Full Information on JCDP Web Site

Please bring a personal letter to Senator Wyden telling him why you think the choice of a public health insurance plan is important!

A Panel Discussion

Thursday, June 25th

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS RETREAT 2009 - 2 day retreat on the University of Oregon campus for Oregon youth ages 14-19 who are interested in leadership around sexual health and reproductive rights.  Full Information

~  Write a letter to Senator Ron Wyden

urging him to join his colleagues and support the public option.

~Attend the Mother's Voices Rally at Vogel Plaza on Thursday, June 25^th from 5-6 pm. (then move on to our 7:00 JCD meeting)...

Wear RED and bring your personal letter to Ron Wyden asking him to support a public health insurance option.

  ~ Visit our 4th of July Booth: this year we are sharing our space with Health Care for America NOW to push revelers to take action and create a whole new health care system for America the Beautiful!

Information on JCDP Web Site 

ACTION - Jeff Merkley ASKS YOU: Sign the petition and urge Congress to include a public option in health care reform and give Americans the choice they deserve.

Nearly 50 million Americans are uninsured and millions more are under-insured. American families are going bankrupt because of exorbitant health care costs. Our seniors have to pick and choose what medicines they can afford. We are better than this. The time is now for affordable, accessible health care for all.

Join me in this fight and together we can make a difference.

Jeff

Full letter follows:

Dear Friend,

I’m writing to you today to address the enormous challenge to reform our broken health care system. Congress is gearing up to tackle this important issue and finally provide affordable, accessible health care for every single American.

But there are politicians and powerful lobbyists in Washington, D.C. doing everything in their power to stop this from happening.

Join me and send a message to opponents of health care reform (by signing the petition) that we will not let them win this important battle. We cannot allow their dishonest tactics prevent our friends, family and neighbors from having access to the health care services they desperately need.

In the coming weeks Congress will be debating what kind of health care reform will be best for our nation. I believe Americans should have a choice when it comes to their health care coverage. If you like the health care you have, you should be able to keep it. If you want a public option that will provide quality care at a reduced cost, you should have that choice.

Full Information

Partisan pollster Frank Luntz recently laid out a plan intended to help Republicans kill any attempt at health care reform. If that wasn’t bad enough, last week the Minority Leader used these exact talking points designed solely to scare and deceive the American people on the floor of the senate.

I couldn't sit idly by and allow harmful misinformation about health care reform go unchallenged, I had to speak out.

These talking points are being echoed in this very chamber, in this very chamber in order to kill health care. Let’s see. Here we go. Frank Luntz’s memo, that’s his memo on how to kill health care, came out in April. It says – talking point number five – “Health denial care horror stories from Canada and other countries do resonate, but you have to humanize them. We recommend the phrase ‘government takeover’ rather than ‘government run’ or ‘government control.’” Why? Because government takeover sounds even scarier.

So what did we hear in the chamber from our minority leader just recently? I quote – “Americans are concerned about a government takeover of health care and for good reason.” And it goes on – so recognize that that is a point that’s coming from a document about how to kill health care, not a responsible debate about the plan we have in front of us.

Please read the entire speech,  

Posted June 15, 2009

ACTION - HR 2454 now being debated in Congress would create a "cap and trade" market, using market forces to limit and ultimately reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.  Also provides opportunities for green development in bio-mass, charcoal sequestration, advanced vehicles and more.

"The Jackson County Democrats encourage all our readers to back this important legislation by writing our representatives in Congress"  

Write U.S. Senator Ron Wyden 

Write U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley

Taking Aim At Climate Change and Energy Independence - By Alberto Enriquez

“The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009," is a landmark bill intended to combat global warming and restore America's energy independence; it is now making its way through Congress.

Variously known as "ACESA" or "the ACES bill," this omnibus legislation, runs to more than 900 pages, and would touch on virtually every aspect of energy production and use – from coal mining, to housing, to transportation. 

Early in May, the Jackson County Democrats heard a request from the Alliance for Climate Protection, for help in passing this legislation.   The Alliance is a non-profit organization co-founded by Vice President Al Gore to combat global climate change.

Full Article and Information

Nicholas Jackal, an Alliance field organizer, visited with the executive committee in May.  Upon examining the bill, the committee unanimously agreed to lend our support. Therefore, the Jackson County Democrats encourage all our readers to back this important legislation by writing our representatives in Congress.  Future actions, including phone banks to mobilize broad public support, may follow as we coordinate with the Alliance.  If you would be available to volunteer in such efforts, please let us know. 

The reality of human-caused global warming is no longer doubted by the vast majority of climate scientists.  Moreover, new and equally sobering evidence shows that the world's coral reefs–producers of most of the fish upon which millions depend–also are at risk from the increasing acidification of the world's oceans by man-made carbon emissions.  Both climate change and ocean acidification pose a real danger for humanity as well as marine life. 

How do PCPs fit into the state and national parties?
"PCPs elect representatives from each county party to represent the county as part of the State Central Committee. The SCC selects the officers for the state party.
"The SCC also selects the DNC Committeeman and DNC Committeewoman. These two people represent the state to the national party, along with the state chair and vice chair. The delegates from all the states choose leadership within the DNC, including its chairman."
How you can become a PCP
If you would like to become a PCP and help our party grow, just call the Jackson County Democratic Headquarters at 878-1050 and tell the office volunteer or the answering machine that you are interested in becoming a precinct committee person.  We'll have someone phone you back very soon.  Alternatively, you can email me, Allen Hallmark, at vicechair@jcdemocrats.org.

I hope you will call or email very soon.  You'll be glad you became a PCP.

Full Information About Being A PCP

For Complete Update on These Issues, Click Here:

Revenue (HB 2649, personal income tax; HB 3405, corporate minimum & income tax)

School Funding (SB 5520, State School Fund), Mentors for New Educators & Quality Preschool (SB 5519, Oregon Department of Education Budget)

Federal Stimulus Money – Last week, Stand for Children staff expressed concern that SB 767 (a proposal focused on quality & accountability for on-line charter schools in Oregon which creates a moratorium on them) could interfere with Oregon’s ability to compete for federal grants

Anti-Bullying (HB 2599) – The Governor signed this bill into law on June 12^th

Rural Schools & Portland Gap Bond (HB 2533) – HB 2533 passed the Senate Revenue Committee unanimously on Wednesday, June 10^th

Full Day Kindergarten (SB 44-A) – SB 44-A has passed the House & Senate and is awaiting the signature of the Governor

Healthy Kids (HB 2116: funding for expanded health insurance coverage & HB 2009: cost containment)

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

FULL INFORMATION