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Senator Oropeza joins those doubling-down on California "ObamaCare"

Posted by Stamm4Senate   on Jan. 31, 2010, 3:43 pm

The bill to establish a $225 billion a year  single payer health insurance system in California will also ban all private health insurance in the state.

South Bay State Senator Jenny Oropeza (D-Long Beach) has placed her re-election hopes on being a co-author of SB 810, titled "Single-Payer Health Care Coverage", which states in the text for "Eligibility" the following:  "The bill would deem all California residents eligible for the CHS. Residency would be based on physical presence in the state with the intent to reside. This bill would also state legislative intent for the system to provide health care coverage to state residents who are temporarily out of the state."

This means every resident, citizens and non-citizens, would be eligible for this coverage. Welcome to ObamaCare for illegal immigrants and whoever else wants to move to California! Speaker Pelosi can stop what she's doing! California will pick up the tab for the 32% of Americans on welfare that live in California.

Reaction from around the state and the country is rocking Sacramento statehouse Democrats who yesterday made the first move toward banning private health insurance in California and initiating the new, $225 billion a year “universal health care” plan, just as voters in Massachusetts sent a message to the White House, Congress and the nation that single-payer healthcare needs to be re-examined.

Republican leaders in California say Democrats in the California Legislature are clearly out of touch with the mood of the public.

“It is incredible that once again, some of the more liberal Democrats are tone deaf to what’s going on in this nation,” said state Sen. George Runner, R-Antelope Valley. “This (California) bill is even more extreme than what’s being talked about in Washington.”

California GOP Chairman Ron Nehring said, “The Democrats’ ‘Massachusetts Meltdown’ on Tuesday proved that their idea of health care ‘reform’ is a loser.”

Californians can rest hope, though, because Governor Schwarzenegger has been adamantly opposed to such a plan and will assuredly veto this bill.

“Any elected official that thinks it’s a good idea to strap the state with tens of billions of dollars from a government-run health care system is clearly not in touch with what voters need and deserve,” said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Rachel Arrezola. “The governor continues to oppose any single-payer government-run health care system.”

Tax protestors in various tea party groups around the country have begun phone-banking the California state senators who moved SB810 out of committee with no comment yesterday.

South Bay Voters should call State Senator Jenny Oropeza immediately at (916) 651-4028 to voice their dissatisfaction.

2010 Republican challenger John Stammreich has already left messages, stating "If Senator Oropeza thinks that her continued voting history of killing jobs in the South Bay, opposing our local city councils and school districts by 'borrowing' local tax revenues that are needed for services & road repair, and ignoring the national message that single-payer health care will cost California businesses & families billions more in additional taxes, she is well on her way to being a former state senator!"

"Those concerned about revenues for local services, teacher salaries, and public works projects should be adamently opposing this bill! California legislators already cannot afford the budget it has been reluctant to trim! This kind of redistributive health care is a bad idea even when revenues are high, like they were during the Bush-Hastert economy. Doing so now after the effects of the Pelosi Congress have significantly reduced state tax revenues is simply irresponsible!"

"If this bill passes, every California taxpayer, regardless of their current healthcare plans, should get ready for lesser health care quality & less money in their pockets. This is possibly the biggest job-killer legislation to hit the California State Senate floor ever! Every elected official that votes for this should be targeted for defeat or recall this November!"

One thing's for sure: Senator Oropeza will have the hardest general election fight of her 20+ year political career if she doesn't figure out that 2010 is definitely not 2006, or even 2008!

Tags: Democrat, Health Care, Obamacare, Oropeza, Republican, Runner, SB810, schwarzenegger, South Bay, Stammreich, State Senate

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CA-50 latest San Diego democratic club endorsement tally: Busby 4, Emblem 3, no endorsement 4

Posted by YourGaydar   on Jan. 26, 2010, 9:24 am

The Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) Metro San Diego Chapter voted Monday evening to endorse Tracy Emblem for the 50th Congressional District race. In a very transparent voting process where the member's ballots were collected, counted and verified in front of all present, the final tally was 19 votes for Emblem, 7 votes for Busby and 2 voters chose to abstain. This brings Emblem's local Democratic club endorsement tally up to three, which has her closing in on Francine Busby, her competitor for incumbent Republican Brian Bilbray's seat. The other local clubs endorsing Emblem include: North County Women's Democratic Club and Latino American Democratic Club.

