Thank you to everyone who participated in the Health Care Reform meeting yesterday in Bend. What a great response! For such a beautiful day with so many other fun things going on in Central Oregon, we were happy to see over 45 people in the Brooks Room.
We followed the general guidelines provided by OFA for the meeting. After overcoming a few technical difficulties, we watched President Obama's welcoming video with a message from the spokesperson for OFA. Rob Cohen walked us through a power point presentation that gave some historical background of the current U.S. health care ‘system.' We broke into groups and shared our own health care stories. When we came together again, several people shared stories from their groups. Finally, we held a brainstorming session to plan our community service event for June 27th.
Here are some of the ideas we talked about:
The majority in attendance committed to participate in our event on June 27th. A steering committee was formed to pursue these ideas and come up with an action plan. Volunteers are: Mike Schmidt, Marjorie Lickley, Jim Davis, Loye Dice, Ray Miao, Ed Lee, Rob Cohen, Mary Ann Hart, Gwenn Wysling, Patty Pachtman and Linda Mathison.
April 18, 200911am - 5pm
Saturday April 18, 2009
There will be an Earth Day Fair and Procession of the Species Parade which starts at 11am on Louisiana and runs along Bond and Wall back to Troy Field. The parade will end at Troy Field with the traditional drum circle in front of the stage.
ACTION ITEMS FOR CENTRAL OREGONIANS:
Congress voted last week to approve President Obama's budget along straight party lines. It was a big test not only for President Obama, but for our entire movement. Take just a few minutes to call our Senators and let them know how much we appreciate their crucial votes.
Let Congressman Walden know how disappointed you are that he did not support a budget that tackles the long-term challenges to our prosperity.
Rep. Gregg Walden (R-OR-02)
CALL: 202-225-6730
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)
CALL: 202-224-5244
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
CALL: 202-224-3753
Deschutes County Town Hall Meeting
Residents of Deschutes County are invited to attend an open forum Town Hall Meeting with Senator Ron Wyden to ask questions and voice their concerns. Senator Wyden has been holding town halls in each Oregon county every year since 1996. The event in Bend is town hall number 509.
Date: Monday, April 6, 2009
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Location: Bend Elks Club
63120 Boyd Acres Rd. (Off of Empire Blvd)
SAVE THE METOLIUS
A pivotal public hearing for saving the Metolius will be on April 7th at 3:00pm in our Capitol in Salem. (Hearing Room E)
This is our chance to show members of the Legislature that the Metolius is a special place worthy of strong protection. We need them to pass HB 3100 in order to protect against two proposed large scale developments that truly threaten the Metolius as we know it.
Any help you could provide to get lots of people to the hearing would make a tremendous difference. Some of the potentially swing legislators aren't personally familiar with the Metolius and don't necessarily realize that a lot of people from all over Oregon view it as a treasure. We have a great deal of support from many legislators, but as of now the final vote looks to be very close. It could well hinge on the strength of our collective voices.
THANK YOU for all of your work!!!!
-Jonathan Manton
541 729-2923
For information about the American Recovery and Revitalization Act and how it can be tapped to grow the green economy please note the following websites:
· The federal government's ARRA website is: http://recovery.oregon.gov/
· Oregon State's ARRA website is: www.recovery.gov
· The Oregon Department of Energy's direct ARRA website is: www.oregon.gov/energy/Stimulus2009.shtml
The Oregon Green Jobs Initiative, spearheaded by 3EStrategies, now has a bill number -- HB 3300. HB 3300 would require the Oregon Workforce Investment Board to prioritize its focus on green jobs and to develop a comprehensive green jobs development strategic plan to be presented to the Oregon Legislature in early 2010.
The Oregon Employment Department has identified a green job as one that provides a service or creates a product in any of the following categories:
-Increasing energy efficiency;
-Producing renewable energy;
-Preventing, reducing or mitigating environmental degradation;
-Cleaning up and restoring the natural environment; or
-Providing education, consulting, policy promotion, accreditation, trading and offsets, or similar services supporting any of the other categories.
Upcoming Event:
Green Building: The New Economy and the Future of the Building Industry with Jason McLennan, at COCC, 5:30pm, Sunday April 12
For links to more information on these events, visit:
3EStrategies Events Page
This was forwarded to me from Oregonians for Obama so I thought I'd share it....
