barbara smith 2/1/23 barbara smith 2/1/23

Maybe Some Things Should be Off Limits for Congress…Like Our Economy

First, Let’s Be Clear: The Debt Limit is NOT a new spending limit, it’s a borrowing limit.

Congress has taken action to permanently raise, temporarily extend, or revise the definition of the debt limit 78 times since 1960; 49 times under Republican presidents, 29 times under Democrat presidents. Taking no action on the debt ceiling would trigger what experts call catastrophic economic consequences for Americans and the global economy. But that hasn’t stopped extreme members of the Republican party in Congress from using the debt ceiling to get their way in spending cuts.

barbara smith 2/1/23 barbara smith 2/1/23

PCDCC LEGISLATION COMMITTEE

Our 2022 Democratic Party election process succeeded in strengthening our voice in the Senate and minimizing the power of the re-established Republican majority in the House of Congress. Yet, our party will still face challenges in enacting our party agenda through the Federal process. The California State legislators will operate as they have in the past with Democrats in control. Both legislative branches are now in the beginning phase for the 2023 through 2024 sessions, introducing new legislation and our PCDCC Legislation Committee will soon begin the task analyzing and submitting measures for endorsement consideration by our organization. The California Democratic Party Legislation Committee will do the same.

barbara smith 2/1/23 barbara smith 2/1/23

2022 Water Legislation Update

A third consecutive year of drought is in the books and, despite the recent rain, most reservoirs across California are still below their historical levels. However, progress is being made at the state level to ensure that Californians can access to water amid climate change.

While passed into law in 2021, the second half of a $200 million appropriation is now being allocated to repair canals and aqueducts damaged by land subsidence, which have lost up to 60% of their capacity to move water throughout the state.

barbara smith 2/1/23 barbara smith 2/1/23

TYRANNY PART 8

Editor’s note: this is the eighth in a series of summaries based on author and professor of history, Timothy Snyder’s book “On Tyranny”. The goal is to pass on his insights, wisdom and forecast to those who have not read his works.

“To abandon facts is to abandon freedom”

barbara smith 12/27/22 barbara smith 12/27/22

A Message from Our Chair January 2023

A Message from Our Chair

Kathleen Crawford

January 2023

January 2023 – what shall we do with ye

Please pardon the title pun – my weak attempt at rhyming! January is often a time of reflecting and New Year Resolution(s). After reflecting on what worked and what fell short during the midterm election cycle, I am spending some time considering how best to proceed to get our Democratic message out to more of our neighbors and like-minded community. One thing is crystal clear: more engagement is needed. How do we build and improve while keeping activists engaged, recruit more volunteers as well as recruit nonpartisan office candidates?

barbara smith 12/27/22 barbara smith 12/27/22

The 2023 ADEMS

The Assembly District Election Meetings (ADEMs), our opportunity to directly affect the work of the California Democratic Party, are almost here. The Assembly District Delegates (ADDs) are part of the decision-making body of our Democratic Party. These delegates are elected directly by the Democratic voters in their Assembly Districts to be our voice in the policies and initiatives of our party. We often hear that democracy is not a spectator sport, and our participation in this process is key to infusing party policy debates with the hard-earned knowledge and insights of our grassroots volunteers.

barbara smith 12/27/22 barbara smith 12/27/22

Help Wanted

HELP WANTED

Barbara Smith 2nd Vice-Chair, PCDCC

As we stow away our holiday decorations and contemplate our fitness plans, we’d like to add another item to your resolutions list—become involved in our Placer County Democratic Central Committee (PCDCC). You don’t need to be a member of the Central Committee to join one of our standing committees. These committees are the backbone of our organization, and any Democrat in Placer County can become a member.

Each of these committees is recruiting new members to maintain and expand their important work:

barbara smith 12/27/22 barbara smith 12/27/22

Looking Back

Tomas Vera

As I finish my time with the Placer Democratic Central Committee (DCC), I can't help but look back over things that have changed, and things that have remained the same. Here are some of my impressions over ten years of volunteering with Placer DCC.

barbara smith 12/27/22 barbara smith 12/27/22

DEMOCRATS IN CHARGE “DEMOCRATS DELIVER”

DEMOCRATS IN CHARGE

“DEMOCRATS DELIVER”

Commentary by
Terry P Rodriguez
PCDCC Legislation Chair

Unexpected success came this past November 2022 in our general elections. Our party endured the onslaught of authoritarianism when American voters prevented the opposition from gaining powerful control of the House. Equally important, we attained majority Senate representation, thereby giving Democrats leadership control of its’ committees. Most significantly, cracks in the tribalism of the opposition party are starting to appear with the possible return of the legislative process of compromise.

barbara smith 12/27/22 barbara smith 12/27/22

On Tyranny….Timothy Snyder

Editor’s note: this is the seventh in a series of summaries based on author and professor of history, Timothy Snyder’s book “On Tyranny”. The goal is to pass on his insights, wisdom and forecast to those who have not read his works.

Be kind to our language
Read Harry Potter