January 2015

NEWSLETTER

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SOCDC
A Very Important General Meeting
7 pm, Jan. 14, 2015
Dana Point Community House
24642 San Juan Avenue, Dana Point
No dinner will be available at this
special planning meeting.

Please plan to attend this meeting to discuss, debate, and strategize for next year.
It takes a village, and we need you to
help keep are club strong and effective in
its support of Democratic candidates.
We also have board positions to fill for the
March 2015-March 2016 term. We will
have four vacant board seats, including
chairperson, secretary, treasurer and registration chair. Our joint efforts can create
a strong base for the election of Democrats who share our ideals in the upcoming
races. Please consider joining our board.

Its Well Past Time to Celebrate President Obamas Accomplishments

Historic legislation, the Affordable Care Act and related measures including, to name a
few provisions, the new rules mandating calorie labeling at chain restaurants and substantial reform of the student loan system
The Dodd-Frank financial reform bill
Smaller measures
Food safety bill
Child nutrition bill
Childrens Health Insurance expansion
Public lands bill
Ratification of the new START arms reduction treaty
A bill that ended discrimination against gays and lesbians in the military
Confirmation of a record number of judges

See www.vox.com/2014/12/18/7412567/obama-accomplishments for more.

Dave Jones, State Insurance Commissioner, Addresses Holiday Brunch

Dave Jones leads the California Department of Insurance (CDI), the largest consumer protection agency in
the state, which regulates
the $123 billion insurance
industry.

When Dave Jones speaks, youd better listen. And Democrats from cities in South Orange County did just that at the Holiday Brunch on December 13 when Jones, Californias Insurance Commissioner, addressed the group. Jones pulled no punches about
the integrity, or lack thereof, of Republican campaigns during recent mid-term elecContinued on next page
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tions. Exaggeration and untruths were splattered all over rightwing campaigns this fall when Republicans bought prime time air
on TV and other media, casting aspersions on Democratic candidates who fought hard to win.
The First Amendment protects political speech, he said.
But we need truth in advertising.
Californians are concerned about the aging infrastructure, blatant racism and personal
bankruptcy, he continued, as well as the 75 percent graduation rate for high school seniors, a figure that proves one-quarter of our young people are unprepared for the future.
Democrats must be leaders and boost information about alternative energy, universal
pre-school education, and other major issues.
Democratic leadership oversaw the launch of the Affordable Care Act, he continued,
which has reduced by half the percent of uninsured. Over two million Americans have
moved from emergency rooms into preventative care.
Still, there are specific issues he considers top priority to move our country forward:
1. Debt some of the working poor have two or three jobs, working long hours
2. Persistent unemployment7.3 percent in California; 6.1 percent in the country
3. Climate changeWere approaching the point of no return. The impact is shown in
sea levels, severe weather, and drier conditions that result in wildfires, a huge problem for the California budget.
4. The aging populationThe elderly are facing difficult circumstances and a lack of
alternatives. Companies must protect pensions more effectively.
5. Erosion of Social Security and MedicareAnthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield,
the biggest insurance companies in California, have been allowed to pick their own
regulators. We need stronger legislation to make regulation more meaningful.
6. High cost of drugs
7. Public Utility CommissionOversight into the failures of the utilities to repay citizens for services not received.
8.
Since taking office as California State Insurance Commissioner, Dave Jones has secured crucial victories for consumers. Lets hope his Can-Do attitude will light a fire under legislators to make a positive difference in these important issues.
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Happy New Year Democrats!!

Please join us for our next meeting, January 14th. This coming year will be our
chance to take advantage of changing Orange County demographics and create a
foundation for the 2016 election. Our work in 2015 will be key to the success of local
and federal Democratic candidates in 2016.
With this in mind, for our January 14th meeting, we invite you to participate in a planning session. We would like to find out what our members like/dislike at meetings, what
we want our club to accomplish, and how we can begin to create a base for our 2016
candidates.
We are also looking for leaderspeople in our club who are willing to step up and help
by participating on the board for the March 2015-March 2016 term. We are looking
for: a voter registration coordinator, treasurer, secretary, and a chair/vicechair. These roles are essential to the continued success of the SOCDC, and I ask
you to consider whether you are able to donate your time to help create a launching
pad for our 2016 Presidential candidate.
Please join us at our January meeting :
Wednesday, Jan 14th at 7pm
24642 San Juan Avenue, Dana Point, CA 92629
Shelley
*Please come early if you are able to help set up!*

A Photo Worth a Thousand

WordsSpeaker John Boehner
and Representative Nancy Pelosi not long after he beat back
an embarrassing challenge to
retain his post on January 6.
NY Times, January 7, 2015
###
For some insight into the conservative effort to unseat Speaker
Boehner, The Atlantic (Jan. 7,
2015), offers some amusing tidbits: http://www.theatlantic.com/
politics/archive/2015/01/johnboehner-and-the-question-ofrevenge/384293/
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015

DNC CHAIR REP. WASSERMAN SCHULTZS STATEMENT

ON THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS AGENDA
Washington, DC - DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement in support of the House Democratic caucus legislative agenda announced today:The Democratic caucus will fight to advance our countrys infrastructure, work to make sure corporations pay their fair share of taxes and are not
rewarded for shipping American jobs overseas. We will introduce legislation to grow
paychecks for hard working American families. We will work to ensure workers receive their fair share of compensation and stop CEOs from claiming additional tax
deductions until their employees receive a much deserved raise. And we will continue to ensure that millions of Americans receive quality affordable health care.
And what has the House GOP leadership promised the American people in the
next few months? They have committed to looking out for big oil, gas, and coal
companies, eliminating reforms that hold Wall Streets big banks accountable, and
repealing the Affordable Care Act, which would take away health care from millions
of Americans.It is clear which party is behind the American people, committed to
growing opportunity from the middle class, and fighting for those who are willing to
work hard. And, it is crystal-clear which party is watching out for special interests. I
am proud of our Democratic agenda, and look forward to the work we will do in the
114th Congress.

From The New

Yorker magazine
online, January 6,
2015.
Mr. Speaker, if you want to gain back the partys confidence in your
leadership, youre going to have to practice harder with the ducks.
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Minimum Wage Laws in the States, as of Jan. 1, 2015

Source U.S. Department of Labor website

Bragging Rights Exercised on White House.gov:

It was all Smiles at the Holiday Brunch

Joy Borsellino and Elizabeth Balsamo

Linda Nearing and Will Hagle

Deborah Skurnik, Gary Kephart, and Bill Stephenson

Above, Wendy Gabriella;

Right, Peggy Jones and Linda Baker

Claudia Perez and Nick Anas