Found this list of some of what Obama has done so far, Go Obama!from here: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/3/10/105049/235EXAMPLES OF CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN:1/21/9 Directed military leaders to end war in Iraq and begin responsible withdrawal1/21/9 Passed ethics guidelines banning hires based on politics1/21/9 Banned lobbyist gifts to executive employees1/22/9 Released Presidential records1/22/9 Ordered the close of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay1/22/9 Banned torture1/22/9 Ordered a systematic review of detention policies and procedures and a review of all individual cases.1/23/9 Lifted a ban on federal funding for international groups that provide family planning that included information about abortion (The Global Gag Rule / Mexico City Policy)1/26/9 Reversed Bush Administration obstruction and ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider California's request to apply tighter air pollution standards on automobiles.1/27/9 Granted his 1st formal Presidential interview in office to to an Arab channel, the Saudi-backed, Dubai-based al-Arabiya1/29/9 Signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act1/30/9 Ordered Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers Under Service Contracts2/4/9 Expanded eligibility for State Children's Health Insurance Fund (SCHIP)2/6/9 Established an Economic Recovery Advisory Board2/10/9 Initiated a comprehensive cybersecurity review of critical U.S. systems2/17/9 Extended and indexed the 2007 Alternative Minimum Tax patch2/17/9 Sent two additional brigades to Afghanistan2/17/9 Supported increased funding for the NEA2/18/9 Created a plan to weatherize 1 million low income homes per year for the next 10 years2/19/9 Extend unemployment insurance benefits and temporarily suspend taxes on these benefits2/19/9 Created a foreclosure prevention fund for homeowners2/19/9 Created a White House Offi ce on Urban Policy2/20/9 Created a plan committed to investment in all types of alternative energy2/27/9 Halted DEA medical marijuana raids in California3/5/9 Convened a comprehensive health care summit to begin the task of overhauling health care in the U.S.3/9/9 Reversed restrictions on stem cell research and ended the Bush Administration "War on Science."
EXAMPLES OF CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN:
1/21/9 Directed military leaders to end war in Iraq and begin responsible withdrawal
1/21/9 Passed ethics guidelines banning hires based on politics
1/21/9 Banned lobbyist gifts to executive employees
1/22/9 Released Presidential records
1/22/9 Ordered the close of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay
1/22/9 Banned torture
1/22/9 Ordered a systematic review of detention policies and procedures and a review of all individual cases.
1/23/9 Lifted a ban on federal funding for international groups that provide family planning that included information about abortion (The Global Gag Rule / Mexico City Policy)
1/26/9 Reversed Bush Administration obstruction and ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider California's request to apply tighter air pollution standards on automobiles.
1/27/9 Granted his 1st formal Presidential interview in office to to an Arab channel, the Saudi-backed, Dubai-based al-Arabiya
1/29/9 Signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
1/30/9 Ordered Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers Under Service Contracts
2/4/9 Expanded eligibility for State Children's Health Insurance Fund (SCHIP)
2/6/9 Established an Economic Recovery Advisory Board
2/10/9 Initiated a comprehensive cybersecurity review of critical U.S. systems
2/17/9 Extended and indexed the 2007 Alternative Minimum Tax patch
2/17/9 Sent two additional brigades to Afghanistan
2/17/9 Supported increased funding for the NEA
2/18/9 Created a plan to weatherize 1 million low income homes per year for the next 10 years
2/19/9 Extend unemployment insurance benefits and temporarily suspend taxes on these benefits
2/19/9 Created a foreclosure prevention fund for homeowners
2/19/9 Created a White House Offi ce on Urban Policy
2/20/9 Created a plan committed to investment in all types of alternative energy
2/27/9 Halted DEA medical marijuana raids in California
3/5/9 Convened a comprehensive health care summit to begin the task of overhauling health care in the U.S.
3/9/9 Reversed restrictions on stem cell research and ended the Bush Administration "War on Science."
CENTRAL OREGON FOR CHANGE ONLINE CALENDAR LAUNCHES
In an effort to find an easy way to let folks know about events, important actions, meetings and opportunities for making real change a reality, we are putting together an online calendar.
If you would like to list something in the calendar, please send a short description of your event (50 words or less is best), the time, location and any other important information, such as links to more detailed info, to kymberli4change@gmail.com. Check the calendar often -- as some actions need to happen very quickly, such as making immediate phone calls to legislators to express views and concerns on pending legislation. Now, you can stay on top of how you can be an ongoing part of making change happen!
You can view the ‘centraloregon4change’ calendar from any web browser using this link: http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=centraloregon4change%40gmail.com&ct.
Fired Up and Ready To Go -
Kymberli Colburne
Kymberli4change@gmail.com
OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN IN CENTRAL OREGON:
Become involved in your community, volunteer for a city or county committee. Committee openings are advertised in the newspaper or call the city or county and ask about what openings are coming up. Put your best foot forward, learn about what the committee does before you interview or apply. You will learn, meet new people and perhaps have fun.
