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Volunteering
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opportunities to volunteer, contact Debra: (707) 951-0424
About Us
Del Norte County Democratic Party is an active organization focused on party building and educating voters about the issues important to Democrats. Del Norte County is the northernmost county on the coast of California. We are privileged to live in a beautiful environment where the redwoods meet the ocean and blessed with rivers that we actively protect. Del Norte's Democratic Party consists of a diverse group of individuals that represent various aspects of our community. We are proud to call ourselves Democrats and make ourselves visible at every opportunity. We lead by example and continue to work to elect Democrats with vision to create a better world.
Welcome
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It's time for America to get serious about tackling the climate change crisis.
That's why, late last month, Senator Kerry and I introduced the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act — critical legislation that will put our country on the path to a clean energy future.
But now we need your help to push this bill forward. This week, the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee begins debate on our legislation. We know that our colleagues will be bombarded by special interest lobbyists who don't want this legislation to pass, skeptics who don't believe the science, and other naysayers who say America isn't ready to face this challenge.
These folks are wrong. It's time for action. So join us, today, and make sure the press, pundits, and our opponents know where you stand.
The Kerry-Boxer bill will create new clean energy jobs, reduce pollution from carbon emissions, and protect our national security by generating more clean energy here in America and fighting global climate change.
Our legislation builds on the landmark Waxman-Markey bill passed by the House earlier next year, and strengthens it even more — notably by boosting the carbon emissions reduction target up to 20% by 2020.
America can lead the clean energy revolution around the world, slashing our carbon emissions while creating millions of new clean energy jobs right here at home.
That's what the Kerry-Boxer bill will do — but we need your help to get it passed.
We know that clean energy is the ticket to economic growth, with the potential to generate nearly 2 million new jobs.
But it's also about defending America's national security against the harms of pollution and the risks of global climate change.
By acting now, we can take charge of our own energy future, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, tackle the climate change crisis, and leave a better planet for generations to come.
This is our challenge. This is our time. It's time to step up.
Sincerely,
Barbara Boxer
U.S. Senator
Chair, Environment & Public Works Committee
The most recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll indicates public support for a public health option is up and rising!In another question asked a different way -- is it important to give people a choice of a public option? -- a combined 72% answered that it was either "extremely important" or "quite important," while just 23% said it was "not that important" or "not at all important." Those numbers are virtually unchanged from last month.Columnist Froma Harrop debunks The phantom menace of a public health-care option:
Republicans have filled their heads with ghost stories about the public option. Largely written by the insurers, these yarns are designed to scare enough Democratic senators into killing the concept. Though a majority, Democrats need 60 votes in the Senate to ensure that legislation including a public option goes forward.
Here's what Americans really think about the public option: Nearly two-thirds favor it, according to a recent New York Times/CBS poll. The survey also found that people believe President Obama has better ideas for fixing health care than do Republicans — and by a margin of 52 percent to 27 percent.
Back in the old days, such an act of party disloyalty would have been automatic justification for banishment to political Siberia. But after their election victory in November, the Democratic leadership held its collective nose and cut a pragmatic deal: Lieberman, now a self-styled "independent minded Democrat" got to keep his chairmanship in the caucus, his chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and his seniority - thanks in no small part to support from then President-elect Obama. In return, the Democrats wanted Lieberman to remain loyal in case they ever needed to derail a Republican filibuster.
Now we know how that worked out. On Tuesday, the Connecticut Senator became the first Democrat to warn that he would not support cloture if any health care reform legislation includes a public option. (One day earlier, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he would do just that.)
