Amador County Democrats : News

League of Conservation Voters Action Fund Endorses Bera for Congress

randy@nospam.com (Randy) — Tue, 18 May 2010 12:31:11 -0400

Elk Grove, CA—The League of Conservation Voters has announced their endorsement of Dr. Ami Bera to represent California’s 3rdCongressional District.

“LCV is proud to endorse Dr. Ami Bera for the U.S. House of Representatives because he understands that instead of spending billions on foreign oil, we should be investing in clean, secure energy sources right here in America,” said LCV President Gene Karpinski. “We are confident that as Congressman Dr. Bera will work to ensure that America – and more importantly California – leads in the creation of the 21st century’s clean energy economy."

Bera earned the support of the LCV because of his commitment to a “smart” and “green” relationship with the earth and to the natural resources that is both environmentally and economically wise and sustainable; and that recognizes the crucial intersection of environmental reform, job creation, and national security.

“I am very proud to have the support of the League of Conservation Voters,” said Dr. Bera. “Their dedication to green environmental policy is central to the creation of a green economy. It is important to advance the use of cleaner, home grown sources of power, and to ensure California leads the way in generating new clean energy jobs.”

The former Associate Dean of Admissions at UC Davis, Bera has gained much support for his grassroots campaign. With a spot on the Democratic Congressional Campaign’s highly competitive Red to Blue program and enormous fundraising success, the campaign is in great shape.

Bera, 45, is a lifelong Californian whose parents emigrated to the U.S. from India over 50 years ago. He and his wife, Dr. Janine Bera, have been residents of Elk Grove, CA for over 15 years and have a 12-year old daughter, Sydra.

Two Amador DCC Members Appointed to County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC)

randy@nospam.com (Randy) — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Amador DCC members Marcie Bayne and Bob Laurent have been appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to fill two positions on the Amador County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC). The purpose of this RAC is to recommend funding projects that benefit National Forest System lands in Amador County. For the 2008 and 2009 funding cycle, this RAC will recommend projects to allocate approximately $90,000 that benefit the National Forest. The Eldorado National Forest Supervisor will select the projects on behalf of the Secretary of Agriculture. The RAC has been chartered for fiscal years 2008-2011.

The first meeting of the RAC will be held on May 5, 2010, at the Amador County Supervisors Office, 801 Court Street, Jackson, CA at 6 PM. This initial meeting is intended to allow new RAC members to meet each other, learn more about their duties as RAC members, and to develop committee operating guidelines. The public is invited to attend.

The members of the RAC were appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to represent a specific interest in the National Forest. Marcie, Executive Director of the newly formed North Valley Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, will represent labor's interest. Bob will be representing the interest of educators. He is a teacher for Baker College, Mountain State University and University of Phoenix.

Below is a list of all members.

Organized labor
Marcie Bayne

Developed outdoor recreation
Arthur “Gary” Dorall

Energy and mineral development
Justin Smith

Commercial timber industry
Craig Ostergaard

Hold Federal grazing or other land use permits
Frank Busi

Replacement Member
Larry Costick

Nationally recognized environmental organizations
John Ingvoldstad

Regionally or locally recognized environmental organizations
Chris Wright

Dispersed recreational activities
Richard Farrington

Archaeological and historical interests
Susan Stratton

Nationally or regionally recognized watershed associations
John Swift

Replacement Member
Steve DeBenedet

Hold State elected office
Lindsay Reed

Hold county or local elected office
Theodore Novelli

Tribal representative
Michael Fallon

School officials or teachers
Robert Laurent

Represent the affected public at large
John Hoffman

Replacement Member
Debra Dunn

Governor's Proposed Budget Would Eliminate In-Home Support Services for More Than 180 Low-Income Seniors and People with Disabilities in Amador Co.

randy@nospam.com (Randy) — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 23:38:37 -0400

A new CBP fact sheet documents the local impact of Governor Schwarzenegger's proposals to severely restrict eligibility for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and potentially eliminate the program. The IHSS Program helps low-income seniors and people with disabilities live safely in their own homes, thereby preventing more costly out-of-home care. IHSS will provide services to about 180 Amador residents (more than 476,000 Californians) in 2010-11 absent the Governor's proposed reductions.

The proposed reductions will mean a loss of $1,733,000 to Amador Co. beginning in October 2010 and continuing through June 2011. This is money that our county does not have available to keep the IHSS program going and will mean higher unemployment, and worse, the loss of critical benefits to 180 of our friends and neighbors.

Read the fact sheet.

California Democratic Party Charges Meg Whitman Campaign With Collusion in New Chamber of Commerce Attack Ads

randy@nospam.com (Randy) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:05:40 -0400

FPPC Complaint Cites Relationship Between Whitman Campaign Chairman Pete Wilson and California Chamber of Commerce and Alleges Violation of In-Kind Contribution Limits

Sacramento – The California Democratic Party today announced it would be filing an FPPC complaint against GOP gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman after an organization linked to Whitman’s campaign began running television ads attacking her Democratic opponent, Jerry Brown.

