As i myself suffered malnutrition during homelessness and still without any access to special needs foods...
Please note -
Special medical needs foods are always in short supply please help homeless, disabled and elderly persons with diabetes, cancer and allergy and other medical conditions.
Please donate plain canned beans, green and green leafy veggies,
non dairy, sugar, msg, or yeast items.
dried beans peas and lentils are cheap and healthy for those with cooking facilities.
please note singles do not get holiday baskets with turkeys to cook on the holidays.
help disabled singles with other protein sources.
canned sardines, mackerel, and salmon supply many needed vitamins and minerals.
There is near always a good supply of white bread and desserts.
From: "Darcie Olson" <c_olson@onebox.com>
Folks -
Wanted to let you know that my office will be a drop point for the OC
Food Bank for the month of December (starting December 1 - January 4th)
-
They are asking for canned food (any kind) and pet food
I have two barrels and would like to fill them up twice during the month
- Please consider dropping by my location at:
Darcie Olson
State Farm
2000 Harbor Blvd. #106
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
LIVE
PLease watch
The United States will consider reinstating North Korea to a list of state sponsors of terrorism, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in an interview broadcast yesterday as the Obama administration looks for ways to ratchet up pressure on Pyongyang after recent nuclear and missile tests.
"We're going to look at it," Clinton said on ABC's "This Week" when asked about a letter last week from Republican senators demanding that North Korea be put back on the list. "There's a process for it. Obviously we would want to see recent evidence of their support for international terrorism."
The administration is also pushing for a U.N. Security Council resolution that would punish the country financially and give the international community the power to interdict suspect North Korean cargo, but Clinton acknowledged that some countries have "legitimate concerns" about targeting international shipments.
"We will do everything we can to both interdict it and prevent it and shut off their flow of money," Clinton said. "If we do not take significant and effective action against the North Koreans now, we'll spark an arms race in Northeast Asia. I don't think anybody wants to see that."
The North conducted its second nuclear test last month, test-fired short-range missiles and announced that it was no longer bound by the 1953 armistice that ended hostilities on the Korean peninsula. President Obama on Saturday called North Korea's actions "extraordinarily provocative."
The Bush administration removed North Korea from the list of terrorist states last year as part of an unfulfilled commitment by the dictatorship to dismantle its nuclear weapons program. North Korea was placed on the list in 1988 after its agents were implicated in the bombing of a South Korean airliner that killed 115 people.
State Department officials have noted that the process for reinstating North Korea to the list is difficult. The United States would need to document that North Korea has engaged in terrorist acts since its removal from the list.
Newt Gingrich, appearing on CBS's "Face the Nation," welcomed Clinton's comments.
"In the long run, we're going to have to find a strategy that uses diplomatic and economic means to replace the current dictatorship," the former House speaker said. "I mean, this is an inevitably terrifying dictatorship that is desperately trying to get enough nuclear weapons."
Clinton also said the administration is trying to keep separate its efforts to secure the release of two American journalists facing trial in North Korea in connection with illegal entry into the country and "hostile acts."
"We've been very careful in what we've said, because clearly we don't want this pulled into the political issues that we have with North Korea, or the concerns that are being expressed in the United Nations Security Council," she said. "This is separate. It is a humanitarian issue, and the girls should be let go."
By Jack Kim
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea, facing U.N. sanctions for last month's nuclear test, on Monday raised the stakes in its growing confrontation with Washington by jailing two U.S. journalists to 12 years hard labor for "grave crime."
The sentence follows U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's warning on Sunday the United States was considering putting the reclusive North back on its list of states that sponsor terrorism, which would further isolate the impoverished country.
The journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling, of U.S. media outlet Current TV, were arrested in March working on a story near the border between North Korea and China. The trial for the two, working for the company co-founded by former Vice President Al Gore, opened on Thursday.
"The trial confirmed the grave crime they committed against the Korean nation and their illegal border crossing as they had already been indicted and sentenced each of them to 12 years of reform through labor," the official KCNA news agency said in a brief dispatch.
