August 11th Meeting of Tempe/South Scottsdale Democrats

Tuesday, August 11th
6:30pm: Social and Team Meetings
7pm sharp: Meeting Begins
We're back at the Pyle Center (SW Southern and Rural)! (map)
We meet the 2nd Tuesday of every month at thePyle!

Featured Speaker
Sam Wercinski, Candidate for AZ Secretary of State in 2010 will give a presentation on D17's 2008 Election Results

Plus...Updates and Q & A from our State Legislators and City Councilmembers!

Questions: Contact D17 Chair Lauren Kuby: laurenkuby@gmail.com; 602-790-2156; www.d17Dems.org

Sign up for Attorney General Terry Goddard's Tweets

http://twitter.com/terrygoddardaz

What Are These Neighborhood Teams I Keep Hearing About?

With the help of the County Democratic Party, LD17 is implementing a BRAND NEW method of organizing within our district.  Neighborhood Teams allow for PCs from nearby precincts to work together, pool resources, and support one another, and it will shift our focus to more long-term, relationship-based voter contact.  The Obama campaign used this program in swing states across the country with amazing success.

Kristin Gwinn, an Obama staffer who jump-started Neighborhood Teams in several states in the primaries and general election, is now an LD17 Democrat who is working hard to train and mentor our local teams so that they will be an experienced and well-oiled machine in time for next year’s important elections.

She will be reaching out to you to schedule one-on-one and group meetings as she helps develop the various teams, but there’s no need to wait until she calls you!  Contact Kristin anytime if you want more info about your team, have suggestions, or would like to host a neighborhood meeting: 480-577-2172; kristin.gwinn@gmail.com.

2010 is just around the corner.  Let’s organize!

State Legislative Update

Early in July, the State Legislature met in special session to reconsider most of the state’s budget.  Republicans had passed a budget package along party lines in late June and the Governor vetoed most of it.  When the Legislature met the following week, the Republicans were so angry with their Governor that they joined with the Democrats in unanimously passing a budget patch that protected education funding and Arizona’s eligibility for over $2 billion in federal stimulus money.  That patch was signed by the Governor.

However, the budget is not complete, and there is still a wide deficit to address.

Until last weekend, Republicans and Democrats were working together to draft legislation that closed the budget gap, until talks broke off July 28.  According to The Arizona Republic, "this came as a surprise to Democrats, who had been negotiating a budget with Republicans all month.  The two sides were reportedly $500 million apart when talks broke off.  House Minority Leader David Lujan said Democrats are still willing to talk with the majority party, but the work that had been done in negotiations is no longer on the table."

The current Republican budget reinstates the June 30 legislation and, according to State Rep Kyrsten Sinema:

  • Includes a TABOR (tax payer bill of rights) law that prevents the state from paying for growth, which includes enrollment growth in schools and natural growth of health care (because we have a growing population).  TABOR would result in massive, mandatory cuts to education, public safety, health care, and social services in the coming years.
  • Refers a question to the November 2009 ballot (a special election costing taxpayers >$10 million!) that asks the voters to suspend Prop 105.  If voters approve the referendum, the Legislature could take money that is currently safeguarded for k-12 schools, health care, and early childhood programs and spend it on other things in the state budget.  The voters would then have no way to protect funding for their priorities.
  • Reduces taxes for corporations and the wealthy by up to 650 million dollars per year, starting this very year.  This will cost the state $1.175 billion over 3 years.  After that, it's 650 million out of the state coffers every year forever.
  • Refers a question to the November ballot that asks the voters to approve a temporary sales tax increase: 1.0 cents for the first 5 months, then 0.75 cent for a year, then 0.5 cent for a year.  All total, if the voters approve this, it will generate about $1.25 billion over 3 years.

The good news is that Republicans are having difficulty finding support for this budget within their own ranks.  The Senate adjourned at 6:30am Friday, unable to reach agreement and reconvenes on Tuesday, August 4.

Sign up to get tweets from our State Reps.: Ed Ableser (http://twitter.com/RepAbleser) and David Schapira (http://twitter.com/dschapirra).

New Bocce Ball Champions

D17 Dems and Young Democrats (YDs) from across the Valley battled it out on grass bocce ball lanes to raise money for the YD's national convention in Chicago this August.  The food was great, the drinks were refreshing, and a good time was had by all.  Congratulations to Mary and Scott Wall, who bested the competition and helped raise over $500 for D17 Young Democrats.  Many thanks to all who attended and made this event a big success!

Take Action: Support Health Care Reform

August is a critical time for building support for President Obama's health-care plan.  Support the President's plan by signing the petition.  Join Organizing for America (OFA) Organizer and D17 Vice Chair, Stan Williams, for a Health Care Pledge Drive or Phone Bank.  Contact: stanwilliamsofa@gmail.com or 602-796-2472.

Aug 4th (Tues): Phone Bank, Central and Thomas office (Arizona Democratic Party), 5:30 - 8:30 pm
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/healthcarephonebank/gpf7sy

Aug 5th (Wed): Light Rail Street Team, 5:45 pm
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/healthcarecanvass/gpf32g

Aug 6th (Thurs): Phone Bank, Central and Thomas office (Arizona Democratic Party), 5:30 - 8:30 pm
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/healthcarephonebank/gpf7s2

Aug 8th (Sat):

Political Events

Keep up to date with LD17 events by adding us to your Google Calendar.

Aug. 11 (Tues.): D17 Democrats Monthly Meeting (see above)

Aug. 16 (Sun.): DBacks v LA Dodgers: 1:10 pm.  The Maricopa Democratic Party has reserved discounted tickets for two more games this summer (September 26 game is the Padres).  A portion of every ticket purchased through this online ticket window goes back to the MCDP!

  • Special discount ticket options include (all lower level): All seats will be together and in best available seats.
    Bleachers/Bullpen Reserve – Sections 101-108, 136-144: $12.50-$15 (Reg. $15-$20)
    Baseline Reserve – Sections 109-111,133-135: $20-$30 (Reg. $30-$35)
    Baseline Box – Sections 112-114, 130-132: $25-$40 (Reg. $34-$44)
  • To get tickets: Go to www.dbacks.com/groups; Log in with sign-in ID – democrats; password: dbacks
    For more info, or if you do not have internet access, call Eric McKenzie at 602-462-4106

Aug. 19 (Wed): Nucleus Club Lunch: 11:30am-1pm.  Join Democrats from around the county for lunch, conversation, and guest speakers each month.  RSVP to 602-234-6545 by Aug 18.  Free to members.  Cost for guests: $40.  ww2.nucleusclub.org

Aug. 22 (Sat): D17 Pool Party and Social: 11am.  Angie's Pool House.  CityScape at Lakeshore, 4630 S. Lakeshore Dr., Tempe (east side of Rural between Lakeshore and Baseline).  Join D17 Democrats and Tempe City Council Candidate Arlene Chin for an end of summer pool party and social.  Gas grill available.  Bring a cooler for drinks and food.  No glass containers.  Bring a float or noodle if you want.  Pool volleyball will be played!  For more information or to RSVP, contact Lauren Kuby: laurenkuby@gmail.com; 602-790-2156.

All Good Democrats, Come to the Aid of Your Party!

Contribute $17 (or more) for District 17!  Donate online at www.actblue.com/page/d17.

Submit items by the 22nd of the month to allison.shannon@gmail.com.

District 17 Democrats
P.O. Box 26047, Tempe, AZ 85285
Paid for by District 17 Democrats.  Lauren Kuby, Chair; Craig McDermott, Treasurer.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.