Check Blog for Democracy for the link to Bush's decision to stand up for war and but not for children's health. PeachCare and similar programs in other states are facing shortfalls, and the President has refused to make an emergency request for the needed funds. As Tim said, "so much for no child left behind." First, the Republican controlled Congress failed to pass a 2007 budget before adjourning. Now, the Democratic controlled Congress must pass a stop-gap spending resolution to allow the government to continue functioning. Confronted with the escalating cost of an unwinnable war, the money for the child health care bail out is simply not there.
The ugly reality of this situation is that those states facing shortfalls are also states with greater need. That increased need is caused, at the root, by higher levels of poverty. So far, John Edwards is the only presidential candidate who has much to say on this issue, and that is one of the reasons I am supporting him. "The poor we shall always have among us" is no longer an acceptable response to the ravages of poverty in our country.
Remember these three numbers: $500 billion, 25, and 44. Why? In this country, the cost to the economy of children growing up in poverty is about $500 billion a year, primarily indexed by lost productivity, increased health care costs and increased cost for incarceration. And currently, Georgia ranks 25th nationally in terms of economic development and 44th in overall child and family well-being. What does that say about out priorities? Shouldn't we do at least as well for families as we do for business and industry?
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
No Child Left Insured?
The information age and Georgia politics...
The new DPG website is nifty, but their list of Democratic reps needs updating. Also the blog entries at the DPG site need proofreading. Typos are easy to make...I surely make my share...but the distinction between "there" and "their" needs to be observed. That sort of error, unfortunately, is not picked up by spellcheckers. There is also no way to comment on the DPG blog items, at least not that I could find.
The Georgia General Assembly website has been very slow in producing usable information.
As late as about Jan. 20, it was mostly still "under construction." As of today, the senate list looks pretty good, except that the "list by district" shows only a map. The list of representatives is still incomplete, with about one in ten names (when you click on FACT SHEET) displaying a "404-Object not Found" message. The main page of the senate list helpfully shows the senator's party affiliation right next to the name. To find the party affiliation of the representatives, you have to click on FACT SHEET and read the pop-up. In several cases, the party affiliation is not listed there either. I am bringing these matters up because I have been trying most of the morning to locate reliable contact information for all our Democratic representatives and senators. Although 23 years in schoolhouses taught me patience, I must say that mine wore a little thin this morning.
Monday, February 05, 2007
And the Winners Are
Tonight the Bibb County Democratic Party chose State Committee members, and the winners are:
1) Daryl Morton
2) Rep. Nikki Randall
3) Lauren Benedict
4) Steve Allen
These are all excellent individuals who will represent us well on the State Committee. (I particularly like the first one to whom I am related by marriage. :)
I did not run for a post this year. I had a conflict and could not attend the meeting tonight, and, besides, one Morton is enough. I am, however, excited about the potential for the new committee and will be more than happy to assist in anyway that will help Democrats win elections. I am very optimistic about the future for Georgia Democrats.
Thanks, Jack
My cell rang at about seven o'clock tonight, and it was my South Carolina sister calling to say, "what's the matter with your mayor?" Apparently, the "Jack Ellis Converts to Islam" story has made its way to national news. I should point out that my sister, who was raised in the same house as I was, is a pretty open-minded Democrat, but when a politically ambitious mayor of a mid-size city in the South (1) converts to Islam and (2) announces his possible interest in running for Congress, that's the kind of news that makes folks say, "what's the matter with your mayor?" About his congressional aspirations, my sister said, "I don't think he'll get very many votes." Neither do I.
Sphere: Related ContentA Day for Which Families?
As we approach this Saturday's Family Day at the Capitol, let's hope that those who are encouraged to participate look like real families in Georgia, not an inaccurate 1950's stereotype. If the families at the capitol represent what families today really look like then:
- Most of the families will have experienced a divorce.
- Most adult females will be single.
- One in five of the children and nearly ten percent of the families will be in poverty.
- Nearly a quarter of the babies will be born to mothers who have less than 12 years education.
- A quarter of the children will live in a household with only one parent.
- More than ten percent of the children will live in homes where neither parent is in the labor force.
- Of the teens there who have had a baby, nearly a quarter will have another.
- They will be diverse.
- Many will be uninsured.
- More than 30% will not have graduated from high school.
My point? It's easy to have "Family Day" but much harder to actually make a commitment to improving quality of life for families. I'm tired of the fluff and ready for some substance. Sphere: Related Content
PeachCare's Future Now in President's Lap
It looks like PeachCare funding may well become entangled in the President's request for more money for the War in Iraq.
Democrats were, shall we say, less than pleased that their Republican predecessors in congressional leadership opted out of their responsibility to address the shortfall in Federal funds for PeachCare and similar programs in other states that provide access to health insurance to needy children. Recently, a bi-partisan legislative delegation led by Rep. Calvin Smyre went to D.C. to meet with Speaker Pelosi's staff, and last week, in what was dubbed a vice presidential audition, Gov. Perdue went to the Hill to plead with the new Democratic Majority to do something to fix this mess.
According to Political Insider, he was effective. Sort of. He got the attention of congressional leaders, but Perdue may not be pleased that Democrats are now using his words to challenge the President, who is set to request another 100 billion for the war in Iraq to also consider a separate spending request to address this domestic health care crisis. You can read the entire letter here, but this is the money quote:
“The governor of Georgia has written to us stating that ‘It is vitally important
to our most needy citizens that Congress act expeditiously.’