The harsh sentence is certain to deepen the chill in relations with the United States which has been trying for years, with scant success, to convince Stalinist North Korea to give up its ambition of becoming a nuclear weapons power.
"We are deeply concerned by the reported sentencing of the two American citizen journalists by North Korean authorities and we are engaged through all possible channels to secure their release," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said in the statement.
"We once again urge North Korea to grant the immediate release of the two American citizen journalists on humanitarian grounds," the statement said.
Clinton had also appealed for the two women's release saying the charges against them were baseless.
"(North Korea) is using the sentence as bait to squeeze concessions out of the U.S. amid heightened tension," said Lee Dong-bok, a senior associate with the CSIS think tank in Seoul and an expert on the North's negotiating tactics.
South Korean markets were for the most part unmoved by the sentencing, that came in line with expectations. A currency trader said the U.S. reaction to the sentencing and developments thereafter were more important for local markets.
Analysts say it would take it would take a military clash at sea or on the border to have a major impact on global markets.
MILITARY GRANDSTANDING
U.S. President Barack Obama at the weekend called the North's latest nuclear test, which was followed by a series of missile tests, "extraordinarily provocative" and said that this time there would be no appeasement by Washington.
Communist North Korea kept up its rhetoric which is increasingly unnerving a region that accounts for a sixth of the world's economy.
It threatened to retaliate with "extreme" measures if the United Nations punished it for last month's nuclear test.
"Our response would be to consider sanctions against us as a declaration of war and answer it with extreme hardline measures," the North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper said in a commentary.
It also issued a no-sail warning off its east coast, up to 260 km (160 miles) off the Wonsan area from where it launched a short-range missile in May and a barrage of short-range missiles in 2006.
North Korea has said it would fire an intercontinental ballistic missile if the U.N. Security Council did not apologize for punishing it for its April rocket launch, widely seen as a disguised missile test that violated U.N. resolutions.
The North appears to be preparing a long-range missile for a test that could be conducted as early as this month. It also appears to be readying for tests of mid-range missiles that could strike anywhere in South Korea or most of Japan.
The Security Council may adopt a new resolution as early as this week, but there is clear division among some members over how tough to be on the reclusive state.
Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone called for a strong resolution to make it clear that such tests would not be forgiven. But his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi said a "balanced" resolution was needed.
Clinton said last week Washington wanted the strongest possible resolution.
TERRORISM BLACKLIST
The United States removed North Korea from its terrorism blacklist in October in a bid to revive faltering six-party nuclear disarmament talks, prompting the North to take some measures to disable its nuclear facilities.
Pyongyang has since reversed those steps and said it had restarted the nuclear complex -- including reprocessing nuclear fuel to obtain weapons-grade plutonium.
China is seen as nervous of measures that might push its fragile neighbor into collapse, especially at a time when there is uncertainty of the health of leader Kim Jong-il, who is widely believed to have suffered a stroke last year.
Many analysts say the North's belligerence may be aimed largely at a domestic audience, with Kim, 67, using it to bolster his position at home with the military and to better secure the succession for his youngest son Kim Jong-un.
His eldest son, Kim Jong-nam, told Japanese television over the weekend that he would not be surprised to see his brother take over. If he does, it would be the third generation to head the world's first communist dynasty.
(Additional reporting by Kim Junghyun and Jon Herskovitz in Seoul, Yoko Kubota in Tokyo and Doina Chiacu in Washington; editing by Jonathan Thatcher and Jeremy Laurence)
SIGN ON!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Beth-Krom-for-Congress/55505738357?ref=share
FINALLY! SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP BRING OBAMA'S POLICY & SOME BRIGHT BLUE TO THE DARK RED 48TH !!!!!!!! ACT LOCAL - SUPPORT Beth Krom CA-48 SHE'S THE BEST!
