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Sacramento – At its executive board meeting this past weekend in Millbrae, the California Democratic Party voted to oppose the California Voters First Initiative, a flawed redistricting proposal that is worse than the current system.
 
The initiative would separate legislative and congressional line drawing into two distinct redistricting authorities and processes, in which the state legislature would maintain authority over congressional redistricting and a proposed commission would have authority over state legislative and Board of Equalization redistricting. “This flawed initiative would greatly jeopardize minority representation in California’s legislature, potentially diminishing the gains in diversity we have made in recent years,” said Sen. Art Torres (Ret.), Chairman of the California Democratic Party. “While California’s redistricting process is in need of reform, this initiative is not the answer. This complex measure would greatly impede the ability of community groups to offer substantive input into the redistricting process, and fails to ensure diversity, expertise or accountability in the commission that would be tasked with redrawing district lines. This initiative will take our political process backwards.”
 
In addition to the California Democratic Party’s opposition, a number of leading civil rights organizations are opposed to this initiative, including Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund (NALEO), and William C. Velasquez Institute.
 
The California Democratic Party has taken the following positions on ballot measures that have qualified for the November 2008 statewide ballot:
 
YES -Prop 1- Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century.
YES - Prop 2-Treatment of Farm Animals. Statute.
YES - Prop 3-Children’s Hospital Bond Act. Grant Program. Statute.                                           
NO - Prop 4-Waiting Period and Parental Notification Before Termination of Minor’s Pregnancy. Constitutional Amendment.
YES - Prop 5-Nonviolent Offenders. Sentencing, Parole and Rehabilitation. Statute.
NO - Prop 6-Criminal Penalties and Laws. Public Safety Funding. Statute.   
NO - Prop7-Renewable Energy. Statute.  http://noprop7. com/downloads/ Flawed_Initiativ e.pdf 

NO - Prop 8-Limit on Marriage. Constitutional Amendment.
NO - Prop 9-Criminal Justice System. Victims’ Rights. Parole. Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
NEUTRAL - Prop 10-Bonds. Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Renewable Energy. Statute. 
NO - Prop11-Redistricting. Constitutional Amendment and Statute. 

we will post more on these initiatives over the next few months and also give club endorsments later this year, so keep checking back for updates on these topics. 

A link to the Legislative Analyst's Office and the real dirt on the propositions
 http://www.lao. ca.gov/laoapp/ ballot_source/ propositions. aspx

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June 4-
                                                                              
 























"McCain adviser Doug Holtz-Eakin, speaking for the campaign cast McCain's views on warrantless  wiretapping as identical to Bush's.

[N]either the Administration nor the telecoms need apologize for actions that most people, except for the ACLU and the trial lawyers, understand were Constitutional and appropriate in the wake of the attacks on September 11, 2001. [...]      We do not know what lies ahead in our nation's fight against radical Islamic extremists, but John McCain will do everything he can to protect Americans from such threats, including asking the telecoms for appropriate assistance to collect intelligence against foreign threats to the United States as authorized by Article II of the Constitution."

    The Article II citation is key, since it refers to President Bush's longstanding arguments that the president has nearly unlimited powers during a time of war. The administration's analysis went so far as to say the Fourth Amendment did not apply inside the United States in the fight against terrorism, in one legal opinion from 2001.

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/06/mccain-id-spy-o.html

http://www.truthout.org/article/mccain-id-spy-americans-secretly-too 

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I have to go back to an argument I have made in the past about this administration and its toadies regarding the war on terror and American freedoms.  When they say they hate us for our freedoms, and Republicans do stuff like this, then I have to think Republicans are trying to take away our freedoms so the terrorist will like us.  Well here is a news flash for you Mr. McCain and Mr. Bush: you can overturn the entire Constitution and you still won't be liked,  you will be laughed at though. Nancy, if your listening, impeachment needs to be on the table.  At least the Repblicans hate America and will admit it, so I have to give them credit for that much.  Thanks for reading my rant, and I will put the soapbox away now.

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May 4

To the disbelief of some, problems can be worked out in a bipartisan fashion.  But that can happen only when the politicians are looking out for the well being of the people, not corporations or the best interest of a few wealthy donors.  One of those problems is water and water storage here in California.  If left to partisan hacks like Devin Nunez or a two bit Fresno Bee op-ed writer who thinks smash mouth, in your face, partisan politics is the way of the future, California would die of thirst but the corporations would be rich.  If you argue, they pull out that tired old line of "you're a communist because you hate a free market, capitalist system" or something like that.  I personally think their ilk is the anti-christ or one of his minions because they hate the least among us and they treat widows and orphans poorly, but that is a whole different post and I won't discuss it here.

