Can the Citizens of LA Have Confidence that the DWP is Ready for Another Hot Summer?

It’s budget day and this is a fairly local story, but it is important.

One of the best reasons to have a strong labor movement is that unions tend to advocate for issues that benefit many more people than their actual members.  Take what two IBEW Locals are up to in LA, warning the public about the dangers of the Department of Water and Power’s (DWP) failure to ensure the department is prepared to respond in an emergency.

For over a decade, DWP management has been reducing critical staff positions and neglecting routine maintenance. This has left DWP workers frustrated and angry. They are forced to work overtime to make up for staff shortages and then blamed because there is so much overtime. They are forced to use “band-aid” fixes on a system that badly needs real updating and repair. They know that the failure of management at the DWP to address longstanding problems means that the DWP is not ready for another heat wave, like the one that happened in 2006, let alone a major natural disaster or terrorist attack.

The IBEW workers have been highlighting this dangerous lack of preparedness in a series of press releases, direct activism and the production of a DVD exposing the problems at the DWP. They have been rewarded with a nasty editorial in the LA Daily News, attacking their activism. The paper does not disagree about the the problems at the DWP, but uses it to blame the workers for the problems.

THe LADN used it as an opportunity to advocate for privatization and propose that what is really needed is for the workers to give up pay raises so the customers don’t have to pay for a rate hike.  That’s not what voters want. They want the DWP they had in 1994. In 1994, the Northridge earthquake severely damaged the electrical and water infrastructure in Los Angeles. Despite the damage, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power workers swiftly restored safe drinking water and reliable power to the millions of Los Angeles residents who depend on them. The DWP won kudos from everyone for its swift and effective response of DWP workers to the disaster.

That would not be the case today. The DWP is just not prepared to respond to that type of crisis and the LADN admits it. It is the worst sort of cynicism to run a great public utility into the ground and then use that as an excuse to privatize it. What happened with the Enron scandal and the power crisis of the early 2000s proves that when private industry takes over, then ratepayers suffer.

As noted above, the salaries of DWP workers are higher largely because they are forced to work overtime due to the chronic understaffing. If the DWP was fully staffed, there would much much less need for overtime. And really, is the LADN literally asking that workers shoulder the cost of strengthening the system, rather than the consumers? Talk about ballsy. That will really work towards fixing the hiring crisis.

The DVD has been getting a lot of attention.  There has been a number of local TV stories on the direct action by the electrical workers and they have played clips from the DVD.  Check out this KNBC story.

The DWP may not like the tactic, but they generally agree with what the electrical workers are saying.  They need to hire more workers.  The system is vulnerable and they need to work to fix it.  At issue is the pace and the scope of the changes.  The workers have tried for a long time to work behind the scenes.  Frustrated, they are taking their case to the public, much like the grocery workers did with their contract negotiations.  This is not about salaries and benefits, though those are important too.  It is about public safety and working conditions.

We need to ensure that our infrastructure is safe and capable of responding in a crisis.  The more that we can watchdog what our public utilities boards are doing the better.  I am working on getting the DVD in YouTube format and will post it when I can.  Watch the news clip, pass this post around to friends and family in LA.  It’s time to raise public awareness, before it is too late.

For more information check out the DWP tag at Working Californians.

Note: this post is a compilation of several from Working Californians.  The IBEW Locals involved are lead by the two co-chairs of WC.

CA-08: Who will Succeed Nancy Pelosi?

This is a premature, possibly morbid diary, but should we start thing about a future without Nancy Pelosi? Sooner or later, we Democrats will have a bad election. That is just a fact of American history. We also know that speakers who lose their gavels due to scandal or election losses do not last much longer in Congress, the risk of holding such a lofty post. When that day comes (hopefully no time soon), San Francisco will have a Congressional vacancy for the first time since 1987. The City’s Central Democratic Committee has a very strong “wait your turn” attitude and the Burton Machine still lives, BUT no one is going to want to wait another 20+ for the seat to be open again, so the question is: Who will run when Madame Speaker retires? Here is my short list of possibilities.

1. District Attorney Kamala Harris is young, popular, dynamic and well connected to the Willie Brown machine (get you minds out of the gutter). She has done a good job of keeping her name in the press and face in front of the camera and she is everywhere a group of Democrats are meeting. She would also carry on the tradition of having a female represent the district.

