Thousand Oaks, CA – Statement by Marie Panec, Democratic candidate for Congress in district 24:

“I applaud the courage and tenacity of the U.S. Congress for bringing the decades-long health care debate to a vote and passing historic health reform legislation and lifting up the common good of all Americans.

Major provisions of the bill would:
- Strengthen coverage by reining in the worst insurance company abuses.
- Help small businesses to provide coverage with new tax credits
- Reduce premiums for many who buy their own coverage by an average of nearly 60 percent –while getting better coverage than what they have today.
- Substantially reduce prescription drug prices for Medicare recipients if they fall into that gap in coverage known as the ‘donut hole.’
- Provide the largest middle class tax cut for health care in history to help folks buy coverage.
- No longer determine eligibility by health status or pre-existing conditions – insurance companies will be required to offer coverage and they cannot boost rates or drop you from your coverage when you get sick.

As parents of college age children, my husband and I can keep our children on our insurance plan until the age of 27, if necessary. Cost estimates by the Congressional Budget Office show that the bill would reduce federal budget deficits by $143 billion in the next 10 years. This represents significant savings over our current system and is especially appealing to me.

It is the right thing to do. It confirms the best hopes for our country.

How did Elton Gallegly vote on this? ‘No.’ That is totally unacceptable. He has been holding our country back for too long. It is time for the good and decent people of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties to rise up and say, ‘We demand better than this!’”

VENTURA, CA — Santa Barbara City Councilmember Das Williams is proud to announce that he has picked up key support from the grassroots of the California Democratic Party (CDP), winning this morning’s Region 10 Pre-Endorsement Conference by a vote of 66-12.

Having received 82 percent of the vote from Democratic Party Delegates within Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, Das Williams well-surpassed the 70 percent needed to earn the formal endorsement of the State Democratic Party at the April Convention.

“Das Williams has dedicated his life to serving Santa Barbara and Ventura counties,” said E.J. Borah, local longtime Democratic activist. “He grew up here and knows our community. No other candidate in this race has a better understanding of we what need in Sacramento.”

“For too long, California has been held captive to the politics of Sacramento,” said Amanda Wallner, President of U.C. Santa Barbara Campus Democrats, who have also endorsed Das Williams. “To create true and lasting change, the citizens of our great state must take action. Today the local activists of the Democratic Party voted to endorse Das Williams for State Assembly because he has the most impressive record of grassroots organizing and is demonstrating his campaign’s commitment to the power of the people.”

Carol Lindberg of the Ventura Democratic Club added, “Das Williams is a coalition builder and has a proven record of getting things done. We need his leadership in Sacramento and I am proud to have given him my vote for the endorsement of the California Democratic Party.”

Garnering the formal support of Santa Barbara and Ventura County Democratic Party activists, as well as numerous other leaders and organizations representing labor and other key grassroots constituencies, Das Williams’ field campaign is likely to be unbeatable leading up to the June 8th primary.

“I am so honored by the overwhelming support my Assembly campaign received at today’s Pre-Endorsement Caucus,” said Das Williams. “I have always taken great pride in the work I have done to advance the core Democratic principles of fairness, opportunity, and investment, and today’s delegate vote represents a humbling recognition of my record.”

“Earning the California Democratic Party’s early formal endorsement would be a highlight of my career. I am so thankful for the confidence and support showed to me today by our Region 10 delegates,” ended Williams.

Das Williams is running to succeed fellow Democrat and termed-out Assemblymember Pedro Nava in 2010.

On Tuesday, Meg Whitman issued MEG 2010: Building a New California, and she laid it on the line about taxes: “We simply cannot afford a big, across-the-board tax cut that would irresponsibly grow the state’s already over-sized debt level and drop our bond rating to junk status.”  Instead, we should totally eliminate the state tax on capital gains.

We should do so because “California is one of a few states in the country that doesn’t tax capital gains at a lower rate than traditional income. This is double taxation at its worst. California’s tax treatment of capital gains is a major impediment to capital formation and investment in new jobs. We should align California’s tax treatment of capital gains with other competing states.”

Her statement has a nice read, but in actuality forty-one states tax capital gains at the exact same rate as “traditional income.” Only nine tax capital gains at a lower rate.

Meg’s statement in not only misleading, but is an outright deception on her part.  Sounds like Meg is already taking advice from her pick for Controller – Tony Strickland.

Ventura County Young Democrats is hosting a fundraiser for their group on March 27th starting at 5:30 p.m. at the home of Sue Gunther at 4228 Via Azul, Newbury Park, CA. The event will feature a competition and games such as political jeopardy and the like. Please send a note about this event to your various listservs and contacts before March 27th. The following is the information about the event:

“Support the next generation of Democrats in Ventura County by attending their first fund raiser. Are you a political trivia wiz? If the answer is yes, then please come to the Ventura County Young Democrats fundraiser on Saturday, March 27th, at 5:30 p.m. at the home of Sue Gunther. If not, come anyway for all the fun as the party will feature several games including political jeopardy – which should be hysterical! Sue Gunther’s home is located at 4228 Via Azul, Newbury Park, CA. Please RSVP or email any questions, to Alidad Damooei at aad@damooei.com.”

We hope to see all of you next Saturday!

