2010 CA Attorney General Race Is On, Meet Pedro Nava

Across California, as the candidates start to really fundraise for the CA Attorney General 2010 race, I was overjoyed to finally meet one of them up close and personal. You can research all you want about a candidate or politician online, and be influenced by word of mouth from those in the political community, but sometimes you just have the urge to see them in person and see for yourself.

On August 9th, I had the opportunity to meet Pedro Nava, at PNG Pac’s First Annual Summer Soiree, where Nava spoke of the massive cuts on the education system, and how the state of California is still in a state of crisis, and reform is necessary and we cannot ignore the issues we face at hand, from unemployment, to environmentalism cuts, as well as actually listening to the individual voices and needs of all residents in California’s diverse communities. He explained as a former prosecutor, he really learned “how to read people and listen intently to their voices and concerns.”

My younger brother, Nicholas Field, a political activist, and current Political Science major, at Santa Barbara City College, said it best, “as a full-time student and resident of Santa Barbara, I really wanted to meet Pedro and share with him what it’s like to be in the California school system today. As the price of my tuition has raised almost 30%, and education funding cuts have forced the school to lay off hundreds of students from school-related jobs over the past few months, it is creating a daily burden on our lives.” After having a personal discussion with Nava at the meet and greet, he said, “I really feel that Pedro understood what it was like to be my shoes, since he grew up in Santa Barbara and attended public schools in Southern California, and I looked him in the eye and explained how I believe the state of California is using the students as a form of revenue, instead of providing a successful environment for the benefit of the students.” Nicholas told Pedro he would have his vote, “because politicians and the leaders of our state should really be in touch with the student body in these school systems, and furthermore, we are all working multiple jobs, taking out major student loans, and a lot of us coming from single-parent, one-income households like me, and to have the failed economic system of California be affecting our futures so drastically, is discouraging and we need leaders who can make the unified and proper decisions for the course of our lives.”

As a Deputy District Attorney in Fresno, CA and civil litigator, Pedro made it his goal to work with numerous community colleges, vocational tech educators, and even community based organizations and reaching out to the local government, helping unemployed students and citizens find jobs. Nava also, has introduced vital legislation to protect the environment, including an influential bill banning the use of lead in areas frequented by the California Condor, North America’s largest soaring bird, and endangered species in the Santa Barbara area.

Pedro prides himself on being a strong supporter of the public education system, and he obtained his law degree from the University of California, Davis’ Martin’s Luther King Jr. School of Law. As you can see from his personal bio, found at http://www.pedronava.com/about_pedro:

“Pedro has a long history of community involvement, having been President of the Board of Trustees of the Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law, and the Santa Barbara Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and serving as a Board Member of Santa Barbara Women Lawyers, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, and the Santa Barbara Jewish-Latino Roundtable and as an Honorary Board Member of the Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center. Pedro was also a recipient of the first Women’s Economic Ventures “Man of Equality” award”

When a candidate’s background and record speaks for itself, you know the main question left is to see if they are approachable, personable and genuine in person, because speeches can be moving, and campaign literature can be detailed, but feeling like you are the only one in the room, when you are sharing your personal struggles and advocacy, one-on-one with a candidate, is a blessing, and a rare-find this day in age. This is exactly how I, as a business owner myself, my brother, and young professionals in attendance that day truly felt after Pedro engaged us in individual conversations about the reform we were seeking as hard working, tax-paying citizens and members of our local communities, and a personal platform to be heard.

The CA Attorney General race is going to be expensive and very competitive as we al know, and while you will have many qualified choices on the ballot, do your homework, study each candidate’s platforms, and see with your own eyes who will improve the detrimental financial state of California and the education system, as well as working to preserve our monumental state parks, and endangered species, as well as improving the education system for the future of you and your children.

*PNG Pac does not endorse political candidates, my blog posting represents my personal opinoin and my personal choice for the next CA Attorney General, and does not reflect the personal views of PNG Pac, or it’s board members or affiliates.