2. Mayor Gavin Newsom may prefer to represent more than 500,000 people at a time, but he has not put enough distance between himself and Tourkgate to run for statewide office. He is still very young and a few effective terms in Congress would allow him to build more national contacts and let memories fade. California has term limits for governor so he can afford to wait it out or even succeed Barbara Boxer in 2016.

3. Assemblyman Mark Leno is a popular figure in San Francisco, likely going to the State Senate next year and a good bet to become the first openly gay Congressman from San Francisco. He’s been effective in Sacramento and there is no reason to believe he would not be effective in Washington.

4. Supervisor Tom Ammiano will likely be elected to the Assembly next year, but his personality rubs a lot of people the wrong way.

5. Board President Aaron Peskin and Supervisor are ambitious, but can they appeal to the city at large?

6. Assemblywoman Fiona Ma is strongly connected to the Burton Machine. Could she become the City’s first Asian-American Rep.? Leland Yee? My gut tells me Phil Ting has a better shot.

Any names you want to share?

Take Your Final Chance for DFA Campaign Academy!

(Cross-posted at The Liberal OC and Daily Kos)

Something amazing is happening tomorrow. DFA Campaign Academy is coming to Southern California! Tomorrow, progressive activists from all over Southern California will be coming to Orange County to learn how to win next year and in future elections. And guess what? All of us activists will be learning from the experts who know a thing or two on how to win.

Oh, and here's some more good news. Even though registration for attendance is already at 160 people, DFA is still accepting sign-ups for tomorrow! That's right, even if you haven't signed up yet, you can still come to DFA Training! So what's happening at DFA Training? Follow me after the flip for more…

So what’s in store for this weekend? Well, why not look at the curriculum to find out?! Learn how to fundraise! Learn how to target voters in your neighborhood with new and imporved online tools ready for you to start using! Learn how to use communicate your message better in your local area! Take advantage of this opportunity to learn all this and more this weekend!

OK, so why exactly is this important? Why should we learn all these campaign stuff, especially if we’re not in an area where progressives can win? Actually, that’s why we need to all go to the training this weekend! For far too long, many Democrats have written off areas like Orange County and the Inland Empire as “hopelessly Republican”. But you know what? We can change this!

Ron Shepston may already be doing this as he’s getting his campaign started in the 42nd Congressional District. Now what could possibly be a better way for all of us in Southern California to help Ron out than to go to DFA Campaign Academy and learn how we can convince our neighbors in CA-42 to support Ron? Ron will need people to can take a progressive message, and communicate it in a way that catches the attention of people who may not know much about politics. Ron will need people to help him raise money. Ron will need plenty of help from us if we want to see him win next year, so let’s learn how we can make that happen this weekend!

OK, so you’re nowhere near Orange County? And you don’t live near the 42nd District? That’s fine. Please come anyways, as it’s also important that you learn how to get Democrats elected and promote the progressive agenda in your neighborhood! Perhaps if you sign up now, you can also still catch a hotel room available if you need one. It’s important that we build up Democratic infrastructure everywhere, so let’s get started this weekend! Let’s go to the training and learn what we need to know to gegin building that infrastructure we need to win!

So who’s with me on this? I’ve already signed up for the training. Have you? Well then, you can still sign up! The training’s only $70… That includes lunch for both days and all the workshops you want inside! Oh yes, and this is your chance to meet some of the finest progressive Democrats in the entire region. So what are you waiting for? Sign up to come tomorrow and join the fun! ;-)

50 State Blog Roundup 7/20/07

Which bookstore will you be visiting at midnight tonight? Would you be surprised to learn that only one presidential candidate has played the Harry Potter card so far?

Either way, here are some updates from around the 50-State Blog Network, brought to you this week from Minnesota Campaign Report‘s Joe Bodell.

Alabama
Left in Alabama
A decidedly non-establishment challenger emerges in Alabama’s First congressional district. Ben Lodmell may be shaking things up a bit in Alabama Democratic Party circles.
Arizona
AZNetroots
A chilling future-imperfect scenario on terrorism. Ugh.
California
Calitics

Yet another contact will be testifying against John Doolittle(R-Roseville) in what can only be described as a ticking clock until his indictment.

Colorado
SquareState
Colorado’s congressional representatives fight back against President Bush’s threatened veto of SCHIP reauthorization. What’s SCHIP? “State Children’s Health Insurance Program”. Kick the kids while they’re down, right Mr. President?

Keep reading after the break — there’s plenty more to come!

