32nd District Democrats

Stay connected with some useful links:

• 32LD democrats on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/washdems#!/group.php?gid=44677644405&ref=ts
• King County Democrats on Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/washdems#!/pages/King-County-Democrats/10254683449?ref=ts
• Snohomish County Democrats on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/washdems#!/group.php?gid=55684419653&ref=ts

The State Party:

• Washington State Democrats on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Washington-State-Democrats/35250158053?ref=ts
• Washington State Democrats on Twitter: http://twitter.com/washdems
• Washington State Democrats on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/washdems
• Washington State Democrats on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/washdems 

Here are links to some of the new online features from the Patty Murray campaign:

• Patty Murray on Facebook: http://facebook.com/pattymurray
• Patty Murray on Twitter: http://twitter.com/pattymurray
• People for Patty Murray (campaign staff) on Twitter: http://twitter.com/peopleforpatty
• Patty Murray on Flickr (photos): http://flickr.com/pattymurrayforsenate
• Patty Murray on YouTube (video): http://youtube.com/pattymurrayforsenate
• New Website feature, myPatty! http://pattymurray.com/mypatty
• Text "PATTY" to 68398

Help welcome President Barack Obama to Seattle with US Senator Patty Murray in the Grand Ballroom of the Westin Hotel (1900 Fifth Avenue in Seattle),

Dear 32nd District Member:

Voters in the district rely on our 32nd District Sample Ballot to know how the local Democratic party feels about races up and down the ballot.   Never fear!  We have finished our annual 32nd  District Primary Endorsements Sample Ballot - just in time for your absentee ballot arrival in your mailbox.  

Click here for a printable version of our sample ballot.

It is important that our Democratic turnout is as high as possible for the primary.  Additionally, we need to make sure that Patty Murray and Charles Wiggins both show real strength coming out of this year's primary so they have the momentum to defeat their opponents in November's general election.  Please make sure to return your absentee ballot as soon as possible.
 
If you have not yet received your absentee ballot, please call 206-296-VOTE or 206-296-8683.

Carin

Carin Chase, Chair

Voter Registration Information

You've probably seen the news:  Republican Dino Rossi announced that he will challenge Patty Murray in the race for U.S. Senate this November.

We've been preparing for a tough race since last year, regardless of our opponent, and if we work together, I'm confident that Patty will win this November.

But make no mistake about it -- we're taking Dino Rossi's announcement very seriously.

So now it's time to redouble our efforts to re-elect Patty Murray this November -- and we need your help to do it.

Please contribute today -- and show Patty Murray that you're standing strong with her, today, as Dino Rossi jumps in the race for U.S. Senate!

Dino Rossi has made a job out of running for office. He'll run for anything and say and do anything just to get elected.

Dino represents the corporate titans, Wall Street bankers, and special interests that are out of step with the state -- and his economic views would return us to the failed Bush policies that got us into this mess to begin with.

But we know he's going to spend millions of dollars trying to mislead Washington voters about where he stands, while distorting Patty Murray's record of accomplishment for the hard-working people of our state.

We can't let him.

It's going to take all of us, working together, to make sure we re-elect Patty Murray this November -- and, with Dino Rossi's entry into the race, it's time to step up, today.

Please contribute to Patty's campaign today -- and make sure we have the resources we need to beat Dino Rossi this November!

Over the past 18 months, Patty Murray has been taking nothing for granted, building a strong grassroots campaign across Washington state that will reach out to millions of voters.

No matter who she's running against, Patty gets up every day to work for the people of our state -- and she looks forward to talking to them on the campaign trail and asking for their vote.

After all, the voters are going to have a clear choice in this election: Whether to continue to move our state and country forward to a better place, or whether to take us backward to the failed policies of the Bush era.

We all know that Patty Murray is clearly the right choice -- but we need your help to get Patty's message out.

Please contribute today -- and make sure we get Patty's message out to millions of voters between now and November!

Thank you so much for standing with Patty -- today and every day.

Sincerely,

Jeff Bjornstad
Campaign Manager
People for Patty Murray

It’s make or break week for Health Care Reform...

Speaker Pelosi and President Obama expect to deliver a National Health Care Program for the American people – signed into law within 10 days! Here's what we expect to happen: 

• Debate in the Congress this week

   

• Congressional vote most likely this weekend

   

• President Obama signs the historic law early next week

   

After a year of fighting obstructionist Republicans, Health Care Reform will be a DONE DEAL!  

Well, not quit a done deal... If things go well this week, Health Care Reform will be the law of the land, but the battle will continue.

First, it will move to the United States Senate, where all 41 obstructionist Republican Senators have sworn – actually signed on the dotted line - to do everything possible to block the sensible initial changes to the historic health care law.

Then the battle will move to the districts. Massive numbers of Republicans and Tea Party protestors plan to show up at congressional break meetings in April.

That's why today we are challenging our supporters to help us build a $15,000 Health Care Reform Defense Fund in time for the April Republican and Tea Party protests.

Please help us reach our $15,000 challenge goal by contributing today, before the March 31st end-of-the-quarter deadline.

We learned a lesson from the health care reform protests of last fall. Republicans used the congressional district meetings as organizing tools. They plan to do it again.

This year we need to be ready for them!

At this point, for disgruntled Republicans, it's not about Health Care policy anymore – It's about defeating Democrats. Please help us get ready for their April protest rallies.

Then the battle will move to the ballot box.

