The Loop: January 2012

Issue # 6

There are a few issues of great importance in this edition of
THE LOOP that we hope you read in their entirety.

> One of the most important issues of our time is our liberty – the Constitutional promise that as a US citizen we cannot be held in custody without legal representation and the promise of a fair and timely trial by our peers. That promise is being challenged.  Read what Senator Feinstein and Congressman Garamendi are proposing (by scrolling down).

> A second issue is the unfortunate ruling by our Supreme Court that gives Corporations the same rights as people but without the responsibilities. We need our legislators to challenge this ruling in every creative and legal manner possible and for us to support their doing so. A third is the role that we have allowed money to take in our government. We must reinstate and/or legislate whatever laws will protect our democracy and require the responsible management of money in our economy and government. Again, we must require and then support our legislators to take those actions necessary to bring back the American Dream. Please don’t hesitate to write your newspaper, your various legislators, and our President so our leaders will know they have our backing for the actions we need them to take.  See what Senator Bernie Sanders is proposing (below),

> Taxing the rich, will hit the front pages again in February when the two month unemployment extension & $40/week tax reduction extension are up for renewal.  Governor Jerry Brown is trying to qualify a ballot measure to raise revenue for schools and public safety by taxing the rich.  Other similar measures also have been submitted to the Attorney General before signature gathering.  California will be the test case as to whether the Tea Party tide has been turned and public opinion changed on the issue of taxing the rich.  That will be up to us.  Scroll down to read the article comparing the proposed ballot measures. What if US land were divided like US wealth?  See map

Marie McDonald & Ellis Goldberg, Editors

Truth Bytes

Did you know?

I am NOT Disappointed in President Obama 
This 6-minute video is a MUST-SEE! This gentleman quietly, decisively, and succinctly sums up why President Barack Obama is the epitome of "Promises Made and Promises Kept" and why some progressives and liberals are misguided in their expectations and criticisms.

Sen. Bernie Sanders has proposed a constitutional amendment that would
Overturn Citizens United vs. FEC.  

The Saving American Democracy Amendment states that:

·         Corporations are not persons with constitutional rights equal to real people.

·         Corporations are subject to regulation by the people.

·         Corporations may not make campaign contributions or any election expenditures.

·         Congress and states have the power to regulate campaign finances.

Watch the video & sign the petition.

True Crime Finance Stories

Who’s to blame for the implosion of Greece—and the global economy?
By Greg Palast

The usual suspects not only pillaged the US economy but did the same in Europe.

The Republican will try to discredit
Occupy Wall St. in order to win the 2012 election.

This is their plan.

AFL-CIO’s president, Richard Trumka "I don't care how steep the hill….We won't end until we have an America where every worker can support their family and have some dignity and some retirement security, where every kid gets a chance at a great education and a better way of life."

Click here to read President Trumka’s profile in Esquire’s Americans of the Year issue—and see what speaks to you.

Barney Frank & Robert Reich tag teamed against Paul Ryan & George Will moderated by Christine Amanpour @ The Great American Debates: 'There's Too Much Government In My Life'.

Reich summarized “let me thank both of you for trying to defend the indefensible, which is that the market is working beautifully and you don't need much with regard to government.”
Watch or read

Memo from George Lakoff:

What’s next? That’s the question being asked as cities close down Occupy encampments and winter approaches. The answer is simple. Just as the Tea Party gained power, the Occupy Movement can. The Occupy movement has raised awareness of a great many of America’s real issues and has organized supporters across the country. Next comes electoral power.  READ MORE

How to demonstrate at the mall

EXPRESSIVE ACTIVITIES @ Stoneridge Mall

On Thursday, December 1, 2011 a small group of us TriValley activists sang satirical carols at Stoneridge Mall in Pleasanton. One of the activist dressed as Scrooge heckled the carolers, telling us to take a bath and get a job at Walmart. We had called the mall management a few days earlier and told them of the event. We got an OK for a small number to come to Stoneridge.  Full Story & Pictures

California Superintendent of Education Tom Torlakson responds to an October 1, 2011 editorial “California should seek waiver from No Child Left Behind law” with “Times editorial was wrong about state's education moves”.

 
Ignoring the price tag doesn't make it free.

While every Christmas shopper understands this simple truth, the Times unfortunately ignored it in its recent offhand look at education issues facing California.

First, it concluded that our state should join the 11 others that have applied for a waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind law, to provide schools with "the flexibility educators have been seeking."