Four local clubs have endorsed Busby thus far: Chicano Democratic Association, San Diego Democratic Club, San Diego County Young Democrats, and Rancho Santa Fe Democratic Club.

PDA is the second progressive organization to endorse Emblem this week. The Progressive Push PAC endorsed Emblem on Saturday. Luis A. Cuevas, the National Director, stated on Emblem's Facebook page that he was proud to endorse "the real progressive in California's 50th Congressional District race".

Additionally, Emblem has the formal endorsement of four local labor unions, while Busby has the endorsement of a national women's political caucus.

However, four San Diego Democratic clubs have withheld endorsements for this seat: Mesa Democratic Club, Lake San Marcos Democratic Club, Black Mountain Democratic Club, and the Democratic Club of Oceanside/Carlsbad. These clubs are withholding a formal endorsement until after the June 8, 2010 primary so that voters in their communities can decide upon the most viable candidate. After the primary, these clubs will endorse the winner.

Tags: Brian Bilbray, CA-50, Democrat, Francine Busby, PDA, Progressive, San Diego, Tracy Emblem

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Manufacturers comment on Governor's State of the State

Posted by gdicaro   on Jan. 6, 2010, 5:22 pm

California Manufacturers & Technology Assn. President Jack M. Stewart offered the following caution on today's State of the State address:

"In 2010 Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger must address the largest unemployment problem California has seen in 70 years. The Governor was right in his State of the State address that job creation should be our number one priority and we aplaud his commitment. However, we don't share his optimism that the worst is over for the California economy and that we are well positioned to take advantage of the future.

Policies that help only select industry segments are not the answer. We need sweeping policies and strategies that send a clear signal to all employers that California can compete with the rest of the nation.

We were surprised that the Governor limited business regulation reform to streamlined construction permitting. After losing 600,000 manufacturing jobs, 31% of California's industrial workforce, we must go so much farther. A very inexpensive and productive way for the state to grow new high wage jobs is to provide borad regulatory relief . By reforming California's onerous regulatory burden, California can provid consistency and a more competitive business environment. We urge the Governor and legislature to conduct an in-depth and focused review of the cost impact and effectiveness of existing and proposed regulations.

The Governor and Legislature have an enormous year ahead of them and their goal should be to make California attractive to every kind of manufacturer and high wage employer. We won't recover without significant employment gains in all sectors of our economy."

Tags: California economic recovery, CMTA, manufacturing, State of the State

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Why a Democrat can win California 50th Congressional District race in 2010 (Part 2)

Posted by YourGaydar   on Dec. 30, 2009, 11:15 am

The Republicans in the 50th Congressional District are starting to feel comfortable about having a win in the bag in 2010. CQ Politics just released an assessment that Bilbray's GOP seat in North County's 50th is secure. Clearly the author is unaware of the district's history and political leanings before 2002 covered in Part 1 of this series and plays down the systematic closing of the point gap between Democrats and Republicans since the Republican's gerrymandered win in 2002. Part 2 of this series will explore why a Democratic candidate hasn’t yet won the District and what they need to do to wrestle control back from the Republicans.

Why hasn't a Democrat won the district back yet?

The following list encompasses some personal observations as well as election analysis in a 2006 poll commissioned in California's 50th Congressional District by Courage Campaign, a non-partisan, Progressive 527 based in Los Angeles, and MyDD, a Progressive blog devoted to analysis and commentary on political campaigns and infrastructure, to determine why the national Democratic message failed to give Democrat Francine Busby the seat formerly occupied by convicted felon, Republican Randy "Duke" Cunningham. Busby also lost to Republican Brian Bilbray in the 2006 regular election, having probably been her last best chance to win this district.

1. Voter Turnout - A winning Democratic candidate needs high Independent and Decline to State voter turnout, which combined currently makes up at least 28% of registered voters in North County, to close the point gap with the Republican incumbent. Busby has been repeatedly unsuccessful in mobilizing this demographic and securing their vote. Voter appeal beyond Democratic base voters will be instrumental.

2. Inland Voter Turnout - A winning Democratic candidate needs to mobilize and secure the vote of residents in the inland part of the district. The highest density of registered voters are inland and the majority of these voters are working class families. Thus far, the previous Democratic candidates have been coastal candidates, such as Busby and Nick Leibham, which did not resonate with inland voters. However, one candidate Progressive Democrat Tracy Emblem, a resident of Escondido since 1964 with working class roots and strong support from Labor Unions will appeal to this key inland working class demographic.

