Building a Progressive
California Democratic Party Platform
The Wellstone Progressive Democrats of Sacramento (PDA) held a meeting on Saturday, Jan. 9th to discuss improvements to the CA Democratic Party (CDP) Platform. All area Progressive Democrats were invited by Wellstone President Tamie Dramer and Political Affairs Chair Chris Niehaus to help shape the Party's Platform. CDP Platform Committee member Christine Thomas started off with a brief overview of its committee. CDP Progressive Caucus Chair (and PDA NorCal co-coordinator) Karen Bernal spoke about the need for Progressives in California to change the Party and how we can use our numbers to improve our platform. The room overflowed with attendees that took on issues such as Health Care, the Environment, Energy, Labor, Economic Justice, Poverty Elimination, Education & Criminal Justice. In fact, the room was so full that the Education committee had to meet in the hallway! The participants were passionate and eager to get involved in making our state Democratic Party even more Progressive. Time flew by as we took apart the current platform and created improvements which will be sent to the Progressive Caucus for submission to the CDP for consideration at the April convention. World Peace, International Relations and National Security were too important to squeeze into this three hour meeting, so an upcoming meeting will be held to take on these issues. Stay tuned...
1,000 Single Payer Supporters Rally at the Capitol
Single Payer advocates, including NorCal PDA'ers and CDP Progressive Caucus members, rallied at the State Capitol on Monday January 11 in support of SB 810. Nearly 1000 supporters, including 600 medical students from the California Health Professional Student Alliance and many members of CSEA and CNA, marched to the Capitol for their 5th annual Rally and Lobby Day. SB 810, the California Universal Health Care Act, is authored by Senator Mark Leno. Like its predecessor, SB 840 (Kuehl), it is expected to be passed by the State Legislature and sent to the Governor's desk, where he will once again have to decide whether to sign it or veto it.
Photos include PDA/Progressive Caucus members, (Karen Bernal, Mayme Hubert, & Richard Hundrieser), Mark Leno (speaking in crowd), and several other crowd, march and sign pics.
Mayme Hubert & Karen Bernal
Rich Hundreiser
Marchers
Mark Leno Speaks to the Crowd
Health Professional Student Alliance
Single Payer Rally
January 11
The California Health Professional Student Alliance (CaHPSA) is a coalition of health professional students who support the California Universal Healthcare Act (SB 810), and we would like to invite you, your organization, and your friends to join us, Monday, January 11th, 11-1pm in Sacramento for our annual Rally in support of Single Payer. This is an especially important window of opportunity because SB 810 will likely be coming out of the Appropriation Committee sometime that week.
If you have questions you can contact me at CaPA.Fellow@PNHP.org or our Rally Day organizing team leader Candice Rugg (ruggorama@gmail.com) who is scheduling our guest speakers.
10:45 - 11:00 Gather outside Embassy Suites for march (100 Capitol Mall)
11:00 - 12:00 March through Downtown Sacramento to CA Capitol Building Rally
12:00 - 1:00 Giant Rally on north steps of California Capitol Building