Unfortunately, what strikes the Times as flexibility comes wrapped in nearly 100 pages of federal red tape, spelling out nearly a dozen new mandates that would cost between $2 billion and $3 billion to carry out — without a dollar of new resources. 

FULL RESPONSE

Foreclosure Deterrent Project in Hayward

On December 20 the Hayward City Council heard about SB1137 a California Law passed in 2008 that says: “A legal owner shall maintain vacant residential property purchased by that owner at a foreclosure sale, or acquired by that owner through foreclosure under a mortgage or deed of trust. A governmental entity may impose a civil fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) per day for a violation”. Oakland, Richmond & Oakley have enacted these ordinances with success.  Hayward is now looking into doing the same.

Why do banks foreclose instead of helping the owners renegotiate the mortgage payments? The federal bailout guarantees the banks would be made whole on the mortgage if they foreclose. If they don’t foreclose the banks risk not being made whole and losing money.

The project’s goal is to change that equation so that the banks which foreclose will have to consider the cost of keeping up property; looking at negative cash flow until the property is sold. Renegotiating with the borrowers could be better for the bank.

READ MORE

Senator Feinstein: Prohibit Indefinite Detention of American Citizens Without Trial or Charge
The Constitution gives every citizen the basic due process right to a trial on their charges

 Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, today introduced the Due Process Guarantee Act of 2011, legislation that states American citizens apprehended inside the United States cannot be indefinitely detained by the military.

The Due Process Guarantee Act of 2011 amends the Non-Detention Act of 1971 by providing that a Congressional authorization for the use of military force does not authorize the indefinite detention—without charge or trial—of U.S. citizens who are apprehended domestically.  FULL STATEMENT

 Momentum Builds for Garamendi Bill Preventing Indefinite Detention of American Citizens
Due Process Guarantee Act of 2011, H.R. 3702

Congressman Garamendi "We must clarify existing law to guarantee the due process rights of every American. It is a foundational principle of our great nation that we are all innocent until proven guilty and that we all deserve a fair trial." FULL STATEMENT 

Jerry Brown needs your help
From Governor Brown

My proposal is straightforward and fair. It proposes a temporary tax increase on the wealthy, a modest and temporary increase in the sales tax, and guarantees that the new revenues be spent only on education. Here are the details:

·  Millionaires and high-income earners will pay up to 2% higher income taxes for five years. No family making less than $500,000 a year will see their income taxes rise. In fact, fewer than 2% of California taxpayers will be affected by this increase.

·  There will be a temporary ½ cent increase in the sales tax. Even with this temporary increase, sales taxes will still be lower than what they were less than six months ago.

·  This initiative dedicates funding only to education and public safety–not on other programs that we simply cannot afford.

This initiative will not solve all of our fiscal problems. But it will stop further cuts to education and public safety.  I ask you to join with me to get our state back on track.  FULL LETTER

Competing tax measures could jeopardize Gov. Brown’s ballot initiative

Read Details

Three somewhat similar ballot measures have been proposed to the California Attorney General; a procedure prior to collection of signatures in order to qualify for the November ballot. 

"The Schools and Local Public Safety Protection Act of 2012"
proposed by Governor Brown

·                Increases tax rate on income over $250,000 to $300,000 by 1%

·                Increases tax rate on income over $300,000 to $500,000 by 1.5%

·                Increases tax rate on income over $500,000 by 2%

·                Increase in the sales tax by 0.5%

·                Use revenue for schools and public safety

"The Higher Education, Schools, Public Safety, and Health Care Preservation Act"
proposed by John L. Burton Chair of the California Democratic Party. 

·    Creates THE CALIFORNIA HIGHER EDUCATION ENDOWMENT CORPORATION

·    The endowment is a 12.5% tax on oil & gas well production

·    Funding higher education ONLY

"Millionaires Tax to Restore Funding for Education and Essential Services Act of 2012"
proposed by Joshua Pechthalt President of the California Federation of teachers.

·  3% tax on income over $1,000,000/ year but not over $2,000,000

·  5% tax on income over $2,000,000/ year

·  Uses revenue for many services

The most regressive ballot measure not yet submitted to the attorney general is the
BIG SWERVE to confuse voters enough so they vote NO to everything.