-Keely Rene Field

Lawyers Donating Services to Holocaust Survivors

In Los Angeles and beyond, you can find countless charities, organizations and philanthropy efforts, and I have volunteered my time time and resources to many. As I was introduced to Bet Tzedek this year, I was blown away by their commitment to upholding justice for Holocaust survivors and their families since 1974. This organization was founded by many community leaders who sought to “bring justice” and provide care for survivors of one of the most horrific ordeals know to man.(www.bettzedek.org)

Everyone knows the importance of lawyers, to uphold our rights and the law, and in Los Angeles, there are and endless supply. But imagine if over 2,600 attorneys and 1,000 volunteers organized together to respond to the greatest problems confronting Los Angeles today. You don’t have to live in LA to know the massive problems we face here, including poverty, lack of health care, state tax increases, homelessness, human suffering and increased unemployment on the rise. Imagine that these thousands of attorneys spent years in law school, with the goal to uphold the law and help justice prevail for their clients and the citizens of this country. Now imagine they choose to offer their legal services free of charge for tens of thousands in need every year, including countless members of our society who were survivors of the Holocaust. Sound impossible?

Well, it’s very alive and real, and Bet Tzedek has been changing lives for over three decades. Their portfolio of projects include more than legal representation, also supporting advocacy and eduction in many diverse communities. As you can see after a visit to their influencial website: “They have created an impressive model for all Pro Bono Programs, by becoming internationally known for assisting Holocaust survivors in seeking reparation payments from the German government. This act was so influential, they were awarded with the 2009 ABA Pro Bono Publico Award, which is the highest honor for pro bono legal work in the entire United States.” (http://www.bettzedek.org/hsjn_award.html)

“As a result of these efforts, Justice Network volunteers have met with and interviewed about 5,000 survivors, filing an estimated 3,000 claims, worth approximately $8 million in potential reparation payments, “according to Mitchell A. Kamin, Bet Tzedek’s president and chief executive officer. “Their efforts have resulted in more than $1,250,000 in payments to low-income survivors.” (www.betzedek.org) To see these accomplishments and more, please visit: (http://www.bettzedek.org/hsjn_award.html)

How can you get involved in this awe-inspiring organization? One of the ways is through donations and volunteering, and participating in local fundraising events, like the “Justice Ball.” This highly successful annual event includes thousands of young professionals and philanthropists, who join in volunteering, donating their time and resources to Bet Tzedek, and making a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands in need. This LA-based event has attracted such stars as Macy Gray, the B-52′s, Billy Idol and Sugar Ray and DJ AM to perform live in venues all over the city to raise awareness. The most recent was on July 25th, and I got to see first-handedly what an amazing tournout this organization can bring together every year. In a time of recession, job loss and raised taxes and unemployment sky-high, it was refreshing to see thousands of young professionals opening up their hearts and wallets for people in need. From the silent auction with endless priceless sports and entertainment memorabilia, to continuous donations, it was the most successful fundraiser I have ever been to, and I have been going to countless charities and fundraising events for years. Check out amazing pictures from the past Justice Ball events: http://www.bettzedek.org/thejusticeball.html.

Bet Tzedek’s core program offers more than legal representation, it also involves extensive outreach and legislative advocacy. There are a list of many programs offered. Here is an extensive list, as stated on the Bet Tzedek website: (www.bettzedek.org) “The Housing Unit Housing provides safe and affordable housing and provides constant counseling to those struck by the housing crisis. The Public Benefits Unit ensures that many in need receive all the government benefits to which they are entitled. The Elder law Unit provides daily senior and caregiver services, including conservatorships, nursing and home health care services, and in-depth elder abuse intervention. The Employment Rights Unit, helps low-income workers and trafficked laborers avoid any exploitation, establish fair wages, and secure the safest working conditions. The Holocaust Services Unit, seeks to ensure that no Holocaust survivor is forced to live in poverty. And the Outreach and Education Unit provides continuous advice, counsel and educational services throughout all of these programs.” (www.betzedek.org)

If you are a Holocaust survivor seeking legal assistance, or you know of anyone who is, please search this website to find assistance near you: http://www.holocaustsurvivorsprobono.org/.

We cannot look the other way in times like these, and when the need seems overwhelming, that is when the communities start organizing together in harmony, just like we did in the 2008 election. Bet Tzedek is endlessly inspiring, and needs our attention, resources and outreach to continue for many decades to come. In 2009, let’s reach out to those who have walked the toughest paths, lived through the darkest of times and help provide for their bright future through justice! With Bet Tzedek, the possibilities are truly endless!