PS: BETH IS FOR VETS INSTEAD OF THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY....SMALL BIZ INSTEAD OF BIG...HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS VS THE BANKS ... DISABLED TO BE ABLE ....
AND MORE!
Join your community, local dignitaries and religious leaders, as you add your voice to protest the ongoing slaughter taking place in Darfur, Sudan.
When:Sunday, May 17th at 2:30p
Where: Mile Square Regional Park16400 Brookhurst St.Fountain Valley 92708* meeting behind the Rec center (turn in on Heil)
Together we can send a message from Orange County to Washington DC that we will not permit genocide on our watch. We will re-sanctify the words, “Never Again.” There is strength in numbers so bring your family and friends. Spend an hour doing something that can make a difference!
Fred Thompson: Obama Loosed 'Dogs of War' on CIA
He also warns that Obama and the Democrats are making America look like a "banana republic."
Sunday, April 26, 2009 4:45 PM
By: Jim Meyers
Article Font Size
Former Senator, TV star and presidential candidate Fred Thompson tells Newsmax that President Barack Obama is revealing his “naivete, ineptitude and arrogance” as he deals with matters of national security.
The Tennessee Republican, who now hosts a radio show on Westwood One along with his wife Jeri, also said the “dogs of war have been loosed” over left-wing attempts to single out Bush-era officials for prosecution relating to the treatment of detainees.
Newsmax.TV’s Ashley Martella cited the announcement that the Defense Department is going to release many pictures showing alleged abuse by U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and asked Thompson what purpose that might serve.
“None, other than to serve as propaganda tools for our worst enemies,” Thompson said.
See Video: Fred Thompson Slams Obama's National Security Debacle - Click Here Now
“This was set in motion when the president first decided to release” CIA memos on interrogation techniques used on terrorist suspects, Thompson told Newsmax.
“There was no purpose in doing that except to make him look good internationally and to the left wing here at home,” he said. “It did a lot of damage.
“In one stroke of a pen he declassified top-secret documents that people would otherwise go to jail for releasing. It gave al-Qaida and the Taliban a blueprint as to the outer limits of our interrogation techniques.
“We have to remember that [the techniques were used] in the aftermath of 9/11. Congress was briefed on these techniques. Some of them asked if they were really going far enough to get what they needed to get, and it was approved at high levels in the administration.
“They carefully crafted them as best they could to not go too far, and to provide safeguards when they were carrying out these admittedly rough techniques on these people who had this vital information.
“So now we’re really talking about a war crimes tribunal, which this country has never done. We’ve never brought to criminal court prior administrations in this country.
“Harry Truman could have been accused of war crimes, I suppose, for dropping the bombs. President Obama authorized the killing of those three [pirates] in the Indian Ocean not too long ago. Prosecuting these people under these circumstances is something you hear about in banana republics and third-world countries, not the United States of America.
“The president’s opened up a terrible Pandora’s Box and there’s going to be a price to pay before this thing is ended.”
Martella asked if the Obama administration was acquiescing to its far-left base when it released the CIA memos on interrogation techniques.
“I think in this case, in all probability, they thought that they could cater to their left wing, appease their demands, by releasing these memos and then it might not go any further,” Thompson said.
“Because surely they were able to see that this was bad for them the way it’s going to be bad for the country.
“This is going to have ramifications that are far-reaching. They thought they could put the genie back in the bottle after they opened it, and of course appeasement never works that way.
“There was a firestorm. The attorney general’s received 250 names in a petition to urge the appointment of a special prosecutor for this. The left-wing blogs went nuts. They started running television ads and so forth.
“And then after promising that there would be no prosecutions, [Obama] acquiesced and now opened the door for that. So I think it’s a case of naivete, ineptitude and unbelievable arrogance and lack of experience.
“We elected someone who didn’t have two minutes’ worth of experience with regard to matters concerning national security. Now he’s cast in this position and he’s making decisions that are going to have far-reaching ramifications not only abroad, and not only with our enemies, but in dividing our country even further here at home in ways I don’t think we’ve ever been divided before.