Think Long panel proposes a California tax overhaul
November 20, 2011|Joe Garofoli, SF Chronicle Staff Writer 

The Think Long Committee for California, which is proposing to overhaul the state tax system. 
A well-funded team of top California political, business and civic leaders will propose a ballot measure that would overhaul the state's tax system by simultaneously cutting income taxes across the board while raising $10 billion a year by expanding the sales tax to include services. FULL STORY

Robert Reich: An Offer to the President

Dec. 14, 2011 – Mr. President, we heard what you said last week in Kansas about the dangers to our economy and democracy of the increasing concentration of income and wealth at the top.  We agree. And many of us are prepared to work our hearts to get you reelected as long as you commit to doing what needs to be done in your second term:We agree. And many of us are prepared to work our hearts to get you reelected as long as you commit to doing what needs to be done in your second term:

 Raise the tax rate on the rich to what it was before 1981. The top 1 percent has an almost unprecedented share of the nation's wealth and income yet the lowest tax rate in 30 years. Meanwhile, America faces colossal budget deficits that have already meant devastating cuts in education, infrastructure, and the safety nets we depend on. The rich must pay their fair share. Income in excess of $1 million should be taxed at 70 percent the same rate as before 1981.

Raise capital gains taxes to the same level. It's absurd that the 400 richest Americans whose wealth exceeds the wealth of the bottom 150 million Americans put together should pay an average 17 percent tax on their incomes, the rate day laborers and child-care workers pay. That's because so much of the income of the super-rich is considered capital gains, now taxed at only 15 percent. Close this loophole.

Tax financial transactions. A tiny tax on every financial deal would yield billions of dollars more. It would also slow speculators and reduce the wild gyrations of financial markets.

Use the bulk of this money to create good schools, give our kids access to a college education, and build a world-class infrastructure, so all our children have a chance to get ahead.

Resurrect the Glass-Steagall Act,  that used to separate commercial from investment banking. It was put in place after the Great Crash of 1929 to prevent financiers from gambling with peoples' bank deposits. But it was repealed in 1999 and its repeal contributed to the Crash of 2008. Wall Street lobbyists have made sure the new Dodd-Frank law has enough loopholes to allow financiers to continue to gamble with other peoples' money. The only way to stop this is to bring Glass-Steagall back.

Cap the size of Wall Street's biggest banks and break up the biggest. They were too big to fail before the bailout. They're even bigger now. And because of their huge size they get preferential treatment from the Fed, giving them an even greater competitive advantage over smaller banks. Cap their size and break them up before we have to bail them out again.

Require the big banks that got bailed out to modify the mortgages of millions of Americans now under water, who owe more than their homes are worth. It's not their fault the banks created a housing bubble that burst, causing home values to plummet.

Mr. President, we know nothing good happens in Washington unless good people outside Washington are organized and mobilized to make it happen.

So here's the deal: We'll reelect you. We'll stand behind you. We'll give you a mandate to do all this and more in your second term.

As long as you stand behind us.

Deal?

Bay-Delta Members of Congress respond to BDCP Statement on Transparency
Members had advocated for a more open and transparent BDCP process

Washington, Dec 19 - California Members of Congress who have led the effort to make the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) a more transparent and accountable process reacted today to the statement by Governor Brown and U.S. Interior Secretary Salazar.

U.S. Representatives Mike Thompson (CA-1), George Miller (CA-7), Doris Matsui (CA-5), Jerry McNerney (CA-11) and John Garamendi (CA-10) wrote to Salazar in October, calling for the rescission of a signed MOA that was developed behind closed doors. In response, the process was opened up to brief public comment. The lawmakers submitted several public comments, as did hundreds of other individuals and local, state, and national organizations.   FULL STORY      

Congressman Garamendi Sends Letter to President in Support of Attorney General Harris' Investigation of Mortgage Fraud

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, CA) joined more than 30 Congressional Democrats from California in sending a letter to President Barack Obama urging the Administration to support California Attorney General Kamala Harris' efforts to investigate and crack down on fraud in the mortgage industry. Congressman Garamendi's district was especially hard hit by the housing crisis and Great Recession. Solano County continues to have the nation's second-highest foreclosure rate, and Contra Costa County communities like Antioch and Oakley have also been hard hit by foreclosures.

"The abuses and fraud need to be fully investigated, and I commend Attorney General Harris for taking appropriate leadership in helping homeowners," Garamendi said. "I hope the President uses the power of his Administration to aid Harris. We need to make sure that these rip off artists are exposed for their crimes, and to whatever degree we can help working families keep their homes, we should."

32 California Democrats signed the letter to President Obama.

DeSaulnier to Evaluate Performance of
Critical Health and Human Services Systems

Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) today sent a letter to Diana Dooley, Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency asking for her help in evaluating the safety net “to ensure that we are still meeting our missions and verifying performance through measurements and outcomes.”   FULL STATEMENT

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All items are reviewed and approved by an editorial board of the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County.