Connecticut
My Left Nutmeg
Thank you Ed Koch, who helped give us six more years of Joementum…at least you’re being reasonable enough to admit that your support for continued American presence in Iraq was wrong-headed.
Delaware
Delaware Liberal
Delaware Liberal’s Jason Scott formally challenges Cong. Mike Castle (R-DE) to a debate on his Iraq policies.
Florida
FLA Politics
Christine Jennings, would-be Congresswoman but for 18,000 Diebolded undervotes in Sarasota County in 2006, is coming back for another run in 2008. Go Jennings!
Georgia
Tondee’s Tavern

State Senator John Douglas gets pulled over by a off-duty cop for erratic driving. After being let go with no ticket, Douglas threatens the city he will hold up grant funding opportunities and local legislation next session. Our favorite (R) punching bag.

Hawaii
Poinography!
Dueling op-eds from state legislators on veto overrides — an interesting read.
Idaho
43rd State Blues
That repeated whacking noise is 43rd State Blues’ shoe against Sen. Larry Craig’s noggin on oil, energy, Iraq, and…well, everything.
Illinois
PrairieStateBlue
Illinois activists are looking at Congressional seats in 2008. In IL-6, Operation : Turn DuPage Blue is gaining increased prominance after Tammy Duckworth opted not to challenge Peter Roskam for a second time. In IL-10, Dan Seals was named a “Future Leader” at YearlyKos, but don’t forget he has a primary challenger.
Indiana
Blue Indiana
Republican Governor + Trickle-down Reagan-style economics = bad economic markers for Indiana. Pretty simple, actually.
Iowa
Bleeding Heartland
I’ll have to work on getting Amy Klobuchar to guest-post on MNCR, but until then, I’ll be in awe of Bleeding Heartland and Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin’s post on the recent all-night Iraq debate.
Louisiana
Daily Kingfish
Republican scion Bobby Jindal has retained a political consultant with a reputation for working on losing campaigns. Sort of. Read about it.
Maine
Turn Maine Blue
It’s from earlier in the week, but Sen. Susan Collins and Joe Lieberman wrote an op-ed in the Boston Globe together. Mainers — please, please, please remember that Sen. Collins hanging out and working with Joe Lieberman in no way makes her a bipartisan get-things-done sort of Senator. Quite the contrary. Also at Turn Maine Blue, Tom Allen is guestblogging in his effort to unseat Collins.
Maryland
Free State Politics
Free State Politics has encouraging news for progressives in potential replacements for departing DINO P.J. Hogan from his Maryland State Sen. seat
Massachusetts
BlueMassGroup
A historical note on liberty, government overreach, and a really enormous ball of cheese. Also, a look at fundraising in the 5th CD race, with some interesting developments therein.
Michigan
Michigan Liberal
I am shocked — SHOCKED!!! — to hear word of a Republican official seeking to suppress voter turnout and disenfranchise voters. If you can’t win with fair rules, just change the rules, right?

Congrats to Michigan Liberal’s founder, Matt Ferguson, on the birth of his brand new twins. Good luck Matt; you’ll need it.

Minnesota
Minnesota Campaign Report
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) can always be counted on for a good legal complaint against political actors who are being naughty. In this case, it’s the Republican Party of Minnesota getting slapped for playing fast and easy with their retirement fund contributions and other financial shenanigans.
Mississippi
Cottonmouth Blog
Cottonmouth Blog picks up on the NRA getting involved in the Lieutenant Governor’s race. “Effective grassroots organization”, huh?
Missouri
Fired Up! Missouri
A Republican Governor misusing state government for political ends? Oh get out! I mean….oh, forget it. Incredulity just doesn’t go far enough to cover the things these people think they can get away with.
Montana
Left in the West
The continuing shift toward strong protection of civil liberties and a hands-off governmental approach to social issues continues in Montana, courtesy of Matt Singer and Forward Montana. The media are starting to pay attention, too.
Nebraska
New Nebraska
Nebraska’s state government still finds itself beholden to the big Telecom companies, who staunchly refuse to build large-scale, affordable high-speed Internet access in the state — and they’re preventing the government from doing it instead.
Nevada
My Silver State
Welcome My Silver State aboard 50-State Cruise Lines! They have some coverage of presidential candidates’ exploits across the state:

Q2 Donations to Bill Richardson, staffing expenditures, and heavy web traffic for Barack Obama.

