Criminal Justice Reform

Posted on February 3, 2020 by Debra29

Inform

Restoration of Voting Rights for Felons

It has been common practice in the United States to make felons ineligible to vote. In 16 states and the District of Columbia felons lose their voting rights only when incarcerated, and receive automatic restoration upon release. In 21 states, felons lose their voting rights during incarceration, and for a period of time after, typically while on parole and/or probation.In 11 states felons lose their voting rights indefinitely for some crimes, or require a governor’s pardon in order for voting  rights to be restored.

Biden supports voting rights for formerly incarcerated individuals. Sanders supports allowing people to vote also while incarcerated.

The Federal Government and Private Prisons

US private prisons incarcerate 8.2% of the total state and federal prison population.
The Sentencing Project found that between 2000 and 2016, “the number of people housed in private prisons increased five times faster than the total prison population.” According to the Detention Watch Network, more than 70 percent of immigration detainees are held in facilities operated by private companies. Democrats take issue with companies profiting from incarceration, which they argue incentivizes imprisonment and cost cutting at the facilities. Private prisons experience more safety and security issues compared to government-run ones, according to a 2016 Justice Department inspector general’s report.

Sanders and Biden believe the federal government should stop using private prisons.

The Elimination of Mandatory Minimums in Federal Sentencing

The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 established minimum sentences for drug possession, including a five-year minimum for five grams of crack. Mandatory minimum sentencing laws force a judge to hand down a minimum prison sentence based on the charges a prosecutor brings against a defendant which result in a conviction — usually a guilty plea. Many states have such laws. These laws take away from a judge the traditional and proper authority to account for the actual circumstances of the crime and the characteristics of the individual defendant when imposing a sentence. About 45 percent of federal inmates were imprisoned on drug offenses as of Jan.10. The First Step Act eased some mandatory minimums, but Democrats argue they should be further reduced or eliminated altogether.

Biden and Sanders support elimination of mandatory minimums in federal sentencing.

Cash Bail Reform

After an arrest — wrongful or not — a person’s ability to leave jail and return home to fight the charges depends on money. That’s because, in most states, people are required to pay cash bail. Originally, bail was supposed to make sure people return to court to face charges against them. But instead, the money bail system has morphed into widespread wealth-based incarceration.Candidates who advocate ending the cash bail system argue it disproportionately affects low-income Americans — those who can’t afford to post bond and  thus face the choice of accepting a plea deal out of desperation (despite being innocent), remaining in jail until their trial (which could take months or even years) or being beholden to a bail bondsman.

Sanders and Biden advocate ending the cash bail system.

Capital Punishment/Death Penalty

Opposition to the death penalty is at its highest point according to Gallup polling.
While fifty six percent continue to support capital punishment for individuals convicted of murder, a majority of Americans say life without parole is a better punishment than the death penalty.  Democrats argue that the death penalty is unfairly applied. In addition, new technologies have exonerated death row inmates.

Biden and Sanders support abolishing capital punishment/death penalty.

Cocaine Sentencing Disparities

A 1986 drug bill instituted different sentencing guidelines for two different forms of the same drug – cocaine. As a result of the legislation, those arrested for offenses involving crack cocaine faced much steeper punishments than those using powder cocaine. This disparity has affected Black Americans at much higher rates than other groups. Some candidates argue that the sentencing disparity (now 18:1) between crack cocaine and powder cocaine should be eliminated. A bipartisan criminal justice reform bill, The First Step Act,  was signed into law in December 2018. In 2019 Senator Cory Booker introduced a bill called The Next Step Act. His bill would eliminate the disparity from 18:1 to 1:1.

Biden and Sanders support scrapping the disparity.

UPDATED August 11 2020

Kamala Harris, Vice President Candidate 2020
Kamala’s Plan to Transform the Criminal Justice System and Re-Envision Public Safety in America

  1. End Mass Incarceration and Invest Resources into Evidence and Community-Based Programs that Reduce Crime and Help Build Safe and Healthy Communities –  Make significant federal investments in policies that would end mass incarceration and especially into evidence-based, non-carceral social supports and programs at the state and local level to improve public safety and reduce violence.  End the “War on Drugs”. Legalizing marijuana. Invest money in states to significantly reduce the incarceration of women convicted of non-violent offenses. Sentencing Reform. End the use of private prisons. Create a bureau of Children and Family Justice. Promote Rehabilitation and Reintegration.
  2. Law Enforcement’s Primary Mission is to Serve and Protect Communities. It Should Instill Trust and Be Accountable to the Communities It Serves – Establish Law Enforcement Trust & Accountability. Create a National Police Systems Review Board. Have independent investigations of officer-involved shootings. Double the size of the Civil Rights Division. Prioritize mental health informed responses
  3. The System Must Treat Individuals Equitably and Humanely  – Stop criminalizing poverty. End suspension of driver’s licenses for unpaid fines. Humane Treatment of Prisoners. Keep families intact.
  4. The System Must Protect Vulnerable People  Clear nationwide rape kit backlog. Protect consumers against fraud and fight for victims’ rights.

