Action Newsletter
DEMOCRATIC EVENTS
1. New – Whatcom Democratic Women Holiday Party, Monday, Dec. 12, 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Super Buffet in the Cost Cutter Shopping Center, on Meridian Way, Bellingham
We will be celebrating again this year at the old Asian Buffet in the Cost Cutter shopping center on Meridian Way which is now the Super Buffet with a new all improved menu including Asian foods, Sushi and American Food as well. The cost is $8.99 per person plus your beverage; but we receive 20% off for using the group room.
Please bring a donation for the Food Bank and a gift for the white donkey exchange. Bring a gently used item, a homemade gift, or something under $10.00. Our guests may include our outgoing elected officials or even some of our new elected officials.
Please join us as we celebrate the end of 2011 and look forward to the 2012 election where we have many important races. Call Catherine at 360.647.3888 or Maggie at 360.318.3557 for directions, questions or just to visit.
Peace, Catherine Chambers, cathecham@msn.com
2. New – 10th LD Meeting, Saturday, Dec. 17, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Headquarters of the Skagit County Democrats, 300A S. 1st Street, Mount Vernon, 360-336-1555
Agenda will include:
- 2011 Special legislative session and an update on the upcoming 2012 legislative session.
- Endorsements of our favorite candidates for local, state and national office.
- Redistricting plan update.
- 2012 Caucus Schedule
- Status report on the 10th LD Office.
For further information Contact: Ray Miller, Chair 360.926-8024 www.10thdems.org
3. Holiday Open House, Saturday, Dec. 31, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Party Headquarters, Mount Vernon
As usual we’ll supply coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, but we could use some finger food donations. Hope you can stop by to celebrate a successful year and perhaps to strategize a bit for successful campaigns in the coming year. (Don’t forget to bring something for the food bank boxes.)
4. Executive Board Meeting of the Skagit County Democrats, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012, 10 a.m. – noon, Party Headquarters, Mount Vernon
5. Central Committee Meeting of the Skagit County Democrats. Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, 10 a.m. – noon, Venue TBA
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. New – Changed Process for Submitting Resolutions for the 2012 Platform of the Skagit County Democratic Party.
The state has scheduled our precinct caucuses for Sunday, April 15, 2012, and the Skagit County Democratic Convention only two weeks later on Sunday, April 29th.
Therefore resolutions to be considered for inclusion in the Platform of the Skagit County Democrats will have to be submitted before the precinct caucuses this year. If you have resolutions that you would like to have considered, please submit them to your Precinct Committee Officer (PCO), or if there is no PCO for your precinct, deliver them or mail them to Democratic Party Headquarters, PO Box 761, Mount Vernon, WA 98273.
2. New – A Serious Attack on Grassroots Politics – the Elimination of Elections of your Precinct Committee Officers
Washington State Auditors proposed that Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs) should no longer be elected officials. Both Democratic and Republican Parties oppose this proposal. Washington State’s Legislature passed Precinct Committee Officer election laws in 1907 to prevent Tammany Hall and Boss Tweed type political corruption. PCOs are elected by the voters in the precinct, not chosen by a Party boss. Elected PCOs organize the county and legislative district parties. They elect their officers and two state committee representatives from their jurisdictions, who then control the state Party.
Please write to our Democratic Auditor Jeanne Youngquist and ask her to work with other county auditors and the Democratic and Republican Parties to find a sensible and cost effective way to continue this important feature of our democracy, the election of their PCOs by the public.
3. New – Stop Legislation Allowing Telemarketers to Call Your Cell Phone
A bill being considered by the House Energy and Commerce Committee would end 20 years of consumer protection preventing marketers from endlessly calling your cell phone–and using up minutes that you pay for.
This proposed legislation is so far-reaching that Sen. Chuck Schumer said that if it passes, “The floodgates would be open to telemarketers, who could call you on your cell phone during breakfast, lunch, dinner, no matter if you’re at home, at school, at the office.”
