Progressive Democrats Sonoma County

UPDATE: Michael Lighty WILL be with us in Santa Rosa on April 28. Along with Rep. Lynn Woolsey, he will be joined by Norman Solomon, Co-Chair of the Healthcare Not Warfare Campaign and Tim Carpenter, Conor Boylan, Dr. Bill Honigman and Steve Cobble of the PDA national team. Space is limited. RSVP required: http://www.pdamerica.org/events/view/pda-roadshow-is-coming-to-santa-rosa

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The Week in PDA
by Conor Boylan
April 17, 2011

The week culminates in Earth Day, but there’s plenty of action before then, as our largest Issue Organizing Team and one of our most active IOTs hold their calls this week.

Click Here for details.

By Donna Smith, PDA Healthcare NOT Warfare Campaign Co-chair
March 24, 2011

This time we’re off to California with events throughout the state in advance of the Democratic Party state convention. Full details will follow, so for those of you in California, plan to spend some time on Healthcare NOT Warfare activities, and let’s spread the campaign ever wider.

For the past couple of months, PDA has been on the road doing the person-to-person, mind and heart work of organizing those who support our Healthcare NOT Warfare campaign.

Read the Rest Here

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For a schedule of all of the upcoming PDA IOT calls, click here

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March 16, 2011
Santa Rosa, CA

Dear Representative Woolsey,

Since January 2010, the Brown Bag Lunch Vigils have been out in front of our representatives’ and senators’ offices, on street corners, and in parks to get the word out to our community that this country can give everyone access to healthcare, make jobs available to those who need them, stem the increase of carbon in our air, and correct the balance of power and wealth between those who have and those who have not. The common thread among many of our goals is that naysayers must be able to step out of their comfort zones and understand the terrible effects these problems have on ordinary people.

That’s no easy task, even for the most enlightened of us. Something that helps people see the importance of making sure that others in our country can take care of themselves—or receive help when they can’t—is seeing a goal laid out in print in a piece of simple legislation.

PDA Press Release
March 15, 2011

Progressive Democrats of America and allies have planned vigils at congress members’ offices in districts all over the United States for midday Wednesday. They will be demanding an end to the war in Afghanistan the same day General David Petraeus is questioned by the House Armed Services Committee and the day before the House is scheduled to vote on ending the war (resolution HCR 28).

“People everywhere have been supporting the activism in Madison, Wisconsin, this week,” said PDA National Director Tim Carpenter. “We’ve seen a people’s movement compel Democrats to stand up straight and push back, a far superior outcome than continued ‘bipartisanship,’ in the view of most Americans. We’re taking that energy national this week to insist on a change in priorities. Our country is bankrupt morally, not financially. We need to move the money where it can do some good.”

Read the Rest Here

February 25, 2011
By Tim Carpenter

After bailing out the bazillionaires on Wall Street, and throwing billions at a bad war in Iraq and a failed war in Afghanistan, the GOP’s answer to the voters of America is austerity and more sacrifice for anyone earning under a hundred grand a year—and that’s most of us. We can kiss goodbye our jobs, home ownership, our children’s education, healthcare, Social Security, and a host of other necessities that generate prosperity.

Read the Rest Here

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CLICK HERE to learn more or register for the calls.

February 14, 2011 | By The Office of Congressman John Conyers, Jr.

While the reform law that was passed by Congress is the first national commitment to providing meaningful access to healthcare, I believe that a single-payer, universal healthcare system is the only way we can truly reshape our broken healthcare system. Here is my proposal:

Read the Full Story Here

Clearing the way for a progressive future

by Norman Solomon
January 28, 2011

Sure you want to jump into that cesspool?”

I’ve heard countless variations of the same question in recent months, as the possibility of running for Congress has become more real. With all the big-money hit pieces and mud fights that pass for “politics” these days, no wonder so many people see election campaigns as little more than depravity masquerading as democracy.

But there are lives in the balance, near and far, from the North Bay to Afghanistan. A list of what’s at stake would be endless: the rights of workers, the ecology of rivers and the injustices of a healthcare system largely run for corporate profit.

Read the Full Story Here

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RN ALERT

JOIN THE NURSES — PROTEST BLUE SHIELD’S OUTRAGEOUS RATE HIKES !!!

