The California Democratic Party "split the baby" on the six propositions for the May 19th ballot - endorsing Propositions 1B, 1C and 1F, while not supporting Props 1A, 1D and 1E. This shifts the dynamic for the last three weeks. No longer can Prop 1A's defeat be a mandate against tax increases - because the measure's "spending cap" is why progressives oppose it. Likewise, "no" on Props 1D and 1E is now a vote for the state to fund children's health programs and mental health services. And while many liberals fear the short-term "budget gap" if the measures all go down, the Party endorsed a "yes" vote on Prop 1C - which would have the most immediate impact. The Party's support for Prop 1B is a mandate for public schools - and while Prop 1A's defeat would prevent 1B from going into effect, a "yes" vote could pressure Governor Schwarzenegger to stop gutting education money. Democrats in the legislature promoted all six measures as a "budget package" to avert fiscal disaster. But it was a rotten deal, and the strategy would leave us no better off on May 20th towards a long-term solution. With this new dynamic, we can build momentum for scrapping the "two-thirds rule" in the state budget.
White House Announces Bush Administration to Leave a Record Budget Deficit of $482 Billion.
Since January when we began our campaign for the 5th District seat in the US Congress, I've consistently stressed that my biggest concern is the fiscal mess that has happened in Washington. This week, White House officials admitted the Bush administration would leave office in January 2009 with a record budget deficit sitting on the books of $482 BILLION. This record $482 billion deficit is coupled with a record debt of $9.5 trillion.
On January 20th, 2001, when George W. Bush was sworn in to his first term in office and the Republican Party had control of both houses of Congress, the United States government had a record budget surplus, our economy was in a period of record expansion and the national debt was being paid down. In fact, if the Bush adminstration would have continued the fiscally responsible polices from the 90's by continuing to grow the surplus and pay down the debt, the federal debt could have been retired by 2013.
The headline says it all as it was a very busy and sometimes hectic week. I started out the week Sunday and Monday in Harrisburg where I was attending the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania spring conference. I really wish I could have been in State College to see Senator Barack Obama's historic visit to Penn State but, I had already scheduled to attend the CCAP conference several weeks ago. I've heard from people who attended and they were all still buzzing late in the week from the rally.
Contact: Victor M. Ordonez
Email: vmo1701@gmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
McCRACKEN RECEIVES MAJOR LABOR ENDORSEMENTS
Electrical Workers'' and Iron Workers'' Union Endorses McCracken Campaign
Mark B. McCracken, Democratic candidate for United States House of Representatives in the 5th Congressional District of Pennsylvania is proud to announce that he has received the endorsements from the 2,760 plus members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union #5 and the 263 member International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental & Reinforcing Iron Workers Local Union #772.
Yesterday, John Edwards spoke at the NC Young Dems conference and focused on issues such as getting out of Iraq, universal health care, raising the minimum wage, and the right to organize in NC, a taboo subject in that state. (photo credit: Sara Davis, AP)
Although the conference was about state races, both of the remaining candidates sent surrogates to speak at the conference. I know James Carville was a lunch time speaker and I believe Chelsea Clinton was a speaker too. Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, NJ spoke as a supporter for Obama. And I wouldn't doubt if they continued to lobby JRE for an endorsement.
NOVOTNY: Well, it is unusual, as you know, for a Democrat or an independent Democrat, as you call yourself, to endorse a Republican. Did you consider any of your Democratic colleagues?
LIEBERMAN: Well, I did. I mean, to have full disclosure, not one of the Democrats asked for my support, which may be a story in itself. John McCain and I are friends. He did ask for my support.
It is actually a pretty good sign that no Democrat even wanted Lieberman's support, as it demonstrates a significant decline in Lieberman's relative power within Democratic circles. Speaking of unsolicited endorsements from coalition splitters, Ralph Nader seems to prefer Edwards:
Several months ago I wrote on Monticello about Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd hiring my friend and fellow blogger Matt Browner Hamlin as his campaign blogger. Since that time MBH has done an outstanding job of keeping track of the Senator's travels and his journey toward the Democratic nomination for President.
It's been fun to see someone I know hitting the Presidential campaign trail hard like Matt has done and he's been in the trenches of the frontline battle for the nomination. I wish I could tell you I know some deep internal campaign stuff but Matt's been an honorable and loyal guy for the senior Senator from CT and hasn't shared anything but some amusing anecdotes of office stuff and minor but hilarious incidents from the road warrior's life he leads these days.
STATE BLOGS
Several months ago