 

 

 

UPDATED MARCH 11: POLICIES OF PAST CANDIDATES

Democratic candidates broadly support voting rights for formerly incarcerated individuals ( Bloomberg, Buttigieg, Gabbard, Klobucher, Patrick, Steyer, and Warren),  but only a few support allowing people to vote while incarcerated ( Yang).
All of the Democratic candidates believe the federal government should stop using private prisons.
All of the Democratic candidates support eliminating mandatory minimums in federal sentencing.
Buttigieg, Gabbard,  Patrick,  Steyer, and Warren advocate ending the cash bail system. Bloomberg, Klobuchar, and Yang believe you should reform or reduce it. Andrew Yang and Michael Bloomberg have called for providing states with incentives to reduce reliance on cash bail. Yang proposes  a federal pre-trial services system instead. Bloomberg recommends rewards for jurisidictions that adopt risk assessment tools to give judges greater discretion.
All of the Democratic candidates support abolishing capital punishment/death penalty.
Steyer support scrapping the disparity. Bloomberg,  Buttigieg, Gabbard, Klobucher, Warren and Yang have yet to state a position .

The Primaries Have Begun

The Iowa caucus is today, Monday, Feb 3.The next debate will be this Friday February 7 and only 7 candidates have qualified: Biden, Sanders, Warren, Buttigieg, Klobucher, Yang and Steyer. Though candidates can also qualify by earning at least one delegate in the Iowa Caucus today.

Next week, Tuesday February 11, will be New Hampshire‘s Primary.  Nevada follows with their primary; Saturday Feb. 22.  South Carolina closes the month with their primary; Saturday Feb. 29. My first post for the 2020 Elections explains what’s at stake in each state. What will their primary results tell us?

Respond

Next Post: Grief, Carnage and Gun Control

Posted in Amy Klobucher, Andrew Yang, Bernie Sanders, Criminal Justice Reform, Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Michael Bloomberg, Peter Buttigieg, Tom Steyer, Uncategorized, Voting | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Criminal Justice Reform

Income Inequality in America

Posted on January 20, 2020 by Debra29

Inform

Income Inequality

Have we become a tale of two cities? The richest 10% of households now represents 70% of all U.S. wealth.    A booming economy means that people who have higher income and own capital are able to see continued higher returns on that. Subsequently their wealth increases. This is a much larger gain than middle or lower income earners. The gap between rich and poor is at its widest in five decades.

The top 1% alone holds more wealth than the middle class. They owned 29 percent—or over $25 trillion—of household wealth in 2016, while the middle class owned just $18 trillion.

This has not always been the case. Before 2010, the middle class owned more wealth than the top one percent. Since 1995, the share of wealth held by the middle class has steadily declined, while the top one percent’s share has steadily increased.

The Top Two Candidates Address Income Inequality &
The Economy

 

Bernie Sanders
has called for an “extreme wealth tax” on the highest-income Americans, along with a “national wealth registry.” He would raise taxes on businesses whose CEOs make
at least 50 times more than their median workers.

Bernie Sanders also supports:

  • breaking up big tech companies such as Facebook, Google and Amazon.
  • raising the federal corporate income tax by returning to the original 35%.
  •  more than 12 weeks of partial income for workers to care for newborn children or family members with serious illnesses outlined by the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act
  •  a commission that will study the possibility of reparations to descendants of slaves. This may take the form of cash or targeted improvements to racial equity in housing, employment and other areas
  •  raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour nationwide
  •  the idea that the federal government should guarantee a job to every American
  • the government cancelation of all existing student debt for everyone
  •  a national rent control cap
  • keeping the child tax credit increases from the Republican passed 2017 “Tax Cuts and Job Act”, but not the standard deduction.

Joe Biden
proposes higher taxes on the rich, especially those who derive most of their income from stock ownership and other investments.

Joe Biden also supports:

  • strengthening antitrust enforcement of the big tech companies such as Facebook, Google and Amazon
  • raising the federal corporate income tax to somewhere between 21% and 35%
  • raising the Federal minimum wage to $15/hour
  • the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act that would fund up to 12 weeks of partial income for workers to care for newborn children or family members with serious illnesses
  • a commission that will study the possibility of reparations to descendants of slaves. This may take the form of cash or targeted improvements to racial equity in housing, employment and other areas
  •  raising the federal  minimum wage to $15 an hour nationwide

Joe Biden does not support:

  • a “wealth tax” but supports adjusting taxes on capital gains
  • the government cancelation of existing student debt  He supports alleviating student debt in other ways.
  • the idea that the federal government should guarantee a job to every American. He proposes ways to support union workers and the middle class.
  • a national rent control cap

Joe Biden has not taken a stand on:

  • whether he would maintain both the standard deduction and child tax credit increases from the Republican passed 2017 “Tax Cuts and Job Act”.
  • an affordable housing plan

 

UPDATED MARCH 11: POLICIES OF PAST CANDIDATES

Elizabeth Warren
has proposed an “Ultra-Millionaire Tax” on the 75,000 richest families in the United States that she says would help pay for universal childcare and
student loan debt relief.

