I am proud to announce that last night, the Ventura County Central Committee became the first committee nationwide to approve the FireDogLake resolution only supporting such healthcare reform as contains at least the choice of a robust public option. Robert Cruickshank's Central Committee in Monterey had the resolution on the agenda, but did not get to it before the scheduled adjournment.
This is part of a national effort to get Democratic clubs and central committees nationwide to adopt similar resolutions over the coming month, and forward them on to Congressmembers whose districts are geographically aligned with the county/club making the endorsement. My brother and fellow Calitician Dante Atkins helped rewrite the language of the resolution so that it fit with California resolution rules.
If you are a member of a Democratic or progressive club--or, better yet, a member of your Central Committee--I highly encourage you to submit the same or very similar resolution to your local club/committee as well, in order to leverage maximum pressure on your representatives.
The text of the resolution adopted by the VCDCC was as follows:
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.
The resolution will be forwarded on to Elton Gallegly and to Lois Capps. Capps has not signed the FDL pledge even though she represents a D+10 district; FDL is also placing phone pressure on 106 Democratic representatives in such districts to encourage them to sign the pledge for a public option.
Several weeks of hard work have paid off, and the California Democratic Party is poised to provide a major tool in the fight for justice and accountability for the Bush torture regime. The Resolutions Committee included on their consent calendar the resolution to begin a Congressional inquiry into Judge Jay Bybee and other lawyers who wrote opinions justifying and providing the fig leaf of a rationale for torture, with all punishments allowable under the law, including impeachment.
Without the release of the OLC memo from August 1, 2002, showing Bybee admitting that waterboarding gives the impression of imminent death and allowing it anyway, showing Bybee allowing the CIA to put detainees in a small box with bugs in a Room 101-style exploitation of phobias, I'm not sure this resolution would have passed. But the release massed a groundswell of support from the grassroots. My petition to urge the CDP to support the resolution gathered 4,827 signatures in about a week. Courage Campaign hopped aboard as well and got 9,000 or so sigs on their petition. Activists called the CDP offices and pushed for passage. And the party got the message.
Resolutions can go flat if they aren't picked up and used as a tool. Today, when it passes the full party on the convention floor in a few hours, we can celebrate. Tomorrow, we put this to work. Thanks to everyone who put in the time and effort to get this done.
UPDATE: Here's the full text of the resolution, on the flip:
The Northern Solano Democratic Club has posted five resolutions on their web site that will be submitted for approval at the state convention next month.
The full text of each is below the fold and can be adopted by local clubs by inserting your club name in the "Resolved" clauses at the appropriate place.
The deadline for submitting resolutions to be considered at the State Party Convention is late April quickly approaches. I'm interested in what resolutions people are hearing about -- particularly at the Progressive Caucus gathering later today, which unfortunately it looks like I will have to skip.
Most critically, I'm interested in whether anyone has heard of a resolution calling for a state Constitutional convention. Such a convention could eliminate the 2/3 "Percentage of the Beast" Rule for the state budgets, limit initiatives (say, ones that encroach on civil rights and liberties), etc. From conversations I've been having, it sounds like it may be the most likely route to get rid of the supermajority requirement for budgets. I'd like to assume that someone is drafting and submitting one -- but is it happening?
If it isn't, would anyone like to collaborate in writing one -- really quickly?
They are now available here at cadem.org. They're posted on the front page of cadem.org, but they won't always be so easy to find, so I recommend bookmarking or something like that. Here's a TinyURL.
Anyway, the resolutions run the gamut from removing the National Guard from Iraq to supporting LED lighting. Over the flip, you'll find the complete list with links to each resolution. Anything of interest to you? Comments appreciated.
(from my DailyKos diary this morning--it's important for me to try to bring CA issues to the national spotlight.)
And by that, I refer to the California Democratic Party.
As you may know by now, the resolution authored by progressive activists to censure Senator Dianne Feinstein was not heard by the CDP Resolutions Committee. If you read my previous diary on the subject, you'll realize just how contentious this issue was, and that the end result was exactly as expected.