Tuesday, February 1st, 11:00 a.m.
Blue Shield Headquarters
50 Beale Street, San Francisco

Blue Shield is pushing through rate hikes for individual patients of up to 59%, even though the corporation is sitting on nearly $3 billion in excess revenue. Blue Shield’s price gouging– that prompts patients to skip needed medical care and forces families into bankruptcy due to medical bills — is a reminder of why insurance is not healthcare. It’s time to stand up to Blue Shield and the other insurance giants and continue the fight for guaranteed healthcare for all!

Covered on this call:

1. Introductions—Dr. Bill Honigman, PDA Healthcare for All IOT coordinator and California State Coordinator

2. National Single Payer Movement—Katie Robbins, Healthcare-NOW!

3. States Single Payer Movement–Chuck Pennacchio, Healthcare for All Pennsylvania

4. Field Reports—virtual roundtable

5. Actions/Events/Open Discussion

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN to recording of the call

Norman Solomon
January 27, 2011, Marin, CA

Published by San Francisco Bay Guardian.

One of the most inspiring political leaders in recent decades, Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.), famously declared: “I represent the democratic wing of the Democratic Party.” Today we need progressives in Congress who will represent the progressive wing of the Progressive Caucus.

That’s the largest caucus on Capitol Hill—but having 80 members on the roster won’t do much good if many cave under pressure.

For 18 years, the North Bay has been represented in Congress by Rep. Lynn Woolsey. Her strong antiwar voice and very progressive voting record have endeared her to a lot of constituents. Now she’s publicly saying that she may choose to retire instead of seeking reelection.

Read the Full Story Here

**********************BBLV gets a thumbs up!*********************

CLICK HERE to view photo album.

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The holidays are coming …

With the holiday season upon us, we have had to tweak the call schedule a bit for December.

Randy Shannon
November 6, 2010

Join PDA’s Healthcare for All Issue Organizing Team (IOT); learn more here

Published by Beaver County Blue.

As AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka has said, this election was about jobs. This election was also about health care and the progressive change that was promised but not delivered. The voters punished the corporate Democrats who helped block legislation to help working people, the unemployed, and those without health care.

Read the Rest Here

PDA had a very strong presence in DC and around the country at One Nation. I was personally on the ground in DC and want to thank all of our members who showed up for our lobby day and reception on Friday and the rally on Saturday.

Read the Rest Here

By David Swanson
October 1, 2010

The House Judiciary has some new members: Conor Boylan, David Swanson, Andrea Miller and Tim Carpenter of Progressive Democrats of America.

The impeachments start later this afternoon.

Read the Rest Here

Please join us on the ground in Sonoma County for not one but two local ONE NATION WORKING TOGETHER 10.2.10 events.

Sonoma County Rally & Action Day! in Solidarity with the Major One Nation Working Together March & Rally in D.C. 10.2.10

JOIN THE ONE NATION GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT AND RALLY FOR CHANGE AND GOOD JOBS FOR SONOMA COUNTY!

Saturday, October 2, 2010.
Federal Building.
777 Sonoma Avenue, Santa Rosa.
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10 to 11 AM: Rally & program; speakers include Lisa Maldonado, Master of Ceremonies, Michael Allen, Susan Gorin, Norman Solomon, Davin Cardenas, Marty Bennett.

ONE NATION STANDS FOR: FULL EMPLOYMENT NOW. PEACE AND JUSTICE
Federal Intervention to Create Good Jobs, Protecting Public Services, Making Wall Street Pay

August’s Healthcare for All/Single Payer Issue Organizing Team conference call welcomed Healthcare NOT Warfare co-chair Donna Smith into the role of the coordinator for this IOT. In addition to facilitating the call, Donna spoke in detail about the many actions recognizing the 75th anniversary of Social Security. She also addressed the attacks on Social Security and Medicare funding from the administration and the Congress, as specious and misrepresented methods of reducing the federal budget deficit.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

California Political Desk
June 30, 2010, Sacramento, CA

Published by California Chronicle

The Assembly Health Committee today approved the California Universal Health Care Act, authored by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco). The bill guarantees all Californians comprehensive, universal health care while containing ballooning health care costs and improving the quality of care and delivery of health services statewide.

“Our state is being bankrupted by out-of-control health care costs, and small businesses and families are struggling to pay premiums that rise as much as 40% every year,” said Senator Leno. “California´s single payer plan remains the gold standard for health care reform, and is the only proposal that will truly contain health care spending and provide universal coverage for all.”

Read the Rest Here