Judy Clinton
317-8472
METOLIUS RIVER UPDATE
Leaders from across of the state are working diligently on proposals to protect and preserve the Metolius River. The Land Conservation and Development Commission (“LCDC”) recently issued a second draft proposal to designate the Basin and a buffer zone as an Area of Critical State Concern. Under this proposal, an agency management plan would prevent large scale developments, including both destination resorts that have been proposed. LCDC will make a final recommendation to the legislature some time in March. The legislature can accept, amend, or reject LCDC’s plan. Meanwhile legislation is forthcoming which will accept the LCDC’s recommendation to create an Area of Critical State Concern and ensure that no development in or near the Basin will adversely affect the Metolius, its tributaries, fish and wildlife. Jonathan, Central Oregon LandWatch, and a host of other conservation-oriented organizations are likely to urge strong support for this legislation. Once it is finalized and announced publicly, there will be lots of opportunities to contact key legislators to express your opinions.
Stay tuned! And contact Jonathan (541) 729-2923 (jmanton2008@gmail.com) any time with questions, concerns, or comments.
Deschutes County Voters Ballot Deadline Tue March 10th
As March 10 nears and the voters of Deschutes County decide whether or not to retain the Local Rule that seeks to reduce additional nitrate inputs into the groundwater and local rivers, we encourage voters to review the information provided by the U.S. Geological Service and Deschutes County prior to making their decision. Two good sources are: http://www.deschutes.org/cdd/gpp/ and http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2007/3103/. A ‘Yes’ vote on March 10 would retain the Local Rule and help protect the Little Deschutes and Deschutes Rivers from nitrate pollution. A ‘No’ vote would repeal the Local Rule.
Notice of Organizational Meeting
of the Deschutes County Democratic Central Committee
The MARCH Organizational meeting of the Deschutes County Democratic Central Committee will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. at Bend's Community Center, 1036 NE 5th Street, Bend, Oregon.
Social time will begin at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is expected to run from 7 to 9 p.m.
Please feel free to contact Craig Wilhelm, Vice-Chair, Executive Steering Committee, at craig.wilhelm@gmail.com or 541.633.7878
if you have any questions regarding attendance.
We look forward to seeing everyone there!
PTAC (Public Transit Advisory Committee) public hearing on proposed elimination of all weekend BAT (Bend Area Transit) and DAR (Dial-a-Ride) service, fare hikes and route changes will be held at City Hall, 3:30 to 5:30 pm, Tuesday, March 17, 2009. More info at www.bendareatransit.com and 317-3039. This is a good opportunity for people to express their concerns about BAT service cuts.
RECOMMENDED READING
For a better understanding of where we are economically and why a BIG stimulus is necessary, H. Joe Cornett of Prineville recommends an excellent book by Paul Krugman, Nobel Prize winning economist, Professor of Economics at Princeton, and columnist for the NY Times. The Book, "Return of Depression Economics", is actually an update of his earlier 1999 book reviewing the 90s economic crisis in Asia. In the earlier book Krugman predicted the possibility of our current crisis. Check out his blog at http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/
As we grapple with the prospect of becoming a part of a Worldwide Depression, we need to look at what we can do to reduce the cost of energy to our businesses and families. Our government would do well to guarantee loans which our consumers could use to remodel their structures to become energy collectors. Our current economic meltdown began with the advent of $4.00 per gallon energy (gasoline). When people could no longer afford to use their vehicles, our economy slowed down significantly. The subsequent reduction in the price of gasoline was too late. The damage had been done. We had stopped spending at the consumer level.
We need to give the consumer something to spend. A chunk of consumer spending will be available once again when we reduce the cost of energy to nearly zero (maintenane costs only) for this energy from the sun. I want to be part of a culture which demonstrates that when called upon, we can make significant changes in our paradigm of life. We need to see energy from the sun as an unrecognized resource and develop a new value system which does not hold much if any monetary value in energy because it will be so plentiful. YES WE CAN! If we can only dream big enough.
Dear Friends, Tuesday, October 14th, is Oregon's voter registration deadline. And this weekend -- October 11th and 12th -- is our last big chance to make sure everyone in Oregon is registered to vote. Supporters like you have already brought thousands of new voices into the political process, but there are still folks in communities just like yours who support Barack but are not registered to vote. That's why supporters are coming together across the state to reach out to their unregistered neighbors as part of our final statewide voter registration drive. Will you help register voters this weekend and take part in our last voter registration drive before the deadline? With the economy in crisis, it's more important than ever to change the way politics works in our nation's capital. But we can only do it by working together, because real change comes from the bottom up, not the top down. That means empowering people who have been left out of the political process or are just now old enough to add their voices. And there are thousands of unregistered voters across Oregon. Take a few hours this weekend to help bring change to Oregon -- make sure your family, friends, and neighbors are registered, and help Barack Obama win this important battleground state. Find a voter registration event near you and sign up today: http://or.barackobama.com/OregonVoters No experience is necessary to make a difference. All you need is energy and a commitment to change -- campaign staff will be there to support you with everything else. Thanks for your help, Jesse Jesse Bontecou Field Director Oregon Campaign for Change P.S. -- There are only 26 days left until Election Day, and this campaign's success is depending on supporters like you turning your enthusiasm into action. Come to a Get Out The Vote Summit this Sunday, October 12th, and learn how you can make sure every voter in Oregon has a chance to Vote for Change by November 4th: http://or.barackobama.com/ORgotvsummit
We will not be viewing the Vice-Presidential candidates debate at the Bend Campaign for Change Office.