Elizabeth Warren also supports:

  • breaking up big tech companies such as Facebook, Google and Amazon
  • raising the federal corporate income tax by returning to the original 35%.
  •  the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act that would fund up to 12 weeks of partial income for workers to care for newborn children or family members with serious illnesses.
  • a commission that will study the possibility of reparations to descendants of slaves. This may take the form of cash or targeted improvements to racial equity in housing, employment and other areas.
  • raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour nationwide.
  •  the government cancelation of existing student debt based on income.
  • and would  maintain the child tax credit increases from the Republican passed 2017 “Tax Cuts and Job Act”, but not the standard deduction

She is “open” to: 

  •  the idea that the federal government should guarantee a job to every American

Elizabeth Warren does not support:

Peter Buttigieg
proposes a capital gains tax on the top 1% of all earners,  and the elimination of Trump’s tax cuts for the wealthy.

Peter Buttigieg also supports:

  •  strengthening antitrust enforcement of the big tech companies such as Facebook, Google and Amazon
  • raising the federal corporate income tax by returning to the original 35%
  • the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act that would fund up to 12 weeks of partial income for workers to care for newborn children or family members with serious illnesses
  • a commission that will study the possibility of reparations to descendants of slaves. This may take the form of cash or targeted improvements to racial equity in housing, employment and other areas.
  • raising the federal  minimum wage to $15 an hour nationwide.
  • maintaining both the standard deduction and child tax credit increases from the Republican passed 2017 “Tax Cuts and Job Act”.

Peter Buttigieg does not support:

  • the idea that the federal government should guarantee a job to every American He has called for boosting the rural economy through development programs and partnerships, and supports the expansion of rural high-speed broadband.
  • the government cancelation of existing student debt. He supports alleviating student debt in other ways. 
  • a national rent control cap, but has other ideas for affordable housing.

 

Amy Klobucher
would raise capital gains and dividend tax rates for those in the top two income tax brackets. She would impose a 30% federal minimum tax for those with
incomes over $1 million.

Amy Klolbucher also supports:

  •  strengthening antitrust enforcement of the big tech companies such as Facebook, Google and Amazon
  • raising the federal corporate income tax to somewhere between 21% and 35%
  • the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act that would fund up to 12 weeks of partial income for workers to care for newborn children or family members with serious illnesses.
  •  a commission that will study the possibility of reparations to descendants of slaves. This may take the form of cash or targeted improvements to racial equity in housing, employment and other areas.
  •  raising the federal  minimum wage to $15 an hour nationwide.
  • maintaining both the standard deduction and child tax credit increases from the Republican passed 2017 “Tax Cuts and Job Act”.

Amy Klobucher does not support:

  • the government cancelation of existing student debt. She supports alleviating student debt in other ways.
  • the idea that the federal government should guarantee a job to every American. She does support investment in education and training for workers affected by automation.  She recently rolled out a  $1 trillion plan to upgrade and invest in America’s infrastructure, which she says will create thousands of good-paying jobs.
  • a “wealth tax”

She has not taken a stand  on:

 

Michael Bloomberg
calls for a dramatic increase in public investment, especially in areas that have seen economic decline. He has promised to increase spending on research and development by over $100 billion through agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense in an effort to innovate manufacturing and agriculture. Bloomberg also supports the expansion of high speed internet to rural areas and calls for scaling up federal apprenticeship programs.

Michael Bloomberg also supports:

  •  raising the federal corporate income tax
  •  the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act that would fund up to 12 weeks of partial income for workers to care for newborn children or family members with serious illnesses
  •  raising the federal  minimum wage to $15 an hour nationwide
  •  the government cancelation of existing student debt based on income

Michael Bloomberg does not support:

  • the idea that the federal government should guarantee a job to every American
  • a “wealth tax” but supports adjusting taxes on capital gains

Michael Bloomberg has not taken a stand on:

  •  breaking up big tech companies such as Facebook, Google and Amazon
  •  supporting a commission that will study the possibility of reparations to descendants of slaves. This may take the form of cash or targeted improvements to racial equity in housing, employment and other areas.
  •  a national rent control cap
  • whether he would maintain the standard deduction and child tax credit increases from the Republican passed 2017 “Tax Cuts and Job Act”

 

Tom Steyer
supports a wealth tax for those making $32 M or more.

Tom Steyer also supports:

  • strengthening antitrust enforcement of the big tech companies such as Facebook, Google and Amazon
  • raising the federal corporate income tax by returning to the original 35%
  • more than 12 weeks of partial income for workers to care for newborn children or family members with serious illnesses outlined by the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act.
  •  a commission that will study the possibility of reparations to descendants of slaves. This may take the form of cash or targeted improvements to racial equity in housing, employment and other areas.
  • raising the federal  minimum wage to $15 an hour nationwide
  • maintaining the child tax credit increases from the Republican passed 2017 “Tax Cuts and Job Act”, but not the standard deduction

Tom Seyer does not support:

Kamala Harris
Supports a proposal called the LIFT the Middle Class Act, a piece of legislation aimed at addressing the rising cost of living by providing middle-class and working families with a significant tax credit. It would provide a refundable tax credit worth up to $6,000 for households. If passed, it would come on top of existing tax credits and public benefits for lower-income Americans.