There will be a lot of complaints about the result, and understandably so. Nevertheless, an official censure is a huge step, and the end result is no surprise, given the momentous nature of the struggle in question.
But I'd like to share another story with you that might even better exemplify just how much change and reform we still need in the California Democratic Party, as well as give you some insight into how the party machinery works.
I entered the California Democratic Party Resolutions Committee meeting room with Eden James, Courage Campaign's Managing Director, bearing our sign and easel. We found a free space at the front of the room and set up the sign.
Almost immediately, Resolutions Chair John Hanna approached us, demanding that we remove the sign. Eden politely asked if there "was a rule" against signs in the meeting rooms. Hanna replied "yes."
Kathy Bowler, CDP Executive Director, then calmly approached me, stating that the sign should be removed because the room was getting full and she had staff she needed to get into the room.
John then grabbed ahold of one side of the sign, attempting to remove it from Eden's hands. Eden, maintaining his hold on to the other side, repeated the question to John about whether a rule existed against signs inside the meeting room. John said "yes"again and Eden asked to see the rule, saying that if there was an actual rule against signs inside the room -- he would respect it.
Increasingly angry, John threatened to call security. Eden, surprised, calmly responded that John "should go ahead if that's what you want to do."
Suddenly, Hanna then shoved his side of the sign and Eden at the same time, forcibly pushing Eden backwards. Eden held on. John shoved again, then pushed Eden's shoulder back with the palm of his hand.
Stunned, Eden let go of the sign as John ripped it from his hands and threw it to the floor. An unknown person then picked up the sign and sprinted it out of the room, taking it to the staff room (according to Kathy Bowler).
Now that Blackwater is back in the news and CCR (Center for Constitutional Rights) is filing a lawsuit in DC Federal Court this morning on behalf of 3 of the recent shooting victims, it's time to dust off my resolution. My first draft was last June. Please feel free to make changes within your own club or central committee, bearing in mind the idea is to get this to the EBoard Resolutions Committee where they will certainly make their own changes. It's a resolution, not legislation. It needs to go to the EBoard with broad support if they are going to consider it at all. The power to apply deadly force needs to reside within our government and not be outsourced to private entities.
Stevan Thomas
Candidate AD15 http://ElectSteveTho...
DRAFT 10.11.07
Resolution Regarding Private Military Contractors Operating Within California
Whereas, The Constitution of the State of California, under Declaration of Rights, Article 1, Section 5 reads: "The military is subordinate to civil power. A standing army may not be maintained in peacetime."
Whereas, Private Military Contactors (P.M.C., a.k.a. mercenaries or private armies) are NOT under civil control OR military chain-of-command AND can be looked upon as a "standing private army maintained in peacetime" if allowed to operate within California:
(crossposted from The Liberal OC. Always a hot topic of conversation around these parts...the CDP Resolution Process. - promoted by Brian Leubitz)
The resolutions passed by the California Democratic Party at the July e-board meeting are now on the CDP's website. The fact that there are a very large number of them is due to the quorum call at the April meeting that shut down all business. Check out some examples over the flip.
Two weeks may have passed between the Democratic Convention and today, but that hasn't stopped us from speculating over whatactuallyhappened during that weekend. During these two weeks, everyone seems to have developed a theory on who knew what ahead of time, who was conspiring to silence the progressives, and who was really behind the mysterious quorum call. Two weeks have passed since then, and I'd like to do my part to end all the speculation NOW.
Last Thursday, I hopped on over to OC Drinking Liberally. John Hanna, Co-chair of the Resolutions Committee, also happened to be there. Pretty soon, hekebolos showed up, and we all went to the back room of Memphis to discuss what really happened at the convention. Later on, we also talked about what we can do better next time, but I'll talk about that part of the discussion another time.