“At the end of the last Congress, we were successful in including a provision to avert a similar crisis, but unfortunately, we are again in need of another short-term
solution. While we plan to work in Congress later this year to reauthorize [the
insurance program] and address longer-term issues, it is essential that you work
with us to again provide a short-term fix. The cost of filling the funding
shortfall is minor in comparison to your other emergency requests."
http://speaker.house.gov/newsroom/pressreleases?id=0064
Ouch. Do you think this will net Perdue that V.P. spot? Sphere: Related Content
Sunday, February 04, 2007
McCain's Shameless Sell-Out
Presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, the Republican my yellow dog Democrat momma once opined she might vote for, has sold his soul for another shot at the oval. McCain, who months ago hired as national campaign manager the creator of those ultra-negative "call me Harold" ads from the Tennessee senate race, has now reached further into the sewer and pulled out the substance you would expect to find there-the Swift Boat Boys. Yes, in an effort to win the nomination of a party that finds itself so far outside the mainstream that their eventual choice will have to scramble up a greased poll in high heels to win, McCain is climbing in bed with fellows he onced claimed to abhor.
There was a time when I worried about McCain and considered him the biggest threat to democrats in 2008. The strength of his military record and his seeming independence I thought would appeal to swing voters. I am no longer concerned. We now know who he really is. He has bought into the "anything goes to win" mentality, and the problem he may find is that the American people have finally wised up.
Sphere: Related ContentThe Grapevine is back !
For those of you who enjoyed visiting the Georgia Democratic Women's Grapevine, I invite you to visit the new revised version at http://gfdw.blogspot.com/Get in touch with me at ktina1@windstream.net if you are interested in forming a chapter of the Federation of Democratic Women in your community and I will steer you to the right person. We are in a transitional period right now, with some new officers in April.
Sphere: Related ContentFriday, February 02, 2007
The Deal is Dead
The hotel deal is dead. Deader than dead. For those who are not from Macon, we have been in the midst of an epic (yawn) battle to get a hotel built near the convention center. Trust me when I say that the proposal accepted by City Council was, shall we say, unpopular. Because of the THIRTY YEARS of tax abatement involved in the plan, both the School Board and County Commission had to act to approve the financing. Today, a motion was made to place the issue on the agenda for the County Commission, and that motion failed to get a second. Okay, they didn't have the guts to just vote it down, but this is just as good. No approval, no deal. Dead, dead, deader than dead.
Now, let's start over and get the right deal done.
Accountibility Be Damned
Somebody get a choir director for the General Assembly. After seizing control from local school systems in 2006 with the 65% "Solution" and a one-size-fits-all class-size reduction law, both of which leave teachers and local school officials zero wiggle room, this year, the legislature is singing off a completely different sheet of music. With SB10, Georgia Republicans want to hand tax dollars (state and federal) to private schools and require zero accountability for the education of our most vulnerable students. And today, when the Georgia Senate passed the Charter Schools bill, Sen. Dan Weber (R) said:
"The belief is the people closest to the school ... they know the needs of that school. If they need an intensive writing class for 10 students, they ought to be allowed to do that."
At least the Charter Schools would have to comply with NCLB. Not so with SB 10.
Here's the thing, I agree with Weber on this, but here's my question. Why is it a good idea to increasingly regulate public schools to the point that teachers have virtually no authority to control their classrooms or to make decisions about curriculum and at the same time propose creating a parallel system where virtually anything goes? If local control is a good thing, then why is it not a good thing for all schools? What's more local than the teacher who is in the classroom with the students? The proposed new laws create a dual system, extra layers of administrative expenses and an uncertain future for Georgia students.
Poll: Who's Your Choice for JJ Speaker?
The Democratic Party of Georgia just elected new leadership, and now our task is to begin to raise the money to fund efforts to win elections. One of the first opportunities to do that will be in March at the annual JJ dinner. This is typically an important fundraising event for the DPG. I hope that we will open our checkbooks and make it clear that Georgia Democrats are hear to stay and ready to win! With that in mind, who would you like to hear speak at the JJ? Who would be the biggest draw? Who would motivate us and get folks to that dinner who have never attended before? Cast your vote below.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Molly Ivins (1944-2007)
I was going to suggest a moment of silence, but that's not what Molly Ivins would have wanted.
So instead let's all honor Molly by continuing to make noise about the things that mattered to her and matter to us !
Mayor Ellis Becomes Muslim, May Run for Congress
Randall Savage with WMAZ is reporting that Macon Mayor C. Jack Ellis, a lifelong Christian, is converting to the Islamic faith and is contemplating running for Jim Marshall's congressional seat. From this point forward, the Mayor should be called Hakim Mansour Ellis.
I don't even know what to say about this. Steve Allen, chair of the Bibb County Democratic Party, commented that a person's faith is personal, but that he thought that Mayor Ellis might have a more difficult time winning in the 8th. You think?
Georgia's WIN List
Last night, WIN elected new officers. Chair is Stacey Evans, Secretary is Kathy Floyd, Treasurer is Patrise Perkins-Hooker and I will serve as vice-chair. I never reget a moment I spend working on behalf of WIN. In addition to serving with amazing women, we have the opportunity to help so many wonderful democratic women who are seeking office in Georgia. Last cycle we endorsed 42 women and distributed about sixty thousand dollars. In addition to many returning members, three WIN endorsed women are "new faces" in the Georgia General Assembly. To learn more about WIN, go to www. Georgiawinlist.org .
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