Jackson County Democrats

Happy Holidays!
The Jackson County Democrat's headquarters will be closed from December 21 through January 5. We'll be rolling out new volunteer opportunities for the up coming election cycle in January.

Writing Your Year-end Donation Checks? Keep the Jackson County Democrats in mind!
Help us Elect Democrats in 2012! Please keep the Democrat's Presence in Jackson County Strong! Your one-time and monthly donations, no matter what the amount, will keep the JCD office as the hub of the Democratic Party in Jackson County and help elect Democrats to important local positions. Please become a "Grassroots" sustaining supporter. Even $10 a month commitment will ensure our office remains open to provide a headquarters for local progressive political education and discussions, committee meetings, seminars and trainings. AND, it is the base for 2012 campaign.

Help us keep a progressive voice in Jackson County. Contribute via credit card by going to the www.jcdemocrats.org website, or by sending a check (and your Grassroots Commitment) to the JCD HQ, PO Box 4474, Medford, OR 97501. Thank you!

Register for the 2012 Campaign School Today! Open to Everyone!
Because of numerous requests, we've broadened the profile of who should attend beyond potential candidates and campaign managers. If you're a political activist or campaign supporter, you need to be there. We can only have 25 people at this event and it's open only to registered Democrats. The cost is $30, which includes lunch. Register today by mailing a check for $30 to: Jackson County Democrats, P.O. Box 4474, Medford, OR 97501

In addition to fundamental advice on planning a running a successful campaign, Cathy will cover:

• New tools for voter contact
• What issues matter most to the American electorate
• How to appeal to Independents and other non-Democrats
• Focused fundraising in a tough economy

Click here to view the agenda, and to learn more about Cathy Allen.

Are You Sure You're Registered to Vote? Have you moved or changed your name since the last election?
If yes, then you need to re-register to vote and update your mailing address. And now, you can do it on-line! Simply click here, have your Oregon Driver's License handy, and 5 minutes from now, you cross this "to do" off your list! By the way, this new on-line voter registration was made possible under Secretary of State Kate Brown - she's running for re-election, and we sure hope you'll support (and vote for) her!

JANUARY IS COMING! MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Secretary of State Kate Brown Joins Us to Answers Your Questions
Thursday, January 12, 6:30 p.m.
Oregon Education Association building, 2495 S Pacific Hwy, Medford
Let's fill the room for this truly dynamic speaker. SOS Brown is running for re-election. This will be a great opportunity to ask questions!

JCD Democrats Education Series
Thursday, January 26, 6:30 p.m.
Oregon Education Association building, 2495 S Pacific Hwy, Medford
"Watching the Supremes: The Importance of the Court and Its Impact on All of Us" with Wolf Hoppe as out special guest speaker.
Wolf will focus on the makeup of the Supreme Court, its ideological schism, and how cases get there; and will illustrate by discussing a recent case. He is a retired trial lawyer, adjunct professor of law and U.S Foreign Service Officer. Wolf has been teaching courses at OLLI at SOU (formerly SOLIR) on the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Supreme Court and related topics since retiring in Ashland in 1999. After the presentation, we have the Central Committee meeting. We'll be rolling out new campaign strategy and volunteer opportunities.

JCD Facebook Page
If you want up-to-the-minute news about JCD activities, please "like" us on the Jackson County Democrats Facebook page!

Senator Ron Wyden Responds to Reports Concerning Medicare proposal
A Wyden spokesperson states, "It would appear that critics did not read the Wyden-Ryan white paper before choosing to attack it". Read the complete response here.

Attorney General Kroger's Timely Tips on End-of-Year Charitable Giving. Click here.

Oregon Center for Public Policy Warns of Wage Thieves
They especially warn of problems for retail workers, and give advice on how to file claims.
See the report here.

Bonamici for Congress: Campaign update
The campaign is working on a virtual phone bank so that the JCDs and help from here. Watch for details later. See the video featuring her campaign and her volunteers.

Kurt Schrader, Oregon Democrat, Representative, Dist. 5 can use your help
"As you probably already know, one issue that I have been working hard on since getting to Washington is campaign finance reform. I have stood up against the special interests that can and have poured limitless amounts of anonymous money to attack and distort the records of myself and countless other elected officials." Read more about Kurt here.

DPO "In the News"
If you'd like to be kept abreast of activities in Salem through the Democratic Party of Oregon, go to www.dpo.org/news. Read the articles and sign up for the updates.

Rove Swiftboats Elizabeth Warren. See the Ad! Help Her Out!
A Boston Herald poll shows Elizabeth Warren beating Republican Sen. Scott Brown by 7 points -- her biggest lead yet! As a result, Karl Rove is attacking her on TV...again. This time with $524,000 of corporate-funded attack ads absurdly claiming Warren is too close to Wall Street! See Karl Rove's attack ad and contribute $3 here.

Help Wisconsin Recall Scott Walker! Support the Democratic Governors Assoc. appeal
"We must do everything we can to elect a governor in Wisconsin who will fight for jobs instead of grabbing for power. That's why we need your help immediately."
Walker's tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy will cost Wisconsin taxpayers $2.3 billion over the next decade, and his new spending for special-interest groups will cost $140 million - yet he says the state is "broke" and must cut $900 million from schools and target basic workers' rights in order to balance the budget. The math just doesn't add up. Support the recall here.

ALEC Draws Protests!
Remember ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council), the corporate-backed team that writes legislation for State and Federal law makers. It's alive and well, but people are watching. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) held its national convention at a plush resort in Scottsdale, Ariz., this past week. The little-known, but extremely influential corporate-backed membership organization and policy clearinghouse for state legislators was met with inspired counter-protests by a diverse array of activists. Read the Public Citizen report here.

"How We Won Health Care for All," a presentation by the Vermont Workers Center
A team from Vermont travelling around Oregon presented an up beat and thorough explanation of how they created a plan for universal health care and actually passed legislation to get it on its way. Oregon has already passed similar legislation to bring health to all. Jobs With Justice, Oregon Action and others plan to organize to help the effort along.

Occupy Medford General Assemblies
Moved to the Medford Library, 12:00 p.m. each Saturday

Citizens for Peace and Justice Events

CPJ Film Night
Tuesday, December 20, 7 p.m.
Lidgate Hall, Medford Congregational United Church of Christ, 1801 E. Jackson St. (behind the main building)
"Blood in the Mobiles" (cell phones that is), a documentary film about the rare metals and minerals mined in the Congo where sales help to finance civil war. A holiday potluck & business meeting for CPJ members will precede the film. The viewing is free and open to the public and will be shown on a large TV.

Benefit Concert Starring folksinger/blues artist Pete Herzog and friends
Thursday, January 5, 6:30 p.m.
Proceeds will benefit the defense fund through Peace House for the "Medford Six," the six who were arrested on Monday, Dec. 5th, for refusing to leave the Medford office of Rep. Greg Walden. The Medford Six face fines and other costs associated with their arrests and citations for the crime of "Trespass of Premises." We hope to have T-shirts to sell that will also benefit the Medford Six Defense Fund.