New Hampshire
Blue Hampshire
Republican Sen. John Sununu is in big trouble in 2008. Big. Trouble.
New Jersey
Blue Jersey
2006 was a bittersweet victory for many Democrats around the country. For as much good as Rahm Emanuel did as head of the DCCC, there were some cases where just a little bit of support could have given him even more victories (instead of tilting at windmills in Tammy Duckworth’s unsuccessful run). Hopefully this means there’s more progress to be made, and a bigger majority to be built, in 2008.
New Mexico
New Mexico FBIHOP
Heather Wilson and her odd silence in the face of questions on her stance on Iraq and the US Attorney scandal. Of course, if I were an endangered incumbent who’s neck-deep in such a horrific scandal, I wouldn’t want to discuss it either.
New York
The Albany Project
Details on a campaign finance deal reached recently in Albany — and TAR says it’s pretty good.
New York
Daily Gotham
Great fundraising numbers coming out of NYC-area State Senate races
North Carolina
Blue NC
Is Sen. Liddy Dole about to break from President Bush on Iraq? ,a href=”http://bluenc.com/could-dole-be-ready-to-break-from-bush-on-iraq%3F”>If the people of North Carolina have anything to say about it, she might want to consider doing so.
North Dakota
North Decoder
Ouch — the Center for Public Integrity says for its laws regarding financial disclosures for its Governor.
Ohio
As Ohio Goes
As Ohio Goes keeps a close eye on the statements of Sen. Voinovich and just how serious he is about criticizing President Bush‘s conduct of the Iraq occupation.
Ohio
Buckeye State Blog
Buckeye State Blog provides first-hand coverage of John Edward’s vist to the poorest city in America (Edwards in Cleveland’s Mt. Pleasant). Also, read It’s With Sadness I Announce I’m Leaving BSB.
Oklahoma
blue oklahoma
Oklahoma has a new state poet laureate — read all about him. Very interesting stuff!
Oregon
Loaded Orygun
With a recent move to SoapBlox, Loaded Orygun is up and running, highlighting a DSCC poll showing House Speaker Jeff Merkley within six points of Sen. Gordon Smith. Smith is one of the “moderates,” along with Minnesota’s own Norm Coleman, who are going to be heavily targeted for removal in 2008.
Pennsylvania
Keystone Politics
Keystone Politics finds a bombshell in the midst of U.S. Attorney investigations in Penn.: “Wecht charges prompt inquiry”.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island’s Future
Mark Democrat Jack Reed down on the list of U.S. Senators ,a href=”http://rifuture.org/blog/2007/07/19/ri-sen-2008-sen-reed-in-command/”>who are going to be safe as can be in 2008. Here’s to hoping that if no serious Republican opposition appears, Senator Reed will contribute generously to Democratic challengers around the country to help build his caucus’s majority
South Dakota
Clean Cut Kid
Who do state officials work for? Themselves, or the people who elected them? Clean Cut Kid takes on Governor Mike Rounds on exactly that topic.
Tennessee
Knox Views
It’s apolitical, but ospreys are really, really, really cool birds, and this is a great shot of one with its catch. In more political events, Knox Views goes after Mitt Romney for his approach to sex education and child molesters.
Texas
Burnt Orange Report
In large states like Texas, where there are lots of colleges and universities, young voters actually can make a big difference in terms of elections, outreach, and activism. Details on YDA’s activities in Texas here.
Texas
Texas Kaos
Do Texas Republicans just not care about public education? Seems that way
Utah
Wasatch Watcher
A great photo gallery from a recent visit by Bill Richardson.
Vermont
Green Mountain Daily
Brattleboro, VT passes an ordinance banning public nudity from some areas of town. You really can’t make this stuff up: “Don’t people have a Constitutional right not to be offended?” … Ah yes, the ethereal and seldom-mentioned 0th Amendment, which read “The right not to be offended by anything, anytime, anywhere, anyhow, shall not be abridged. By naked people. Ever.”
Virginia
Raising Kaine
Raising Kaine highlight a one prominent flip-flop over the Virginia Transportation Plan in “Jeannemarie Then…and Now”.
Washington
WashBlog
State Rep Rodney Tom announces a run for U.S. Congress in the 8th district, where Darcy Burner lost a close race to Dave Reichert in 2006.
West Virginia
West Virginia Blue
West Virginia Blue notes that even as the West Virginia State GOP is facing an uphill battle (even Republicans don’t trust the WV GOP), incumbent Republican Shelley Moore Capito (WV-02) is enjoying an “Incumbency protection racket: Capito shakes down carpenter’s union”
Wisconsin
Uppity Wisconsin
President Bush’s approval rating is 19% in Wisconsin, with 73% disapproval. That is not a good place to be, generally (cue theme to 1980s cartoon “Captain Obvious”).