Kamala Harris also supports :

  • Ms. Harris has also attempted to use the policy as a catchall description of her economic vision, reframing questions about the racial wealth gap and reparations, for instance, into a broader discussion of racial disparity.
  •  a federal investment in teacher pay, an almost universally supported idea among her Democratic colleagues.
  • more than 12 weeks of partial income for workers to care for newborn children or family members with serious illnesses outlined by the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act.
  • a commission that will study the possibility of reparations to descendants of slaves. This may take the form of cash or targeted improvements to racial equity in housing, employment and other areas.
  • raising the federal  minimum wage to $15 an hour nationwide
  •  the idea that the federal government should guarantee a job to every American
  • raising the federal corporate income tax by returning to the original 35%.

Kamala Harris does not support:

  • Rather than trying to appease the party’s left wing with policies that focus on large-scale wealth redistribution and structural change, Ms. Harris has staked her bet on an incrementalism more reminiscent of Mr. Obama or Mrs. Clinton.
  • But some progressives view it as not bold enough — calling it an expansion of the earned-income tax credit by another name — and say it will not lift up the neediest Americans.
  • the government cancelation of existing student debt. She supports alleviating student debt by refinancing high interest loans to a lower rate
  • a rent control cap.
  • a wealth tax. Instead she is pitching a lower-middle-class tax cut for households earning under $100,000 annuallyand single people making under $50,000 a year. Families would pocket $6,000 annually and individuals would receive $3,000 through Harris’ refundable tax credit plan

Kamala Harris is open to :

  • breaking up big tech companies such as Facebook, Google and Amazon

 

 

 

This candidate has withdrawn:

Andrew Yang
supports a universal basic income ($1,000 monthly) to all Americans.   It would require the government to make regular payments to all U.S. citizens, regardless of whether or not they’re working, no strings attached.  He argues that it will help Americans at risk of losing their jobs because of technological advances.

Andrew Yang also supports:

  • strengthening antitrust enforcement of the big tech companies such as Facebook, Google and Amazon
  • addressing the federal corporate income tax rate by adding a “value added” tax
  • more than 12 weeks of partial income for workers to care for newborn children or family members with serious illnesses outlined by the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act.
  • a commission that will study the possibility of reparations to descendants of slaves. This may take the form of cash or targeted improvements to racial equity in housing, employment and other areas.
  • maintaining both the standard deduction and child tax credit increases from the Republican passed 2017 “Tax Cuts and Job Act”.

Andrew Yang does not support:

  • the idea that the federal government should guarantee a job to every American
  • the government cancelation of existing student debt. He supports alleviating student debt in other ways.
  •  a national rent control cap, but has other plans for affordable housing
  • a “wealth tax”, but supports a “value-added tax”

.

The Status of The Democratic Primary

There are nine top-polling Democratic presidential contenders with less than a month to go until the Iowa caucuses. My initial post for the 2020 Race Where We Are, The Presidential Primaries, and The Future walks you through the Primary labyrinth that’s ahead. Six candidates qualified for the last debate, January 14. The upcoming debates will be February 7, 19 and 25.

Endorsements

Candidates receive endorsements from prominent party members, in addition to the editorial boards of local and major newspapers in an effort to secure the nomination.

Last evening ,the New York Times broke with tradition and endorsed two candidates: Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobucher.  It was the end of a lengthy transparent interview process publicized as The Choice.

Respond

Multiple sites have tried to coalesce the policy statements of the leading candidates, though some sites might require membership to read such: The Washington Post, The New York Times, Politico, and USA Today to name a few. The Washington Post goes as far as attempting to match your policy opinions with a candidate.

  • Attend rallies and public events. Each presidential candidate will list activities and dates under the “Events” link.
  • Volunteer and/or donate to your House Representative and Senate re-election campaigns  (future post will be dedicated to these races)
  • Find and join a local community activist group 
  • Volunteer to Get Out The Vote (Nov 19 post for list of organizations)
  • Join individuals, businesses, government organizations, nonprofits and community leaders who have a role to play in the 2020 Census.

 

Upcoming Post: Criminal Justice Reform

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Amy Klobucher, Andrew Yang, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Income Inequality, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Michael Bloomberg, Peter Buttigieg, The Economy, Tom Steyer, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Income Inequality in America

Climate Change, COP25 and The Green New Deal

Posted on December 8, 2019 by Debra29

“The point of no return is no longer over the horizon. It is in sight
and hurtling toward us.”

Inform

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ speech addressed delegates at this week’s 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP25), and cited recent scientific data showing that levels of heat-trapping gases have hit a record high. Countries have failed to halt the rise of greenhouse gas emissions with China and the United States, the two biggest polluters, further increasing their emissions last year.   Unless emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are sharply cut, temperatures could rise to twice the threshold set in the 2015 Paris accord by the end of the century, he warned.

