Jackson County Democrats

 This Thursday, May 7th!!!

Location:  OEA building at

2495 S Pacific Hwy Medford (near the Grange).

Click here for google map

The Panel of Speakers includes:    

• The Environment: Pepper Trail - Conservation Chairperson of the Rogue Valley Audubon Society
• The Economy: Ric Holt - SOU Professor of Economics
• Health Care: Steve Neuberger - Health Care for America Now!
• Education: Abi Kurfman - Stand for Children
• Moderator: Paulie Brading - Director, Medford School Board 549C  

"President Obama's agenda affects the lives of all Americans and we hope this panel will give a better understanding of how national issues affect Southern Oregon," said Robin E. Brown, Chair of the Jackson County Democratic Party.

For More Information

"Obama's First 100 Days - A Panel Discussion"

On Thursday, May 7^th, at 6:30 PM, the Jackson County Democratic Party will host a special presentation.  A panel of subject area experts will discuss President Obama�s progress in four areas:  the economy, the environment, health care, and education.  A question and answer session will follow the panel discussion. 

Medford School District Budget Meetings

The MSD is holding its last informational meet to gather public input on proposed cut scenarios for the 2009-2010 school year. The District is assuming a state wide funding level of $5.7 billion for education, which translates to around an $8 million cut for the MSD. This is the time to voice concern over keeping programs like Instructional Coaches in elementary schools versus avoiding splits and larger classes.

This last Budget meeting will be held in the Washington Elementary school cafeteria on

May 2nd from 10am to 12pm

The Proposed Budget will be presented on May 12 to the public and the School Board. There will be at least one additional meeting for public comment on the proposed budget on May 26, however the time for input is NOW, before they get it down on paper.

Article on JCDP Web Site

Come support the School Board candidates. Questions will be posed by LWV, but there will be some time at the end for audience participation. This will also be televised live on RVTV.

Stand For Children needs School Board canvassers in May

We will drop flyers on the four MSD school board candidates endorsed by Stand for Children:  Paulie Brading, Sally Killen, Tricia Prendergast and Jeff Thomas. This will be a very simple canvass, we are dropping flyers at houses in 3 select precincts (no door knocking, no address lookup).

Canvass dates and meeting place:

May 9,17 Hoover Elementary parking lot
May 16 Jacksonville (Doc Griffin park)

Email if you can help.  More info

Oregon House Passes Several Measures Aimed at Assisting Veterans

House Democrats have made helping military veterans a top priority this session

On April 27^th, House Democrats carried two memorials and one bill designed to assist veterans once their service to country is complete. The measures would help veterans qualify for home loans and increase their access to health care.

House Joint Memorial 12, urges Congress to enact legislation increasing veterans' access to health care by proportionally compensating those who travel from rural and remote areas more for their specialty care.

House Joint Memorial 21, urges the United States Congress to change the funding mechanism of the Veterans Affairs health care system from discretionary to permanent and direct entitlements in order to ensure all veterans health care is covered.

House Bill 3470, is a companion to House Joint Resolution 7. Together, the measures would broaden the eligibility pool of veterans for the Oregon War Veterans' Fund.

More information and full press release

"There are significant challenges faced by rural veterans who need to travel long distance for specialty care," said Brent Barton (D-Clackamas). "Congress can and should increase access to quality health care regardless of a veteran's geographic distance to a VA hospital."

"Both increases costs and increasing demands for medical services have made it harder for sick veterans to get care," said Chuck Riley (D-Hillsboro). "HJM 21 would eliminate uncertainty for veterans by making this form of health care funding mandatory."

Changes approved that will help Oregonians find lower insurance rates

SB 377 will give consumers the option to ask for re-rating without penalty

On April 27^th, the Oregon Senate voted to require insurers to re-rate some insurance policies at the request of policy holders. The requirement applies to policies where credit scores were considered. Currently, insurers can either lower or raise a person's premium based on re-rating results. This discourages consumers from requesting a re-rating, because they can be "dinged" with a higher premium if their credit score has dropped.

Under SB 377, insurers will be prohibited from raising the consumer's premium based on re-rating information. If the consumer qualifies for a more favorable rate, the insurer is required to reduce the premiums on all policies in that line for which the insurer uses the credit rating.

The bill will now go to the House for consideration. Contact your House Representative to pass SB 377.

Read Full Article & Press Release

Arsenic testing in residential wells passes Oregon Senate

SB 739 will require home sellers to test for additional chemicals

April 27^th - Arsenic will be added to the list of chemicals tested in residential wells under legislation passed in the Senate. Since 1989, Oregon law has required that a seller of any real estate that includes a well that supplies ground water for domestic purposes must test for nitrate and total coliform bacteria. SB 739 will add arsenic to that list.