CA-42: The Lay Of The Land

It’s great that the netroots candidacy of Ron Shepston for Congress is getting so much attention.  His race against the unfathomably corrupt Gary Miller represents a progressive hope and a decided alternative, and people are so excited that, at press time, he’s raised over $5,300 dollars through ActBlue in just a couple days.

Superlative.  Outstanding.  Fantastic.

Now let’s really look at what he’s getting into.  The campaign has asked me to contribute a guest column to the rollout providing the lay of the land.  We’ll start with the bad news and move slowly into the good.

Previous diaries in the CA-42 campaign rollout series:
7/15: thereisnospoon’s CA-42: A Kossack is running for Congress
7/16: atdnext’s CA-42: The Case Against Dirty Gary Miller
7/17: Major Danby’s CA-42: I’m managing a netroots U.S. House campaign
7/18: CanYouBeAngryAndStillDream’s CA-42: Hi, I’m Ron Shepston and I’m running for Congress
7/19: hekebolos’s CA-42: A Netroots campaign– politics the way it should be.

Here is a map of the 42nd District of California:

As you can see, it covers three counties, starting in San Bernardino County at Chino, moving into LA County with Whittier and Diamond Bar, and then Orange County with Brea and La Habra, snaking all the way down to grab Mission Viejo in the southern portion of the county.  Seems like a strange shape, doesn’t it?  It should.  California’s districts were gerrymandered to the extreme for incumbent protection after the 2000 Census.  Democrats and Republicans made the deal to lock in a set number of seats.  Between the 2000 Election and the 2002 Election, Miller gained 8 points from his challenger because the district was made more Republican.

Now, it doesn’t always work: Richard Pombo was forced out of office by Jerry McNerney last year.  But he is literally the ONLY incumbent to be deposed since this Congressional map was put into place.  More on McNerney later.

So this is a very Republican seat. George W. Bush beat Kerry 62%-38% in 2004, and Gore by 58%-38% in 2000 (when it was more Democratic). The district has a Cook Partisan Voting Index score of R +10 (meaning the district votes 10 points more Republican that the nation at large).  Only a few California districts are higher.  It’d be great to have a metric of Gary Miller’s most recent election, but in 2006 he was one of only 10 Republicans to run unopposed.  So we have to go back to 2004 and 2002 to look at results in this newly configured district.  They ain’t pretty.

United States House election, 2004: California District 42
Republican Gary Miller 167,632 68.2
Democratic Lewis Myers 78,393 31.8

United States House election, 2002: California District 42
Republican Gary Miller 95,737 67.6 +8.6
Democratic Richard Waldron 41,306 29.2 -8.2

So since this district has had its current configuration, Gary Miller’s opponent has never received more than 31.8% of the vote.  We’ll call that Ron’s baseline of support, since I’m not sure Lewis Myers or Richard Waldron offered up anything but token opposition.  The question is where to get the other 19%.

Let’s look at the demographics of the district (linked from Gary Miller’s House website!  Thanks Gary!  You can return to your regularly scheduled ripping off of America now!).

About 57.5% of the district is in Orange County, including the largest population center, Mission Viejo (no wonder they snuck it into the district).  The registration edge here is 55-27 Republican, and no area has a Democratic advantage (La Habra is the closest, at 45-37, which stands to reason because it’s close to the LA County part of the district).  The area of the OC in the district is 20% Latino and about 11% Asian.

LA County needs to be Shepston Country.  The registration edge here is lower (43R, 36D), and Rowland Heights is actually plurality-Democratic.  Of course, it’s only 21% of the district.  It’s heavily Asian (40%) and Latino (23%).  I don’t know if sprawl goes out this far and if these are Los Angeles bedroom communities for those priced out of the more expensive areas, but it’s certainly possible.

Finally, San Bernardino County is the final 21.5% of the district, and it’s also closer (45R, 38D).  In Chino there’s a 42%-41% advantage for Democratic registration.  The Latino population is strong out here; 37%.

