Days of Reckoning Edition

March 20, 2008

BUSTED! I had already talked about Carole Migden’s campaign fund problem – 89 campaign finance violations.

Yesterday, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that State Senator Carole Migden has been fined and has agreed to pay $350,000, the highest penalty against a candidate for state office. Today, it will be up to at least 3 of the 5 commissioners to approve of this settlement. As part of the settlement, Migden will have to admit she violated state law. As we mentioned the other day, the number of violations could have amounted to over a million dollars, so this settlement is a very good deal for Migden.

Restore Democracy and Accountability from Local to National
The Marin Peace and Justice Coalition is working on drafting ordinances and policy changes so cities and towns across the county can and do pass resolutions on state and national issues of concern and consequence to their citizens. Towns and cities across the country have already passed resolutions on national issues. San Francisco, Berkeley, Sebastopol, Fairfax, Amherst MA, Takoma Park MD, Nyack NY, and Oberlin OH passed resolutions to Impeach Bush/Cheney. There are countless towns and cities who have created Sanctuaries for undocumented workers. Personally, I think that so much legislation and policies handed down from the Federal and State levels down to county and municipal governments directly effect our lives. Our national foreign, monetary, and energy policy effects funding for infrastructure, schools, social services, and programs to fight global warming. These local democracies and join together on the State and National to clearly state our priorities. Government is all of us — of the people, by the people, and for the people. We need to reclaim our representative government. For more information on how to get involved with this initiative, contact Craig Slater at 415-721-7241.
Healthcare Not Warfare

Progressive Democrats of Marin is asking for people to chip in for a card and t-shirt campaign for the California State Democratic Convention on March 28-30th in San Jose, and other progressive events across the country. This project was started by local author/filmmaker Norman Solomon whose documentary, War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us To Death has opened successfully in New York and has been getting mainstream coverage. According to Solomon, this campaign is about organizing for the realignment of national priorities.

“A country that devotes a vast array of resources to killing capabilities will steadily undermine its potential for healing. For social justice. For healthcare as a human right. Martin Luther King Jr. described the horrific trendline four decades ago: “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.” If a society keeps approaching spiritual death, it’s apt to arrive. Here’s an indicator: Nearly one in six Americans has no health insurance, and tens of millions of others are badly under-insured. Here’s another: The United States, the world’s preeminent warfare state, now spends about $2 billion per day on military pursuits. Gaining healthcare for all will require overcoming the priorities of the warfare state.”

If you would like to help this effort you can send $5, $10, or more (every little bit helps) to Progressive Democrats of Marin, P.O. 425, Mill Valley, CA 94942-0425. Please make checks out to Progressive Democrats of Marin and put HNW in the memo line of the check. You can also sign a petition to support this campaign and support HR 676.

Well Played Woolsey!
Woolsey announces that she will be bringing goodies for her district via congressional earmarks. Looking at the list of goodies, it seems a little top heavy for our friends in Sonoma County. Her constituents have been displeased with her support for Clinton in the face of the fact that they clearly went for Obama. Will the extra bacon make it all okay?