Join the Justice Ball Facebook Group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=168635800720

Check out some amazing videos featuring Bet Tzedek’s work:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=29459495402
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=29458245402

You can also find the videos on the YouTube page:
www.youtube.com/bettzedek

-Keely Field

Talkin Bout Our Generation: Millenials, The Practical Progressives

The Millennial generation ¾ roughly defined as those of us born between 1978 and 2000 ¾ are destined to transform American politics. We’ve been hearing that a lot lately from sociologists, political scientists, demographers, and whomever else studies this kind of stuff. After all, buoyed by our civic mindedness and our comfort with technology, we were instrumental in the election of President Obama. And that was just our first swing of the bat.  We often get compared to the last generation to make a significant mark on the America’s political and cultural landscape, the Baby Boomers of the 1960′s.

But before we explore that comparison, let’s examine why our generation is such a force and who we are at the core.

Much of our strength lies in the numbers. Everyone knows that the Boomers are a huge generation that’s about to wreak havoc on our Social Security system, but few people know that we are much larger. There are 78 million Boomers, 95 million Millenials. We account for one-third of the US population and, by 2018, we will constitute nearly 40% of the voting age population – the largest share by a generation in the history of the United States.

More startling than the quantity of our generation is the quality. As Eric Greenberg, Ruy Texiera, and Peter Leyden, eloquently explain in “The Progressive Politics of the Millennial Generation,” Millennials are more politically engaged, civically minded, and culturally diverse than the preceding generations by a long shot. According to the Pew Next Gen study, when compared to the two generations preceding us, we volunteer 23% more, use 15% less drugs, have 25% lower teen pregnancy rates, did 10% better on our SAT’s, and, to the extent they can measure this kind of thing, are significantly more optimistic.

Politically, we are extremely concerned about environment, about the growing gap between rich and poor, and about the US pursuing a multilateral foreign policy agenda, and are not concerned about differences in race, gender, or sexual preference.  We are less cynical about the intentions of politicians and have more faith in the power of government to improve society. Not surprisingly, 48% of us identify ourselves as Democrats, 35% as Republicans. That’s a 20% difference from our Generation X predecessor, who were our age in the 80′s and 90′s.

One would expect that generational breakdown would line up pretty well with the peace-loving, dope-smoking, rally holding Boomer generation. But, in reality, we couldn’t be more different. First of all, despite all their progress on civil and gender rights, the Boomers are, and always have been conservative. On the college campuses of the 1960s, there were twice as many members of the right-wing Young Americans for Freedom as of the left-wing Students for a Democratic Society. It’s no different 40 years later. A survey done last month by the media research company Frank N. Magid Associates found that twice as many Boomers call themselves conservative as liberal. This really shouldn’t be surprising when you consider that from Nixon to W., the Boomers gave us 5 out of 7 Republican presidents. Given the vast ideological divide born of the separation between left and right of the 60′s, it also makes sense that they also gave politicians more readily characterized by their desire to impose their diametrically opposed ideals, values and morality on everyone else through the political process.

Herein lies the real difference between our generations.

Early in the primary campaign, in a speech to African American leaders in Selma, Ala.,  Candidate Obama, underlined the differences between two different types of generations: the “Moses generation” that led the children of Israel out of slavery, and the “Joshua generation” that established the kingdom of Israel. The first was a generation of idealists and dreamers, the second a generation of doers and builders.

Obama was of course associating Hillary and the Boomers with Moses and he and the Millenials and Joshua. Turns out, history proves him right.

As Morley Winograid and Michael D. Hais explain, “American history suggests that every 80 years, a civic (or Joshua) generation, emerges to make over the country after a period of upheaval caused by the fervor of an idealist (or Moses) generation.” Previous civic realignments occurred in 1860, with the election of Abraham Lincoln, and in 1932, when the GI generation put Roosevelt in office. Both led the country in resolving great crises by inspiring and guiding new generations and revitalizing and expanding the federal government.