 Climate Change

The effects of global warming are seeping into our daily lives. Scientists prefer to use “climate change” when describing the complex shifts now affecting our planet’s weather and climate systems. Climate change encompasses not only rising average temperatures but also extreme weather events, shifting wildlife populations and habitats, rising seas, and a range of other impacts. All of these changes are emerging as humans continue to add heat-trapping greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.

The 2015 Paris Climate Accord/Agreement

The world leaders of the Paris Climate Accord made a commitment to make sure global warming stayed “well below” 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. They also agreed to “pursue efforts” to limit the temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

This year’s meetings in Madrid are intended to hammer out the last remaining rules on how to implement the Paris climate accord. To make meeting the reduction targets even remotely possible, global leaders must come up with a practical plan for cutting emissions in the next two weeks.  Experts say that if the delegates reach a deal on emissions trading, we might just about be able to reach the targets.

How far have we come since the Paris accord?

The UN Emissions Gap report noted that 65 countries (including Britain, France, and Germany) and some “subnational regions,” like California, have begun moving toward net zero greenhouse-gas emissions by the year 2050.

Since 2007, the share of electricity generation in the United States that comes from fossil fuels has fallen from 72 percent to 63 percent, according to a recent Center for American Progress report,  This decline is partly a result of federal investments in clean energy and state mandates to reduce pollution.

Getting to net-zero emissions requires changes to transportation, manufacturing, agriculture and more. It requires much more federal investment in research, as well as an open-minded approach that includes new technologies that can remove previously emitted carbon from the atmosphere.

In sharp contrast,  the Trump administration gave notice it would withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement on climate change. From replacing the Clean Power Plan to attempting to loosen fuel economy standards, it is another push from an administration that has made rolling back environmental regulations a top priority.

The Green New Deal

The Green New Deal is a nonbinding Congressional resolution that calls on the government to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create high-paying jobs, and ensure that clean air, clean water and healthy food are basic human rights. 

It envisions sourcing 100 percent of the country’s electricity from renewable and zero-emissions power, digitizing the nation’s power grid, upgrading every building in the country to be more energy-efficient, and overhauling the nation’s transportation system by investing in electric vehicles and high-speed rail.

To address social justice, the resolution says it is the duty of the government to provide job training and new economic development, particularly to communities that currently rely on jobs in fossil fuel industries. It also proposes working collaboratively with farmers and ranchers in the United States to eliminate pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector. 

Both Sanders and Biden support the Green Deal resolution.

The Top Candidates Address Climate Change

UPDATED MARCH 11:

Bernie Sanders plan calls for the United States to eliminate fossil fuel by 2050. It declares climate change a national emergency; envisions building new solar, wind and geothermal power sources across the country; and commits $200 billion to help poor nations cope with climate change.  It also calls for a moratorium on nuclear power plant license renewals, and it says that the goal of 100 percent sustainable energy “will not rely on any false solutions like nuclear, geoengineering, carbon capture and sequestration, or trash incinerators.”

Biden’s time line for cutting greenhouse-gas emissions states only that the economy ,as a whole,  should reach “net zero” emissions by 2050. He’s proposing spending $1.7 trillion over 10 years. He proposes the development of advanced nuclear power plants, and technologies that can capture carbon dioxide from fossil-fuel plants. HE pledges to rejoin the Paris agreement, and work with world leaders to boost goals for emissions cuts. In addition, he says he’ll push to end fossil-fuel subsidies worldwide.

Biden has pledged  to spend $400 billion over 10 years and create a new agency, ARPA-C, to accelerate research on small modular nuclear reactors, carbon capture, grid-scale energy storage, and lower-emissions methods for producing steel, cement, hydrogen, and food.

Biden wants to accelerate the shift to cleaner cars and trucks by restoring tax credits for electric vehicles, building out half a million charging stations around the nation, and enacting stricter vehicle mileage standards. He also wants to find ways to encourage the development of sustainable fuels for aircraft, reduce urban sprawl, and increase public transit and high-speed rail systems.

He supports setting a price on carbon, either through a tax or a cap-and-trade program. He isn’t calling for a ban on fracking, a drilling method widely used for natural-gas and oil extraction. He does support “aggressive methane pollution limits” and other tighter regulations on the sector.

Nuclear Power Plants

Nuclear power remains the nation’s largest carbon-neutral energy source, but it faces an uncertain future. Of the 97 U.S. commercial nuclear reactors active as of June 2019, 11 are scheduled for retirement by 2025, including Three Mile Island’s remaining reactor, which shut down this year. Only one new reactor, at the Watts Bar plant in Tennessee, began operating in the past 20 years, and two new reactors are under construction at the Vogtle plant in Georgia, with loan guarantees received from both the Obama and Trump administrations. Still unresolved are questions of how and where we can safely store nuclear waste.

Sanders would phase out nuclear power plants. Biden not clear if he would build more. 

Fossil Fuel Exports

The Energy Information Administration expects the United States to become a net energy exporter by 2020. The United States has long exported more coal than it imports and as of 2017 exported more natural gas. Exports of crude oil have shot up since a four-decade ban was lifted in a 2015 spending bill, passed by a Republican-controlled congress and signed by President Barack Obama.

Biden has nodded in the direction of thwarting exports but hasn’t included it in his detailed written plan. Sanders will ban all fossil fuel exports. 