The final numbers for the district are about 50% registration total, with a 21-point registration advantage for Republicans (51R, 30D).  The district is very diverse, 44% nonwhite (23.8% Latino, 17.5% Asian, 3.4% African-American).

So the key would appear to be to raise registration rates in Democratic areas, bring in big numbers in LA and San Bernardino County, and make sure the Latino vote turns out.  A tall order.  And did I mention that Gary Miller has $800,000 Cash on Hand after raising $137,000 in the most recent quarter?

But there’s more of the story to be told, points that argue in Shepston’s favor, and in favor of a strong challenge in a district some would call unwinnable.

CORRUPTION: This was considered the number one issue according to exit polls in 2006.  Miller hasn’t been tested on this, since the revelations about his dirty dealings didn’t come out until the 2006 election, when he was unopposed.  And if anything, they’ve grown worse since then.  So there is a case to be made that voters will reject someone who appears to be doing the business of profit-taking instead of legislating.

IRAQ: Gary Miller has voted in lockstep with the President on an issue that has scant support in the country, even in a district as red as this.  I assume that the netroots team running this race will not run away from the issue of Iraq as many consultants have the knee-jerk reaction to do.

THE ALBATROSS: Ron Brownstein makes the case:

Unpopular departing presidents, though, have consistently undercut their party in the next election. Democrats lost the White House in 1952 and 1968 after Harry Truman and Lyndon Johnson saw their approval ratings plummet below 50%. Likewise, in the era before polling, the opposition party won the White House when deeply embattled presidents left office after the elections of 1920 (Woodrow Wilson), 1896 (Grover Cleveland), 1860 (James Buchanan) and 1852 (Millard Fillmore). The White House also changed partisan control when weakened presidents stepped down in 1844 and 1884. Only in 1856 and 1876 did this pattern bend, when the parties of troubled presidents Franklin Pierce and Ulysses S. Grant held the White House upon their departure […]

It’s true that Republicans in 2008 should perform slightly better among voters who disapprove of the president than George H.W. Bush and Gore did, because their nominee, unlike those men, won’t be the retiring president’s vice president. But another pattern underscores how hard the challenge will remain: On average, 80% of voters who disapproved of a president’s performance have voted against his party’s candidates even in House races since 1986, according to the respected University of Michigan post-election polls. When a president takes on water, in other words, everyone in his party flounders.

This tracks with the idea that “there is no safe district” in the post-Bush era, and that any partisan numbers over the past several years are somewhat irrelevant to the landscape today.

DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS: Getting the Latino vote out in a year where the Republicans have done absolutely everything to present themselves as the biggest brown-haters on the block is crucial.  You don’t have to have that long a memory to remember the anti-immigrant Prop. 187 fights out here in California, which set back Republicans to this day.  So making sure there’s a high turnout among the substantial Latino base would seem to me to be a key.  And I would gather than even more are in the district now, being priced out of LA County.

STOPPING THE GRAVY TRAIN: Gary Miller has been using his money gained in fundraising from his rich buddies to reward Republicans in close races:

Miller’s expenditures are listed at OpenSecrets, and you can see that he spent his money (in 2006) enriching the coffers of Republican candidates in close races all over the country.  He didn’t need the ill-begotten money for himself, so he gave it to his most endangered colleagues.  A list:

Anne Northrup $1,000
Barbara Cubin $1,000
Deborah Pryce $1,000
Dave Reichert $1,000
Geoff Davis $1,000
JD Hayworth $1,000
Jim Gerlach $1,000
Keith Butler (MI Senate challenger) $1,000
Joe Knollenberg $2,000
Mary Bono $1,000
Mike Fitzpatrick $1,000
Mike Sodrel $1,000
Rob Simmons $1,000
Thelma Drake $1,000

That’s 14 candidates to the tune of $15,000.  A lot of those Republicans lost, but the recipient of the biggest expenditure from Miller’s campaign was the NRCC, the committee dedicated to re-electing Congressional Republicans, which sent mailers and put up attack ads and made robocalls all over the country.  They benefited from $112,000 from one Gary Miller.  All of the sleazy developer money he’s received over the years helped re-elect some of the worst Congressmen in the country by the skin of their teeth.  That’s $112,000 we wouldn’t be likely to see in the NRCC’s coffers if Miller were actually challenged and forced to run a campaign.

It’s not like Miller is going to run out of money any time soon; he’s rich beyond reason and can self-fund.  But he wouldn’t be as likely to fund others if challenged.