As many as 600,000 Oregonians rely on home wells for their drinking water. Scientific evidence has shown that exposure to low levels of arsenic in drinking water over long periods of time increases the risk of internal organ cancers.

The bill will now go to the House for consideration.

More info and press release

"As an Oregonian who relies on a well for his own home, I know how important it is to know what is in your water," said Sen. Alan Bates (D-Ashland). "This is a public health concern. Even though these are naturally occurring contaminants, home owners ought to know if they need to treat their water for impurities."

"Home buyers deserve to know what's in their water," said Senator Jackie Dingfelder (D-Portland), chair of Environment and Natural Resources Committee. "This is a simple, inexpensive test that will give new homeowners the information they need to ensure their drinking water is safe."

Oregon House Democrats Vote to Decrease Tobacco Use by Minors

HB 2358 now moves to the Senate - Contact Your Senator and Ask to Support it.

House bill would ban free samples of non-cigarette tobacco products.

On April 28^th, House Democrats voted to pass House Bill 2358, which would prohibit the distribution of free samples of non-cigarette tobacco products throughout the state. The bill was sponsored by Representative Carolyn Tomei (D-Milwaukie) and Representative Mike Schaufler (D-Happy Valley).

Smokeless tobacco that is flavored and presented in colorful packaging is often marketed to young women. In rural Oregon, smokeless tobacco is heavily marketed to young men. Because these marketing techniques are not regulated, it is easy Oregon kids to obtain them.

In 2005, major tobacco companies spent more than $13 billion to promote tobacco products; many marketing efforts directly reach children. Currently the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that at least 26% of high school students use some form of non-cigarette tobacco.

Info & Press Release

"Many studies have found that a ban on sampling is an effective way to keep kids from using tobacco," says Representative Tomei. "This is an easy way to protect Oregon kids from the dangers of tobacco."

"The free sampling of tobacco is not just a problem in the cities," said Representative Arnie Roblan (D-Coos Bay). "Parents in rural Oregon have been fighting this type of marketing at fairs and rodeos for quite some time."

"As the father of a 15 year-old girl, and as a State Representative, I am committed to keeping these products out of the hands of minors," said Rep Schaufler.

"At such a difficult moment, there are those who say we cannot afford to invest in science, that support for research is somehow a luxury at moments defined by necessities. I fundamentally disagree. Science is more essential for our prosperity, our security, our health, our environment, and our quality of life than it has ever been before. And if there was ever a day that reminded us of our shared stake in science and research, it's today. We are closely monitoring the emerging cases of swine flu in the United States...

But one thing is clear -- our capacity to deal with a public health challenge of this sort rests heavily on the work of our scientific and medical community. And this is one more example of why we can't allow our nation to fall behind. Unfortunately, that's exactly what's happened."

President Obama gave the all-too-familiar statistics about math and science education, and lamented the politicization of science that has too often stunted American ingenuity. He pledged to address those problems head on.

As President Kennedy said when he addressed the National Academy of Sciences more than 45 years ago:  "The challenge, in short, may be our salvation."

 

"I believe it is not in our character, the American character, to follow. It's our character to lead. And it is time for us to lead once again."  - President Barack Obama

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House Financial Services Committee announced that it has approved H.R. 627, the "Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights" by a vote of 48 to 19.

House Financial Services Committee Reports Out Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights

On Wednesday, the House Financial Services Committee announced that it has approved the "Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights" by a vote of 48 to 19. The bill would, among other things:

• Require card companies to give 45 days notice of all interest rate increases so consumers can pay off their balances and shop for a better deal;
  
• End "double cycle" billing
  
• Require card companies to allocate payments proportionally to balances that have different rates
  
• Prohibit card companies from knowingly issuing cards to individuals under age 18 who are not emancipated minors.

The principal sponsor of the bill, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), released a statement saying "This landmark legislation helps level the playing field between cardholders and card companies. For too long the relationship has been one-sided; but markets function best when all sides know what they're getting into-- and these deceptive practices need to be stopped. The Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights brings more transparency to the contractual relationship and give consumers the tools they need to responsibly manage their own credit."

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Of Continuing Importance

Health Care Action on Two Fronts - JOIN ONE OF THE ACTION RESPONSE TEAMS

to write letters to editor, call your Senator

 "Let there be no doubt: Health care reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year." 

    - President Barack Obama

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VOLUNTEERS ALWAYS NEEDED & APPRECIATED FOR OUR STANDING COMMITTEES

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