In fact, our similarities to FDR’s greatest generation, the one that pushed us through the Great Depression and triumphed over evil in World War II, are striking. Like us, they were enormous – twice as big as the two previous generations combined. They were also, for their time, extremely culturally diverse – many were the product of European immigrants, Catholics, and Jews.

The Greatest Generation, like us, was civically engaged and believed in using and strengthening political and government institutions. In the 1930s, young members of the GI generation regularly voted in greater numbers than older generations. Similarly, we led last year’s surge in voter participation, especially in Democratic contests.

Perhaps the most important, and most encouraging similarity, is our political styles. Unlike the Boomers, the Greatest Generation wasn’t confrontational or combative. They faced enormous challenges and, more than anything, they were interested in solutions. FDR was able to push through the New Deal in large part because the Republicans were willing to work with him.

We are optimistic, but not idealistic. We are clear eyed about the challenges we faced, we acknowledge their severity, yet remain hopeful and confident that we will solve them – together. Our connectivity and integration of social networks into our lives have ingrained in us the importance of considering the welfare of the entire group and building consensus. We recognize that good ideas come from both sides of the aisle, from activists and businessmen, from our local governments and our foreign friends.  The financial crisis, climate change, health will be solved with the right balance or regulation and market solutions.

We will solve them because we are more than just progressives. We are practical progressives. One can argue that we have no choice but to be builders and doers. As the father of the Greatest Generation, FDR said, it is our “rendezvous with destiny.”

-Matt Pohlson

When Is Too Much Not Enough?

Since President Obama took office there have been two main criticisms of him:

1. He is a Socialist!
2. He is trying to do too much!

The first claim deserves to be thoroughly rebutted, but today I’m going to deal with the second.  The criticism that Obama is doing too much comes from Republican politicians, some public polling, and, apparently, barber shops.  It is among the silliest criticisms you can make because even if it were true in some quantitative sense, it does not matter.

Just a quick reminder of the last time a president showed unmitigated focus on a single issue.  In 2005, President Bush declared that his reelection was a signal from the American people that they wanted to privative Social Security.  President Bush spent months crisscrossing the country in support of the policy.  Not only was it a poorly thought out plan, as demonstrated by the stock market collapse of the last year, it was also a political and procedural failure as the plan never received  a vote in the House or Senate despite substantial Republican majorities.  Singular focus is no guarantee of good policy and good process.

So what are some examples of multitasking presidents succeeding?  I will shoot for the stars and list George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt as multi-tasking presidents who were able to do “too much” and succeed.

Washington built an entire government from the ground up, dealing with new Cabinet Departments headed by big egos, putting down a rebellion of grain farmers in Pennsylvania, setting up a banking and finance system, establishing the judiciary, and demonstrating to the world that America was here to stay.

Abraham Lincoln fought the Civil War and still had time to increase access to higher education with the Land-Grant Colleges Act, and build the Transcontinental Railroad.

FDR’s first 100 days saw the birth of the New Deal with a banking holiday to restore confidence, passage of 15 major laws, and a reinvigoration of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation which invested government funds to keep US industry afloat.  FDR followed up the first 100 days with years of steady leadership which included passage of Social Security and victory in World War II, which ended shortly after FDR’s death.

These are just the highlights.  Had these three greats had 24 hour cable news, Sunday morning talk shows, twitter, and blogs, the world would have seen the hundreds of other things these presidents were doing every day.

But of course, these three great presidents were not acting alone, just as Barack Obama does not have to.  Washington did not have government institutions like the Federal Reserve to rely on, but he did have brilliant thinkers and hard workers like Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson.  Lincoln had a well organized Union Army and an active Congress.  FDR had an existing governmental structure, substantial Congressional majorities, and close advisors like Louis Howe and Harry Hopkins.  Obama has an all star cabinet, vibrant government institutions, and a top notch White House staff.  He does not need to be in every meeting on every issue.

Obama has pitched a large agenda, discussing healthcare reform, climate change legislation, immigration, education, our relationship with Cuba, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  But not all of these issues will coalesce at the same time.  Remember, FDR signed the Social Security Act in 1935, but the first retirement check was not issued until 1940.  Similarly, Obama’s climate change proposal would not take effect for several years.

