 ballot.  The first would allow a convention to be called by initiative.  The second would call a convention, but limit its mandate to four specific topics so as to exclude controversial human rights subjects such as discrimination and abortion.

Wunderman assured the audience that experience in other states proves that a convention
can be trusted to stay within its mandated limits despite some disturbing historical precedents to the contrary. By a selection process still undetermined, he would exclude politicians and experts  as delegates.  “Plain citizens,” he claims, could avoid the partisan acrimony and career conflicts that produce deadlock. After sufficient education by experts, they could, in a climate of personal respect, resolve problems whose solutions have eluded partisan legislators. But can “plain citizens”  wrest  power and resources away from dominant vested interests without heated conflict.?  Would lobbyists provide the delegates’ education?  If not, then who?

A “pro-business” agenda accompanied Wunderman’s  call for nonpartisan politics.  He would amend but not repeal Proposition 13. Using data that contradicted figures supplied by Timm Herdt and the Legislative Analysts Office, he  ranted about “excessive” corporate and personal taxes.  While he supports extending term limits and overturning the 2/3 rule for budgets and revenue raising, his own  movement would drain resources from concurrent campaigns to make these changes by initiative. Without public campaign financing, what “plain citizen” could be elected as a delegate?   Reforms they adopt could not take effect before 2012, too late to help alleviate the current  economic crisis. Moreover a conservative judge on the panel warned that “judicial activists” would delay or rule unconstitutional  his whole procedure.

Given the magnitude of California’s current crisis, Repair California’s radical alienation from “politics as usual” is understandable. But opting out of partisan politics does not promise to break  the deadlock.  Wunderman attributes deadlock to partisanship, not to the concentration of the power of money in politics. He overlooks the vehemence that would be released by vested interests under attack.  He scapegoats legislators, a majority of whom have voted for “clean money” in a effort to escape dependence on  big money.   Repair California aims to recruit independents and voters disillusioned with party politics who, by registering “No Party,” forfeit participation in the only effective organizations possible in our winner-take-all-election system.   Repair California promises to replace partisan politics, but it expects the same voters who have repeatedly been stampeded by big money media campaigns in the past, using the same old rules, to vote  differently this time.   This is ultimate California dreaming.  Let’s get on with abolishing the 2/3 rule, imposing limits on lobbyists rather than legislators, freeing legislators from the tyranny of constant money raising with clean public money– reforms that are concrete and necessary now.  Meanwhile we can study proposals for instant runoff voting and abolition of the state senate as projects for a real convention in the future.
Al Dirrim

Our Health Care Forum on August 12 resulted in 50 new members to the Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley!  This is a very big deal.  I hate to admit it but lately there is more energy coming from the far right than we have seen in years.  Sure – its crazy, angry, misguided and corporate funded but energy just the same.   Obama has got them excited in the way Bush got us excited.  They are scared and dangerous. 

On the other hand the Dems have been pretty quiet since our victories in November 2008 and the inauguration in January 2009.  Of course this all makes some sense and can be explained by human nature – success breads complacency.  Failure can lead many directions but for Dems during the Bush years it served as motivation.  Our highest levels of membership and meeting attendance occurred during the aftermath of the Kerry loss in 2004.

All this background leads me  back to just how extraordinary it was for us to have had our best meeting attendance in years as well as the amazing number of new members signed up.   There is very good news here.  We are responding well to the anger and energy coming from the right.  Also I think we are starting to wake up.  Our 2008 victories were wonderful and the efforts extended to earn them were significant so some time to recharge is understood… but it is time to get back in the game! 

Congrats to Debbie Birenbaum and the DCCV leadership for pulling off such a successful event.  We should continue to be thoughtful about our meeting speakers and agendas.  A well planned meeting can increase our membership, create press coverage leading to further outreach and even more membership.  Each member is a potential volunteer to walk, call and support our voter registration and get out the vote efforts for the big elections in 2010.  This will lead to the end of the 2/3 rule and help us elect a Dem Governor who will sign Single Payer Health Care into law.  Our events are informative and fun but ultimately the building blocks of a strategy to win elections and finish the business we started last November. 

The donkey is waking up… and not a moment too soon. 

The Ventura County Democratic Party Central Committee has voted to only support healthcare reform legislation that includes a strong public option.  Here is the text of the resolution:

“WHEREAS, the heath care system of the United States is in crisis, with almost fifty million Americans lacking any health insurance, tens of millions more lacking adequate coverage, and millions more who do have private coverage paying increasingly unaffordable premiums, resulting in inadequate access to care and premature death, illness, or financial ruin for millions of Americans; and

WHEREAS, public polls show that an overwhelming majority of Americans want health care reform to offer the choice of a robust public option similar to Medicare in order to, in the words of President Obama, “keep the insurance companies honest,” while co-ops or so-called “triggers” are inadequate in and of themselves to address the health care crisis by creating significant competition for the medical insurance industry; and

WHEREAS, Republicans and their allies in the health insurance industry have organized and funded groups of extremists to disrupt efforts on the part of the Democratic majority and administration to reasonably discuss the issue with the American people, and have demonstrated an utter unwillingness to compromise in any way to pass meaningful health care reform;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ventura County Democratic Central Committee urges Democratic members of Congress to vote for only such healthcare reform proposals as contain at least the choice for a robust public plan at all stages of the legislative process including conference and reconciliation, and encourages Democratic legislators to use any available parliamentary means to pass such reform;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Ventura County Democratic Central Committee shall send a copy of this resolution to all members of Congress who represent at least a part of the geographic region of which this Committee is the officially sanctioned body of the Democratic Party.”