| October 26, 2009 In this MegaVote for California's 1st Congressional District: Recent Congressional Votes
Upcoming Congressional Bills
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| Recent Senate Votes |
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010 - Vote Agreed to (79-19, 2 Not Voting) The Senate passed the conference report of this $42.8 billion bill funding the Department of Homeland Security, sending it to the President. Sen. Dianne Feinstein voted YES......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Barbara Boxer voted YES......send e-mail or see bio Medicare Physician Fairness Act of 2009 - Vote Rejected (47-53) The Senate failed to garner the necessary votes to begin debate on this bill that would repeal the Medicare physician payment formula that results in annual cuts that Congress reverses every year. Sen. Dianne Feinstein voted YES......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Barbara Boxer voted YES......send e-mail or see bio National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 - Vote Agreed to (68-29, 3 Not Voting) The Senate gave final approval to this bill authorizing defense spending, which also contains a provision that extends the definition of federal hate crimes to include crimes in which victims are targeted because of their sexual orientation and gender identity. Sen. Dianne Feinstein voted YES......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Barbara Boxer voted YES......send e-mail or see bio |
| Recent House Votes |
| Solar Technology Roadmap Act - Vote Passed (310-106, 16 Not Voting) The House passed this bill that intends to guide research, development, and demonstration of solar energy technologies. Rep. Mike Thompson voted YES......send e-mail or see bio Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 - Vote Passed (385-11, 36 Not Voting) The House approved this bill that authorizes $10 billion for the Coast Guard for fiscal year 2010. Rep. Mike Thompson voted YES......send e-mail or see bio |
| Upcoming Votes |
| Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009 - H.R.3548 The Senate is scheduled to work on this bill that would extend by 13 weeks unemployment benefits in states with a jobless rate over 8.5%. Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 - H.R.2847 The Senate is again expected to work on this $64.9 billion legislation funding the Justice Department, Commerce Department, National Science Foundation and related agencies and programs. Small Business Financing and Investment Act of 2009 - H.R.3854 The House is scheduled to vote on this bill intended to improve programs that provide small businesses access to capital. Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 - H.R.2996 The House is expected to vote on this $32 billion bill funding the Department of Interior and Environmental Protection Agency. Making Continuing Appropriations for the Fiscal Year 2010 - H.J.Res.___ The House is also scheduled to vote on this resolution to continue funding government operations, as only four of the 12 annual appropriations bills have been completed for FY 2010. This continuing resolution may be included as a part of the Interior and Environment appropriations bill. |
“Support for the public option runs deep in the Senate,” [Sherrod] Brown said. “Health insurance reform is all about lowering costs, improving care, and increasing choice for consumers. In too many parts of the country, one or two insurance companies control the majority of the market. This isn’t good for consumers, businesses, or taxpayers. As we finalize health reform legislation, we shouldn’t forget that a majority of Americans, doctors, and Members of Congress support a public option.”
“I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it's better politics to kill this plan than improve it... If you misrepresent what's in the plan, we will call you out.” In Wednesday's speech, President Obama articulated his plan for health insurance reform and made an overwhelming and compelling case for passing reform this year. The core of his plan is simple: It will give people who have insurance more stability and security; second, it will provide people who don’t have insurance access to quality, affordable coverage; and third, it will rein in costs currently crushing American families, businesses and our own government.
Watch the video | Read the speech
√ Download: "8 Guarantees" handout in pdf format
√ Learn more: Health Insurance Reform Reality Check
"Whether or not you have health insurance right now, the reforms we seek will bring stability and security that you don't have today.
This isn't about politics. This is about people's lives. This is about people's businesses. This is about our future."
- President Barack Obama
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Washington, D.C. – Today, Senators Jeff Merkley (OR), Susan Collins (ME), Edward M. Kennedy (MA) and Olympia Snowe (ME) introduced the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to finally prohibit job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. They were joined in this effort by 34 other members of the Senate.
Thursday, August 13
10:00 - 11:00 AM
Room A and B, Chetco Activity Center
550 Chetco Lane,
Brookings, OR.
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JOIN VETERANS FOR BOXER ONLINE AT www.barbaraboxer.com/vetsforboxer
Dear Friend:
Throughout my career, I have met thousands of veterans who have served our country across the globe—from the battlefields of World War II to the jungles of Vietnam and the deserts of Iraq. For their selfless service, I know there is nothing more important than ensuring that our promises to veterans are kept. Many of these veterans have told me stories that have touched me deeply, particularly those about the challenges of transitioning from life on active duty to that of a civilian.
One of the most important things that I have learned from veterans is that we must be better at adapting to new challenges. Modern conflict brings with it new ways of fighting wars, new injuries, and new consequences, and we cannot wait months or years to make the changes that veterans need now.
That is why I have fought to ensure that each and every veteran is taken care of. I have championed the cause of ensuring that veterans have access to mental health care. I have also worked to provide concurrent receipt of retired and disability pay, to improve health care facilities, to improve job training, to ensure that the VA has the funding it needs, and to provide greater educational benefits with a new and improved G.I. Bill.
It has been an honor and a privilege to work on behalf of our nation’s veterans and I look forward to continuing that work. That is why I am writing to invite you to become a founding member of my Veterans for Boxer committee. It would mean so much to me to have your early endorsement as I gear up my campaign for reelection to the U.S. Senate in 2010. You may join Veterans for Boxer online at www.barbaraboxer.com/vetsforboxer.