This is about water and a very no nonsense approach to water storage as written by a bipartisan group of people from right here in the San Joaquin valley.  Those people, Steve Haze, Gary Temple, Chris Acree, Richard Sloan and John Suen, sat down and came to a few conclusions that debunk practically any argument that can be made in favor of a dam at Temperance Flat.  The best part, they did not just complain, they came up with an idea that works and it works for every one.  Everyone, except the partisan hacks, and those trying to curry favor with wealthy donors.  So what is this idea? Read for yourself and decide what you think is the better idea, or if anything is left out.  I have included a side by side comparison at the end of the post so you can really see the difference in the two ideas.

Let's start by listing the challenges that face us when talking about water issues: 1)Save money, 2)Leverage finances for best return on investment for taxpayers, 3) Assure flexibility of new infrastructure, 4) No direct or indirect impact on the environment, 5) Minimize the impact of green house gasses and global warming, 6) Complete projects on time, to cost and specifications, 7) Work towards minimizing deficit spending, or raising taxes, 8) Pay as you go, 9) Long term capital improvements with low cost maintenance, 10) Leverage off of existing infrastructure, and last but not least 11) Multiple benefits to all Californians.  That is  a pretty hefty list of things to put into one proposal so you can apprecitate how big this task was when the above mentioned sat down to sort this thing out. 

The group came up with six proposals that are out there, five of them are worth looking at and one of them should be left on the shelf.  When you look at the side by side comparison, you will see why the one should be left on the shelf if not thrown in the trash all together.  Those six proposals include a mix of intertie work, using one of the biggest lakes this side of the Mississippi river that mother nature herself made, and expanding on existing structures already in place.  These ideas need to meet the eleven challenges that were previously mentioned.  Raising the height on Friant dam an additional 25 feet would cost $220,000,000 and adds tremendous water storage capacity without flooding the hydroelectric plants that are upstream. Enhancing the Fresno slough/James bypass intertie has a cost of $50,000,000 but adds flexibility to an already existing structure.  Reestablishing Tulare Lake as a freshwater storage facility also comes with a price tag of $500,000,000.  But it uses a lake that was naturally occouring so the maintenance will be minimal.  Once Tulare lake is reestablished an intertie with the California Aqueduct will help give the flexibility and storage capacity needed for the already exisiting aqueduct.  In addition to the Califonia Aqueduct an intertie would be set up with the Friant-Kern canal to flow into Tulare lake. This last proposal will add to the flexibility of the system in addition to that flexibility given by the Califonia Aqueduct intertie. Both of these proposals would cost $25,000,000 and $5,000,000 respectively.  The last proposal looked at by the group was building a dam at Temperance Flat.  This proposal will cost and estimated $3,900,000,000 and will flood two exisiting hydroelectric plants and as a result reduce hydroelectricity generation by 40%.

Temperance Flat dam                                                   All other proposals combined                      

417,250,000,000 gallons of water storage               834,500,000,000 gallons of water storage

$3,900,000,000  cost                                           $800,000,000 cost

$3,000 per acre foot  of water                               $195 per acre foot of water

Floods two hydroelectric plants                              Does not flood any hydroelectic plants

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March 5

Rain or shine the "Rally in the Valley for Peace and Social Justice" will take place on Saturday March 15 at Eaton Plaza.  Five years of a needles war, an immoral war, sold to the American public with over 500 lies.  Thousands of lives lost for WMDs that were never there.  Enough is enough and the San Joaquin Valley Democratic club will be supporting the tireless people of Peace Fresno by having a table at this years event. 

An afternoon of speakers, music and the peace community coming together at noon till 4pm.  Last years event drew close to a thousand people and this years event looks to be even bigger.  Stop by the table and see what the club is up to, pick up a bumper sticker while they last or get a yard sign from our table.  Rember, war is not the answer!

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December 19 2007
Congratulations to James Williams, Steve Smith, Janet Baker and Mary Williams for being elected to positions as club officers for 2008.  The club is off to a good start for the new year, we have new officers and we have already reached the number of members needed to affiliate with the CDC and the Fresno County Democratic Central Committee for 2008.  It is time to grow the club and increase its outreach now that the foundation has been laid.

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November 30 2007
There are three events this weekend that club members will be active in.  California Democratic Party will be having a grassroots training all day on Saturday.  This will be getting out just in time to get to a house party that Elizabeth Kucininch, wife of Presidnetial candidate Dennis Kucinich, will be at.  On Monday we will have club members at a breakfast reception with Congressman Jerry McNearny. 

Busy weekend for our club members, but better to have things to do then nothing at all.  We are after all the most active club in Fresno.

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November 22 2007
The Central California Democratic Convention was held on November 10, 2007 in Fresno.  We had many great speakers at the event including Sect. of State Debra Bowen.  Over half of the club membership was there at the convention participating in the days activities.  I don't think any other club from Fresno County can say that, so we are the most active club once again.  Thank you to all of the club members that made that possible. 

Thank you to Secretary Bowen for coming out to the event!! 

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