Title: Ventura County Pride March
Location: Mission Park – Downtown Ventura
Link out: Click here

People
Recognizing
Individual
Differences
Equally

Join COLOR on Saturday, August 22 2009 for a march to celebrate LGBT Pride.

Gather at Mission Park in downtown Ventura at 4:00pm on Saturday August 22, 2009. We’ll begin walking at 5:00pm. The march will end up back at Mission Park with many people heading over to Paddy’s afterward to join them for their yearly Pride celebration.

From The VC Star: ‘When the Ventura County Rainbow Alliance made a last-minute decision to cancel an annual gay pride celebration this year in downtown Ventura because of state budget cuts, activist John Wilner stepped up to organize a march to be held Saturday along Main Street.

Wilner said members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual community should not retreat in a year that saw the passage of Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in California, and the 40th anniversary of New York City’s Stonewall riots in support of gay rights.”

Read more here: March to replace annual gay pride event in Ventura

John@VCColor.org
Start Time: 16:00
Date: 2009-08-22
End Time: 19:00

By Lois Capps

Don’t let the naysayers fool you. Congress is making real progress on health reform. My last vote was to pass a comprehensive health-insurance reform bill out of the Energy & Commerce Committee. The next step is passage by the full House. This bill — the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act (HR 3200) — would make healthcare more accessible, more affordable and better in quality for everyone.

Our health system is broken, bankrupting families and businesses. We spend more per capita on healthcare than any other industrialized nation, yet fare worse in infant mortality, maternal mortality and life expectancy. Congress and the Obama administration are working to reform our health-insurance system for all Americans.

Our reform bill will lower costs and bring stability and security to those with health insurance already, while extending coverage to millions of uninsured Americans. If you like your health insurance, you can keep it and benefit from lower prices and improvements to make the current system better.

Our legislation protects consumers by prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage because of pre-existing medical conditions or refusing to cover a consumer’s medical expenses after a serious injury or diagnosis. It also ends “gender rating” policies that charge women higher premiums just because they are women, removes co-pays for preventive care services and closes the Medicare Part D “donut hole.”

Our bill brings costs down by establishing a public health insurance option to compete with private insurance companies. This will end monopolies that private companies have in most of the country and make premiums more affordable. It will also ensure you always have coverage options if you lose your job or if your employer doesn’t provide you with a plan.

Our legislation expands our health work force through education assistance for new physicians, nurses and allied health professionals. It also encourages them to practice in underserved areas.

Despite this progress, I am under no illusion that enacting common-sense health reform is an easy task. If it was, we would have done it years ago, instead of letting our broken system deteriorate for decades. Our healthcare system accounts for as much as 16 percent of our national economy and touches our lives every day. That is why we are acting with careful deliberation after scores of hearings on the need for reform.

Finally, I’d like to put to rest some of the rumors about the reform bill. It is sad that opponents of reform have resorted to spreading misinformation about this legislation, but they are making these false accusations quite loudly and you deserve to know the truth:

— Our bill will not force anyone into a government-run insurance option. Consumers may choose either a public or a private health insurance plan.

— Our bill will end the rationing of care that private insurance plans currently practice. It provides greater consumer protections and ensures decisions are made between you and your health professional.

— Our bill does not require or encourage euthanasia, nor does it require any end-of-life decisions. It does allow health professionals to be reimbursed for discussing advance-care planning options if the patient chooses to have this conversation.

— Our bill does not require federal funding of abortion services and specifically prohibits public funding for abortion, other than in the case of rape, incest or a threat to the life of the mother, as is the current law. Plans may choose to cover abortion services as long as only private funds are used to pay for such services.

— Our bill does not hurt the Medicare program, it improves it! By eliminating waste and abuse, increasing the number of health professionals, improving incentives for quality care and closing the Part D “donut hole,” seniors will be better off.

— Our bill does not cover people who are in this country illegally and specifically prohibits federal funding to provide undocumented people with health coverage.

I believe by working together we can ensure that all Americans have access to quality, affordable healthcare. We simply cannot afford to waste this opportunity.

— Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara represents the 23rd District in Congress, which includes parts of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

[For additional, factual, discussion of Healthcare reform and the bills visit the AARP overview at http://aarp.convio.net/site/PageNavigator/Myths_vs_Facts .]

Dear Friends,

We need your help today. As the national debate over health care reform heats up, it is critical that we show our support for President Obama, Congresswoman Lois Capps and health care reform. Those opposed to reform are doing everything in their power to force Congresswoman Lois Capps to back down from her support. This afternoon, opponents of health care reform will be picketing outside of Congresswoman Capps’ office.