I hope I can count on your support. With you by my side, I know we can win this campaign. I look forward to continuing my work in the Senate to ensure that our veterans are treated with the respect and dignity that they deserve after giving so much to protect America and our freedoms.
In friendship,
Barbara Boxer
United States Senator
JOIN VETERANS FOR BOXER ONLINE AT www.barbaraboxer.com/vetsforboxer
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Rep. Xavier Becerra, Vice Presidenta del DNC Linda Chavez-Thompson y Elena Ríos, Presidenta de la NHMA, discuten necesidad en la comunidad hispana de una reforma de salud
Washington, D.C. – Hoy, el Congresista Xavier Becerra (D-CA), la Vice Presidenta del Comité Nacional Demócrata, o “DNC”, por sus siglas en inglés, Linda Chavez-Thompson y la Presidenta de la Asociación Nacional Médica Nacional Hispana, la Dra. Elena Ríos participaron en una llamada con los medios para discutir la nececidad en la comunidad hispana de una reforma de salud.
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Caucus Chairs Calls Immediate Restoration of $487.2 million in Cuts Made Illegally by Schwarzenegger
Assemblymember John A. Perez
The Constitution gives the governor considerable power over the budget, but it doesn’t give him the power to make it up as he goes along. While I consider these cuts criminal morally, they are in fact illegal in the eyes of the law. It is wrong for ordinary Californians to suffer so the Governor can spare oil, alcohol and tobacco companies from paying their fair share.
We need to immediately restore the funds that were cut. $487.2 million in cuts made illegally by the governor through line-item vetoes. According to the California State Constitution, the governor can only use his line-item veto power on original budget appropriations, not previously approved spending.
The California State Constitution gives the Governor "line-item" veto authority, permitting him to "reduce or eliminate one or more items of appropriation while approving other portions of a bill" [Cal. Const. Art. IV, Section 10(e)]. However, this line-item veto authority only applies to "appropriations.” When the Legislature takes an item of appropriation – like the budget signed by the Governor and enacted into law this past February - and passes a new bill that reduces the amount of that appropriation, that new bill is not an appropriation because it does not give anyone more authority to spend state money - it takes away spending authority.
The California Supreme Court has explained the line-item veto only applies to legislation that originally sets aside money for spending, or which adds new spending. The governor can only veto spending at the time it is originally enacted. Therefore the $487.2 million in line-item vetoes made by Schwarzenegger is illegal and will likely be overturned by the courts.
For too long the governor has sought to undermine the will of the people through his actions in office. Californians want everyone to pay their fair share, but Schwarzenegger insists on doing everything in his power, even breaking the law, to protect wealthy corporations.
In all, the illegal cuts the governor made – beyond the already deep cuts agreed upon by both houses of the legislature with a 2/3rds vote – total $487.2 million. With his signature, Governor Schwarzenegger took $50 million from Healthy Families, which provides healthcare to children in low-income families, $50 million from services for developmentally delayed children under age 3, $52.2 million from the Office of AIDS Prevention and Treatment, $16.3 million from domestic-violence programs, $6.3 million from services for the elderly and nearly $80 million that pays for workers who help abused and neglected children. The governor also cut an additional $6.2 million from state parks, that will likely result in the closure of 100, rather than 50, state parks.
Here is a complete description of the $487.2 million in illegal cuts Governor Schwarzenegger made.
VETOES - STANDING
Parks - Additional reduction
¨ This unallocated reduction to parks will result in additional park closures beyond the 50 parks envisioned in the budget package.
Aging - Eliminate Community Based Services Programs consistent with May Revision.
¨ The Legislature approved the GF eliminations for the Senior Companion and Respite Purchase of Services Programs, and a portion of the reduction proposed for the Alzheimer's Day Care Resource Centers. The Legislature had rejected the GF elimination for the Brown Bag Program, which draws down 26 times the GF investment in federal funds ($541,000 for $13 million). The veto takes all of the remaining GF.
¨ The further cut and total elimination of GF support for the Alzheimer's Day Care Resource Centers means that 57 sites will no longer offer this support to serve 3,200 individuals with dementia.
¨ The Brown Bag program involves 3,900 volunteers and 600 sites that provide free surplus and donated fruits, vegetables, and other foods to 27,000 low-income seniors.
Health - Eliminate General Fund support for various Community Clinic Grants--consistent with May Revision.
¨ All remaining General Fund support for clinic programs including Indian Health Services, Seasonal Agriculture and Migratory Workers, Rural Health Services and Expanded Access to Primary Care (EAPC).