Leasing fossil fuel extraction on federal lands

A significant amount of the nation’s fossil fuel production happens on federal lands and waters — 42 percent of coal, 24 percent of crude oil and 13 percent of natural gas in 2017. The extraction and combustion of these fuels accounted for nearly a quarter of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions between 2005 and 2014, according to a study from the U.S. Geological Survey study. The Keep It In the Ground Act by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) would end new federal leases for fossil fuel extraction on federal lands and waters. The Obama administration issued a moratorium on coal leasing in 2016, but it was reversed by the Trump administration, an action that has led to an ongoing legal battle.

Both Biden and Sanders would end this leasing. 

Elimination of fossil fuel subsidies

The federal government subsidizes fossil fuel exploration and production through a number of tax breaks. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that these tax breaks cost $4.6 billion in 2016. The Trump administration proposed a rule that would prop up coal by crediting power plants that keep a 90-day supply of fuel; it was rejected by regulators.

Both Sanders and Biden would eliminate fossil fuel subsidies. 

UPDATED MARCH 11: POLICIES OF PAST CANDIDATES

Elizabeth Warren’s plan is to to move the U.S. to 100 percent clean energy, spur economic development with a raft of new jobs and protect poor communities dependent on fossil fuels. Her multi pronged approach to addressing climate change would target eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, vehicles and the electric grid while creating millions of new jobs in manufacturing and clean energy.

Peter Buttigieg’s plan calls for doubling clean electricity in the US by 2025, zero emissions in electricity generation by 2035, net-zero emissions from industrial vehicles by 2040, and a net-zero emissions by 2050.The plan also raises a variety of economic tools to accelerate the shift toward a low-carbon future, like climate action bonds, creating a clean energy bank, and ending subsidies for fossil fuels. It includes a special focus on supporting towns and cities like South Bend . He believes every part of the country deserves the chance to participate through energy efficiency upgrades, job training for displaced workers, or resiliency against extreme weather.

Amy Klobuchar‘s plan would implement strict fuel efficiency standards for automobiles and place limits on carbon pollution from power plants. It would create  incentives to expand climate research and clean energy.  She would ask Congress for more ambitious action, including a law to set a target of 100 percent net zero emissions by 2050, and some kind of price on carbon.

Michael Bloomberg’s  plan is to slash U.S. carbon dioxide emissions that are driving climate change by half in 10 years. It calls for replacing all coal plants with clean power plants by 2030. He would quadruple federal funding for clean energy research, expand solar and wind tax credits and create tax incentives for battery storage and hydrogen fuel technology. Bloomberg would factor in climate risks and community impacts in all environmental reviews and beef up enforcement staff at the Environmental Protection Agency.

 

Tom Steyer’s plan calls for cutting “fossil fuel pollution” from all sectors in order to achieve a 100 percent clean energy economy and net-zero global-warming pollution by 2045. It sets a target of no later than 2030 to eliminate toxic air pollution from diesel engines, power plants and other sources.The plan would also establish a Civilian Climate Corps to create 1 million jobs, as well as training and resources to help communities transition toward clean energy.

Kamala Harris’s plan  seeks  to make environmental justice a central part of her climate plan, including working with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), the avatar of the Green New Deal, to draft a Climate Equity Act. They propose that all environmental and climate legislation and regulations be scored for their impacts on “frontline” communities—the same kind of analysis that is now required for the budget impact of legislation and the economic costs and benefits of regulations. The idea is to maximize the benefits and minimize the negative impacts for those who live in poor and minority neighborhoods that contend with high levels of air and water pollution and are also in the crosshairs of global warming impacts .

In her climate plan  Harris pledged $10 trillion in investment over 10 years in the clean energy transition, a plan that catapulted her into the top tier of candidates committing to spend the most on climate actions, but she does not specify how much of that money would come from public spending and how much from the private sector.

These candidates have withdrawn: 

Andrew Yang’s plan commits to an aggressive timeline for abandoning fossil fuels: a zero-emissions requirement for all new cars by 2030, a 100 percent renewable electric grid by 2035, net-zero emissions from transportation by 2040, and net-zero emissions overall by 2049 . He would set a carbon tax of $40 per ton, rising gradually to $100 per ton. He proposes massive subsidies for two alternatives to traditional nuclear reactors: nuclear fusion and thorium power. A section of his plan called “Moving to Higher Ground” focuses on supporting humans in adapting to climate related disasters. 

Cory Booker’s plan would direct spending to develop clean energy, energy storage and electric vehicle technologies. It would establish a carbon fee and dividend program that would return money to citizens on a monthly basis. The plan would shoot to achieve 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2030 and a carbon neutral economy by 2045. It would create an Environmental Justice Fund, to replace all lead drinking water pipes, clean up polluted sites around the country and ensure proper wastewater disposal for households. In addition the plan involves planting billions of trees, turbo-charging sustainable agriculture practices and reestablishing the Civilian Conservation Corps to help provide young people with jobs.