“We’re going to have members of Congress testifying against each other if they go down this road.”
Martella noted that Rep. Peter King of New York has said that if Democrats do go ahead and attempt to prosecute Bush administration CIA interrogation lawyers, the Republicans should “go to war” with them.
“That just gives you an example of the atmosphere on Capitol Hill today,” Thompson observed.
“People are angry. People are upset. You’ve got people on the left, you’ve got the Democrats talking about truth commissions, talking about investigations and Congressional hearings and urging prosecution. They’re fighting among each other on the Democratic side as to just how they should go and how far they should go.”
Some of these Democrats are “the same people who were briefed on these techniques back in 2002,” Thompson said, “including Nancy Pelosi, who’s not telling the truth now, who’s trying to parse words and trying to get around the fact that she knew what was going on, as others did back when this happened.
“That creates a new level of animosity like I’ve never seen before, and I served in the Senate for eight years. The dogs of war have been loosed in this country and I don’t know what is going to happen before we see the end of it. But none of it’s going to be good.”
Thompson’s radio show is heard on weekdays from noon to 2 p.m.
what is the complete story? This is not it.
Waterboarding: Clearly not all of the classified documents have been released and not all information is available. But it appears that 3 leading Al Qaeda detainees were waterboarded numerous times after which, at least one of them, indicated that there were new terrorist plots about which the US would learn when they happened. Speaker Pelosi and other Congressional leaders were informed of the decision to use the controversial interrogation method and did not protest at the time. Information obtained from these waterboarding interrogations tipped off US officials as to the plot to blow up the tallest office building in Los Angeles. That plan was then foiled by law enforcement and counter-terrorism officials. Therefore, it appears that the destruction of that building and potentially the loss of many thousand American lives was prevented by these interrogations. But others say that such methods should never be employed by a civilized society even to save many lives. There are certain things we just don't do. As you consider such a decision, I think it is important to think about what might have happened had the information not been obtained and the building destroyed. Would we now be investigating intelligence agencies for not doing enough to prevent it, which is what happened after 9/11? If your son, daughter, parent, or spouse were in that building, would you feel differently? Before you decide, you may also want to know that pilots and special operations forces (Navy Seals and the like) undergo waterboarding during training to teach them not to break under these types of interrogation tactics. - PER CONGRESSMAN JOHN CAMPBELL R-CA
4-27 -09 email
Monday, April 27th, 2009
Quote of the Day: "I am for government rigorously frugal and simple. Were we directed from Washington when to sow, when to reap, we would soon want bread" - Thomas Jefferson
Your Turn: You hear from me and hear my opinions a lot. My thoughts are often based on information that you may not have because your full time job is not studying political issues and voting on them as mine is. So here's your turn to play Member of Congress. Here are 4 issues currently in the news or under discussion. I will tell you what I know about them and then give you 3 choices on what to do. Now, I know that some of you will say that you didn't like any of the 3 choices and you have your own idea. But often in Congress, we only get three choices - vote for it, vote against it, or abstain. I will give you the results in the next laptop report:
OK. So maybe that last one is a little tongue in cheek. OK, OK, a lot tongue in cheek. But there is a bill out there to do away with the BCS and the President has publicly called for a playoff system so it is now a government issue. I have not co-sponsored the BCS bill by the way.
Until next week, I remain respectfully,Congressman John Campbell
if it doesn't show up please ask for his 4-27 quiz. let him know how YOU feel
From: John.Campbell@address-verify.com
Subject: April 27, 2009: From Congressman John Campbell's Laptop to Yours
Date: April 27, 2009 9:30:58 AM PDT
Dear darlene,
The Newport Beach Women's Democratic Club cordially invites you to a community educational forum with special guest speaker California List founder Bettina Duval who will discuss strategies for building a pipeline to elect Democratic women.
