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Governor Schwarzenegger claims the voters sent a “clear message” against taxes in the May 19th election. GOP legislators and conservative anti-tax groups are happy to echo him.

While we all know that California needs budget reform, the type of carnival “shell game” that the measures proposed were an insult to Californians. Most voters rejected them because they were short-sighted and unrealistic attempts to “balance” the budget.

One proposition would have given governors unilateral authority, while another would have permitted the sale of bonds based on uncertain future lottery revenues. One measure redirected revenues away from early childhood programs, and one diverted money from the Mental Health Services Act.

How can this be interpreted as the voters saying “no” to taxes? I believe the voters said NO to granting unlimited power to the governor, NO to gambling with our future, and NO to condoning the raiding of funds from our children and those in need.

How did our Golden State fall so far? Why do we, the eighth largest economy in the world, find ourselves without enough financial resources to fund even our most important institutions like education and basic social services?

Yes, the economy is certainly a factor. However, it’s important that Californians take a close look at some of the other factors that have contributed to this fiscal chaos.

A main part of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s platform in his run for governor was reversing the Vehicle License Fee. The loss of revenue from the VLF has cost our state $6 billion per year. He’s been in office since 2003. Do the math.

Even with the current financial crisis, the Governor would not agree to reinstate the VLF to its 2003 status. Apparently his pride is more important than all the pain caused by cuts in education and social programs.

The Republicans would like us to believe that the only way out of this financial crisis is with a cuts-only budget. Not true! The GOP repeatedly rejects solutions put forth by Democratic legislators. And though the Democrats are in the majority, the two-thirds rule prevents them from raising revenue or passing a budget without Republican support.

During the long budget negotiations, Republicans insisted on considering only cuts, not finding new revenue because most signed a “No Tax” pledge. This no-tax pledge is of the most benefit to large corporations, who are not paying their fair share. How can a no-tax pledge supersede a legislator’s oath to serve the people of California?

I urge every Californian to watch the informative video about budget myths on Assembly Budget Committee Chair Noreen Evans’ website. Go to: www.asm.ca.gov/Evans and click on “Budget Reform.”

Please write, call, or email the governor and your state legislators. Tell them it’s time to put the people of California first and have a budget that reflects our values.  We must provide for our children, our elderly, our disabled, and one another.

Let’s make sure that Arnold hears the real message.

by Toni Shellen
 

 

Taking on Education
Tuesday, March 10th, 2009 at 10:32 am
from The White House Blog
download .mp4 | also available here | read transcript

In the opening of his speech today at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the President met critics head on who complain of too much change, too fast: 
 Every so often, throughout our history, a generation of Americans bears the responsibility of seeing this country through difficult times and protecting the dream of its founding for posterity. This is a responsibility that has fallen to our generation. Meeting it will require steering our nation’s economy through a crisis unlike any we have seen in our time. In the short-term, that means jumpstarting job creation, re-starting lending, and restoring confidence in our markets and our financial system.  But it also means taking steps that not only advance our recovery, but lay the foundation for lasting, shared prosperity.  

I know there are some who believe we can only handle one challenge at a time. They forget that Lincoln helped lay down the transcontinental railroad, passed the Homestead Act, and created the National Academy of Sciences in the midst of Civil War. Likewise, President Roosevelt didn’t have the luxury of choosing between ending a depression and fighting a war. President Kennedy didn’t have the luxury of choosing between civil rights and sending us to the moon. And we don’t have the luxury of choosing between getting our economy moving now and rebuilding it over the long term.  

The President explained why, on education in particular, we cannot afford to wait, noting that even within a few years America will see a different reality: "By 2016, four out of every ten new jobs will require at least some advanced education or training."    The President pledged to end pointless partisan finger-pointing, and to ensure that new investments also came with new reforms. He pointed to deep commitments both in the recovery act and his budget proposal, while also telling the audience that "It is time to start rewarding good teachers and stop making excuses for bad ones."  

He proposed five pillars of reform:  
      1) "Investing in early childhood initiatives" like Head Start;  
      2) "Encouraging better standards and assessments" by focusing on testing  
         itineraries that better fit our kids and the world they live in;  
      3) "Recruiting, preparing, and rewarding outstanding teachers" by giving
         incentives for a new generation of teachers and for new levels of excellence
         from all of our teachers.  
      4) "Promoting innovation and excellence in America’s schools" by supporting 
         charter schools, reforming the school calendar and the structure of the school day.
       5) "Providing every American with a quality higher education--whether it's college
         or technical training."  