¨ Only the EAPC program receives other non-GF funding.
¨ These programs are a critical piece of the overall patchwork of funding that sustains clinics, especially in challenging economic times when increasing numbers of uninsured individuals depend on clinics for medical care.
Medi-Cal 6.7% reduction (State Funds) in County Administration Funding.
¨ Due to loss of federal funds total cut is $121 million.
¨ When combined with the COLA suspension in February of $25 million, the total cut equals nearly ten percent of counties’ total General Fund support for these functions
¨ Will result in delays in determining eligibility for MediCal.
¨ This will make it very difficult for counties to help kids who are wait-listed/kicked off Healthy Families to get into Medi-Cal programs they might qualify for.
IHSS - Reduction in Admin funding for Public Authority.
¨ Legislature reduced funding for public authorities by $4.5 million (from $22.6 million to $18.1 million). The veto further reduces funding to $9.4 million.
¨ PAs provide multiple services, including assistance to recipients in finding IHSS providers through the maintenance of registries and investigations of the qualifications and background of potential providers.
IHSS - Additional Savings from eliminating specific exemptions from service reductions
¨ Eliminates the exemptions the Legislature provided for the cost containment policy changes – for recipients with paramedical services, protective supervision, and receiving 120 overall hours or more on a monthly basis.
¨ The exemptions were created for (1) the elimination of domestic and related services for recipients with FI rankings below 4 and (2) the elimination of all IHSS for recipients with FI scores below 2.
Public Health - Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program Reduction (Local Assistance) - consistent with May Revision.
¨ This reduction includes the Adolescent Family Life Program and the Black Infant Health Program, both of which are proven effective in improving the health and well-being of extremely vulnerable populations, namely black infants and teen parents.
¨ These programs will be scaled back significantly and will serve far fewer individuals.
Public Health - Domestic Violence Program Reduction, consistent with May Revision.
¨ Domestic violence shelters throughout the state depend heavily on these dollars and view the state’s traditional support as base funding.
¨ Many shelters will be forced to scale back services and some may even be forced to close.
Public Health - Office of AIDS Prevention and Treatment Program Reductions, (exclude AIDS drug assistance), consistent with May Revision.
¨ Ends the state’s therapeutic monitoring program which ensures that AIDS patients are taking the right drugs;
¨ These cuts will significantly reduce the state’s HIV prevention efforts leading to higher HIV rates.
¨ These cuts will undermine the federal funding competitiveness of the State and its federal Ryan White-funded jurisdictions, will result in the exponential loss of federal HIV/AIDS services funding annually, and is based in unsound decision-making.
¨ The Therapeutic Monitoring Program pays for testing that helps medical providers choose the most effective and cost‐efficient medications/treatments.
¨ The home/community based care program provides home based services to gravely ill people with HIV, helping them maintain independence and avoid more costly nursing home care.
¨ Early Intervention Programs (EIPs) ensure that newly diagnosed Californians with HIV are enrolled in medical treatment early on, when treatment is less costly and more effective.
¨ HIV counseling and testing programs help people learn their HIV status to access care earlier and to take precautions to prevent transmission to others.
¨ CARE/HIPP contributes to insurance premiums: a more cost effective option than the State paying for care directly.
¨ HIV education and prevention programs are the most cost effective and humane way of reducing HIV/STD transmission.
Reduce Healthy Families Program - Disenrollments at annual redetermination to begin September 2009.
¨ The additional $50 million cut to the Healthy Families program will nearly ensure that the program will be facing not only an enrollment freeze but disenrollments of thousands of children.
¨ This is a major step backwards in terms of efforts to insure all children in California, will lead to significant disruptions in medical care for many children
¨ Will lead to the loss of at least $100 million in federal funds
¨ If you combine the entire HF cut with our federal matching money, it cuts about $500 mil from the program total, about half of the funding for it. Wait lists have already started, and the Department is figuring out ways to disenroll children when they reapply.
Developmental Services - Reduce funding for Early Start Program, seek funding from California Children and Families Commission (First Five).
¨ 60,000 infants and toddlers are served annually in the program and the overall GF for the program is $350 million, so this is a 14.3% reduction.
¨ The program provides early intervention services for these children who are with or at risk for developmental delays and disabilities. Approximately 23% of children services enter the regional center caseload at age 36 months as ongoing regional center consumers.
¨ Reduction will result in a shrinkage of the provider network, delay in needed medical services, and more strain on the regional center system.
Mental Health - Reduce Caregiver Resource Centers Program, consistent with May Revision.
