Nation-al News Edition

May 12, 2008

Photo by Denise K. Castellucci
[Can I say that it is getting to the point I cannot even bear to watch the news? First Myanmar's tragic typhoon, then the heartbreaking tornadoes in the mid-west, and now a devastating earthquake in China. I have already read about a woman who died sheltering her four year old son (who survived) from one of the many tornadoes. I just get way too emotional about these events. It is necessary for me to focus on local and state politics, and maybe, just maybe tackle cleaning my refrigerator.]

Nation-al News

Congrats to Joe Nation! The Marin IJ has endorsed Nation for CD-3 State Senate. While they say that all three candidates would do a fine job, they think that Midgen has too many ethics and judgement issues and Leno leans more toward San Francisco issues. The IJ endorses Nation because it has been 30 years since there was a State Senator from the North Bay, Nation’s expertise in climate change, and his ability to bring new thinking into Sacramento. Nation does have to watch out for not being too absolutist in a manner that will have him excluded from the budget process.

The 30 year gap of local representation in the State Senate district was emphasized at Joe Nation’s appearance at last Friday’s fundraiser at the Adobe Creek Golf Course in Petaluma. I brought Geneva, our newest addition to Marinmaven.com to this event to get her feet wet in political socializing. This group was primarily retired residents of the Adobe Creek residential community. Geneva and I got an unsolicited and slightly racy story from one WWII vet, who we were not sure if he was there for Joe or not.

Joe Nation, who had been delayed by traffic said that San Franciscans do not have to deal with the narrows as he and the rest of the North Bay does. Nation stated that both Migden and Leno concern themselves with narrow issues of San Francisco. As an example, he cited both candidates’ answers to the question, “If you could pass one bill, what would that be?”

Migden said to grant herself executive power (she actually seriously added that her one bill would be “bottoms up budgeting”), and Leno said a law for marriage equity. You could hear some light gasps. Joe Nation’s one bill would be two bills. One would be his health care plan and the other would be a requirement that 50% of autos and trucks run on alternative fuels by 2020.

We got a more of Nation’s personal story. Last Thursday was his mother’s birthday. Happy Belated Birthday, Joe Nation’s mom. Nation went through the community college route to University of Boulder. He traveled the world with Pan-Am. His college advisor at Georgetown was Madeline Albright, who would have him over for baloney sandwiches.

Nation says that he isn’t in the race because he likes politics, but because he loves policy.

Health care brought him back into politics. Nation himself is considered un-insurable due to inherited high blood pressure and having cancer 7 years ago. He feels that supporters of single payer insurance have a “my way or the high way” attitude. Nation favors the Obama/Clinton plan. Currently, Joe Nation is a Kaiser member.

Stan Gold, candidate for Sonoma Democratic Central Committee, second district actually challenged Nation on his position on Single Payer. Gold asks him how he can justify the enormous health care costs of his plan in comparison to a single payer system. A debate about whether Canadians liked their system or not broke out. Gold asked Nation if he would at least support the State Democratic platform that supports a single payer plan.

Nation said that he would support the National Democratic platform on health care, not the State platform. He cited Obama’s comment that if he could build a health care system by scratch he would chose a single payer system, but since it isn’t by scratch. A hybrid system like Obama or Clinton makes more sense. Nation also wanted to debunk the rumor going around that his health care bill was carrying water for the health care companies. He stated clearly that his bill received 0 health care company support.

Nation stated that if there was a serious single payer legislation in Sacramento that had serious funding (approximately 100 billion) he would consider it. Previous attempts in Sacramento amounted to “kabuki theater”. Sheila Kuehl’s single payer legislation had no funding attached, so legislators could vote for it saying they support single payer knowing that it had no chance. Gold pressed Nation more stating that 20 billion dollars of insurance premiums never reach health care providers. SB84, Kuehl’s bill would create 8 billion in savings. Nation questioned that figure since the bill had no cost containment and covered every condition except plastic surgery. At that point Nation ended the exchange saying that Gold was just wrong.

Nation also stated that his differences with his opponents extend to style. He is way too bi-partisan for them — he actually talks to republicans. When asked if he really thinks that republicans want to compromise, Nation points out that Governor Schwartzenegger (Man, I still feel like I am living in a bizarre worm hole with Arnold as governor) will support his Green VLF tax and the broadening of the sales tax.

In regards to the budget, we are facing a 16-20 billion budget shortfall. Nation believes that there are short term and long term fixes for the budget. The short term unfortunately involves painful cuts and closing loopholes. In the long term, Nation proposes a “green VLF tax” that will tax Hummers and Escalades more than energy efficient cars. The tax will be calculated 50% on the value of the car, and 50% the MPG of the car. The program is over 8 years to give people time to replace their cars with more fuel efficient ones to take advantage of the rebate. The Green VLF will fund the rebates and create revenue.