And for students themselves, the President had a message for them as well:  

Of course, no matter how innovative our schools or how effective our teachers, America cannot succeed unless our students take responsibility for their own education. That means showing up for school on time, paying attention in class, seeking out extra tutoring if it’s needed, and staying out of trouble. And to any student who’s watching, I say this: don’t even think about dropping out of school. As I said a couple of weeks ago, dropping out is quitting on yourself, it’s quitting on your country, and it is not an option – not anymore. Not when our high school dropout rate has tripled in the past thirty years. Not when high school dropouts earn about half as much as college graduates. And not when Latino students are dropping out faster than just about anyone else. It is time for all of us, no matter what our backgrounds, to come together and solve this epidemic.    

 After suffering through eight years of the Bush Administration Democrats can rejoice, not only because we have elected a Democratic president, but that this president is actually working to fulfill his campaign promise of change. Our new President, Barack Obama has already accomplished much in the short time he's been in office

 

On his first day he called in advisers to begin dealing with war and the recession. Obama called leaders of Israel, the Palestine Authority, Egypt and Jordan.

Breaking with Bush policies, President Obama has ordered major changes that would halt the torture of suspects, close down the Guantanamo detention center, ban secret CIA prisons overseas and fight terrorism "in a manner that is consistent with our values and our ideals."


The president froze salaries for top White House staff members and ordered new lobbying rules for "a clean break from business as usual." He also unveiled ethics rules stating that "the way to make government responsible is to hold it accountable."

To deliver on his pledge of a transparent government, Obama said he would change the way the federal government interprets the Freedom of Information Act, that it should be administered with a clear presumption: In the face of doubt, openness prevails.  What a wonderful change from the past!

On January 29, 2009, the very first bill President Obama signed was the  Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act saying,  "It is fitting that with the very first bill I sign - we are upholding one of this nation's first principles: that we are all created equal and each deserve a chance to pursue our own version of happiness."

Don't you just love this man?  And one gets the impression he's just getting warmed up.

He's already made many changes that are dear to my heart, but perhaps my favorite change was evidenced on what was not a very good day for President Obama. On the same day that  Senator Tom Daschle withdrew his name for secretary of health and human services, Nancy Killefer withdrew hers for consideration as the federal government's chief performance officer. Both Daschle and Killefer dropped out because of their failures to pay all of their federal taxes.

While his detractors prepared to throw barbs, Obama stepped forward, took full responsibility and apologized, saying simply, "I screwed up." I have no doubt that somewhere Harry Truman was smiling because the U.S. finally has a president again who understands that, "The buck stops here." In President Obama's  Inaugural address, he said,  "What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility." It is obvious that those weren't just empty words.

Obama has even tried to live up to his pledge of bipartisanship. If he has erred at all, it was in believing that the Republicans in Congress would grasp and accept this idea.

When presenting his original economic stimulus plan, compromises were made to make the package more palatable to Republicans so that it could pass as a bipartisan plan. It passed, but not one single Republican in the House voted for it. I could hardly believe what I was hearing as they sang their same old song of "tax cuts." Tax cuts? For the wealthy I assume.

When the bill reached the Senate, Republicans and even some Democrats stalled the bill because of "the cost." Yes, the cost. So more changes were made to make it acceptable until three Republicans finally agreed to vote for it.

Do GOP legislators have any memory of the monstrosity called the Iraq War? Which, by the way, still piles up death, destruction, and debt daily.  How about bailing out the banking industry? I guess it's not "socialism" if it helps the rich.

 

I think I have this figured out. Apparently, there's a huge epidemic of mass amnesiaWashington. They seem to have forgotten that we've done the tax cut thing for eight long years and the only thing that's trickled down is debt and despair.

They also seem to have forgotten that just last November the people spoke- loud and clear. As President Obama said in his Inaugural address, "They have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord."

I'm sure that that the job losses, home foreclosures, and rising health care costs are touching Americans everywhere regardless of their party affiliation. Our new president is working for all Americans. among the Republicans in

 

It is my hope and dream that all of our U.S. Representatives and U.S. Senators will join him in working for the good of our country.