¨ All 11 CRCs will be eliminated to the extent that they rely exclusively on GF (uncertain how much they depend on other resources, they do receive some federal funds) – they provide services and supports to caregivers of family members with a cognitive impairment to enable those adults to remain in their homes for as long as possible.
¨ Services include respite care, consultation and care planning, counseling and support planning groups, education and training, and legal and financial assistance.
¨ DMH states that the availability of this assistance helps to delay if not eliminate the admission of family members to long-term care institutions.
Department of Education - Eliminate Curriculum Commission Funding.
¨ Reduction due to suspension of instructional materials purchase requirement.
Hastings - Reduce General Fund Support by an Additional Ten Percent.
¨ Reduces Hastings College of the Law by an additional $1 million, or 10 percent
¨ Total Reduction of 20 percent of all funding resulting in a final funding level of $8.3 million.
Student Aid Commission - Reduce State Operations consistent with May Revision for CalGrant Decentralization.
¨ Reduces the Student Aid Commission's State Operations funds by $2 million, the proposed savings from the Administration's May Revision proposal to decentralized this agency.
¨ The impact will be reduced services during the time when financial aid distribution is expected, as students are beginning or returning to college for the fall academic year.
Eliminate funding for increases in employees health care costs for departments (unallocated reduction).
¨ Departments will still be required to cover any increased employee health care costs. This Veto will require them to absorb those costs within their existing budget.
Williamson Act - Open Space Subventions to Counties, Reduce to $1,000, consistent with May Revision.
¨ Eliminates essential all $27.8 million provided for Williamson Act/Open Space subventions to local governments (primarily counties).
¨ The amount provided in the Budget Revision was a 20-percent reduction from the amount provided in the 2009-10 Budget Act (itself a 10-percent reduction from the statutory subvention amounts).
¨ The veto represents a cut to local government.
¨ The subventions partially compensate counties (and some cities) for their revenue losses due to the lower property taxes paid by owners of farmland and open space land who have entered into Williamson Act/ Open Space contracts to maintain the agricultural or open space status of their land.
Augmentation for Contingencies or Emergencies - DOF has ability to allocate up to $44 million for unanticipated, unavoidable costs. This reduces that to $20 million.
¨ Reduces the General Fund budget appropriation for contingencies and emergencies by $24 million (from $44 million down to $24 million).
¨ This veto will not actually reduce spending because actual costs for unforeseen contingencies and emergencies far exceed the amount appropriated in this item every year, and reducing this item does not ensure any change in actual contingencies and emergencies.
¨ The bulk of the funding for contingencies and emergencies is provided in annual supplemental appropriations bills.
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| Statement from California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton on Budget Developments This week has underscored the intransigence of the governor and Legislative Republicans, who have refused Democrats’ common-sense compromise budget and resisted measures that would have shaved at least $3 billion from the deficit immediately. Their inaction has forced California to issue IOUs for the first time in 17 years. |
| Paid for by the California Democratic Party 1401 21st Street, Suite 200, Sacramento CA 95811 Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee. |
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Senator Feinstein Calls for Moving Forward With Judge Sotomayor’s Confirmation Hearings
-Says hearing schedule set by Chairman Leahy is “eminently reasonable”-
Washington, DC – In remarks delivered at today’s Senate Judiciary Committee markup, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) argued against any delay in Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings.
The following are Senator Feinstein’s remarks:
“Thank you very much Mr. Chairman. First of all I want to thank and commend you for setting the date July 13th date to begin these hearings.
I think it’s pretty clear to this side of the aisle that Judge Sotomayor is a mainstream federal judge, and that she actually will bring to the court more judicial experience than any nominee of the last 100 years.
Her personal story is a very inspiring example of the American Dream. And I have a hard time understanding why the other side of the aisle can’t understand that.
I’m very disappointed at what seems to be now a protracted delay that goes on and on. The July 13th hearing means there would be 48 days from the time of her nomination, from the time it was announced, to when her hearings would begin.
And this is exactly the same number of days that were agreed in the schedule for Judge Roberts in 2005. No more, no less.
And that schedule was agreed to before Roberts’ questionnaire had even come in. And yet the Senate and the public have had access to Judge Sotomayor’s questionnaire for almost a week, and access to most of her public writings from the moment she was nominated.
We all know she’s spent 17 years as a federal judge – first on the District Court, then on the Court of Appeals – and the majority of her opinions have been publicly available. In addition, she has been very cooperative with the Senate.