In conclusion, there are many signs out there that Ron Shepston does have the opportunity to be competitive and offer the voters in the 42nd a real alternative.  The best comparisons we can use for California are the aforementioned Jerry McNerney in CA-11, and Charlie Brown in CA-04.  Both went up against corrupt politicians in red areas.  Both excited grassroots and netroots activists to donate to and work on the campaigns.  Both engaged in bottom-up campaigning, with the big dollar money not coming in until later.  And despite the warped political landscape and the partisan gerrymander, McNerney is a Congressman and Charlie Brown is about to join him.  If he’s diligent and bold and unyielding, Ron Shepston can do the same thing.

Time for a Progressive Revolt in the Senate

UPDATE: SpeakOut California has an action alert setup which will allow you to send a letter to the Governator, and your legislators.  Please do so here. Please. Pretty Please. Also, I added this sentence to the second paragaph: “Furthermore, we do not need to repay a billion of debt early just to appease Wall Street if that means slashing public transportation programs.”

One more piece real quick here on the budget. As Frank mentioned in a comment to Bob’s first post on the budget, the Assembly has adjourned for 30 days. This leaves the Senate with few choices on the budget with exception, as Frank put, for sweeteners for Senate Reps. But, in my book, it’s time for some Progressive Senators to threaten withholding their votes on this plan. The VooDoo Economics goes too far. At the very least, let’s attempt to get some money back for public transit. So, Progressive Senators Migden, Kuehl, Corbett, Cedillo, I’m looking directly at you. It’s time to move the center of the discussion three steps to the left.

Bringing VooDoo Economics Home to California

It seems the budget deal in the Assembly has been reached. Some cynics might say that the Assembly reached this deal out of a hope to help pass the term limits measure. At least that’s what some cynics might say. But, here’s what I have to say: Removing tax credits from teachers and redistributing them is some seriously f*d up VooDoo Supply-Side Economics. Go to the 3:50 mark in this video, although you’ll enjoy the whole thing if you are a Ferris Bueller fan.  The words of the GOP in the Assembly are eerily reminiscint of days we should be wary of returning to:

“This package is designed to stimulate the economy in the state,” said Assemblyman Rick Keene, R-Chico. “We have the data showing that it will actually increase revenues.” (SacBee 7/20/07)

Well, you know what, I have a different theory of economics. And it worked for us for over 50 Years, and it made John Maynard Keynes a pretty famous guy. And, oh yeah, it lifted us out of the Great Depression. So, the Republicans have asked for, and received from Democratic Legislators, about a Billion of tax credits for Hollywood studios and multinational corporations with secret data that will show that these will result in higher revenues.  Everybody knows this is bull, but apparently nobody in the Assembly is willing to say it. 

The Budget Battle is far from over, Flip it…

From the WaPo on W’s tax cuts:

Nobody serious believes that tax cuts pay for themselves, as I noted last week. But most senior Republicans flunk this test of seriousness. In January, George W. Bush declared that, “by cutting the taxes on the American people, this economy is strong, and the overall tax revenues have hit at record levels.” Regrettably, this endorsement of what his dad called voodoo economics was not a one-time oversight. The next month, Bush told a New Hampshire audience, “You cut taxes and the tax revenues increase.” (WaPo 5/15/06)

Listen, do we really need more “evidence” or “data” that supply-side economics works…for the top 1% of the economy. But, ask the rest of Americans how they feel they’ve done over the past 6-25 years of supply-side governance, and you’ll hear many stories of growing inequality. And this deal seems even worse in that it adds a double whammy, you’re not just robbing the middle class generally to give to the rich, you are robbing from teachers specifically. Teachers, who would spend that money to, you know, live, thereby increasing the impact of those funds on the economy. If you want tax cuts to have a real effect on the economy, let’s try starting with the bottom, who will spread that money up to the rich via, um, living a somewhat normal life and you know, eating more food.

But, Sen. President Pro Tem Perata seems to be pushing back on this swap of priorities:

“We cannot continue to fund education, higher education and crucial human services issues, such as the in-home supportive services program, childcare, or funding for the aged, blind and disabled by providing tax give-aways,” Perata wrote to Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez. (SacBee 7/20/07)

So, don’t think this budget is over and done for, well, at least until 9AM, when a vote is scheduled in the Senate.  The Dems need only 2 Rep. votes for the 2/3 Requirement, but Sen. Minority Leader  Dick Ackerman seems to be digging in his heals, wanting further voodoo economics. Well, folks, enough is enough.  Perhaps if we could spend money on removing the 2/3 Requirement removed via the ballot, we wouldn’t be forced to make these kinds of false decisions. Some would say removing the 2/3 requirement would be a much better use of resources than a term limits change. But, you know, that’s just some people.

