Progressive Democrats Sonoma County

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May 15, 2013
Petaluma, CA

Donna Norton and Stan Gold deliver the May Letter to Rep. Huffman’s (CA-2) District Office in Petaluma, as part of PDA’s Educate Congress Campaign. Accepting the letter is District Office staff person, Kelly Meeker. Today, the Educate Congress Campaign delivered letters to over 200 Congressional offices, including District Offices around the country and Offices on Congressional Hill in D.C.

Click Here to read the May Letter to Rep. Huffman

To: Rep. Mike Thompson
From: Constituents of Congressional District 5

Re: Social Security, Tax, and Healthcare
May 15, 2013

Representative Thompson,

We are voters in your Congressional District, writing to urge you to oppose cuts to essential programs, as well as support common sense tax policies and job creation, as well as expanded, improved healthcare. Specifically, we ask you to:

Sign on to the Grayson/Takano “Line in the Sand” dear colleague letter pledging to vote against any cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits.

Cosponsor H.R. 1579: The Inclusive Prosperity Act — also known as the Financial Speculation Tax (FST) or Robin Hood Tax (RHT)—which would generate hundreds of $billions to fund job creation, jumpstart the economy, and protect essential programs. Lead sponsor: Rep. Keith Ellison.

To: Rep. Huffman
From: Constituents of Congressional District 2

Re: Social Security, Tax, and Healthcare
May 15, 2013

Representative Huffman,

We are voters in your Congressional District, writing to urge you to oppose cuts to essential programs, as well as support common sense tax policies and job creation, as well as expanded, improved healthcare. Specifically, we ask you to:

Sign on to the Grayson/Takano “Line in the Sand” dear colleague letter pledging to vote against any cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits. Your pledge to vote against ‘chained CPI’ benefit cuts is appropriate and we strongly urge you to make a similar commitment to vote against any legislation or measure which would cut Medicare or Medicaid benefits.

‘Circling the wagons’

In their eagerness to defend Congressman Jared Huffman (Marin Voice, April 28), Marin County Democratic Party chair Paul Cohen and his Sonoma County counterpart Stephen Gale didn’t seem to grasp that my book they quoted from, “The Power of Babble,” was a satire — critiquing rather than advocating.

If Cohen and Gale were around in the 18th century, they might have accused Jonathan Swift of advising rich landowners to fatten up poor children and eat them.

Such silly distortion is predictable when party officials are circling the wagons against open debate among fellow Democrats.

Several thousand of Huffman’s constituents wrote letters or signed petitions urging him to commit to voting against cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits. Huffman first indignantly declared that he wouldn’t make any “pledge” — but later put out a news release that announced his pledge to vote against any cuts in Social Security benefits.

That’s a good step. Now he should make a similar commitment on Medicaid and Medicare benefits.

Norman Solomon, Inverness

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Published in the Marin Readers’ Forum for May 5: MarinIJ.com

To: Representative Huffman
From: Constituents of CD-2

Fairness and Prosperity, Not Austerity
April 17, 2013

Representative Huffman,

Many of our members are voters in your District, and supporters of Progressive Democrats of America. We’re writing to urge your support for legislation to promote economic growth and lower the deficit through fair budget policies and job creation, as well as to protect voting rights and end the War in Afghanistan.

Specifically, we call upon you to:

Sign the Grayson/Takano Letter: a “dear colleague” letter pledging to vote against any legislation or measure which would cut Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits. Your recent press release, pledging to vote against ‘chained CPI’ cuts to Social Security benefits, though delayed, was appreciated. We call upon you to make a similar commitment to vote against any legislation or measure which would cut Medicare or Medicaid benefits.

To: Representative Mike Thompson
From: Constituents of CD-5

Fairness and Prosperity, Not Austerity
April 17, 2013

Representative Thompson,

We are voters in your Congressional District, and supporters of Progressive Democrats of America. We’re writing to urge your support for legislation to promote economic growth and lower the deficit through fair budget policies and job creation, as well as to protect voting rights and end the War in Afghanistan.

Specifically, we call upon you to:

Sign the Grayson/Takano Letter: a “dear colleague” letter pledging to vote against any legislation or measure which would cut Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid benefits.

Come see …

THE HEALTHCARE MOVIE
Narrated by Keifer Sutherland

This unique 65-minute documentary tells the real story of how the health care system in Canada turned out to be so completely different from that in the United States, given that at one point they were essentially the same:
• How it originated
• How it works for ordinary Canadians
• How it is paid for
• How it compares to its American counterpart

Movie will be followed by discussion to explore questions about healthcare in California:
• What does the new national Affordable Care Act (ACA) mean for health care reform in California?
• How can California make healthcare accessible and affordable for everyone?

Thursday, April 25, 2013
7:00 – 9:00 pm

Rialto Theater
6868 McKinley Street
Sebastopol, California

All tickets are $7.00

Purchasing tickets in advance is advised Tickets available at the Rialto Theater box office, or on-line after April 1st at www.rialtocinemas.com (with on-line processing fee of $1.00), or by sending a check payable to Rialto Theater, to: Stan Gold at 615 King Road, Petaluma, CA 94952-1009 (please include your phone number).

If you are unable to pay for the price of admission, please send confidential e-mail to: Stan Gold: sngold AT juno.com for a complimentary ticket.

All proceeds will be used for education purposes by Physicians for a National Health Program.

Introduction:7:00 p.m.
Screening: 7:05 p.m.
Discussion, Q&A: 8:10 p.m.

Co-Sponsors: Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP), California Nurses Association (CNA), League of Women Voters of Sonoma County (LWV), Healthcare for All – Sonoma County Chapter (HCA-CA), Progressive Democrats Sonoma County (PDA Chapter) —Partial List.