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What a difference a day makes! Election Day 2008, that is.

Has anyone else noticed that the sun seems to be shining a little bit brighter, people are smiling more, and we’re all sleeping better?

Every time I open my e-mail, I receive more pictures of people from around the United States and the world celebrating the election of Barack Obama. Newspaper headlines from nations across the globe joyfully announce Obama’s election. Best of all, these stories proclaim redemption of the American Dream and revived respect for Americans’ values. It was said that if the world could have voted, Obama would have won not just by a landslide, but an avalanche.

Barack Obama ran on a platform of change. He has already proven throughout his campaign that this was not just an empty phrase. He changed the way he financed his campaign and he ran a positive campaign. While he criticized the policies that his opponents proposed, he didn’t attack them on a personal level. Even when he was under slanderous attacks by his adversaries, he remained calm and kept to the high road. This is indeed  “Change we can believe in.”

Obama ran a “grassroots campaign,” and those who were involved in it can attest to the fact that it was the best organized campaign anyone has ever run. The Obama website connected people from neighbor to neighbor and across the nation. The level of communication through e-mails, text messages, and conference calls kept volunteers informed and feeling that they were really part of this campaign for change.

Obama’s transition team is in place and at work. A website has been set up so that we can all learn more about the presidential transition. Visit http://www.change.gov and you can see what’s taking place, and even tell your own story about what this campaign and election mean to you. You can share your hopes for an Obama Administration and a government for the people.

On this website it says, “Across the country, national leaders and ethics experts praised President-elect Barack Obama's strict new ethics rules for the transition team, which place restrictions on registered lobbyists and former lobbyists.” That sure sounds like the kind of change we’re looking for. And he’s only just begun.

President-elect Obama said, “Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today.” That’s exactly my idea of the American Dream.

The fact that Barack Obama has been elected to be the first African American President in the history of the United States makes this victory even sweeter. While it doesn’t mean that we’ve completely overcome racism in this country, it is certainly a significant milestone that many of us have longed for, for many years. I hope it removes those barriers forever. While I celebrate this as a civil rights’ victory, it’s not the main reason I wanted to see Barack Obama elected to be our next president. That was a bonus.

I confess that I just want to have a smart president who can speak in complete sentences. I want a president with integrity who understands and respects our constitution. I want a president who cares about people. On January 20th, 2009, I’ll have one.

Congratulations, President-elect Obama. I’m counting the days.

During the last eight years I have often wished I could buy a full page ad in every publication in this country stating imply, "Wake Up, America!"

As each new revelation of deception, greed, distortion, and pure incompetence unfolded, I thought that at last everyone would realize the damage the Bush administration was inflicting upon this country.  Yet neither proof that we had been lied into the war in Iraq,  the discovery that the U.S. was torturing prisoners at Abhu Ghraib prison,  the mismanagement of the Katrina disaster, nor a myriad of other scandals was sufficient to awaken this nation.

Most of us have realized that our country was facing economic disaster as we have seen our fellow citizens lose their jobs, their health care, and even their homes. President Bush and Senator John McCain repeatedly assured us that the economy was "basically sound." As the unemployment rate and the number of home foreclosures continued to rise, they stuck with this same party line.  Now that our economy is near collapse, they have changed their tune.  Deregulation is no longer their rallying cry.

In 2000, a statement from the Office of the President Office of Budget and Management (OBM) stated:
"In 1998, the Federal budget reported its first surplus ($69 billion) since 1969. In 1999, the surplus nearly doubled to $125 billion, and then again in 2000 to $236 billion. As a result of these surpluses, Federal debt held by the public has been reduced from $3.8 trillion at the end of 1997 to $3.4 trillion at the end of 2000 and to an estimated $3.2 trillion in 2001. With continued prudent fiscal policies, the budget can remain in surplus for many years. Under the President's budget proposals, $2.0 trillion in Federal debt held by the public will be retired over the next 10 years—all of the debt that can responsibly be retired."

Some Republicans enjoy referring to Democrats as the "Tax and Spend Liberals." Now, if memory serves me correctly, President Bill Clinton, a Democrat,  was in office when this great surplus took place. Again, there was a $236 billion budget surplus when George Bush first took office.