 

Budget Passes in the Dead of Night

I’ll get more up as soon as possible. What I know right now is that the Assembly, where Mike Villines and the Republicans were causing trouble, passed the legislation 56-23. More in a bit.

UPDATE: Here are the Speaker’s Talking Points. I’m still looking up what happened with some important items, such as high speed rail.

The budget approved by the Assembly today:
ü  Creates a $3.4 billion dollar reserve, 62% larger than the Governor’s proposed May Revision
ü  Transfers $1.257 billion of gas taxes to the general fund
ü  Repays $2.5 billion in bond obligations, $1 billion more than required
ü  Preserves the Williamson Act
ü  Rejects cuts to CalWORKS proposed by the Governor
ü  Fully funds aid to Medi-Cal and the homeless mentally ill
ü  Fully funds K-12 education

UPDATE 2: Could be some bad news on Mass transit, as the Republicans seem to have extracted some compromises from the Speaker on that subject. The LA Times has more

UPDATE 3: The Senate has a vote scheduled at 9AM. Perata seems to not totally be on board in a letter he sent the Speaker:

“We cannot continue to fund education, higher education and crucial human services issues, such as the in-home supportive services program, childcare, or funding for the aged, blind and disabled by providing tax give-aways,” Perata wrote to Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez. (SacBee 7/20/07)

Blogosphere –Opportunity to give my people the representation deserved.

In the midst of all the hoopla over bitter Vitter, transplant Jindal and freezer king Jefferson, do not lose hope, my people!

Cross posted with dKos, Daily Kingfish

  I am Gilda Reed and I am running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Louisiana’s 1st District to give my people the representation they deserve.  All of us are Katrina survivors.  We must have a Democrat who feels the pulse of the people.  Republicans have held the seat for 30 years and it is time for a change.  Government is supposed to be of the people, by the people and for the people—not a government created by the rich to protect their own interests.  Over 90% of our Congress members are millionaires.  I have no ill will for rich folks and can properly represent them.  However, I do not know too many who have walked a mile in the shoes of my constituents.  How can a person empathize when he/she is so far removed from our wants, needs and desires?  A few courtesy visits, handshakes and empty rhetoric are not what we need.  My people need me, one of their own, to fight for them.

Am I up to the task?  You bet I am. 

Besides being a lifelong resident of District 1, I am the dedicated mother of 7 children, including 2 adopted with special needs, the grandmother of 11, and the teacher of thousands of university students.  With a polio disability, I raised my large family and earned a Ph.D. in Applied Biological Psychology at the same time.  Then I went on to teach more classes at the University of New Orleans at 1 time than any of my colleagues.  During Katrina, I did not miss a beat and recorded all lectures for the semester so that my students could hear what they would have heard if there were buildings to house them.  To this day, I am still fighting for the rights of my adopted children with disabilities.  So I am accustomed to weathering adversity.  Washington will be a piece of cake compared to all of this.

Why would a happy, squeaky-clean wife of 40 years, mother, grandmother and teacher jump into the shark-infested waters of politics?  I am tired of whining.  Every semester I teach my students that if they do not like something, they should get off their rear ends and DO something to make a change.  I am only practicing what I teach.  Our senior citizens need a break, our children need a break, our working middle class needs a break, our small business owners need a break.  The Iraq War must end.  Quality health care must be available for all Americans.  Illegal immigration must halt.  Erosion of our rights afforded by the Constitution must stop.  Fiscal responsibility must return.  World respect must be re-earned.

There is a small problem with this tall order.  Money.  Name recognition and fighting a wealthy, well-oiled machine takes plenty of it.  So many of my constituents are burdened and numb, so I must reach out beyond my district and state for support.  If you believe in a true democracy, if you want to help a struggling corner of America to return to normalcy, if you want to help dethrone a Republican—please donate to the Gilda Reed Campaign.  I plan to win.  Given all the news of late and the hypocrisy that screams out, it is time for an honorable person above the fray to become elected.  Please be part of the victory that is due my people. 

WE NEED REED
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Gilda Reed Campaign
P.O. Box 73186
Metairie, LA  70033-3186