Please share the attached flyer with your friends and contact organizations: social, business, religious, political, and professional. And of course, please share the info about this movie via e-mail, facebook, twitter, etc. Thank you!

March 12, 2013

An e-mail sent out by Coalition for Grassroots Progress, today …

Thousands of constituents have put their names on petitions urging new Congressman Jared Huffman to sign a letter making a crucial commitment: “We will vote against any and every cut to Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security benefits — including raising the retirement age or cutting the cost of living adjustments that our constituents earned and need.”

But Huffman is saying he has no intention of signing that congressional letter — or making that firm commitment.

Read the Rest Here

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Sonoma County Democratic Party Crab Feed
February 22, 2013

Lynn Hamilton, Recipient of the Roberta Hollowell Award “In Recognition of her Dedicated Service to Issues of Importance for All Women and Democratic Party Values.”

Prepared remarks. Award presented by former Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey.

Thank you Lynn Woolsey. I have always admired you and held you up as an example of an elected official who stuck to your values the entire time you served as our Congresswoman. I urge all of the elected officials who were endorsed by the Democratic Central Committee to follow Lynn’s example and stick to your values and the values set forth in the Democratic Party Platform even though you might be tempted to betray your principles for personal gain, power or advancement.

February 23, 2013

Dear fellow Democrats,

When we had a Republican governor sure to veto legislation for single-payer healthcare, the legislature passed a single-payer bill. Twice.

During the past two years, since we’ve had a Democrat in the governor’s office, the legislature hasn’t moved single-payer legislation.

And this year, activists have struggled to find a single Democrat in the legislature willing to even introduce a single-payer bill.

There is every indication that Governor Brown doesn’t want such a bill on his desk — and the Democratic leadership in the legislature is obliging.

The behavior of our Democratic governor and current legislators stands in stark contrast to the California Democratic Party platform, which trumpets its support for single payer:

Healthcare NOT Warfare! Members of Progressive Democrats Sonoma County out on the sidewalk with the Nurses, January 17, 2013.
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CLICK HERE to view more pictures from the event.

SONOMA COUNTY GAZETTE
November 7, 2012

By Julie Barlow, Flight Nurse
RN, MS, CEN, CCRN, CFRN, ACNP-BC

SRMH NURSES ARE STRIKING FOR PATIENT SAFETY

The Santa Rosa Memorial nurses are striking again today. Do not be fooled into thinking that these strikes are about salary increases. The strike is about the health and safety of this community.

The truth is that we have worked short staffed for years. We don’t get breaks. Working 12-hour shifts in the third busiest trauma center in the state is exhausting: mentally, physically, and emotionally. Working short staffed, without breaks, and above state mandated staffing ratios is dangerous and leads to medical errors. This has led to serious safety issues for patients. Over the last two years, the hospital has been investigated for many safety violations. We are asking for safe staffing, safe ratios, and safe breaks.

Read the Rest Here

October 2, 2012

Nurses at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital voted on Monday by a huge, overwhelming margin to reject the Hospital’s proposals to date, and to strike as of 5 am October 2nd until 5 am on Thursday October 4th. Picket hours are from 5 am to 9 pm on Oct. 2nd. Picket hours on Oct. 3 are 6 am to 9 pm. See you on the picket line. SOLIDARITY!
MAP

PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS OF AMERICA presents an evening with:

JOHN NICHOLS, Washington correspondent for The Nation magazine,

MICHAEL LIGHTY, Policy Director of the California Nurses Association,

and NORMAN SOLOMON, Co-chair of the national Healthcare NOT Warfare Campaign.

WHEN: Saturday, October 15, 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. Doors open at 7:30.

WHERE: Guzman Hall, Dominican University; 50 Acacia Ave., San Rafael, CA 94901.

Go here for a campus map

This is a rare opportunity to see these three dynamic leaders and speakers together in one room. Join us for an evening of community and celebration in support of Healthcare NOT Warfare!

No entry charge. Donations accepted. Wheel-chair accessible.

Cosponsored by the Expressions Program of the Humanities Department, Dominican University.

An Evening with:

JOHN NICHOLS
Washington correspondent for
The Nation Magazine

MICHAEL LIGHTY
Policy Director of the California
Nurses Association

and
NORMAN SOLOMON
Co-Chair of the national
Healthcare Not Warfare Campaign

April 18, 2011

Dear Representative Woolsey,

It is time to begin the “safe and orderly withdrawal” of troops and contractors in Afghanistan. The best way to effect this is by enacting HR 780, Rep. Barbara Lee’s “Responsible End to the War in Afghanistan Act.”

This is legislation whose time has come, and your cosponsorship can lead to the end of America’s longest war, with its tragic loss of life and debilitating loss of money that can better be spent here at home. Thank you for cosponsoring this vital legislation.

Moderator: Kurt Bateman, IOT Co-Coordinator and Director Single Payer Action Network (SPAN) Ohio

Lead Report: Dr. Deborah Richter has practiced family medicine in Cambridge, VT, for 13 years. She is past president of Physicians for a National Health Program and is current president of Vermont Health Care for All. The co-author of At the Crossroads: The Future of Health Care in Vermont, she will provide an update on Vermont and explain what PDA folks can do to help going forward.

Political Commentary: Steve Cobble, PDA co-founder and PDA Advisory Board member, with his perspective from Vermont Governor Shumlin’s meetings in DC.

CLICK HERE to listen to audio recording of this IOT call.

Join the PDA Healthcare for ALL Issue Organizing Team (IOT). Learn more here