The fact that the price of gasoline had risen from $1.46 per gallon when President Bush took office to $4.00 plus today, has only led the GOP to declare that it's the Democrats' fault for not allowing offshore drilling. Their idea of alternative fuel seems to be finding an alternate place to drill.

This administration has never been committed to telling the American people the truth. Facts (even scientific facts) have often been hidden or manipulated to serve their purposes. In terms of the injustices that the Bush administration has perpetrated upon this nation during the last eight years, the few issues I've mentioned here are only the tip of the iceberg. (Do you remember icebergs?)

John McCain keeps referring to himself as a "maverick." Unless he is claiming to be "an unbranded range animal," the term simply no longer fits.  A senator who has voted with President Bush over 90% of the time
can certainly not claim to be "an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party." Voting in lockstep with Bush doesn't sound like a candidate promoting change.

It is clear that this nation needs change. We need progressive leadership and innovative solutions. It's time to look to the future and stop clinging to the failed practices of the past. It is also time for us to stop being ruled by fear- a favorite strategy  of the current administration.

 The push by the White House for immediate action on the Wall Street crisis was very reminiscent of the rush to war in Iraq. The original bailout proposal prompted tremendous response from citizens. Are Americans at last pulling their heads out of the sand? Are we awake yet?

Let's trade deception and fear for hope and change. Let's do everything we can to help elect Obama to be our next President.

I keep having a flashback of Arnold Schwarzenegger cutting up the giant credit card when he was running for Governor. Many broken promises later, California now finds itself in a very serious budget crisis.

At last month's TCDF meeting we heard from Lara York and Nicole Steward of The Fremont Education Coalition about how the budget shortfall will affect the Fremont Unified School District. Cuts may need to be made that will affect counselors, transportation, staff development, updated text books, technology, increased class sizes, and more. This is just a snapshot of what will happen in school districts across the state.

The Governor's original solution was  to make 10% cuts “across the board.” After much criticism, he scaled back his cuts and decided that his new plan is to expand the types of games the lottery can offer and market them more aggressively and sell bonds to investors based on the value of those future sales. He insists that this is not risky and is “not really borrowing.” 

Analyst Elizabeth Hill said the Governor’s lottery revenue projections are overly optimistic and could harm education funding. She also encouraged lawmakers to raise $3.3 billion by closing a variety of tax loopholes.

Assembly Majority Floor Leader Alberto Torrico believes that the budget should reflect our values and that we must invest in the future. He believes that in order to fund important services we must raise revenue, not just make cuts. He wants to ensure that the budget is fair and that it is not unfairly balanced on the backs of our children, seniors and working families.

Two bills were introduced by Democrats that would close two loopholes, thus bringing in more revenue for the state.

The first was ABX 9, the Oil Severance Tax Law. This bill would have imposed a tax on any producer at a rate of 6% for the privilege of severing oil from the ground or water in California for sale, transport, consumption, storage, profit, or use. This tax would be assessed on each barrel of oil severed. If this 6% tax was imposed on certain oil producers in California, $970 million in state revenue would be generated for the budget year.

The bill also imposed a 2% surtax on an oil industry’s windfall profits. If the 2% windfall profits tax was levied on the oil industry’s windfall profits that are in excess of $10 million, $230 million in state revenue would be generated for the budget year.

 Twenty-one other states have a similar levy from 2% to 15% on oil producers. Not one Republican member of the Assembly voted for this bill . It did not pass.

ABX3 10, commonly referred to as the “yacht tax,” would reinstate the 12-month use tax presumption period for vehicles, vessels and aircraft purchased out of state. The intent of this bill was to discourage tax avoidance on expensive purchase, such as yachts, through offshore delivery arrangements in which delivery takes place outside the state’s waters and the yacht is berthed for a few months in Mexico or other location outside the state before being brought back into California.

This bill did not pass. Only three Republican Assemblymembers voted for this bill.

As long as we see such votes being divided along strict party lines, I find it hard to believe that Governor Schwarzenegger and the Republican legislators really understand the budget crisis that California faces.

Denying passage of both of these bills clearly favors protecting the wealthy. I don’t understand how Arnold and the legislators “on the other side of the aisle” can maintain that they are representing their constituents while placing the wealth of oil companies and yacht owners above the health care, education, infrastructure, and social service needs of Californians.