She has been through FBI vetting. We received her questionnaire within nine days of President Obama’s announcement that she would be the nominee. This is record time -- almost a week faster than we received Chief Justice Roberts’ questionnaire, and three weeks faster than Justice Alito’s came in.
Now, when Chief Justice Roberts’ nomination was before us, the production of documents was very different. His writings were not part of the public record. Instead, there were over 75,000 pages of documents, primarily from the Reagan Library and the National Archives, stored from his years working in the Executive Branch.
This enormous amount of information was not produced all at once, but rather piecemeal throughout the month of August, and even in the very days leading up to the hearing. And our side did not complain.
Although the hearing was scheduled to begin on September 6th, on September 2nd the National Archives delivered 15,000 new documents to the Senate. But the hearing went ahead on September 12th.
Justice Alito had written two to three times as many opinions as Judge Sotomayor, and he, like Chief Justice Roberts, had also spent time in the Executive Branch. Judge Sotomayor’s materials simply do not compare in volume.
The situation we find ourselves in today is very different. Judge Sotomayor has already produced her speeches and writings outside the court. She has produced 500 opinions, two and a half boxes, 191 speeches, and a 300-page questionnaire with answers.
She has also gone to extraordinary lengths to meet members of this chamber from both sides of the aisle, even with a broken ankle. And having broken mine last August, I know what that’s like. By some reports, she will by the end of this week have met with 75 to 80 members of the Senate. And we are reviewing a judge that we have already confirmed twice.
The time frame set by Chairman Leahy for this nomination is eminently reasonable.
The Senate confirmed Chief Justice Roberts in 72 days. There is simply no reason that we can’t follow the same time frame for Judge Sotomayor’s nomination.
Additionally, this time frame will give the nominee time to take on the extraordinary new responsibilities before her. It will allow her to close out her previous work, move to Washington, hire law clerks, and begin preparing for the upcoming merits arguments of the Supreme Court’s fall term.
Now, we’re talking about a Supreme Court Justice. It is in all of our interests to have a reasonable process.
I strongly believe that Senators should perform their due diligence on nominees. And I think it’s important for nominees to be questioned thoroughly at hearings. But neither of these gives cause for the delay of this nomination. Now, why is it that those of us on our side can do their due diligence in 74 days, and the other side cannot?
Delay for due diligence may be one thing. But delay for the sake of delay is another. And I’ve got to tell you, candidly, that’s what I believe is going on. It’s Machiavellian delay. It’s the way to obfuscate. It’s the way to prevent. And it’s the way to hope and pray that something is going to surface that the other side can use to bombast this nominee.
Now, there are plenty of groups out there, we all know, that want more time. They want more time for attack. They want more time for sound bites. But it is the hearing, in which we in the Senate that have the responsibility, will be able to ask the nominee real, substantive questions, and where the nominee gets a fair chance to respond.
As the Chairman has said, the nominee can’t respond to public attack. So figure out why this delay is there: To allow time for more public attack to which the nominee cannot address herself.
And I’ve got to tell you, I’ve been on this committee for 16 years, I’ve sat through the hearings for four Supreme Court nominees, and I don’t understand this.
This is a woman who’s qualified, who is brilliant, who has worked her way up, who has been a good judge, we have confirmed twice, she’s had 17 years on the bench -- and yet the mode on the other side is delay and delay.
And the only thing I can ferret out of this, is to give more room for attack in which a potential Supreme Court justice cannot respond. And I don’t think that’s right – I really don’t. And I would really prevail to my colleagues from the other side, let’s have this hearing. Ask your questions. Make them as difficult as you want. But let’s do it in the fair and open forum that our confirmation rules and laws provide for.
So, Mr. Chairman, I’m very pleased. I support you. If we have to give up our vacations, so be it. There is no reason why this nominee, or her background, merits any more delay, any more elapse of time than the Chief Justice of the United States did. So I thank you for your time.”
Statement from California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton on today's California Supreme Court ruling on Proposition 8
Today's decision, while heartbreaking, doesn't end the historic struggle for marriage equality. It renews our dedication to making sure all California families can again enjoy the dignity, commitment and responsibility of marriage.
I commend the California Supreme Court for validating the rights of the 18,000 lesbian and gay couples who married last year before Proposition 8 passed. These couples and their children will continue to enjoy the full security and legal protection of marriage.
Within the next few years, I know California will restore legal, civil marriages for gay and lesbian couples. The California Democratic Party will play a leading role in ending marriage discrimination in California and I look forward to the day when that happens.
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