District 10 Democrats

February 13, 2010
2:00 pm	to	5:00 pm

            * Sat., Feb. 13, 2010 – Annual Valentine’s Chocolate Extravaganza.  Lots of chocolate of all kinds, auction AND Heart Awards to two outstanding Democrats who have worked for years to improve AZ – Gloria Furman and Doug Kilgore, AEA.  More details to follow!!

 

 

* Upcoming Events – Get Your Calendars Out!!! Something for Everyone!!!

          * Tues., Dec. 15, 2009 – First Meeting of the ‘Drinking Liberally’ non-club, 4-7 p.m.  Lone Star Steakhouse, 10004 N. 26^th Dr. (N of Dunlap on I-17 E access road). Reduced price drinks and hors d-oeuvres.  Come to enjoy and talk politics!!

          * Tues., Jan. 12, 2010 – Monthly D 10 Dems Meeting.  7 p.m., Cholla Middle School, 3120 W. Cholla Avenue (west side of Cholla on 31^st Avenue – south of Cactus & North of Peoria.)  Look for signs!!!  Speaker: Arif Kazmi, Candidate for CAWCD (Central Arizona Water Conservation District)

          * Sat., Jan. 16, 2010.  Mofford Merit Award Dinner.   Details to follow.  

            * Sat., Jan. 23, 2010 – State Democratic Party Meeting.  Details to follow.

            * Sat., Jan. 23, 2010 – Walk for Jackie Thrasher!!   If you are not a State Committee person, please plan to participate in the 1st 2010 walk for Jackie Thrasher, candidate for D 10 house, 10 AM to noon.  We’ll be knocking on doors to collect signatures on Jackie’s nominating petitions to get her on the ballot and raise some money at the same time; thus a $10 contribution is being suggested. Location and other details to follow.

            * Tues., Feb. 9, 2010 – Monthly D 10 Dems Meeting.  7 p.m., Cholla Middle School

            * Sat., Feb. 13, 2010 – Annual Valentine’s Day Chocolate Extravaganza.  Lots of chocolate of all kinds, auction AND Heart Awards to two outstanding Democrats who have worked for years to improve AZ – Gloria Furman and Doug Kilgore, AEA.  More details to follow!!

 

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Don’t Give the Leg Access to Voter Approved and Protected Programs
          The budget mess in which the state finds itself was created by the legislature through years of special interest tax cuts and exemptions coupled with an ideologically based unwillingness to seek new revenues.   In their shortsighted actions to balance the budget, legislators have slashed education, health care and funding for programs that keep families working and children safe.  Now legislators have set their sights on voter-protected funds for K-12 education, early learning and support for young children.  They have proven they cannot manage the funds they have.  We must not give them access to the last remaining funds voters put in place to protect education and young children.  Please call Governor Brewer today (602) 542-4331 or (800) 253-0883 (Leave a message including your name and address) and tell her:

• DON’T RAID MONEY FOR KIDS, HEALTH CARE, AND EDUCATION
• DON’T  INCLUDE THE VOTER PROTECTION  ACT IN YOUR CALL FOR A SPECIAL SESSION   

Here’s some background: 

            * Over the years, AZ voters have used the citizen ballot initiative process to allocate their tax dollars to their highest priorities.

            * AZ’s Constitution prohibits the state legislature from using schemes or raids to reverse or weaken policies & funding passed by the voters, known as “voter protected funds.

            * Voter protected funds are targeted for k-12 education, health care, early learning & family support for young children.

            * None of these voter priorities has caused the state budget deficit.

      * State lawmakers have many options to balance the state budget without raiding voter priorities.

      * Investments in kids, education, & health care should remain in both good times & bad to build AZ’s future.  

Please join thousands of Arizona voters across the state who support investments in kids, health care, and education to build Arizona’s future.

            AND, let your D 10 Officials know how you feel also: Sen. Linda Gray, 602-926-3376; Rep. Jim Weiers, 602-4173 and Rep. Doug Quelland, 602-3024.  E-mail addresses are first initial+full surname@azleg.gov  (e.g.lgray@azleg,gov)

 

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GREAT HOLIDAY POTLUCK.  A bunch of D 10 PCs and to include Jackie Thrasher, D 10 House candidate, Jason Johnson, D 10 Senate candidate, Rodney Glassman, exploring a run for the US Senate, and hosts Sandy and Larry Lewis spent a very enjoyable few hours on Sunday, December 6, eating a delicious variety of delicacies and socializing.  If you missed it this year, please plan to attend the one to be held in 2010 (no date at this point!!).  Thank you to the Lewis’ for their hospitality!!!

 

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WHITE DONKEYS WANTED!!