Most Presidents start big.  Paul C. Light probed the issue in The President’s Agenda, examining the legislative proposals by year of every president from Kennedy to Clinton.  With the exception of Ronald Reagan, every president made the most proposals in their first year.  The reason is what Light calls the cycle of decreasing influence.  There are exceptions, but presidents generally start with their strongest support and a compliant Congress, but that declines over time.  Although their personal popularity may ebb and flow, their political capital still tends to be strongest after winning the presidential election but before the mid-terms.  If presidents do not take advantage of their early days of influence, they are wasting an opportunity.  In those early days, even an agenda with too much may not be enough.

President Obama understands this.  He is out there pushing all of these important issues not because he likes the stress, but because he understands they are pressing and he has a limited time to deal with them.  Instead of questioning if he can handle the workload, we should be applauding his ambition.

-Marc Korman

Why D.C.’s Gay Marriage Vote Matters

…and how you can make it matter for everyone.

Yes, it’s been a roller-coaster o year for gay-marriage advocates, with the last week being a huge up-swing with the Iowa Supreme Court
decision last week, and Vermont’s legislative decision today.  But something else happened today which many have noticed, but few have truly understood the significance of—the D.C. City Council took a preliminary vote to recognize out-of-state gay marriages.

All indications are that the D.C. City Council will overwhelming pass the law in a final vote in May, and that’s when it’s going to get very, very interesting because the United States Congress must approve every law passed in D.C.  Let me say that again: today, the D.C. City Council took the first step in forcing Congress to vote recognizing gay marriages performed in states where that is legal.   If Congress takes up the issue of D.C. recognizing gay marriages, they’ll essentially be forced into a debate about the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)–the law that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman at the federal level.  In other words, this debate is going to truly go national, and it looks like it’s going to happen this summer.

Now, overturning Federal DOMA won’t make gay marriages legal, but it will put marriage rights firmly back in the hands of the sates and it will allow gay couples who are legally married to receive Federal benefits like Social Security.  Likely, it will further encourage states to overturn their own DOMA-laws, and it will be one more step in the right direction for marriage equality for all.

Today marked the first step in toward opening an important national debate on equality, and we need to do our part by starting now to make sure that our Members of Congress know that we believe that all citizens should have the same rights.  We also need to make sure that President Obama understands that many of the people who helped elect him—gay and straight alike—overwhelmingly support marriage equality. President Obama talked during the election about doing more for gay equality, and now we need him to understand that we’re going to expect him to lead, and we’re going to expect Congress to deliver!

-PNG Member

Can You Spare Some Change?

In this current economic crisis finding a job is tough, recent grads are not being hired. I have a friend graduating from a top-tier JD program who is having a tough time getting work, let alone people finishing up their undergrad degrees. Many currently employed are being laid off, often the first to go are young low-levels employees or recent college grads. As somebody who has recently lost their job, searching for employment in this current economy can only be described with D-Words; difficult, disappointing discouraging, disheartening, depressing.

Even more stifling, is everything you see on television and read in the news discussing the imminent collapse of the global economic system. In times like these it is easy to get discouraged, you might have to move back in with your parents or cut luxuries you have grown accustomed to. However, sitting on the couch all day and watching re-runs of “Law and Order” is not the answer.

It is important, especially in these times, for our generation to utilize their creative energy. If you find yourself unemployed or having reduced hours, take a minute to think, where do I want to be? What do I really want to do? What are the skills I have always wanted to learn for myself or to make me more desirable to potential employers?

Get creative while you are unemployed! Have you had a great business idea you have been too busy to explore? Take the time now to think about what it would take to create that business, make a business plan, and talk to as many people as possible about it (be careful not to have somebody steal your idea). Have you had an idea for a book, a screenplay, a letter to the editor or a blog? Have you always wanted to learn Spanish? What is stopping you?

Making ones political voice heard goes far beyond voting, or working in public policy. Ideas, innovation, and the arts are the driving force of our society; let us lead the charge for great innovation spawned from unemployment and a down economy.

Volunteer, intern, or work for free. Having structure in your day is important; it is stifling to be on the job search 24 hours a day. Getting out of the house and doing something positive is important, it also can teach you critical skills that employers will find attractive. Find a field you are interested in and go for it, rarely will somebody turn down free labor. An internship or working for free gets a foot in the door, if you work hard and integrate yourself into a necessary part of the operation eventually a paid gig could come from it. This is also a great thing so that you don’t have wasted time on your resume once you do get that interview.

