Meeting June 21 with CA Sen. Marty Block

California Senator Marty Block will speak at our club meeting Friday, June 21, 6:30 - 9 pm, at Jamie Carr's home in Fairbanks (map). As CA District 39 Senator, and AD78 representative for two prior terms, Sen. Block established a strong record in education and public safety legislation. Marty Block served 26 years as professor, dean and director at San Diego State University, where he founded the National Higher Education Law and Policy Institute and won numerous teaching awards.

Please RSVP here to be on the gate list.

Mayor Filner Spoke at Club Meeting

Mayor Bob Filner was the speaker at our May 23rd Rancho Santa Fe Democratic Club meeting.  He informed and entertained the 80 people in attendance, covering a wide range of topics. 

Tea Party promotes social welfare

When Tea Party groups applied for tax exempt status under 26 USC Section 501(c)4, they must have certified that they "operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare" per the law. The IRS questioned their applications, as Tea Party spokespersons frequently made political appeals. After some delay, the IRS approved their applications. Questioned by Congressman Issa, IRS Director of Exempt Organizations Lois Lerner refused to explain how and why they did so. If Tea Party groups sue, they may be in for a surprise. Federal courts might direct IRS to follow the law and recategorize such groups as political parties subject to Section 527 rules. This could get interesting.

Capitalism, Plutocracy?

"Is capitalism moral?", Steven Pearlstein asks in the Washington Post, questioning free market capitalism, regulation and underlying arguments of differing camps. Worth reading.

What do you think?

US Education Rankings

Among OECD nations, the US ranks 14th in percentage of 25-34 year-olds with higher education, and 28th in percentage of 4 year olds in early childhood education. Read this summary (found online here). Obama proposed to make early childhood education available to all. Your thoughts?

Reducing Gun Violence

Support President Obama's plan close background check loopholes, ban military-style weapons, make schools safer and increase access to mental health services. Click the link to see how you can help. Update: Read "The President's Plan to Reduce Gun Violence"; scroll down for details.

Immigration is Broken

Two complicated charts highlight our broken immigration system. The first, understand.pdf, shows the real system in cartoon form, with times to completion. The second, roadmapgreencard.pdf, shows pathways to a green card. Many immigrants do not have proper papers because the system is broken, not for lack of trying, not because they lack legitimate reason for being here. See President Obama's immigration reform plans here.

Del Mar Fairground Gun Shows - Ban or Pan?

I recently received a request to sign a petition calling for The Board of Directors of the 22nd Agricultural District, which controls the Del Mar Fairgrounds, to cease any new gun show contracts now and in the future.  This effort is in response to the recent tragic shooting of children in Connecticut.  While my initial response to this petition was spontaneously supportive, the gun control debate has reached critical mass and I feel it is important to thoroughly think through the issue.

Canvassing in Carmel Valley on the GO Team

Although I have been a life-long Democrat, this was the first election in which I committed to spending precious weekend days knocking on doors and getting out the vote.

Had I not been a member of the Rancho Santa Fe Democratic Club, I would not have volunteered for such an experience.  But who could say "no" to Marilee Mclean, with her angelic face and deep blue eyes, not to mention her frequent pleas for residents of Carmel Valley to volunteer their time.

Two true stories about Bob Filner

When he was elected to Congress in 1992, Bob Filner was assigned to a committee chaired by one Sonny Montgomery from Mississippi.  Protocol required that the new congressman and the chairman should meet informally and that the chair subsequently would introduce the congressman at the first meeting of the committee.

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