The December 19 Debate 

Candidates must meet the following requirement:
           contributions from 200,000 unique donors

And one of two polling requirements between Oct 16 and Dec 12:
          two polls at 6 percent or more in the four early nominating states:
                  Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina
          or
          four polls at 4 percent or more in early nominating states or national surveys

Seven candidates have qualified for the December debate :
Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Peter Buttigieg, Amy Klobucher , Tom Steyer and Andrew Yang

The following candidates are still in the race, as of December 7, 2019, should you want to explore their climate change proposals:

Julian Castro,  Michael Bennet, Tulsi Gabbard, John Delaney, Marianne Williamson, Deval Patrick, and Michael Bloomberg

Respond

  • Watch the sixth Primary Debate co-hosted by PBS NewsHour and Politico on Thursday, December 19 at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
  • Get involved with any of the top environmental advocacy groups:                     National Resources Defense Council
    350.org
    Friends of The Earth
    Environmental Defense Fund
  • Attend rallies and public events for 2020 presidential and congressional candidates. Each presidential candidate will list activities and dates under the “Events” link. Your Congressional member will post town hall meetings and fundraising events.
  • Volunteer and Donate Your Democratic House Representatives are already beginning their campaigns for re-election in 2020, along with 12 Democratic Senators.
  • Follow the candidate(s) on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

Upcoming Post

Income Inequality in America

 

Posted in 2020 Democratic Primaries, Amy Klobucher, Andrew Yang, Bernie Sanders, Climate Change, COP25, Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren, Environment, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Michael Bloomberg, Paris Climate Accord, Peter Buttigieg, presidential candidates, The Green New Deal, Tom Steyer, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Climate Change, COP25 and The Green New Deal

Health Care & Medicare For All

Posted on November 19, 2019 by Debra29

Inform

The State of Health Care Today

The cost and quality of the U.S. healthcare system is one of the most prominent issues facing everyday Americans. It is a top policy concern for voters, a key indicator of economic efficiency, and a significant driver of the national debt.
Americans will spend $52 trillion over the next decade on health care,

The Affordable Care Act offered subsidies for individuals and families to buy private plans through a government exchange. Unfortunately the ACA’s exchanges have struggled to attract insurance companies, leaving many areas with few choices of plans. Customers who make too much money to qualify for subsidies have sometimes found the plans unaffordable, while others have complained that deductibles, while capped under the law, are still too high. While it reduced the share of uninsured, 27 million Americans still don’t have insurance.

The ACA also expanded and extended Medicaid eligibility to uninsured adults and children whose incomes are at or below 138% of the federal poverty level (family of 4 can make up to $34,638). As of July 2019, however, only 36 states and the District of Columbia have chosen to adopt the adult expansion.

For those who do have insurance through their job or through an individual plan, deductibles are rising faster than wages and customers can face surprise hospital bills from out-of-network doctors and specialists. The US health care system now costs nearly double what other high-income countries pay, per capita.  The industry is crippled by an expensive, nontransparent and discriminatory pricing system. A complex system of profit-driven corporations, from manufactures to insurance companies, add cost at every juncture. Americans spent $3.56 trillion on health care in 2018 with 59% going to hospitals, doctors, and clinical services. Prescription drug spending was up 3.5% due to higher prices. Medical debt and/or bankruptcy has severe consequences for the 80 million struggling with medical bills. It is a problem that cuts across age groups and educational levels. It is time for health care reform in America.

Right now, multiple groups pay for healthcare. That includes private health insurance companies, employers, and the government, through programs like Medicare and Medicaid. There are a number of proposals out there that would expand the role of public programs in healthcare.

UPDATED MARCH 11:

The Sanders “Medicare For All” Plan

Medicare for All is a single-payer, government-run health care program in which all Americans are covered. Most people tend to think of the most far-reaching “Medicare for All” proposals outlined in bills sponsored by Presidential Candidate  Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep. Pramila Jayapal,  These two bills share many similarities. Presidential Candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren signed onto Mr. Sanders’s single-payer legislation.

The Nuts and Bolts

This single payer national health insurance plan is tax financed and includes comprehensive benefits. It is a replacement for all private health insurance, as well as the current Medicare program. The plan includes lifetime enrollment and no premiums.  There will be no out-of-pocket costs for healthcare-related expenses. Deductibles, coinsurance, and co-pays would be prohibited. Pre-existing conditions will be covered. The plan includes inpatient and outpatient hospital care, emergency services, preventative services, most prescription drugs, as well as dental and vision coverage. The Sanders and Warren websites provide more detail.

What will the Sanders “Medicare For All” plan cost?
A report released by the Urban Institute  found that his single-payer approach would cost $34 trillion over 10 years.

How will Sanders “Medicare For All” plan be paid for?
Sanders proposes paying for his version of Medicare For All with a payroll tax on employers, income based household premiums, taxes on the wealthy, and taxes on corporations. He would also make the federal income and estate tax more progressive, impose a large fee on large financial institutions and close the Gingrich-Edwards Loophole.  The loophole allows self-employed people who set up so-called S corporations to avoid paying taxes into Social Security and Medicare.  