We need to stand behind Congresswoman Capps and show that the community supports her and health care reform.

Today, Sherry Holland, with Organizing For America, is organizing a rally in support of Congresswoman Capps in front of her office (301 E. Carrillo Santa Barbara, CA) between 4 and 6:30 PM to make sure that our progressive majority is heard. Please come out and show your support for President Obama, Congresswoman Capps and health care reform.

Thank You,
Das Williams
Paid for by Das Williams for Assembly 2010 FPPC# 13165

Single payer health care—an improved Medicare for all—was the topic Wednesday night at the Thousand Oaks Library where the Democratic Club of the Conejo Valley joined forces with Progressive Democrats of America chapters of Los Angeles, Santa Monica Mountains, and the Central Coast to present a health care forum.

By meeting time of 6:30 pandemonium had engulfed the parking lot, entrance way, and hallways of the library. The overflow crowd included Republicans, Independents, and Greens as well as Democrats—disgruntled Republicans featured their own speakers in front of the library while Democrats screened the membership admitted to the meeting.

The meeting began with a viewing of producer Don Schroeder’s short documentary, “California One Care: Full Care, For All, For Less.” This excellent film explained why our health care system is broken and how it can be fixed, complete with a clear strategy for accomplishing single payer health care, starting with California. The California One Care campaign will begin this fall. Details, and a preview of their ad campaign, can be viewed at www.californiaonecare.org. The first ad, starring Lily Tomlin, is terrific. Don’t miss it.

After the film, Dr. Jo Olson and Dr. Susie Baldwin were featured speakers, giving examples from their own medical practices and joining the panel that fielded questions from the audience.

Conejo Valley Democrats were the most recent to host health care forums. Other Ventura County Clubs have also hosted such events. The one in Ojai last month was particularly effective. The Good Club in Oxnard, inspired by President Al Dirrim, is holding demonstrations for single payer every Friday evening at 5:00 p.m. on Vineyard Avenue near Esplanade—in front of the financial center–and would be most pleased to welcome anyone who is able to join them. Bring your own signs.

The Ventura County Democratic Central Committee passed a resolution at their July 28th meeting imploring Councilwoman Lois Capps, elected to Congress by the Democratic voters of the 23rd Congressional District, to sponsor and support single payer health care legislation. But whatever happens in Washington, it seems that the best chance for single payer health care lies with California, and that the Democrats of Ventura County will do whatever is required to achieve it.

Although almost five million Californians have enrolled with the Donate Life California Organ Donor Registry, the state still ranks among the bottom quarter nationally for the rate of organ donation signups.  Only 23% of driver’s license applicants check the box for enrollment, whereas in the top quarter of states, the signup rate is 58%.  Since about 20,000 Californians are currently on waiting lists for organ transplants and organ transplantation tends to save medical costs (kidney dialysis for patients awaiting a kidney transplant averages $55,000 per year, for example), an increase in the number of potential donors would save the state money while relieving suffering and saving lives.

Californians currently have an opportunity to sign up to be an organ donor once every five years when they renew their driver’s license.  Under the proposed legislation – AB 1132 — that opportunity would be given annually when the vehicle registration is renewed.  The state’s legislative analyst says there will be little or no impact on the DMV.  Many health groups have spoken in favor of the bill, none have opposed it in writting.  The State Assembly Transportation subcommittee voted to approve the bill 12-0.  The Assembly approved the bill on a floor vote 76-2.  Assemblywoman Audra Strickland (R – Moorpark), however, voted to opposed passage of this important legislation.

Audra Strickland has filed to start raising money to run for Secretary of State in 2010. With a voting record reflecting views so out of touch with the main stream thinking, one has to wonder who would support her.  Let’s hope her husband Tony, her daughter Ruby or her son Anthony never need an organ donation.

Title: Young Democrats
Location: Topper’s Pizza in Thousand Oaks: 1416 N Moorpark Rd Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 (805) 495-4444
Link out: Click here
Description: Come out for pizza and a good time with your fellow Young Dems this
upcoming Tuesday in Thousand Oaks! The meeting will be held from
6:30pm-8:30pm at:

Toppers Pizza Place
1416 N Moorpark Rd
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
(805) 495-4444

The meeting will focus on efforts coming up in the fall to help create
chapters and partnerships with local colleges, as well as broader
voter registration efforts that will be necessary to take out Elton
Gallegly (CA-24) and win an extremely important Assembly race in
AD-37. We will also be brainstorming ideas for our next fun social
activity!

I will be in Pittsburgh this week at the Netroots Nation conference
(national progressive blogger conference). I\’m chairing a panel I
organized titled Turning Red Districts Blue: Organizing for Change,
and have some national heavy hitters in Democratic politics as
panelists. I\’ll be presenting some of the ideas that percolate up out
of that panel discussion as well, so that we can help put some of
those ideas into action to help turn our beautiful county blue after
decades of Republican rule.
Start Time: 18:30
Date: 2009-08-18
End Time: 20:30