Thursday, April 23, 2009 5:30pm to 8:00pm The Duck Club 5 Riparian WayIrvine, Ca
Please RSVP to Lori Vandermeir lori@vandermeir.com or call 949.218.6344
Participating groups include National Women's Political Caucus - Orange County Chapter, Orange County Young Democratic Women's Caucus, Progressive Women of North Orange County, Women For: Orange County andWomen in Leadership.
Hope that you can participate!
Sincerely,
BUT HE'S TRYING TO DO IT SOME MORE ON MAY 19. VOTE NO ON PROPS MAY 19 -DO NOT STAY HOME.
A few things worth noting this morning:
UNION WINS FURLOUGH SUIT: In a ruling on Wednesday, Judge Peter Busch ruled that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger should not have furloughed state workers at the State Compensation Insurance Fund.
SCIF, as it's called, is a self-sufficient business insurance provider that receives no money from the state's general fund. The suit against the furlough had been brought by California Attorneys, Administrative Law Judges and Hearing Officers in State Employment (also known as CASE).
Jon Ortiz has more on the State Worker blog.
The whole thing makes one wonder what's next for those California state workers who are being furloughed despite having their salaries paid for entirely by the federal government.
That practice, both in California and elsewhere, was the subject of a New York Times story over the weekend.
"The states' response is completely illogical," said Michael J. Astrue, the commissioner of Social Security.
OIL AND WATER: Fresh from his helicopter tour of the Delta on Wednesday, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will hunker down in San Francisco today for a hearing on offshore oil drilling.
Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, who was once deputy interior secretary under President Bill Clinton, plans to testify against such drilling.
Both houses of the Legislature have floor sessions scheduled for this morning.
BIRTHDAY: Republican Assemblywoman Jean Fuller of Bakersfield turns 59 today.
GOVERNOR 2010: Lew Uhler, president of the National Tax Limitation Committee, announced his endorsement of Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner on Wednesday, calling the GOP candidate for governor "a proven tax fighter for the people of California."
Capitol Alert Coordinator
VOTE NO No No on all propositons may 19th.
Please !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://ca.lwv.org/action/prop0905/flyer.pdf
Don't let the state raid the budgets/ cut services for other use!!!
California Democratic Counciland theOrange County Democratic Party
CDCAN REPORT
CALIFORNIA DISABILITY COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK
ADVOCACY WITHOUT BORDERS: ONE COMMUNITY
REPORT #115-2009 APRIL 14, 2009 – TUESDAY
California Disability Community Action Network Disability Rights News goes out to over 45,000 people with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors, veterans with disabilities and mental health needs, their families, workers, community organizations, including those in Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino, African American communities, policy makers and others across California.
To reply to this report write: MARTY OMOTO at martyomoto@rcip.com Website: www.cdcan.us
California Budget Crisis
ADVOCATES FEAR MORE MAJOR CUTS AS STATE REVENUES CONTINUE TO FALL
GROWING BUDGET DEFICIT WILL LIKELY MEAN GOVERNOR WILL PROPOSE MORE PERMANENT CUTS IMPACTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, SENIORS & LOW INCOME WORKERS AND FAMILIES – REGIONAL CENTERS, IHSS & OTHER PROGRAMS MAJOR TARGETS
SACRAMENTO, CA (CDCAN) [Updated 04/14/09 03:00 PM (Pacific Time) ] - Advocates for people with disabilities, mental health needs and seniors fear that more permanent and devastating major cuts are almost certain now to be proposed by the Governor and Legislature in late May, as revenues continue to drop more sharply than previously expected when the 2009-2010 State Budget was passed in February (four months early). [CDCAN photo, left of crowd protesting cuts on February 19, 2009 in Sacramento before start of public forum by the Department of Developmental Services on regional center budget reduction. Similar protests are planned for April 22 and May 7th]
While the Schwarzenegger Administration has given assurances that it will not propose suspension of the landmark Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, Some advocates fear that cuts could mean a permanent major scaling back of the civil rights law that protects the rights of children and adults with developmental disabilities. California is the only state in the nation to have such a civil rights law. [CDCAN Note: In response to the current cuts and likeliehood of more major cuts coming, a protest march and sidewalk demonstration is set for April 22, beginning at 11 AM to 1 PM, from the Sacramento Convention Center to the State Capitol L Street sidewalk, just before the Assembly Budget Subcommittee hearing on regional center and mental health budget cuts and issues. See CDCAN website for more details at www.cdcan.us]
That fear of more major cuts was underscored last week when State Controller John Chiang issued his monthly report on the state finances, showing a sharp drop in state revenues. That report by Chiang, who is a statewide elected official, largely confirms the findings last month by the Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) – the non-partisan office that reviews budget issues for the Legislature – which projected a larger than expected drop in State revenues, which will mean the budget deficit will grow back to well over $8 billion by June 30, 2010.