Your Washington State Democratic Party is always on the front lines of the campaign battlefield. When we have the funding, we are able to deploy our grass roots organization, use our communications tools, and support our candidates and elected officials in the field.

Your contribution of $15, $25, $50, $100 - or any amount you can afford - will enable us to retain our Democrats who vote for Health Care Reform and replace the Republicans who oppose it:

http://www.wa-democrats.org/HCRDefense 

REMEMBER: We are entering into the important 60-day window prior to filing for public office. 

Candidates depend on us to provide the support they need during the early days of their campaigns. Your generosity makes that possible.

Many thanks,



Dwight Pelz
Washington State Democrats Chair

Friends,

It is my honor to issue this Official Call and welcome you to attend the 2010 32nd District Democrats Legislative District Caucus on Sunday, March 14th at Shorecrest High School (15343 25th Ave NE, Shoreline), Registration begins at 12:00pm, the meeting starts at 1 pm.    
     This year's 2010 Legislative District Caucuses will be slightly different than 2008.  First, we will not have precinct level caucuses this year and instead we'll start at the Legislative District Caucus level.  At the Caucuses on March 14th,  we will  be focused on electing delegates and alternates to the State Convention and consideration of Resolutions.  

Representative Maralyn Chase 

  Representative Ruth Kagi

 Saturday February 20, 2010 

 10AM - Noon  Third Place Commons, Lake Forest Park

                   1PM - 3PM Shoreline Historical Museum, Shoreline                      

32nd District Democrats Community Discussions

Saturday 2/20 noon and 3pm - directly after the Town Hall Meetings Gather right after the LFP and Shoreline Town Hall meetings to discuss local issues and concerns with community members.  An opportunity to talk about issues important to you and the upcoming 32nd LD Caucus 3/14/10.

Our Supreme Court Fair Elections bill (SB 5912) was called for a floor vote in the state Senate Tuesday afternoon - well before the 5 PM cutoff - but was set aside prior to voting due to a procedural challenge (so it did not pass).

Naturally this set-back is disappointing.  It's tough to work SO hard, and yet the champagne has to remain in the cooler awhile longer.  

But we're not done yet!

WHAT HAPPENED

Immediately after bill sponsor Sen. Eric Oemig (D-45) motioned SB 5912 for approval, Sen. Don Benton (R-17) stopped the proceedings with a point of order.  Benton contended the bill would need a two-thirds vote to pass because the $3 surcharge on court fees was actually a "tax" not a "fee".

This required a ruling from Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen - presiding in his capacity as president of the Senate - based upon language and provisions in the bill itself plus language of Initiative-960 and other applicable state laws.

You may know the Senate has approved a bill amending I-960 to eliminate the "super-majority" requirement of a 2/3rds legislative vote for any tax increase.  But that bill has not yet passed the House or been signed by the Governor, so original language in I-960 is still the law.

And so, the Senate set aside further deliberations on the bill  and went on to other business, while staff lawyers (counsel to the Senate) researched the question.  After consultations, Senate President Brad Owen ruled that the $3 surcharge must be considered a tax - and therefore the bill would require a two-thirds vote in the Senate, to pass.

In fact we had (and have) 27 confirmed "Yes" votes (of 49) in the Senate - enough for majority passage, but not enough for two-thirds.  Therefore, Senate leaders set the bill aside - for today.

IT AIN'T OVER ...

Let's be clear:  A majority of state senators have signaled agreement with this bill and it's premises, that in Washington state, courts and judicial races are NOT for sale - especially when the U.S. Supreme Court says corporations can spend any amount to influence election results!

By pledging support for the bill, these senators agree that voters want judges on the court - not politicians or fund raisers.  The top court is no place for partisan fights. 

So now, if I-960 provisions are SOON made reasonable (through a bill signed by the Governor), and if a funding means can be worked out needing only a simple majority of lawmakers (rather than a filibuster-styole "super-majority") - then we may yet be able to enact this bill, this year.  And until the final gavel falls and the lights go out, we'll keep pushing!

In the face of the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, we must establish this principle:  Elections are to be decided by flesh-and-blood VOTERS - not by special interest campaign financiers, and not by out-of-state Wall Street corporations!

So our message to lawmakers continues to be:  We want to see public financing of state Supreme Court races!

PROGRESS ...  By the way, look at progress we've made:

• Many more people have heard about and support our mission and our organizing work;

   

• The experience and savvy of our members, as a citizen lobbying force, is greatly increased;

   

• Legislators in both House and Senate have a deeper understanding of our issue and respect for the grassroots lobbying power of our membership;

   

• We have a solid majority in the Senate, backing our judicial public financing proposal;

   

• Along the way, we've improved our website and broadcast emails with concise, informative Action Alerts to our supporters and partner organizations (and to their members).

   

All of this lays a strong foundation for progress .. and the legislative session is only half over!
We're not done yet - so don't sit back!

Thanks for your support!   And - stay alert for additional news and action steps.

~ Craig
_________________________
Craig Salins
Washington Public Campaigns
www.washclean.org
wpc@washclean.org
206-784-2522


Please support our work with a contribution! 

You can contribute online, on our website, using a debit or credit card.
www.washclean.org/donate.htm 

Or, send a contribution to:
   Washington Public Campaigns
   PO Box 70452, Seattle WA 98127-0452

For a tax-deductible contribution, write your check to: WPC Education Fund.

Thank you!