Senators Patrick Leahy, Chuck Schumer and Dick Durbin have issued the following call for support of a health care plan that includes a public option:
Nearly 50 million Americans -- one-in-six of our fellow citizens -- lack health insurance. Even those families lucky enough to have health insurance have seen their premiums triple in the past decade. America's health care system is in a crisis, and it's time to do something about it.
"This month, Congress is working on new reform legislation that will make quality health care available and affordable for all Americans. We support a public health insurance option that would foster greater competition in the marketplace, create more choices for consumers, and lead to lower costs and better quality for all. But we know the forces of the status quo will battle us every step of the way. Please sign this online petition, showing your support of Congress' work to reform America's health care system now.
Thank you,
Senator Dick Durbin
Senator Patrick Leahy
Senator Chuck Schumer
You can show your support by signing their online petition at this website: http://ga3.org/campaign/healthpetition
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Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Chittenden County Democrats Show with Sen. Tim Ashe
The July 6th Shittenden County Democrats show featured State Senator Tim Ashe. Tim and County Chair Mike Yantachka talked about ways in which the Democratic Party and Progressive Party can cooperate on the state and local levels. Sen. Ashe was a "fusion candidate" in the 2008 state senate race. As a Progressive Burlington City Councilor, Ashe chose to run for a nomination in the Democratic State Senate primary race. He won that contest and then was elected by a 400-plus vote margin to one of the six senate seats from Chittenden County.
Tim and Mike both agreed that the two parties share similar goals at the state level. Ashe acknowledged that those who identify themselves as Progressives tend to be a bit more liberal than the average Democrat. the most contention comes at the local level, especially in Burlington. Both Yantachka and Ashe agreed that it will be necessary for both parties to support a common gubernatorial candidate in 2010 to have any chance to unseat Republican Governor Jim Douglas. A caller reminded the panel that Gov. Douglas won by a 55% to a combined 45% margin over Progressive Anthony Pollina (who ran as an independent) and Democrat Gaye Symington. While this is true, Yantachka stated that the difficulty Democrats had in announcing a candidate combined with the way Pollina's request for endorsement by the Democratic Party negatively affected voters perceptions of both candidates, as bourne out by the overwhelming Democratic victories in every other statewide and national race.
The program will be rebroadcast at the following times by CCTV:
Friday July 17, 12:10 AM
Friday July 17, 5:10 AM
Friday July 17, 11:10 AM
Saturday July 18, 1:00 PM
Monday July 20, 3:30 PM
Monday July 27, 3:30 PM
The program can also be streamed online at http://www.cctv.org/node/77221.
LCATV and VCAM also rebroadcast Chittenden County Democrats shows at regular times. See their schedules for those times.
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Tim and Mike both agreed that the two parties share similar goals at the state level. Ashe acknowledged that those who identify themselves as Progressives tend to be a bit more liberal than the average Democrat. the most contention comes at the local level, especially in Burlington. Both Yantachka and Ashe agreed that it will be necessary for both parties to support a common gubernatorial candidate in 2010 to have any chance to unseat Republican Governor Jim Douglas. A caller reminded the panel that Gov. Douglas won by a 55% to a combined 45% margin over Progressive Anthony Pollina (who ran as an independent) and Democrat Gaye Symington. While this is true, Yantachka stated that the difficulty Democrats had in announcing a candidate combined with the way Pollina's request for endorsement by the Democratic Party negatively affected voters perceptions of both candidates, as bourne out by the overwhelming Democratic victories in every other statewide and national race.
The program will be rebroadcast at the following times by CCTV:
Friday July 17, 12:10 AM
Friday July 17, 5:10 AM
Friday July 17, 11:10 AM
Saturday July 18, 1:00 PM
Monday July 20, 3:30 PM
Monday July 27, 3:30 PM
The program can also be streamed online at http://www.cctv.org/node/77221.
LCATV and VCAM also rebroadcast Chittenden County Democrats shows at regular times. See their schedules for those times.
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Sunday, June 14, 2009
Chittenden County Democrats Hear From Majority Leader Nease
Chairman Mike Yantachka called the meeting of Chittenden County Democrats to order at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, June 9th, at the IBEW Union Training Hall in South Burlington.
In the absence of Treasurer Ken Brown, Mike announced that we currently have $628.80 in our treasury. He suggested that we have a fundraiser.
Mike then explained how the upcoming political party reorganization works. Local Democratic Committees will reorganize in September, followed by the county reorganization in October, and ending with the state Party reorganization in November.
Charlie Merriman, a candidate for Secretary of State, took a few minutes to introduce himself to the two dozen people present.