These cuts are in addition to reductions that were already approved in September (as part of the 2008-2009 State Budget passed three months late) or approved in February (as part of the 2009-2010 State Budget passed four months early). Some of those cuts have already gone into effect, such as the cut to the federal SSI portion of the SSI/SSP grant’s federal cost of living increase money that went into effect January 1, 2009 that the State will begin withholding (cutting) effective May 1.
Other cuts, unless rescinded by the Legislature and Governor, such as cuts to In-Home Supportive Services, elimination of several Medi-Cal optional benefits and grant reductions to SSI/SSP and CalWORKS, and over $100 million cut in spending to regional centers are scheduled to go into effect in May – and others will go into effect July 1, 2009.
One senior legislative staffer told CDCAN that people should worry – because “if the Legislature was willing to make cuts to the budget that it never would have made before – to In-Home care, to Medi-Cal [optional] benefits – then other major cuts to previously sacred programs are really possible now, especially if some other cuts are restored.”
$8 Billion Gap Comes Just Weeks After Budget Passed Closing $41 Billion Hole
That $8 billion shortfall projection comes just weeks after the Governor and Legislature hammered out a budget deal that saw passage of an early budget in February, for the State budget year that begins July 1 and ends June 30 next year, closing a over $41 billion deficit through major permanent spending cuts, temporary tax and fee hikes, fund shifts and borrowing. [CDCAN photo of Anna Wang, parent of child with autism, part of larger crowd protesting outside federal courthouse Feb. 18, against Medi-Cal, regional center, IHSS, SSI/SSP and other cuts]
The new $8 billion budget hole however is expected to grow dramatically by the end May when actual and new projections of state spending is factored in (the $8 billion figure is based on revenue numbers only). If the ballot propositions that call for spending caps, fund transfers and shifts impacting mental health and children’s programs are rejected by voters – as seems likely at this point barring a massive successful campaign by supporters including the Governor to win passage – the budget shortfall projections could easily swell to over $18 billion by June 30, 2010.
Growing Budget Shortfall Makes More Cuts Almost Certain
A budget hole of that size – even one of over $8 billion, would almost certainly mean proposals calling for major permanent spending cuts ranging in the billions of dollars – with a focus on health and human services.
Raising additional taxes and fees – even temporarily – at this point does not seem likely politically, especially if the spending cap initiative – which includes a provision to extend by another two years, the temporary tax increases passed in February , are rejected by voters.
Another factor complicating solving the budget crisis is the coming 2010 Statewide general election when the governorship and other statewide offices, all 80 seats in the Assembly and half of the State Senate are up for election.
Health & Human Service Programs Vulnerable For More Cuts
Though cuts to health and human service programs important to people with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors and low income families, were approved by the Legislature and Governor in previous budgets, including the 2008-2009 State Budget passed three months late in September 2008, and the 2009-2010 State Budget passed in February (four months early), those same programs and populations are especially vulnerable for more likely cuts again when the Governor issues in late May his budget changes and revisions (called the “May Revise”).