Another source of revenue for the state is a broadening of the sales tax to include services. Nation argues that the state has a larger service sector than product manufacturing and sales. He states that we have been missing out on revenue by not taxing services. He also thinks that the service economy is more stable than manufactured goods. Nation believes that the sales tax can be tailored to not be regressive.

Nation thinking that state government can save money through upgrading technology.

Another difference between his opponents and himself is how his campaign is funded. 90% of the 500k that he has raised was from individuals. Migden and Leno get approximately 50-70% of their contributions from corporations, while Nation says it is only 10% for his campaign. [Joe Nation is the only candidate with a candidate's statement because he has capped his campaign at $750k, whereas his opponents have not. ] Retirees make up the bulk of his financial support.

Joe Nation considers himself a candidate that faces opposition from the left as well as the right, even though he has 100% rating from the California School Employees and is a democrat.

Given that it costs 45k a year per offender, Nation believes that non-violent offenders should go on county probation and supports a discretionary judiciary.

There was one gentleman who was very frustrated (an understatement) Marin county voters opposition to SMART. He felt that using the word diesel was the problem rather than saying it was “light rail”. Since Marin does fear development, Nation created the SMART district to be both Marin and Sonoma because if they were separate districts a 2/3 vote requirement for Marin would be impossible.

Former Petaluma Mayor, David Glass showed up to endorse Joe Nation. To Glass, Nation came through for Petaluma when the waste water treatment plant financing fell through. With Nation’s help, Petaluma saved 60 million in financing. Glass believes that Nation is important for getting SMART through, and suggested that a certain assembly member hasn’t supported SMART enough (he didn’t say which one). Glass also mentioned that Joe has kids in the University system and “he knows our issues”. After 30 years, Glass feels that it is important to have one of our own in the position.

News of the Weird

Matier and Ross reported that Carole Migden has been slapped with a negligence suit by the motorist Carole hit last year that led to her pleading guilty to a reckless driving charge. Something I hadn’t heard before is that Migden was on her way to have coffee with Joe Nation when the accident occurred.

Joe In “The City” and Hank in San Rafael

From The Press Democrat: “Some people thought it wasn’t worthwhile to go, but I’ll tell you, I got a good response there,” Nation said. “I let them know I support gay marriage. It will be one of the first five bills I introduce.” Speaking of San Francisco, I saw Hank Plante from KPIX-CBS at the last State Senate debate in San Rafael. Hank seems to be really fixated on “the gay vote” and what it is going to do. He asks Joe Nation the split of “gay vote” like gays and lesbians are not capable of voting for Joe — only Leno or Migden. Because they are BOTH GAY, get it? I don’t know. I was so thrilled when Migden was the first open lesbian in public office in my native city and I am proud that my native city promotes GLBTs in power. My take is that gays, lesbians, straights, San Franciscans, Sonoma residents, Marinites, Asians, Women, rich, poor, renters, hispanics, young, and old all are going to vote how they vote on the basis of a myriad of issues and the style of each candidate. I could be wrong, but I’m just saying.

I also disagree that the candidates have to struggle to show any differences. I can tell you that they may all be democrats, but they differ in style, approach, and issues. They each have a line they choose not to cross where they will not compromise — to Leno its single payer health care and to Nation its education funding.

Maven Nags You To Register To Vote

Monday, May 19th is the deadline to register to vote. If you have not registered to vote please do so today!

Now It Begins…

I received my first political hit piece in the mail today. It is a full 4 color 11×14 folded brochure. It was paid for by Opportunity PAC – A coalition of Educators, Health Care Givers, Faculty Members, and Other School Employees. 790 E. Colorado Blvd, Suite 506, Pasadena, CA. Pasadena?
It says “Are special interest contributions influencing Joe Nation? Say it ain’t so, Joe. Follow Joe’s Money. ” Apparently this is the group who had hit pieces against Cynthia Murray. If you look at the maplight source, Nation did get money from insurance companies, but only voted with them 39%. He only voted 14% with pharma. Ironically, his record in supporting unions is often better than Leno while getting less money. For instance, Leno got 51k from Construction Unions and voted with them 87%, but Nation got 30k and voted with them 91%. State and Local Employees gave 52k to Leno and he voted with them 92%, but they gave Nation 32k and he voted with them 93%. Police and Fire unions gave Leno 83k and he voted with them 85%, but Nation only got 23k, and voted with them 92%. I am puzzled why a PAC that represents unions would pay for a hit piece like this.

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