House Majority Leader, Rep. Floyd Nease, reported on the just-ended legislative session. He discussed the two veto overrides and some of the other major achievements of the Democrats. While the veto overrides were a positive outcome of the session, Nease stressed that the passed budget was far from ideal and that there would continue to be challenges ahead for the state. When asked about the upcoming session, Floyd said he’s not sure what the agenda will be for next year, that it somewhat depends upon what happens to the economy during the rest of this year.
Robert Dempsey, the new Executive Director of the VT Democratic Party, introduced himself and gave a brief outline of what is currently happening at Vermont Democratic Party headquarters.
Charlie Delaney, a member of the VT Commission on Native American Affairs, reported on the frustration of Native Americans with the lack of interest from the Governor’s office in trying to work out a way to recognize Vermont’s American Indians.
-- Submitted by Secretary Sherry Mahady
In the absence of Treasurer Ken Brown, Mike announced that we currently have $628.80 in our treasury. He suggested that we have a fundraiser.
Mike then explained how the upcoming political party reorganization works. Local Democratic Committees will reorganize in September, followed by the county reorganization in October, and ending with the state Party reorganization in November.
Charlie Merriman, a candidate for Secretary of State, took a few minutes to introduce himself to the two dozen people present.
House Majority Leader, Rep. Floyd Nease, reported on the just-ended legislative session. He discussed the two veto overrides and some of the other major achievements of the Democrats. While the veto overrides were a positive outcome of the session, Nease stressed that the passed budget was far from ideal and that there would continue to be challenges ahead for the state. When asked about the upcoming session, Floyd said he’s not sure what the agenda will be for next year, that it somewhat depends upon what happens to the economy during the rest of this year.
Robert Dempsey, the new Executive Director of the VT Democratic Party, introduced himself and gave a brief outline of what is currently happening at Vermont Democratic Party headquarters.
Charlie Delaney, a member of the VT Commission on Native American Affairs, reported on the frustration of Native Americans with the lack of interest from the Governor’s office in trying to work out a way to recognize Vermont’s American Indians.
-- Submitted by Secretary Sherry Mahady
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Sen. Racine Comments on Health Care in Vermont
The Chittenden County Democrats Show recorded on 2009-06-01 featured County Chair Mike Yantachka and County Senator Doug Racine. The discussion focused on the the state of health care availability and the effects of the budget on state-supported programs. This discussion took place before the historic veto-override session of the legislature on June 2nd.
You can watch this program on Channel 17/ Town Meeting Television, on Comcast Cable and Burlington Telecom systems at the following times:
You can watch this program on Channel 17/ Town Meeting Television, on Comcast Cable and Burlington Telecom systems at the following times:
- Saturday June 13, 6:00 PM
- Monday June 15, 3:30 PM
- Monday June 22, 3:30 PM
- Monday June 29, 3:30 PM
- Monday July 6, 3:30 PM
The program is also rebroadcast at various times on LCATV serving Northwestern Chittenden County and on VCAM serving southern Chittenden County. Check the schedules for those stations.
You may also watch the program on-line by clicking here: http://www.cctv.org/node/75546
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So. Burlington Dems Elect New Chair
At a caucus on Monday, June 8th, the South Burlington Democratic Committee elected Karen Ryder as Chair after the resignation of Bob DiFerdinando due to illness. Ms. Ryder had been the Vice-Chair and had assumed the position of acting-Chair the previous month. Kathy Anderson was elected to the position of Vice-Chair vacated by Ryder.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Has Your e-Mail Address Changed?
If you had been receiving Chittenden County Democrats e-mail notices and no longer are receiving them but would like to continue, please send Mike Yantachka an e-mail. It may be that we no longer have a valid address for you. Prior Verizon and Comcast customers are particularly affected, but anyone who has recently changed service providers needs to send us an updated address. Thanks for your assistance and continued involvement.
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Chittenden County Democrats Will Meet on Tuesday, June 9th
The next meeting of Chittenden County Democrats will be on Tuesday, June 9th, at the IBEW Union Training Hall at 3 Gregory Drive, South Burlington, at 7:00 PM. House Majority Leader Floyd Nease will be our featured guest. I hope you will take the time to come to the meeting to meet Floyd and hear his take on what worked and what didn't during this session and where we need to go from here.
We will also be looking forward to 4th of July events, a possible fund raising social event, and the reorganization caucuses that will be held this year.
Check the calendar on the right for other important events.
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We will also be looking forward to 4th of July events, a possible fund raising social event, and the reorganization caucuses that will be held this year.
Check the calendar on the right for other important events.
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