Right now, I'm inviting you to follow me after the flip to find out WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO ALL THOSE RESOLUTIONS. I have been collecting information from a few brave individuals for quite some time now, and my meeting with John Hanna on Thursday put an end to my own speculation on all these rumors. So why not join me after the flip, so that you can also toss the speculation and just find out what happened?
(Learn the rules to the game - promoted by Lucas O'Connor)
Thank you for your e-mail Marlene.
On your first issue, keep in mind the definition of resolutions that the State Party operates on---a philisophical statement. Resolutions are not designed to manage the Party structure. Generally we refer resolutions that deal with party structure to the Organizational Development Committee. We refer resolutions that would change the bylaws to the Rules Committee. We generally refer resolutions that seek a support or opposition to a specific pience of legislation to the Legislative Committee. For example, the resolutions that would create an audit committee is a bylaws change. You can't change the bylaws by way of a resolution. The proponent could have made a bylaws change at this Convention but chose not to use the proper process. We did refer some resolutions calling for support for legislation to the legislative Committee. Your resolutions dealing with 58 counties were part of a referral to the Task Force that Art is developing. Art committed that the proponents/authors(in this case your Don Lowrie I take it) would be on the Task Force.
All your energy and imagination is rejuvenating to us old party hacks. I want to be in contact with more of you.Thanks for welcoming Garry Shay and John Hanna to the dialogue.I hope they have deflected some of the paranoia that resulted from the events of Sunday afternoon. There will be a special Rules meeting in June where both the resolutions procedure and referrals to committees and caucuses will be discussed. Input is welcome ,email to robert@cadem.org.
I agree with most of the commentary and assessments of the presidential candidates.John Edwards got me. All the others seemed like they were giving their standard stump speech. Edwards talked to us with passion and sincerity and managed to include quite a few specifics. I'm sold.
Although I occaisionally post on Calitics and the California Progress Report I am very new to blogging and could use a tutor. I have no idea how to get exposure for my diaries and comments or do a whole list of other things. Any volunteers? I am more than willing to be a resource for all on Rules,Bylaws and the process in general. I also moderate the CDP Rural Caucus newsgroup and invite all to join at 1. http://groups.yahoo....
-OR-
2. send email to CDPRuralCaucus-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Judy Hotchkiss
Member,CDP Rules Committee
The Resolutions Committee met yesterday for three and a half hours, and ultimately adopted 13 resolutions to send to the floor today. Majority Report mentioned yesterday that Impeachment, Iraq and the High Speed Train were crowd favorites. The resolutions are:
Timely Resols - Party Business
-Democrats working together to win in '08 and beyond
Timly Resols - Statewide Issues
-Opposition to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Fee Hikes
-Supporting healthcare reform
-Oppose Gov. Schwarzenegger's cuts to CalWorks program in 2007-2008 California State Budget
-Housing as a right for all Californians
-Support Park Integrity
Timely Resols - Federal And State Issues
-Global Warming as a Presidential and a Local Priority
-Calling for full investigation into abuses of power by George W. Bush and Richard B. Cheney
-Erase, rewrite, and reauthorize "No Child Left Behind" (The Elementary & Secondary Education Act)
-Support of High Speed Rail
-Supporting a balanced global economy... from free to fair trade
-Guarantee Freedom of Choice
Timely Resols - International/Foreign Policies
-Support the opportunity to vote the U.S. out of Iraq
(It's hard living in a "red district". Hopefully, this will make things easier for our great blue candidates here. : ) - promoted by atdleft)
I have read all of your thoughtful comments and I think a little background information would be helpful. Especially for our brothers and sisters from more comfortable "Blue" districts who may not know what its really like campaigning in the "Scarlet Districts".
I live in the 77th Assembly District, 52nd Congressional and the 36th State Senatorial District. Duncan Hunter is our Congressman, Joel Anderson in the Assembly and Dennis Hollingsworth in the State Senate. Gives you a little idea of what we are up against.
The resolutions passed by the California Democratic Party at the July e-board meeting are now