Especially vulnerable, advocates fear, are even larger “devastating” and permanent cuts to regional center funded community-based services and supports that serve over 240,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities.
Other programs vulnerable and likely targets for more cuts – and already subjected to cuts in previous years and this year and next – include In-Home Supportive Services, SSI/’SSP, CalWORKS, senior programs and other human services programs.
KEY DATES AND NEXT STEPS
· April - Assembly and Senate budget subcommittee hearings [key hearings on April 22 by the Assembly budget subcommittee on Health and Human Services dealing with regional center cuts and mental health, April 23 by the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services dealing with Medi-Cal cuts, including optional benefits, and mental health; May 7th by the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services dealing with regional center cuts. ]
· May – subcommittee hearings continue
· May 5 – voter registration deadline
· May 19 – statewide special election (several ballot measures linked to budget)
· May 25 – date when Governor is expected to release his budget revisions (this date could be a few days later). Advocates expect more major permanent budget cuts to be proposed.
· June – additional (and final) budget subcommittee hearings on new proposals by the Governor – and final action on any “open” budget issues. Legislative leadership and Governor likely to meet in order to reach agreement (unlike in previous years, these meetings would be about a budget already passed).
· June – any action to rescind previous cuts and restore funding (such as cuts to In-Home Supportive Services or elimination of several Medi-Cal optional benefits) will likely need to happen this month before those cuts go into effect July 1, 2009.
· July 1, 2009 – Start of 2009-2010 State budget year. Many cuts – unless restored – go into effect at this point, including cuts to IHSS, 2.3% grant cut to SSI/SSP, 4% grant cut to CalWORKS, over $100 million in state dollars cut to regional center spending and continuation of 3% regional center provider payment reduction through at least June 30, 2010.
· September 1, 2009 – additional 7.1% cut to regional center provider payments (on top of the existing 3% cut) will go into effect if another “trigger” in the 2009-2010 State Budget is pulled by the Legislature if they don’t believe the Governor’s proposal (issued by the Department of Developmental Services on April 6) that details changes in state law, will achieve the over $100 million cuts in State general fund spending between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010. With the deficit exploding to over $8 billion, and a strong push to restore cuts either to IHSS and some of the Medi-Cal optional benefits , some advocates now believe that this additional 7.1% regional center provider payment cut (on top of the existing and ongoing 3% cut) is much more likely to happen regardless of an “trigger”.
· January 10, 2010 – Governor must submit by this date, a proposed budget for 2010-2011.
· December 31, 2010 – End of the period of funding – unless Congress makes a change in federal law – from the federal economic stimulus bill.
URGENT!!!!
PLEASE HELP CDCAN CONTINUE ITS WORK!!!
CDCAN Townhall Telemeetings, reports and alerts and other activities cannot continue without your help.
To continue the CDCAN website, the CDCAN News Reports. sent out and read by over 45,000 people and organizations, policy makers and media across California and to continue the CDCAN Townhall Telemeetings which since December 2003 have connected thousands of people with disabilities, seniors, mental health needs, people with MS and other disorders, people with traumatic brain and other injuries to public policy makers, legislators, and issues.
Please send your contribution/donation (make payable to "CDCAN" or "California Disability Community Action Network):
CDCAN
1225 8th Street Suite 480 - Sacramento, CA 95814
You can also donate via credit card – paypal on the CDCAN site working again!
MANY, MANY THANKS to HOPE SERVICES in San Jose, FEAT of Sacramento (Families for Early Autism Treatment), RESCoalition, Easter Seals of Southern California, Tri-Counties Regional Center, Westside Regional Center, Regional Center of the East Bay, Friends of Children with Special Needs, UCP of Orange County, UCP of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, Alta California Regional Center, Life Steps, Parents Helping Parents, Work Training, Foothill Autism Alliance, Arc Contra Costa, Pause4Kids, Manteca CAPS, Training Toward Self Reliance, UCP, California NAELA, Californians for Disability Rights, Inc (CDR) including CDR chapters, CHANCE Inc, , Strategies To Empower People (STEP), Harbor Regional Center, Asian American parents groups, Resources for Independent Living and many other Independent Living Centers, several regional centers, People First chapters, IHSS workers, other self advocacy and family support groups, developmental center families, adoption assistance program families and children, and others across California
ALREADY many OBAMA FEDERAL STIMULUS funds for adultS disabled are being diverted to other programs - huge cuts including to psychologists are planned !