I know that I get so caught up in the ups and downs of my unemployed life that I sometimes disregard that ideas and innovation is what drives this country. To that end I leave you with a condensed version of one of my favorite Barack Obama quotes taken from his 2004 Democratic Convention Speech, long before he had any idea he would be President and this economic crisis would be upon us.

“The true genius of America, a faith–a faith in simple dreams…that we can say what we think, write what we think, without hearing a sudden knock on the door; that we can have an idea and start our own business without paying a bribe; that we can participate in the political process without fear of retribution, and that our votes will be counted–at least most of the time.”

The tools at the fingertips of our generation enable us to create, to inspire, and to make a difference. Pick up that guitar, dust off that video camera, maybe open up that word processor, and imagine, think, create, it is all free. Who knows it may make you some money and you might just change the world in the process.

-Guy Lipa

How Did Los Angeles County Vote on Tuesday?

Runoffs, Measures, and Low Voting Numbers, are just a few of the words to describe last Tuesday’s Election Results.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was reelected with about 55.5 percent of the total votes. A 5% difference would have put the mayoral race into a runoff. Attorney Walter Moore, who received 2.7% in 2005, was the runner up with 26% of the vote. The much lower than expected numbers for Villaraigosa now has some speculating his unconfirmed run for Governor will now be a tougher battle.

The mayoral ballot had ten challengers. Villaraigosa ally, City Attorney candidate and current Councilmember  Jack Weiss will face off with Carmen Tutanich, the guy with that very slick commercials, on the May 19th ballot. Weiss, including like the Mayor, refused to show up at debates.

And unlike Weiss, Councilmember Wendy Greuel sailed to victory for City Controller. She faced opposition from longtime political figure Nick Patsaoras and Kathleen “Suzy” Evans. Although Patsaoras was considered to be Greuel’s biggest competitor and was mentioned in an attack ad, Evans was the runner up.

In Council District 5, which includes parts of the Valley, Westside, Hollywood and the Santa Monica Mountain range, six candidates vied for the spot. Two will go to the May 19th runoff: former Assemblyman Paul Koretz and David T. Vehedi.

The most heated debate on the ballot was over  the very controversial Measure B, the solar power/green jobs initiative pushed by Villaraigosa and the union behind the Department of Water and Power. It lost by a slim 1,325 votes, which makes it too hard to call with 100% certainty.

However, both sides during the night did claim victory. First, the Yes on Measure B side e-mailed a press release announcing their victory around 11:38 p.m. Perhaps an error on their part, but soon after, their lead turned sour. The grassroots No on Measure B campaign plans to hold a press conference this morning to announce a call to action regarding their own version of the solar plan. “There’s no ‘winners and losers’ in the Measure B race,” explained Stephen Box, the opposition’s campaign director. “There’s simply the opportunity for us to move ahead with a real innovative and inclusive solar plan.” With all that said, the City Clerks Office will come out with the final and official results soon enough, putting to rest the results on this measure.

Measure E, an economic incentive for businesses, was the only other measure to lose. Measures A, C & D passed.   All odd numbered council districts were up, and save for the aforementioned 5th District, incumbents won with ease.

Three LA Unified School District and four LA Community College District seats were up as well. Incumbents Miguel Santiago and Kelly Candaele won outright and Angela Reddock and Nancy Pearlman–also incumbents–will go to a runoff. Steve Zimmer won the LAUSD District 4 seat (vacated by Marlene Canter), but the race for District 6 (vacated by Julie Korenstein) was extremely close with Nury Martinez leading Louis Pugliese by 482 votes and gaining the victory outright.

Sadly, last Tuesday’s election brought out the usual low voter turnout. It is so important to vote in local alections, not just presidential ones and I will help in any way I can to vocalize the importance of this.  I find it very odd that people don’t realize that their state and local government arguably have equal, if not more, effect on their day-to-day lives, than the presidential races. PLEASE GET OUT AND VOTE

-Keely Field

The Long Wait on Prop 8

“It was only November 4th, 2008 that Proposition 8 passed with 51% of the vote in California, but the battle is not over … and we could be waiting months for the California Supreme Court’s Decision”

As the California Supreme Court heard arguments in the three suits challenging the state’s ban on the same-sex marriage last week, it was personal for some and for others it was a chance to ponder the outcome.