Instead we will use the space to phone voters. Join us Thursday, Oct 2 between 5 and 9 pm at 117 NW Oregon Ave in downtown Bend. If you've never done this, training will be provided. You'll talk to some fascinating people and have fun, too. Be a part of the Campaign for Change!
1%, or 1 vote out of 100There have been 12 Presidential elections that were decided by less than a 1% margin; meaning if less than 1% of the voters in certain states had changed their mind to the other candidate the outcome of the entire election would have been different. More than half were decided by less than a 2% margin.
In 2004, 57,787 votes would have given us President Kerry.In 2000, 269 votes would have given us President GoreIn 1996, 575,515 votes would have given us President Dole.
From ABC News:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/scienceandsociety/2008/09/squeakers.html
=========="Squeakers"Ned PotterABC NewsSeptember 29, 2008How close have Presidential elections been? Closer, perhaps, than we ever guessed. Mike Sheppard, a grad student in statistics at Michigan State, has done a mathematical exercise that shows it.He ran a computer program to answer this question: "What is the smallest number of total votes that need to be switched from one candidate to another, and from which states, to affect the outcome of the election?"The answer: in some years, very, very few. Take a look at his analysis HERE. It shows the powerful interaction between the popular vote and the electoral college.[...]==========
Full article here:http://blogs.abcnews.com/scienceandsociety/2008/09/squeakers.html
Detailed analysis here, including colored maps:https://www.msu.edu/~sheppa28/elections.html-Mike Sheppard
Yesterday, within the course of a few hours, the failure to pass the economic rescue plan in Washington led to the single largest decline of the stock market in two decades. While I, like others, am outraged that the reign of irresponsibility on Wall Street and in Washington has created the current crisis, I also know that continued inaction in the face of the gathering storm in our financial markets would be catastrophic for our economy and our families. At this moment, when the jobs, retirement savings, and economic security of all Americans hang in the balance, it is imperative that all of us - Democrats and Republicans alike - come together to meet this crisis. The bill rejected yesterday was a marked improvement over the original blank check proposed by the Bush Administration. It included restraints on CEO pay, protections for homeowners, strict oversight as to how the money is spent, and an assurance that taxpayers will recover their money once the economy recovers. Given the progress we have made, I believe we are unlikely to succeed if we start from scratch or reopen negotiations about the core elements of the agreement. But in order to pass this plan, we must do more. One step we could take to potentially broaden support for the legislation and shore up our economy would be to expand federal deposit insurance for families and small businesses across America who have invested their money in our banks. The majority of American families should rest assured that the deposits they have in our banks are safe. Thanks to measures put in place during the Great Depression, deposits of up to $100,000 are guaranteed by the federal government. While that guarantee is more than adequate for most families, it is insufficient for many small businesses that maintain bank accounts to meet their payroll, buy their supplies, and invest in expanding and creating jobs. The current insurance limit of $100,000 was set 28 years ago and has not been adjusted for inflation. That is why today, I am proposing that we also raise the FDIC limit to $250,000 as part of the economic rescue package - a step that would boost small businesses, make our banking system more secure, and help restore public confidence in our financial system. I will be talking to leaders and members of Congress later today to offer this idea and urge them to act without delay to pass a rescue plan.
Oregonians Affected by State's Economic Downturn to Participate in Discussion PORTLAND, OR - This Thursday, Oregon State Treasurer Randall Edwards and Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian will announce how Obama's Oregon economic plan with help Oregon's working families and host an economic forum alongside Oregonians affected by the economic downturn. As the country faces more job losses, rising high gas prices and financial turmoil on Wall Street, Oregon's economy has been severely affected. State unemployment reached 6.5 percent in August, leaving more than 123,000 Oregonians without jobs. Since President Bush took office, gas prices in Oregon have gone up 161 percent and housing prices continue to fall. Oregonians can't afford four more years of these same failed economic policies. Edwards and Avakian will discuss how Obama's Oregon economic plan will provide Oregonians with immediate economic and energy relief, real tax relief, as well as, how his plan will help those facing foreclosure and help get the Oregon economy back on track. WHO: Oregon State Treasurer Randall Edwards, Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian, Oregonians effected by the economic downturn in Oregon WHAT: Forum announcing Obama's Oregon Economic Plan WHEN: Thursday, September 25, 2008 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. PST WHERE: Barack Obama's Campaign for Change Headquarters 3016 SE Division Avenue Portland, OR