PLEASE VOTE NO ON 1E BECAUSE THAT BILL IS THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY !
DON'T ALLOW MH SPECIFIC $ TO "DISAPPEAR" IN THE CA GENERAL FUND.!!!!!!!!!!
WARning: CA CUTTING CARE TO DISABLED ADULTS on ssi/ssp THROUGHOUT all PROGRAMS increasing disability and inability among Adults with mh and multiple disability!
Act Now To Defeat Proposition 1E
California's Special Election is less than two months away. We must act quickly and take the necessary steps to defeat Proposition 1E.
From NAMI California by Grace McAndrews, Executive Director, March 26, 2009
It's up to us to act now to defeat this harmful act.
HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO:
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN
Attached for your convenience is a Fact Sheet & Contribution Form and Endorsement Forms for Individuals and Organizations. Please be as generous as you can. We ask that you share this information with all of your contacts, including members of your affiliate, neighbors, co-workers and friends listed in your address book. Post information on your web site and in your newsletter. Write letters to your local newspaper. Hold parties to support the campaign. Do whatever else is necessary to get the word out.
GET OUT THE VOTE
Voters who are registered to vote must vote at their polling place or vote-by-mail. This is critical. People who are not registered to vote must register by the deadline and vote either at their polling place or use the vote-by-mail ballot. This is critical as well. Historically, voting is light in special elections. We believe there is a good chance that t hose who opt for the vote-by-mail ballot may very well dictate the results of the May 19th election.
Those who wish to vote-by-mail can use the application printed on their Sample Ballot which will be sent prior to the elections, or one can apply in writing to their county elections official. If choosing the latter, you will need to submit a completed application or letter to your county elections official between 29 days and 7 days before the election. You can find the telephone number and address of your county elections official by looking in the front of your telephone directory in the White Pages Government Listing section under County Offices. Look for “Elections”, Registrar of Voters”, “County Clerks”, or “Voting.” For complete “how to” information of Registering to Vote and vote-by-mail, visit the following web site: www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections Go to Voter Reigstration, click on Vote by Mail.
Critical Downloads:
Click Here to download the Fact Sheet and Contribution Form
Click Here to download the Endorsement Forms for Individuals and Organizations
NOTE: 501©3 affiliates can participate in this process as well as donate money to the campaign. Your affiliate's non-profit status will not be affected.
Thanks for helping to defeat Proposition 1E!!
Source: NAMI California
Link: http://namialifornia.org
While Obama was still in France a Syrian man with fake press credentiais was Arrested in Turkey for the attempts to plan an assassination. He is being held and questioned. No change in travel plans were necessary. TURKEY who has little experience in high security handed most respsonsiblity over to a stepped up secret service. While the plan appears to have been real, President Obama was never in real danger.
OBAMA went on to Turkey to assure Muslims are USA friends. AND THE FOCUS WAS on alliance with Turkey to help end isreal-Middle East dynamics and provide potential future supports with iran and iraq. Obama ASSURED officials and citizens that WE want to support Turkey as a predominantly Muslim Nation and as they are now, a Modern Democracy. While The PAST was not discussed on this FIRST DATE, the speech was strategically significant .
The latest news is Pakistan has had updated incidences of suicide bombings and human rights violations attributed to the Taliban. it would appear THIS week - PAKISTAN IS THE BIGGEST HOT POTATO.
On other Obama FAMILY news THEY are looking for a WDC church. I hope he chooses one that is physically accessible.