The California Chamber of Commerce, which counts Whitman campaign chairman Pete Wilson among its board members, began a statewide ad campaign which is estimated to exceed $1 million, far in excess of the in-kind contribution limits set in place by the state’s election laws. Under Proposition 34, in-kind contributions to candidates must not exceed $25,900.

The complaint alleges that Whitman chairman Pete Wilson participated in the decision to fund the television ads by the Chamber of Commerce.

“This sleazy attack ad is obviously being done at the behest of the Meg Whitman campaign,” said John Burton, chairman of the California Democratic Party. “Pete Wilson is the chairman of the Whitman campaign and he also sits on the board of directors of the California Chamber of Commerce. Clearly, there is collusion taking place and the intent couldn’t be plainer: to circumvent California law with regard to in-kind contributions.”

Ami Bera Added to the DCCC's Competitive Red to Blue Fundraising Program

randy@nospam.com (Randy) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:45:53 -0500

Ami Bera announced today that his campaign has earned a spot on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's (DCCC) highly competitive Red to Blue program by surpassing fundraising goals and demonstrating to voters his commitment to creating jobs, improving education and standing up for the middle class.

"I am honored that so many people in California’s 3rd Congressional District have joined our grassroots campaign to bring real change to Washington by putting middle class families first and strengthening our economy," said Ami Bera. "The momentum our effort has demonstrated by being named to the Red to Blue program shows we have the grassroots support and resources it will take to win in November."

"Ami Bera has come out of the gate strong and the Red to Blue program will give him the financial and structural edge to be even more competitive in November," said DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen. "Bera is generating excitement and is making the case to voters that his commitment to creating jobs and standing up for the middle class is far better than turning back the clock to the failed Bush policies of the past."

About Red-to-Blue

The Red to Blue program highlights top Democratic campaigns across the country, and offers them financial, communications, grassroots, and strategic support. The program will introduce Democratic supporters to new, competitive candidates in order to help expand the fundraising base for these campaigns. The very successful fundraising effort helped raise more than $26 million for Red to Blue candidates last cycle.

450 Children in Amador Co. Could Lose Health Care Coverage

randy@nospam.com (Randy) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:46:03 -0500

Under the budget proposal by Governor Schwarzenegger, 450 children in Amador County could be lose their health care coverage. Schwarzenegger's proposes to significantly reduce, and potentially eliminate, the Healthy Families Program (HFP). The HFP provides low-cost health, dental, and vision coverage to children in families with incomes of up to 250 percent of the federal poverty line – $45,780 for a family of three. If the HFP were eliminated, 1,041,100 children statewide would lose access to affordable health coverage. The federal government pays about two-thirds of the program’s cost. Eliminating the HFP would reduce General Fund spending by $222.0 million, but result in a loss of $826.3 million in federal matching funds.

In Amador County elimination of HFP would result in a loss of $455,000 costing 450 children their coverage.

This is just another example of the mean spirited cuts, targeted at the most vulnerable Californians, being proposed by Republican lawmakers while their big business partners continue to amass big profits on the backs of the poor.

More, including a complete county by county breakdown of numbers is in this two page pdf document.

DNC Winter Meeting Resolutions

randy@nospam.com (Randy) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:07:22 -0500

At their Winter Meeting, the Democratic National Committee adopted these resolutions.

This information was sent by DNC Executive Committee member Gary Shay.

One Year Later California Democrats Praise Recovery Act

randy@nospam.com (Randy) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:37:56 -0500

Bill Has Funded Thousands of Jobs in California and Saved Economy From Total Collapse

Sacramento — One year ago this week, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Since then it has funded up to two million jobs nationwide, including 70,745 jobs in California, and saved the nation’s economy from total collapse. As a result of the Recovery Act, California has received $21.5 billion in additional federal funding, with more than $7.7 billion received thus far.

"The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed into law by President Obama a year ago this week, has brought tens of thousands of jobs to California and helped to save our economy from total collapse," said Timothy Paulson chair of the labor caucus for the California Democratic Party.

"California’s working families have seen a tax break because of this bill, and small businesses have received loans to help them build their businesses and create more jobs. President Obama and our Democratic leaders in Congress are working around the clock to get our economy back on track. There is still much work to be done to create more jobs here in California but it’s clear that the Recovery Act is doing its job."

Tentative Dates Set for Highway 88 Clean-up

randy@nospam.com (Randy) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:50:08 -0500

If you drive up and down Highway 88 you have surely seen that the Amador Democrats have adopted a two-mile section of the highway from the top of the hill at the cemetary to the railroad tracks below. About four to six times a year depending on weather and other conditions, local Democrats gather to spend a few hours picking up trash along this stretch of Highway 88 helping to keep Amador County attractive for those travelling this stretch of road.

Dates for the next two highway cleaning opportunities have been set. They are:

Saturday, February 20, 2010; 9:00 a.m.
and
Saturday, April 3, 2010; 8:00 a.m.

All you need to participate is a desire to help your community and a willingness to spend approximately four hours of your Saturday morning doing good work.

For more information contact either Toni Bach or Steve Christensen.