As this holiday season approaches — sometimes resulting in house cleanings and certainly in purchases and receipt of gifts — please think of District 10 Dems!!!  So, rather than throw away things you no longer want or use or return purchases or gifts you aren’t too happy with, donate them to the District 10 Dems.  Then at our February Valentine’s Day Chocolate Extravaganza, we’ll gather and use them in a ”White Donkey” grab bag and raise some money for D 10 at the same time!!   P.S.  We will also have a small auction of more valuable items so please save those for D 10 as well.

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District 10 - AZ’s Swing District 

Did you know that District 10 is the ’swing’ in all of AZ’s 30 legislative districts?  That is the difference between the Republican and Democratic voter registrations numbers are the closest than in any other district, which means…..a) we need to register just a few more D’s to ’swing’ it to the D’s side; and b) early voting (PEVL = permanent early voting list”) can make the difference.  About two months ago, D 10 provided the State Party with funds to run an experiment involving robo calls to all the D’s who are NOT on the PEVL telling them to watch for a mailing, the mailing, followed by phone calls by D 10 volunteers.  The result:  we increased our PEVL numbers significantly.  We are getting closer by the day!!  But we still need your help to help register a few more D’s in D 10 AND get a few more D’s to sign up on PEVL (because all the studies show that when folks get their ballots in the mail, they are much more likely to vote and not miss the election due to a last minute illness, trip or just ‘getting busy’ and forgetting!!

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DEMS DON’T JUST TALK ABOUT SUPPORTING OUR VETS, THEY ACT ON IT!!

            The Maricopa County Veterans Outreach Committee accepts donations of furniture, household goods & clothing.  They work with the Madison Street Vets Association, United for Change & U.S. Vets – Phoenix to help homeless vets transition from homelessness to their own dwellings.  All donated items are given free of charge to vets referred by the above organizations.  In the future, the Committee hopes to also get referrals from the Fed. Office of Vets Affairs & the AZ Office of Vets Affairs (state).   The Committee has secured a store front at 1620 E. McDowell Road, Phx. rent free as a receiving & distribution point.   If you have household goods to donate please contact Ken at 480-232-4605.   Once a month in cooperation with United For Change, the Committee provides a home cooked meal for homeless vets living at Victory Place 804 E. Jones Ave, Phx.  If you’d like to help, please contact 85040 Barbara Sesate, Community Organizer, at 480-857-1605. Info provided by Bob Stelling Chairman: AZ Democratic Vets Caucus at 480-298-9771.

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A short reminder for all of us in LD-10. John Thrasher, D 10 PC; former candidate for US House, CD 2

            Thrasher is watching Washington D.C. like a Dove & a Hawk, on their every move. This is without doubt a Pres. with the most threatening obstruction ever & it is openly permitted. It must have been planned from the first words of, ’I hope He fails’ from well-known talk show hosts. A report from Alternet.org mentions that Pres. Obama simply was cornered, at least by Defense Sec. Gates & Sec. of State Clinton to add troops to Afghanistan. The decision was not what was completely expected; however, for eight years, the terrible decisions were completely expected by the last administration & worst, kept secret.  McCain’s concession speech for complete support for our newly elected President must take place, oh, really, when? McCain needs to review his own speech & remind himself that supporting the top position of our country, the Commander in Chief, will prevent National Security threats & protect America. McCain mentioned to the Bush administration to ‘Stop Spending MONEY Like A Drunken Sailor,’ of course to no avail; so, was that just a Speech?  Supporting the Pres. now, agree or not, is vital. I believe he is going to lead this country & get us back on track & work things through. No, he’s not the same we experienced for eight years, whew; but he is able to stand tall & never waiver, just like we should in demonstrating our support. Pres. Obama is bringing the World together & will bring the US together with our help, support & hope of ‘Yes We Can’.

            Remember:  FIRED UP! READY TO GO! was Echoed throughout his Campaign, so keep repeating this to yourself and believe, or, we can reflect back on what the alternative could be.  United We Stand! 

 

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  Dems’ common sense solutions to the budget crisis

What Democrats asked for in 2010 budget talks.

* Protect education, jobs and vital health services.  Restore $295 million in cuts made in the Republican budget, including restoring $140 million in K-12 funding. The budget recently passed by Rs made $915 million in cuts & sweeps, including cuts of $220 million from K-12 education on top of the $133 million in cuts schools received in January & the $300 million in sweeps of unspent cash balances taken from school districts in May.