Our best chance to stop the bill is in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. If we can prevent the bill from coming to a full House vote, we can effectively kill it and preserve the traditional protections consumers enjoy from intrusive and unwanted robocalls to their cell phone.
I told the members of the Energy and Commerce Committee to oppose any bill that would give corporations virtually free rein to call cell phones. You should too. You can sign the petition at: http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/stop_robocalls/?r_by=-4844430-cQL0Cyx&rc=mailto1
J. Robert Henderson, Guemes Island
4. New – A Message from State Senator Kevin Ranker
Monday marked the start of the special legislation session called by Gov. Chris Gregoire to address the state’s $1.4 billion budget shortfall due to lagging revenues as a result of the Great Recession.
After three years and nearly $10 billion in cuts, closing the current shortfall means facing a series of tough choices, many of which will shape our state for decades to come.
The reality of our current situation is that we must have a public debate about what our state will look like and this debate must include all options. While we must discuss additional major cuts, we cannot do so without also discussing increased taxes and closure of some tax loopholes.
Expanded Responsibilities
Last year, I was given the privilege of becoming chair of the Natural Resources & Marine Waters Committee. It has been an honor to help draft and pass landmark legislation protecting our natural and recreational resources, employing veterans and preventing oil spills. Today, it is an even greater honor to announce the expansion of my committee’s jurisdiction to include all energy and climate related issues.
In the past four years, the legislature has empowered green enterprise by allowing citizens to sell their excess solar power to utilities. We granted millions in funding to retrofit middle-income homes and small businesses to increase efficiency while stimulating the economy. We created the Clean Energy Leadership Council to grow business alongside developing green technology. We have already laid the groundwork for a future renewable economy. And we’re beginning to see the results.
As chair of the new Energy, Natural Resource & Marine Waters Committee, I am thrilled to represent the 40th District in a greater capacity on these and other energy related issues.
Stay in touch! If you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office. As always, it is truly an honor to serve you.
Best wishes,
Kevin Ranker
5. New – 40th LD Members Asked to Consider Endorsement of Marijuana Initiative 502
I would like to get a vote from members of the 40th LD on this initiative/resolution regarding the legalization, taxation, and regulation of marijuana.
What I-502 does:
- Distribution to adults 21 and over through marijuana-only stores licensed and regulated through the state Liquor Control Board.
- Production and processing of marijuana will be done by Washington businesses and they will be licensed and regulated.
- There will be tight advertising restrictions.
- The state will have a new standard for marijuana DUI, just as for alcohol.
It will also generate approximately $215 million each year in new taxes: $80 million for the general fund and $135 million for programs such as the Building Bridges program to keep at-risk kids in school, improved public health such as community health centers and quality research on the impacts of this law by the Washington State Institute of Public Policy.
Please provide your comments: For the proposal, or Against the proposal to dnarcisco@aol.com - by the end of the week, Friday, the 16th. I will collate them and send them out to you for consideration and a vote by the end of the following week, Friday, the 23rd. I hope this approach is acceptable considering everyone’s schedules at this time of the year.
David Narsico – Chair 40th LD
360-714-1258
6. Democratic Headquarters Holiday Events and Operation Hours
HQ will be closed the 23rd, 24th and 26th of December, unless there are two people who would like to volunteer for the 23rd or 26th. Let staff at HQ know or sign up at HQ.
Holiday Open House, Saturday, December 31, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Remember that the need at the food bank is greater than ever during this holiday season. Please keep our food bank boxes full of non-perishable food items.
Enjoy the Holidays!
Shirley Viscalla, Office Manager
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:
I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.
Thomas Jefferson – from a letter July 12, 1816, to Samuel Kercheval
Gail Nicolls, Secretary
Skagit County Democrats
Formatting and posting by Brad Clure, Chair of Technical Committee
Skagit County Democrats
300A South 1st Street
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
360-336-1555,
Email to staff: staff@skagitdemocrats.org
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