The House of Representatives just released this list of benefits for our 24th Congressional District that are included in the pending health care reform bill.  Elton Gallegley (R) has indicated that he will vote against this bill.

a) Improve coverage for 476,000 residents with health insurance.
b) Give tax credits and other assistance to up to 106,000 families and 15,000 small businesses to help them afford coverage.
c) Improve Medicare for 95,000 beneficiaries, including closing the donut hole.
d) Extend coverage to 35,500 uninsured residents.
e) Guarantee that 9,300 residents with pre-existing conditions can obtain coverage.
f) Protect 1,000 families from bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care costs.
g) Allow 47,000 young adults to obtain coverage on their parents’ insurance plans.
h) Reduce the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals and other health care providers by $26 million annually.
i) Provide millions of dollars in new funding for 54 community health centers.

~ Source: House of Representatives, Committee on Energy and Commerce

http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/health_care/districts/new/CA24.Gallegly.pdf

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING
AT THOUSAND OAKS LIBRARY, 1401 E. JANSS ROAD

SOCIAL NETWORKING AT 6:15PM – MEETING AT 6:45PM

Congressional and Senatorial Candidates ForumTim Allison and Marie Panec – Candidates for 24th Congressional District are confirmed. 

The DCCV Spring Series continues with the second of four Pre-Primary Forums. Candidates for Congress and Senate will present their positions to and answer questions from our club members and guest.  This meeting will be filmed for later airing on the Time Warner cable program Eye on the Issues.  

Guest are welcome.  Please bring your friends

YES on Proposition 15: California Fair Elections Act…for elections that money can’t buy!

Speaker’s Training for Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties
Date: Wednesday, March 24, 6:00 – 8:45 PM
Location: Home of Lisa Burton, 1707 Santa Ynez Street, Ventura
Pizza and Refreshments Provided
RSVP to Jay Kapitz: j_kapitz@yahoo.com, 818-889-1039

Working Group Volunteer Action Meeting
Date: Wednesday, March 31, 7:00 – 8:45 PM
Location: Home of Sue and Rick Gunther, 4228 Via Azul, Newbury Park
Snacks Provided
RSVP to Jay Kapitz: j_kapitz@yahoo.com, 818-889-1039

Simi Valley, CA – On the same day Jim Dantona officially filed to run for Ventura County Clerk and Recorder, he picked up some major endorsements. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell, Congressman Brad Sherman and State Senator Alex Padilla join a growing list of supporters lining up behind Dantona’s campaign.

Joining Dantona at the Ventura County Clerk’s office to file were former Mayor of Ventura and author of SOAR, Richard Francis, California Teachers Association Regional Director Arleigh Kidd and Ventura County Firefighter Association President Chris Mahon.

Francis was emphatic about his support for Dantona. “Jim Dantona has been a person who has dedicated himself to making life better for others. I support his campaign for the Clerk/Recorder’s office in the County of Ventura because I believe he brings the best spirit of improving conditions for all Ventura County voters who use this most important tool of democracy.”

Jack O’Connell previously represented portions of Ventura County as an Assembly Member and has known Dantona for more than twenty years. “Jim Dantona’s vast involvement in the election process is perfect for the role of County Clerk and Recorder. He will oversee voter outreach and be sure that elections are fair, results are timely and the voter is respected. Beyond that, his dedication to young people speaks volumes about his integrity.”

Watch the debate hosted by the Democratic Club of Ventura on February 25, 2010 and filmed by CAPS TV of Ventura. The debate is about an hour and packed with interesting and important information.

2010 AD35 Jordan vrs. Williams Debate

Ventura, CA, Arnulfo “AC” Carbajal announced today that after careful consideration, he has decided to withdraw from the race for County Clerk/Recorder and endorse Jim Dantona.

Carbajal explained that he was motivated to run for County Clerk/Recorder in late 2009 after he saw that the only declared candidate lacked the non-partisanship necessary to effectively run the county’s elections office.  Carbajal described his motivation for running: “Every candidate and every voter must trust the integrity of the elections office and must be 100% certain that the person responsible for elections is independent.  In good conscience, I could not sit by and let an officer in the Republican party take control of this office without voters having a choice.”

AC Carbajal is a registered Democrat but has never served on the central committee or in any position within the party and has never raised funds for either party.  He has always believed and acted independently of either party.

Carbajal went on to explain his reasons for stepping aside.  “When Jim Dantona entered this race, I investigated his experience and credentials much like I investigated Mark Lunn.  Jim Dantona has never served on any party central committee and has truly been an independent voice in Ventura County politics.  In addition, Dantona has excellent experience in elections, management and serving the community.  When I realized that we shared a deep respect for independent elections, I decided that the stakes were too high to have three candidates in this race.  For these reasons, I have decided to step aside and support Jim Dantona.  I intend to work hard for him and for the people of Ventura County to elect the most independent person in this race who will best protect taxpayer dollars.

Jim Dantona is an independent small businessman who runs a legislative and governmental consulting firm.  An dedicated youth advocate, community leader and philanthropist, he founded Baseballers Against Drugs in1989, helping over 60,000 young people to fight drugs and gangs and stay in school. The organization was awarded the 2003 Volunteer Organization of the Year and Dantona was honored by the FBI with the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award.

“I am honored to have AC Carbajal standing beside me in this race,” states Dantona.  “We are both passionate about protecting the American democratic process as we have both seen examples in the county of Election Day mistakes, needless delays of election results and poor investments of our hard-earned tax dollars,  With AC’s help, I will fight for a county-wide voter outreach while working to prevent voter fraud.”