LACYD Legislative and Political Committees Meet to Discuss Special Election Ballot Initiatives

On March 25, the LACYD Legislative and Political Committees met to discuss and offer a recommendation regarding what position the organization should take on the ballot initiatives that will appear on the May 19 special election.

In order to help us parse through the confusing set of initiatives placed on the ballot as a result of the recent budget compromise in Sacramento, a representative from the Budget Reform Now campaign took time to present to the committee and explain why these propositions are necessary. (Though there is no formal campaign opposed to the initiatives, an invitation to the meeting was extended to groups that have voiced opposition. The groups never responded to the invitation.)

Video from the presentation follows. Scroll down to read the committee's recommendation.

Budget Reform Now Representative Explains Props. 1A and 1B.


Here is the chart used in the presentation:
Prop. 1C, 1D, 1E and 1F videos coming soon...

Committee Recommendation

After the presentation the committee discussed what we had heard and came to a "begrudgingly unanimous" recommendation of support for the entire package. While parts of the package are not perfectly in line with LACYD's Platform and we of course detest the idea of limiting spending on necessary programs such as education, the consequence of not approving Propositions 1A-1F is too frightening a prospect to ignore. In an ideal world, state revenues would allow education, mental health and first five programs to be fully funded. The perennial Mexican standoff that is our state's budget negotiation process clearly reveals that this is not an ideal world. Propositions 1A-1F will not solve the budget crisis but they will help.

The LACYD Legislative Committee and the LACYD Political Committee recommend a position of support for Propositions 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E and 1F on the May 19 statewide special election ballot.

LACYD Legislative/Political Committee Meeting This Wednesday

The next LACYD Legislative Committee meeting will be Wednesday, March 25 at 7 pm. Dante Atkins, the LACYD Political Director has generously offered to host the meeting at Atkins Research Group, (4929 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 102, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Free street parking is availalbe on Highland, north of Wilshire.)

The meeting will be a joint Legislative/Political committee meeting and our primary focus will be discussing the initiatives placed on the ballot for the May 19 statewide special election as a result of the recent budget compromise.

Brendan Huffman, a representative from the Budget Reform Now campaign will be in attendance to speak and answer some questions about the confusing initiatives. Though there is no formal opposition campaign to the package of initiatives yet, invitations to the meeting have been extended to groups that have declared formal opposition.

After hearing from Brendan (and possibly a speaker against the initiatives), we will discuss the ballot and vote on a committee recommendation for an official LACYD position to the Executive Board. Anybody interested in becoming a member of LACYD is encouraged to attend the meeting, though only active, dues-paying members of the organization can vote on the committee recommendation.

This should be a great opportunity to learn about the propositions and sound really smart when your friends ask "what the hell is going on in our state?" I hope to see you there.

Please RSVP to LACYDlegislative@gmail.com or on Facebook if you plan to attend. Thanks you.

LACYD Joins Assembly Member Curren Price Jr. at Press Conference/Rally in Support of AB 30 & AB 106

Our current and immediate past LACYD presidents shared the dais with Assembly Member Curren Price Jr. at a press conference/rally in support of AB 30/AB 106 today at Loyola Marymount University. The crowd was mostly made up of students from area high schools- most of whom would be able to pre-register to vote if AB 30 becomes law.

I would tell you more about how well the speakers articulated the need for these bills, but then you wouldn't have any reason to check out the videos below... enjoy.


LACYD President Katherine Hennigan address the rally to discuss LACYD's support for AB 30, AB 106 and Asm. Price:


LACYD President Emeritus Becca Doten (here representing LA City Councilmember Richard Alarcon) speaks about the Councilmember's support for the legislation:

LA City Attorney Candidate Jack Weiss Speaks to LACYD

LACYD-endorsed City Attorney candidate Jack Weiss spoke at the LACYD General Membership meeting in Silver Lake last night. While Weiss' brief comments are not specific to the LACYD legislative committee, I wanted to post the video anyway because, hey, video!



Seriously though, Weiss has the experience as a federal prosecutor and the Democratic ideals necessary to make a great City Attorney for Los Angeles. LACYD is proud to support his candidacy and work to get him elected.