So the next time I find myself short on funds, I’ll heed the Governor’s example by borrowing some money and heading to the casinos to win back the money to repay the loan. In the meantime, I’ll only pay 90% toward my house and car payments, doctor bills, Tivo and Macy’s bills, and luxury vacations. That’s a 10% cut across the board -right? After all, I wouldn’t want to save money by cutting out any frills.

If you want to hear from a legislator who has his priorities straight and knows how to represent his constituents, please join us at our meeting on Wednesday, June 18th and hear our guest speaker, Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico.  He will share his ideas about a balanced approach to solving California's budget crisis.
 

Local Democrats  were fortunate that the California Democratic Convention was held in the nearby city of San Jose at the Convention Center. It was an exciting time and we were able to hear from many of our elected Democratic legislators as well as party leaders.

I especially enjoyed the address from Speaker-Emeritus Willie Brown, Jr. His speech highlighted the progress the Democratic Party has made through Presidential campaigns over the years. He stressed how important it is that our party has invited full participation and increasing inclusion of all members of our society. I found his words to be enlightening and it made me proud to be not only a Democrat, but a California Democrat. (Brown’s speech is on the last half of this video clip, which contains other speeches as well, including SF Mayor Newsom's.  http://tinyurl.com/5tw6mz)
 
For other CDP Convention speeches and workshops, go www.cadem.org  and click on “Video Links” under State Convention on the left side of the page.

April 13th brought the opportunity to participate in the Presidential Delegate Selection Caucuses for both the Clinton and Obama Delegates. The results for our 13th Congressional District were very exciting for our club. Two TCDF members will be going to the Democratic National Convention in August, Jan Giovannini Hill, as a Clinton Alternate, and Toni Shellen, as an Obama Delegate. We appreciate the support of our Democratic friends who helped elect us! We promise to wear big hats to the convention and wave wildly to our friends back home. For complete results of these elections, see:   www.cadem.org   Clinton Caucus ResultsObama Caucus Results

Statewide more than 23,000 Democrats showed up on that Sunday afternoon as 2,500 candidates tried for the 241 available slots. Democrats can be hopeful and proud that there is such a high level of interest and participation in this Presidential race.

As exciting as this race is, I know that we can become frustrated when we see the Republican nominee, John McCain (“McBush”) out there already campaigning for the General Election, while we still await our official Democratic nominee. Patience is certainly not one of my virtues, but more experienced voices at the CDP Convention reminded us that we have to let the system work. We will have our nominee. Then we will make history.

Dear Members,

Our regular meeting date, March 19th, falls on the tragic fifth anniversary of the  invasion of Iraq. We mourn not only the loss of American lives, but the loss of innocent Iraqi lives.

We will be co-sponsoring a "New Priorities Peace Vigil" with our local MoveOn Council, Pax Christi Fremont, Tri-City Peace and Justice, and South Alameda County Peace and Justice Coalition.

The vigil will take place before our meeting at Veteran's Park, on the corner of Paseo Padre Parkway and Walnut Avenue from 5:30 p.m until 6:30 p.m. We will meet at the flag pole. (The vigil continues,  but we will need to leave for our meeting.)  For more information go to: http://political.moveon.org/event/5yearsvigil/45385

We will gather in memory of those who have died, but also to protest the continuation of a war that we believe should never have started and is long overdue to end. We are asking for new priorities for our country.

It is time that people understand the connection between the war and the economy. As the war enters its sixth year and continues to squander our human, natural, and economic resources, we find that many  are struggling at home to even keep a roof over their heads. While millions go without health care, our tax dollars are spent on bullets, bombs, and body bags. This hardly sounds like the American dream.

This war is being waged in our names and with our money and resources. It is our right and our responsibility to send a message to the country, Congress, and the President that it's time to honor the troops by bringing them home.

Our meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. in Fukaya Room A at the Fremont Main Library on Stevenson Blvd. Our guest speaker is Nichola Torbett, Director of National Programs for the Network of Spiritual Progressives. Her topic will be "How to End the Iraq War. "

I look forward to seeing you at our meeting on Wednesday. I hope I'll see you at the vigil, too. Together, we can demand better priorities for our country.

Peace,
    Toni