3. Issue-based Campaign - A winning Democratic candidate needs to clearly draw a distinction between themselves and the Republican incumbent by running a strong, issue-based campaign. Most voters in 2006 had no concrete idea where Busby stood on important issues, so her image in the mind of the voter was poorly defined. The Republicans, on the other hand, led the discussion and framed any debate around issues they knew would resonate in their favor. Even in the current jockeying for the 2010 primary election, until a month ago Emblem was the only candidate who clearly outlined her positions on important issues on her campaign website. Busby only recently added any substantive issue-based information to her campaign website after Emblem pointed out the omission at a Mesa Democratic Club meeting in November.

4. Accountability - A winning Democratic candidate has to hold the current administration accountable for problems that have occurred under its watch both at home and abroad. This is as relevant now as it was during the Bush administration, perhaps more-so. President Obama has high disapproval ratings and a successful candidate needs to distinguish clearly how they will provide viable solutions to the problems the Obama administration and Democratic legislators have been unable to resolve. San Diego News Network noted that Busby is still uncritically toting President Obama's change message as if she's his sidekick. Emblem, on the other hand, has demonstrated that she can hold the President accountable for unsuccessful policy decisions, like Afghanistan.

What's the bottom line?

The Democratic party cannot continue to do the same old same old in the 50th district if they have any hope of unseating incumbent Republican Bilbray. With a focus on voter turnout, an issues-based campaign focusing on issues that resonate with Independent, Decline to State and Inland voters, and lastly courage to hold the current administration accountable for policy missteps, Democrats can pull off this supposed Hail Mary pass win.

Tags: Brian Bibray, CA-50, Francine Busby, Progressive, Tracy Emblem

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Stammreich joins Part-Time Legislature movement

Posted by Stamm4Senate   on Dec. 22, 2009, 2:11 pm

Relaunching an improved version of their career politician-feared proposition, Citizens for California Reform teamed with KFI’s John & Ken Show on December 3rd for a petition drive at the Ayres Hotel Anaheim that resulted in nearly 1400 signatures toward its qualification for the November 2010 ballot. The Part-Time Citizen Legislature Proposition is a constitutional amendment that returns California to a citizen legislature. Petitions can be downloaded from the website www.reformcal.com.

California State Senator candidate John Stammreich participated as the lead organizer of the signature gathering outside the hotel front entrance, and has fully endorsed the return of the California Legislature to a part-time status.

"As I have watched the proceedings of our state legislature, especially this year, it is obvious to me and many others that the root cause of most California problems stem from politicians striving to preserve their full-time careers in Sacramento", commented Stammreich. "The strong, abusive power of lobbyists and unions is directly tied to the career aspirations of our current legislators, and forcing them to make politics their second career rather than their first will subsequently make the lobbyists & unions their second priorities as well."

Among the 1400 signers on Thursday, over 50 signed up as volunteers for the effort, and most of those making the pilgrimage to the Ayre Hotel took additional forms with them to collect more signatures. “The state’s experiment with a full-time legislature has failed and we need Citizen Legislators who are in touch with average voters and will provide real solutions to California’s problems,” said Gabriella Holt, President of Citizen’s for California Reform (CCR), the group spearheading the initiative drive.

Posting on the Repub Club 54 blog site, Holt commented "I would like to congratulate our next State Senator John Stammreich (running against CA Senator Jenny Oropeza) and his [campaign operations manager] Matt Kauble, who collected 1400 signatures in a period of 5 hours at the John and Ken Live radio broadcast... Thousands of people flocked to the broadcast bringing their children, grandchildren as well as college students, and moms and dads. John and Matt were noble warriors as they kept the entire petition signature gathering in complete control....What troopers and for the greater good of our state. Thanks John and Matt! You are true public servants!"

According to CCR, the return to a part-time Citizen Legislature will help focus leadership in Sacramento on handling the basic functions of government – namely keeping the state in the black. The “professional” politicians in Sacramento are held captive to special interests, and are unable to make hard decisions to solve the state’s budget crisis.

Tags: Holt, Part-Time Legislature, Stammreich

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