AB 30/AB 106 Rally and Press Conference with Assembly Member Curren Price Jr. @ LMU on Wednesday, March 18

The title of this post pretty much sums up its purpose- letting you know about the upcoming rally concerning two LACYD-sponsored pieces of legislation.

On Wednesday, March 18 (that is one week from today in the event you are reading this the day it is posted), Assembly Member Price will host a rally/press conference at the St. Roberts Auditorium at Loyola Marymount University to discuss AB 30 and AB 106. Asm. Price will be joined by students from LMU and high schools in Assembly District 51 as well as other elected officials, community members and LACYD Executive Board members. The rally is scheduled from 12:15 - 1:15 pm and the address is 1 LMU Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90045.

LACYD was one of the first sponsors of AB 30, the 2009 version of Price's AB 1819 from 2008 (AB 1819 was vigorously supported by LACYD last year). The bill would allow for 16 and 17 year olds who will be eligible to vote when they turn 18 to pre-register to vote. Their registration would automatically kick-in once they turn 18.

This is a simple and direct way to increase the ranks of registered voters in California. As we saw in the 2008 Presidential election, young people have finally begun to take an active role in shaping the future of our country. When I volunteered out of the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley Headquarters in the weeks leading up to the Novermber 2008 election, there were droves of engaged teenagers showing up to walk precincts and distribute information, despite not being able to register to vote themselves. AB 30 would allow these politically active teens to pre-register to vote when they are engaged in a popular political movement, thus increasing the number of registered voters in California.

AB 106 also seeks to increase the number of voters who are registered to participate in the democratic process. If passed, AB 106 will automatically register eligible California citizens to vote when they apply for a California driver's license or identification card or when they file a state personal Income Tax Return.

It is a simple equation:
democracy = good
more opportunities to participate in democracy = more opportunity for good
more registered voters = more opportunities to participate in democracy
AB 30 & AB 106 = more registered voters
AB 30 & AB 106 = good

Agree? Disagree? Comment on this post below.

LACYD Submits Letter of Support for ACA 2

The following letter declaring LACYD's formal support for ACA 2 was submitted yesterday:

March 9, 2009

Honorable Warren T. Furutani
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0055

Dear Assemblymember Furutani:

It is with great pleasure that I write on behalf of the Los Angeles County Young Democrats to express our support for ACA 2, a which will allow 17-year-olds who will be 18-years-old by the time of the general election to vote in interceding primaries, municipal, and special elections.

Founded more than 30 years ago by Congressman Henry Waxman, Congressman Howard Berman, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, and others, Los Angeles County Young Democrats is the largest organization in Southern California focused on giving young people a voice and a vehicle for activism in local, state, and federal political issues.

Existing law allows 17-year-olds who will turn 18 by the date of the general election to register and vote in that election, but prohibits these same 17-year-olds from voting in the corresponding primary or special elections. Consequently, they are prohibited from voting for the nominees who will appear on the general election ballot.

ACA 2 would bring California up to date with eight other states, Indiana, North Carolina, Mississippi, Maine, Kentucky, Ohio, Nebraska, and Virginia. This practice resulted in a higher voter turnout among the 18-24 year-olds demographic in these states.

We look forward to supporting this measure as it progresses through the Legislature.

Sincerely,

Katherine Hennigan
Preident
Los Angeles County Young Democrats

How You Can Support the LACYD-Endorsed California Dream Act (SB 160)

The California Dream Act will be heard in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, March 18.

Please take a moment to call the members of the committee to let them know that as a member of LACYD, Senator Gil Cedillo's SB 160 has your support and deserves theirs. Phone numbers and a brief script (courtesy of the Power and Unity Coalition) follow:

Senate Education Committee Members:
Sen. Romero (Chair): (916) 651-4024
Sen. Huff (Vice-Chair): (916) 651-4029
Sen. Alquist: (916) 651-4013
Sen. Hancock: (916) 651-4009
Sen. Liu: (916) 651-4021
Sen. Maldonado: (916) 651-4015
Sen. Padilla: (916) 651-4020
Sen. Simitian: (916) 651-4011
Sen. Wyland: (916) 651-4038

Call Script:
Hello, my name is ______________ and I am calling on behalf of the Los Angeles County Young Democrats to urge Senator (Senator's name) to vote "yay" on Senate Bill 160. SB 160 will allow California students to apply and compete for institutional financial aid; funds that AB 540 students contribute to through their tuition.