“Feeling attacked because of who you are, how you were born,” one law student told the CBS13 news station in Sacramento.

My question is if they make a decision to take away Prop 8, can they deal with the backlash from the voters, and furthermore, can they deal with people being really upset?”
 
The question is whether Proposition 8 is a valid amendment or whether it is an invalid revision.

The overall ruling will come down to the seven justices answering the following questions:

(1) Is Proposition 8 invalid because it constitutes a revision of, rather than an amendment to, the California Constitution?
 
(2) Does Proposition 8 violate the separation of powers doctrine under the California Constitution?
 
(3) If Proposition 8 is not unconstitutional, what is its effect on the marriages of same-sex couples performed before the adoption of Proposition 8?”
 
I understand the primary issue may be whether the proposed change to the California constitution is a revision or an amendment.  If a revision, then proposition 8 is insufficient to make the change. 

“I really felt secure before this, I really felt the Supreme Court would do the right thing and now I don’t know,” says Ellen Linas to CBS13 news station

“It would be devastating because it would just make me feel like a second class citizen and I just don’t want to go through the rest of my life feeling like that,” says Shelly Nicolas of Sacramento.
 
 
In the 99 years since California has allowed constitutional changes by citizen initiative, the Supreme Court has tossed out only a handful of voter-approved measures because they were significant revisions that needed prior legislative approval.

The sponsors of Proposition 8 argue the measure’s language makes it clear the state can no longer recognize those marriages. The attorney general and lawyers for the couples and local governments say the initiative was not explicit enough to undo the unions.

Legal observers, even some gay marriage opponents, say they think the court may be reluctant to void existing marriages.

“There is no question, for a period of time, there was same-sex marriage in California, albeit a very short period of time,” said James Sweeney, a constitutional lawyer who represents the California Catholic Conference.
 
“They key here is changing social attitudes,” said Rick Jacobs, co-founder of the Los Angeles-based Courage Campaign. “It would be nice if the Supreme Court comes out with a favorable decision, but we have to go do the work ourselves. That is the real lesson of this.”

Courts didn’t “discover” same-sex marriage; courts have simply acknowledged that denying marriage on the basis of sexual orientation violates the Constitution. Since it has been only over the past 20-30 years that gay and lesbian Americans have been able to live openly and honestly, the argument of “recent innovation” doesn’t hold water.

Should my personal or religious views be used as a basis upon which the rights of others should be restricted? If you are divorced, should my belief that divorce is immoral and divorced people who remarry are committing adultery trump your right to legally end your marriage?

Using the popular vote to deny a minority its rights and equality under the law is inherently unconstitutional and downright un-American. Such a precedent, should it stand, would mean that in future other minority groups could have their rights pulled out from under their feet.

-Keely Field

Michael Steele: The View From Maryland

“Bobby Jindal is doing a friggin’ awesome job in his state.”

            -ABC Radio Interview

 

“Oh, yes, I’m always open to everything, baby, absolutely.”

            -Fox News Interview

 

“Drill, baby, drill.”

            -Republican National Convention Speech

 

 

Thanks to quotes like these, the rest of the nation now knows what we in Maryland had already figured out.  Michael Steele is not ready for prime time.

 

Steele’s speaking style makes George W. Bush look like Barack Obama.  Maybe he is just trying to appeal to us crazy kids and our slang, but am I the only one who is put off when I see a man in his fifties regularly call people baby?  Is he hoping to take over the role of Austin Powers?

 

Although we could argue that Steele’s speaking style is enough to disqualify him as a serious political player (if only that argument had worked with W), Steele has other failings too.  Nationwide, Steele is often referred to as the former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland.  Commentators talk about the accomplishment of a Republican being elected in a blue state.  But unlike California or Texas, Maryland’s LG is not an independently elected office, but is elected on a ticket with the governor.  Steele’s victory was not really his, but rather a victory for Republican Bob Ehrlich, who positioned himself as a moderate problem solver.  It was also the result of a poorly run campaign by the Democratic nominee in a big year for Republicans across the country, 2002.

