I am still basking in the success of our Tenth Annual Roosevelt Kennedy dinner and the inspirational words of our special guest, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and key note speaker, Congresswoman Katie Porter. It was wonderful selling out the 300 seat capacity of the Timbers Ballroom 3 weeks in advance.  Looking out on the audience from the stage was energizing and hopeful that Democrats are ready to step up and elect more Democrats in our county.  Thank you is not quite enough to recognize the work of our Fundraising Committee chaired by Susan Gutowsky.  The mighty committee of 5 Central Committee members and volunteers recruited fantastic speakers, recruited sponsors, monitored Act Blue reservations, worked with the catering staff, gathered additional fundraising items for the Wine & Chocolate pulls and created a wonderful evening! 

Hi Democrats:  In case you missed the 6/14 meeting during which Ryan Ronco explained changes approved by the Board of Supervisors, here is an article recently published by Placer County.  Please share with your friends, families and chartered clubs.  We need to educate our voters that these changes will be implemented for the March 2024 primary….Kathleen Crawford, Chair

Board of Supervisors authorizes county Elections Office to implement requirements of Voter’s Choice Act
Published June 13, 2023

The Placer County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to authorize the Placer County Elections Office to implement the requirements of Senate Bill 450, also known as the California Voter’s Choice Act.

These requirements include the submission of an Election Administration Plan to the Secretary of State which, if approved, will allow the county to transition to a vote center model beginning with the March 2024 Presidential Primary Election.

If it acts like a for-profit, political organization and talks like a for-profit, political organization; isn’t it a for-profit, political organization? And is it then tax exempt? The answer may surprise you.
 
The Internal Revenue Service makes clear on its website, the rules of tax-exemption:
Churches and religious organizations can receive tax-deductible contributions like 501(c)(3) organizations, as they follow these IRS requirements:

• The organization must be organized and operated exclusively for religious, educational, scientific, or other charitable purposes

• Net earnings may not inure to the benefit of any private individual or shareholder

• No substantial part of its activity may be attempting to influence legislation

• The organization may not intervene in political campaigns

• The organization’s purposes and activities may not be illegal or violate fundamental public policy.

The 501(c)(3) rules double down on barring political activity

The Placer County Democratic Central Committee (PCDCC) officially endorsed, and supports the passage of this important legislation, SB 770 - California Universal Health Care Coverage:  2023 Renewed Fight for Affordable Health Care.
 
In my commentary in the PCDCC June 1, 2023 newsletter, I stated SB 770 will provide the budget plan to form the building blocks to energize the consideration, in 2024, of AB 1690, Universal Health Care Coverage. SB 770 will address what the organization Healthy California Now advocated: … the need to “work out policy difference and establish a coordinated effort between the governor, legislature, advocates, and funders to produce an ‘actionable’ package of policy proposals in accordance with a waiver framework the Biden Administration will support….”  SB 770 has all the elements of this argument and will start the process of moving SB 770 through both chambers of our California State Legislature and to be signed into law by our governor. The major stakeholders are California citizens who will benefit from a single health care payor system supported by a solid financial system. 

As an appointed member of the Citizens Oversight Committee on the Sierra College Measure E Bond Measure, I attend quarterly meetings where financial reports on the expenditure of Measure E Bond funds are presented by Sierra College Administration staff.  The financial reports are very detailed and broken down by specific projects.  If you have not been on the campus in a few years, I can assure you that there has been substantial infrastructure investment in bringing the campus into the 21st century.

Editor’s note: this is the thirteenth in a series of summaries based on author and professor of history, Timothy Snyder’s book “On Tyranny”. The goal is to pass on his insights, wisdom and forecast to those who have not read his works.
 

While published in 2017, Mr. Snyder’s book is filled with “eternal truths”. The chapter is especially pertinent and valuable to us in 2023 as we watch Ukranians fight for their democracy. As we approach our elections, it should remind us how fragile democracy can be and the price that can be demanded to hold onto it.
 

Learn from peers in other countries.

On Saturday, June 10th, our Placer County Democratic Party held our tenth annual fundraiser—The Roosevelt Kennedy Dinner. Our special guests included Congresswoman Katie Porter, our keynote speaker, and Congresswoman Barbara Lee, our featured speaker. Enjoy the photos and videos of our event.

Graduations, Weddings, Fathers’ Day, Summer Get-Away plans after June 10 (don’t miss Katie Porter keynote speaker!)

June is the new “December” with so many plans and events keeping us busy! In addition to Fathers’ Day (June 18), there are graduations and weddings for many families and associates, not to mention getting in summer down time and vacations.  Locally, there are many events, starting on June 10 with our SOLD OUT Roosevelt-Kennedy Awards Fundraiser with our keynote speaker Congresswoman Katie Porter!

Lots of photos from our Placer County Democratic Party delegation to the 2023 Re-organizing Convention in Los Angeles. Enjoy.

May has so many events keeping us busy! In addition to Mothers’ Day (May 14), the CADEM convention (May 25-28) and Memorial Day (May 29), there are graduations and weddings for many families and associates. Locally, there are two events on the weekend of May 20/21 including the Auburn Home Show and Pride Celebration in Roseville at Royer Park which will keep our Event volunteers very busy as well.

In April, Our Community Engagement Committee met to discuss and develop our strategic activities to meet our goals for 2023. Using a strategy development matrix, the committee brainstormed resources and strategies to successfully accomplish our goals of increasing our active volunteer data base, promoting calls to action, and targeting both younger and No Party Preference voters.

On the horizon:

Is Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas the
far right’s gift that keeps on giving?
 
A gift consists not in what is done or given,
but in the intention of the giver or doer. ~ Seneca

For who knows how long, Justice Clarence Thomas has been heavily gifted by right wing, Nazi memorabilia-collecting, Harlan Crow.  The Republican megadonor has lavished Thomas and his wife with yacht cruises, art, and vacations that the justice failed to disclose. Unfortunately, that is not new. For his entire public career, Thomas has shown the world who he is, it’s time to believe him.