Thank you for your time, and please urge the Senator to vote YES on SB 160.

- # # # -

Though the fact sheet isn't online yet, the following was forwarded to me along with the request for calls to the Senate Education Committee:

SB 160 (Cedillo) California Dream Act of 2009

Fact Sheet

What is the problem?

Under Assembly Bill 540 (Firebaugh, Chapter 814 Statutes of 2001) California’s undocumented high school students applying to public colleges and universities can receive in-state tuition. However, AB 540 students are not eligible for federal or state financial aid due to their immigration status. Combined with an inability to legally work and the skyrocketing costs of education, the lack of eligibility for financial aid makes higher education virtually unattainable for too many of these talented young Californians.

What does SB 160 do?

The California Dream Act-SB 160 would establish greater access to higher education for undocumented students who have completed high school in California by allowing them to utilize the postsecondary systems’ institutional financial aid program.

• SB 160 extends eligibility of undocumented AB 540 California students and U.S. citizens to apply and compete for institutional financial aid administered at California public colleges and universities (i.e. State Universtity Grant, UC Grant, scholarships, work study, and loan programs).
• Students would apply without the use of the Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA).
• SB 160, unlike previous years, does not authorize the Board of Governors Fee Waiver at California Community Colleges.
  

The measure will help alleviate significant financial challenges many of these talented students face in pursuing a higher education in California. SB 160 would help ensure that many hardworking AB 540 students would be able to realize their dream of attending college. These students have built their lives in California and equipped with a high quality education, will be critical to maintaining the state’s competitive edge in the increasingly global economy.

As U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch, author of earlier versions of the federal DREAM Act, has said, "Many of these youngsters find themselves caught in a catch-22 situation. As [undocumented] immigrants, they cannot work legally. They are also effectivey barred from developing academically beyond high school because of the high cost of pursuin higher education. In short, although these children have built their lives here, they have no possibility of achieving and living the American dream. What a tremendous loss for them, and what a tremendous loss to our society."

LACYD Endorsed Legislation

Since the beginning of the year, the legislative committee and executive board of the Los Angeles County Young Democrats have voted to support the following pieces of legislation:

California State Legislature:

AB 30 (Price)
Assembly Bill 30 is the 2009 version of Assembly Bill 1819, which was introduced by Assemblymember Curren Price Jr. in 2008 and was supported by LACYD. Like its predecessor, AB 30 will allow for 16 and 17 year olds in the State of California to pre-register to vote. Eligible 16 and 17-year old Californians will complete voter registration forms which will be kept on record and automatically enacted when the voter turns 18 and is legally eligible to vote. This bill is an excellent and proactive way to expand the ranks of registered voters in California and LACYD is proud to be one of its first endorsers.

AB 106 (Price)
Assemblymember Price has also introduced AB 106, which will allow for Californians to be automatically registered to vote when they apply for a state issued drivers license or when they file a state tax return. This is the second bill introduced by Assemblymember Price in 2009 that seeks to enable all Californians to participate in our democracy. LACYD supports AB 106.

SB 160 (Cedillo)
SB 160 is the California Dream Act- another bill which has been reintroduced in 2009 that LACYD supported in its previous version. The Dream Act, introduced again by Senator Gil Cedillo, will allow every U.S. citizen and undocumented “AB 540” student to apply for non-competitive student aid at California public colleges and universities. The Dream Act is an absolutely necessary piece of legislation that LACYD resolutely supports. Our state is losing some of its most talented young thinkers to a policy prohibiting financial support for their higher education. SB 160 can stop this unforgivable policy and must be approved.