 

In fact, Steele has never won an election on his own.  He ran for a statewide office in Maryland in 1998 and lost.  He came in third in a three way Republican primary.  He also ran for the US Senate in 2006 and was a highly touted prospect.  This time the primary field was clear for him, but he lost a lackluster campaign that had more to do with whether he liked puppies than his views on Iraq, healthcare, or other issues.

 

Steele was also the chairman of the Maryland Republican Party, likely his best qualification for running the RNC.  He chaired from 2000 to 2002, which was when he was conveniently picked to be Bob Ehrlich’s running mate.  While Steele found some success, he left the rest of his fellow Republicans behind.  That same year long serving Republican Congresswoman Connie Morella was defeated and no infrastructure was built for state legislative candidates.  Although Ehrlich’s win was impressive, it was an isolated victory in a big Republican year nationwide with no lasting impact.  Four short years later Ehrlich was defeated, the same year as Steele’s Senate defeat, and Democrats picked up seats in the state legislature.

 

Steele’s organizational failings go beyond his party failures.  He also had financial problems with his business consulting group, leading to liens being placed on his home.  That probably qualifies him to serve in the Cabinet, but does not speak well of his financial skills.

So if Michael Steele is the future of the Republican Party, than progressives should be smiling.

-Marc Korman

Voters, the Future Is In Your Hands

On January 19th, state lawmakers finally ended the three-month stalemate that brought California to the brink of financial collapse — but now it is up to voters to keep the budget package from unraveling.
 
The spending plan, which wipes out a nearly $42-billion projected deficit with tax hikes, deep program cuts and borrowing, hinges on $5.8 billion contained in several ballot measures that voters must approve in the upcoming special election.
 
There are any number of reasons voters may have a difficult time doing so.  The four temporary tax hikes in the budget are substantial and the ballot proposals would prolong them. Polls show that voter disapproval with the Legislature has reached an all-time high. Some well-funded special interest groups are already plotting campaigns against the measures.
 
“Given how disaffected voters are and how disguisted they are, you might find all the ballot measures could get swept away,” said Democratic strategist Darry Sragow.
Voters will be asked to wrest money from mental health services, children’s programs and future lottery receipts. They will be offered the opportunity to constrain future state spending — but only if the tax hikes just passed stay in place for four years instead of two. The failure of one or more of these measures could reopen a deficit.
 
Lawmakers and the governor are already looking nervously toward the campaign for the measures, even as they breathed a sigh of relief recently, when the Legislature, in lockdown for a three straight days, finally passed a budget. The plan’s approval halts the state’s slide toward insolvency and allows officials to once again begin paying tax refunds, vendors and public assistance recipients, though all these checks could be delayed several more weeks.
 
California, with its deficits ballooning, its lawmakers intransigent and its governor apparently bereft of allies or influence — appears headed off the fiscal rails.  Since the fall, when lawmakers began trying to attack the gaps in the $143 billion budget that their earlier plan had not addressed, the state has fallen into deeper financial straits, with more bad news coming daily from Sacramento. The state, nearly out of cash, has laid off scores of workers and put hundreds more on unpaid furloughs. It has stopped paying counties and issuing income tax refunds and halted thousands of infrastructure projects.
 
Everyone should be paying attention to the political/fiscal catastrophe unfolding around us in California. Years of neglect, followed by economic disaster — and with all reasonable responses blocked by bickering and indecisiveness, between the two parties.
 
There has never been a better time to tap in more to your local community, organizations, charities, and even donating some time to your local city council elections.  It doesn’t matter which side of the isle you stand on, we need to reach our hands across to each other more than ever and only we who collectively lift our voices can make sure we are doing everyting in our power to make a difference in our economic future for not only us, but our children and future generations to come.
 
If we could come together so historically on November 4th, 2008, we can easily do it in our local elections also. Everything starts from the inside out, and if you open your eyes, your mind and free your voice, you are a part of this necessary movement. Doing your homework on the ballet measures is a great start, and speak up and ask questions among your peers and communities as these measures effect everything from our education system, to money out of our very own pockets.

-Keely Field