 * Don’t give away tax breaks to big corporations.  Do not give away $250 million from the state’s education equalization tax & direct $75 million from the vehicle license tax (VLT) to go to the general fund. The $325 million in revenue created by these changes pays for the restorations Democrats requested & leaves a sizable balance carry forward to help balance next year’s budget.    Mining & utility companies, as well as large corporations, would have been the biggest beneficiaries of the tax cut proposed in the recently passed Rs budget.  The average homeowner would have only seen a $3 a month tax cut under this plan. Ds proposed to temporarily use VLT money, which currently funds transportation & highway projects, to help protect funding for schools & vital social services during this tough economic time.  Federal stimulus funds are currently being used to offset the costs of these road projects.

* Make the sales tax increase more efficient. D Leadership agreed to support the proposed 1-cent sales tax referral language along with changes to the larger budget package, tho they preferred other revenue options.  Ds also wanted a few changes made to protect families, including:  ***Create a refundable low-income tax credit to off-set the cost of the sales tax increase for lower income families. ***Ensure the new tax revenue goes to education & health programs.  Change the sales tax increase to a full 1-cent per year for 3 years to generate more revenue to help address the budget deficit

* Take out provisions harmful to Arizona. Ask that some of the most controversial budget provisions be taken out of the budget package, such as the privatization of death row, the preempting of local control of cities & the removal of protections & notice requirements for teachers subject to layoffs created by budget deficits.

A TIMELINE: GOV DENIES MANY REQUESTS BY Ds FOR BIPARTISAN TALKS.

* Jan 21- Brewer sworn in;  * Jan. 26 - House Dems announce 2009 budget solution & call for bipartisan talks.  * March 4 - Brewer gives speech to the Leg. about her “5 point plan”  * March 30 - Dems announce 1st budget solutions and call for bipartisan talks. * May 1 - House Dem’s send letter to Gov urging her to call bipartisan talks.  * May 28 – House and Senate Dems jointly release a 2010 budget solution and call for bipartisan talks. * June 1 - Gov releases 2010 budget proposal.   * June 3 - House D’s send letter to Gov again requesting bipartisan talks and detailing their reaction to her budget.  * June 30 - Brewer meets briefly with House and Senate Dem leadership to negotiate a budget as midnight deadline looms.  * Aug 11 - House Dem’s send Letter to Gov urging her to yet again engage in bipartisan talks.  AND….nothing happens and now we are here!!!

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Letters to the Editor by D 10 Precinct Committee People

 

            “Gov. Jan Brewer’s latest budget cuts: $300 million from education and social services.   The governor’s next strategy, according to The Republic, has the ‘goal of increasing state revenue, possibly with a tax increase, while instituting targeted corporate-tax cuts.   Merry Christmas, corporate Arizona.  Happy New Year, AZ children.”   By Barbara Buedel.

 

            “…Rep. Ray Barnes, R-Phx, on Nov. 23…said that schools used to have low adm costs and have padded adm extensively the last several years…..Every district in …AZ is audited by the Auditor General’s Office…assess classroom spending, cash practices, adm costs and….Districts are monitored and held accountable for their spending….If Rep Barnes has ideas to improve ed, he should share them with his colleagues and the general public…his feedback should be based upon data and not vague rhetoric.”  By Aaron Jahneke: 

 

*************************************************************************************************SO WHO IS ???? Getting to know your D 10 Activists     No one sent me a bio!!!!

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Update from the Washington Elementary School District Board: For such please contact Aaron Jahneke, Governing Board Member, Washington Elementary District 6 (former D 10 Chair & PC Golden Precinct). The District meets every other Thursday night at 7 pm in the district office at 4650 W Sweetwater Road. I can be reached at aaron.jahneke@wesdschools .org.

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Web Sites PLUS….   Please don’t forget to periodically check these web sites:  www.district10dems.com,  www.azdem.org, www.maricopademocrat.com and www.westdems.com.     

Please HELP ME Make This YOUR E-letter.  Please send suggestions, comments etc.to  bvaandrk@earthlink.net.

NOTE:  Please note the opinions reflected in this e-letter are those of the editor &contributors &not of the D 10 Democratic organization per se. If you want to read ‘different’ stuff, send it to me please!

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HANG ONTO THIS!! Please use it to let President Obama & the AZ members of Congress know what you want done (and not done) in Washington. * Pres. Obama: 1-202-4546-1111 or  www.whitehouse.gov/contact    *John McCain- 602-952-2410  *Jon Kyl - 602-840-1891 *Ann Kirkpatrick, CD 1 - 928-445-3434 *Trent Franks, CD 2 -  623-776-7911 *John Shadegg, CD 3 - 602-263-5300 * Ed Pastor, CD 4 - 602-256-0551 *Harry Mitchell, CD 5 Ph - 480-946-2411*Jeff Flake CD 6 - 480-833-0092 * Raul Grijalva, CD 7 - 520-622-6788 *Gabrielle Giffords, CD 8, Ph: 520-459-3115