ACA 2 (Furutani)
Assembly Constitutional Amendment No. 2 was introduced by Assemblymember Warren Furutani. The simple, direct and necessary amendment to the state constitution will allow 17-year olds who will be 18 and eligible to vote at the time of the next general election, to vote in the corresponding primary or special election. If young voters are going to be able to vote for a candidate in a general election, why shouldn't they be able to help decide what their options will be? If you are noticing a pattern in the first few bills endorsed by LACYD in 2009 (and you should be), you should check out the platform posted below. "LACYD seeks to engage young adults in the political process." Assemblymember Curren Price's AB 30 and AB 106 help achieve this goal and so does ACA 2. LACYD supports ACA 2.

2009 LACYD Platform

The following platform was approved by the Los Angeles County Young Democrats on February 18, 2009 after input and collaboration by the Legislative Committee and Executive Board.

Mission Statement

The Los Angeles County Young Democrats are dedicated to empowering young people to engage in the democratic process through education, opportunity and action in order to strengthen our influence in politics and policies that affect our lives.

Pursuant with this mission, the Los Angeles County Young Democrats does hereby adopt the following Platform in order to guide our organization as it confronts issues and challenges in the coming year.

Civic Participation

LACYD seeks to engage young adults in the political process. LACYD supports efforts which will increase participation in democracy by encouraging voter registration, participation, legislative and political advocacy, and civic volunteerism. LACYD seeks to share the connections, expertise and idealism of its membership in order to help young adults take ownership of the political process.

Economy

LACYD seeks to foster a strong and stable economy by supporting programs and initiatives that encourage sustainable growth, cooperative partnerships between labor unions and businesses, support and expand opportunities for local businesses, drive technological and environmentally friendly innovation and invest in job training and vocational education that will build a strong, skilled workforce.

Education

LACYD supports measures that will improve the quality of education in California from pre-school through higher education and vocational training programs. We support increased access to colleges and universities, keeping the cost of education to students reasonable and affordable, ensuring that quality teachers are hired to educate California’s youth, and protecting the financial resources of state and local school districts. We further support measures which would increase opportunities for after school programs.

Environment

LACYD supports measures that will lead to a clean and safe environment, which is vital to the sustainability of our society. LACYD will support efforts to reduce pollution, advocate smart growth and development, encourage conservation and the efficient use of our natural resources and pursue the advancement of alternative and renewable fuels and technologies.

Equal Opportunity, Diversity and Civil Rights

LACYD supports the protection of equal opportunities and civil rights for all and seeks to promote equal access to a fair legal system, health care, housing, education and equal marriage rights for everybody. LACYD will promote the rights of all Americans to vote, have their voice heard, and be free from oppression.

Health Care

LACYD supports measures which seek to ensure that necessary health services are provided for everyone. We believe that everyone deserves health care (including medical, mental, dental and vision care) as a fundamental right. LACYD believes it is important to continue to fight for equal quality, affordability and access to health services for all, the protection of patient rights and reproductive choices.

Labor Rights

LACYD supports and promotes the right of workers to form a union free of fear and coercion. LACYD further supports measures which ensure and protect the right of workers to collectively bargain for a contract that meets the needs of both workers and their employers.

National Security and International Relations

LACYD seeks to promote national and international security and engender peace at home and abroad by supporting the protection of democracy and democratic institutions, promoting strong international diplomacy, confronting terrorism and its root causes, and providing access to basic resources and human rights for all. LACYD supports the standards of the Geneva Convention as well as other international laws of war and diplomacy. LACYD supports measures which ensure that communities are free from institutional oppression and intimidation.

Transportation and Infrastructure

LACYD views our transportation network and basic infrastructure as the foundation of a functioning urban society. We support prioritizing and investing in public and alternative transportation, transportation oriented development and to improving basic infrastructure in order to reduce congestion and improve regional mobility.

- # # # -

Welcome

Thank you for visiting my attempt to publish information about the LACYD Legislative Committee. There will be information about the committee, our meetings and advocacy efforts for LACYD endorsed legislation soon, but for now, I thought this would be a good place to start:



I have always wondered: did the Kool-Aid man steal his "Oh Yeah" catch phrase from the bill in this video or was it the other way around? (pay attention at the 2:02 mark and again at the very end of the video)