 

Critics & Supporters of Sanders’ “Medicare For All”

Critics say the cost of “Medicare For All” will be astronomical, worry how it will be paid for and question whether the government can effectively manage such a massive undertaking. They also believe the plans require Congress to pass far-reaching legislation, an enormous political challenge and a virtual impossibility unless Democrats win control of the Senate. Other say that people who get employer insurance report being satisfied with their plans,  and could be upset if they’re required to join a new government program instead.

Supporters of a single-payer plan argue it could hold down costs by negotiating or requiring lower payments to doctors, hospitals and drug companies, while eliminating overhead associated with private insurance.They argue  that money currently going to premiums would help offset the new taxes on individuals and families.

Single Payer “Public Option” Health Care Plans

UPDATED BIDEN PLAN (MARCH 11):

 Many people believe that Biden’s plan  is much more ambitious than Obamacare – and despite its incremental label, would make some very controversial changes. “No matter how much Biden wants to draw distinctions between his proposals and single-payer, his plan looks suspiciously like “SandersCare Lite,” writes former congressional aide and conservative commentator Chris Jacobs in a column for The Federalist.

The centerpiece of the Biden plan is a Medicare-like public option for people seeking individual coverage on the ACA exchanges. It would be offered as an alternative to private insurance, not as a replacement. 

His plan would would enhance premium subsidies for the insurance purchased on ACA exchanges . They would be scaled so that premiums would consume no more than 8.5 percent of family income. It would allow employees, presently in an employer sponsored plan, become eligible for subsidies if they switch to plans offered on the ACA exchanges.

The Biden plan retains Medicaid as the primary vehicle for delivering health care to people with low incomes. States presently in the expanded Medicaid can switch to the public option provided they continued to pay their current share of the costs. In the 14 states that have not offered expanded coverage, low-income residents would be eligible for zero-premium coverage under the new public option.

UPDATED MARCH 11: POLICIES OF PAST CANDIDATES

What will the Warren’s “Medicare For All” plan cost?
Warren’s campaign said her single-payer health plan would cost $20.5 trillion over ten years. She recently modified her plan to start with a public option and transition into Medicare For All. She has yet posted a new projection of cost.

How will Warren’s “Medicare For All” plan be paid for?
Warren pledged not to raise middle class taxes, but instead to tax financial firms, large corporations, top 1% and other sources. In addition she will shift the burden of most health-care costs from consumers, in the form of spending such as premiums, deductibles and copays, to federal,  state and local governments and employers. Her tax on employers is meant to replace the amount that companies now pay directly to health insurers.

Elizabeth Warren just recently modified her Medicare For All plan by starting out with a public option . Only later, in her third year in the White House, does Warren say she would pursue Medicare-for-all legislation.  The remaining Democratic candidates back more modest proposals that would expand access to Medicare and Medicaid without ending the private insurance system.  Most of these alternatives involve allowing individuals or employers to purchase a Medicare-like “public option,” a government insurance plan that would compete with private plans rather than replace them.

Pete Buttigieg’s ( Medicare For All Who Want It plan would cost $1.5 trillion over ten years. It would offer public health insurance to those who want it , while also keeping private health care plans available. Affordable insurance will be offered to the currently uninsured.  It would end surprise billing, make the marketplace coverage more affordable, limit cost of out of network care and offer mental health parity. In addition, it would tackle high administrative costs, and monitor health care mergers. Critics of the plan believe it won’t guarantee universal coverage, props up the existing health care industry, and only offers to finance the plan by tightening corporate taxes. 

Amy Klobucher prefers offering a Medicaid-type plan, embracing a bill to create a Medicaid-based public health-care option on state insurance marketplaces. She also signed onto a bill to lower the Medicare eligibility age to 50. She has specific plans for  health care (public option),  prescription drug, addiction,  mental health and more. 

Michael Bloomberg unveiled a health plan  that would create a government-run health insurance public option plan but not provide universal guaranteed coverage. He believes smaller changes can make medical care more affordable while preserving the private insurance more than 150 million Americans receive through their employers. His plan focuses focuses on building on the policies in the Affordable Care Act

Tom Steyer  supports a universal health care system, including a strong public option that aggressively competes with the private insurance marketplace, drives down costs, and expands coverage.” His   Affordable Health Care For All includes enacting antitrust regulations for the health care industry and limiting prescription pricing.

Tulis Gabbard co-sponsed the Medicare for All Act. “I support a single-payer system that will allow individuals to access private insurance if they choose,” A single-payer system like Medicare-for-all would effectively eliminate private insurance. Her  Health Care For All plan guarantees every American will get the health care they need.

These candidates have dropped out: 
Andrew Yang’s plan to work with Congress to create a Medicare For All system including holistic healthcare.
Cory Booker’s fight for Medicare For All, lowering prescription prices, combating opiod addiction and more.
Kamala Harris’ Medicare For All plan  (public option) and fair prescription drug prices

How do Americans Feel About Health Care Reform?

Six in ten Americans believe that it is the federal government’s responsibility to make sure all Americans have health care coverage. American opinions about a single payer government run health care program have evolved over time. At the beginning of 2019 only one in 10 registered voters wanted the equivalent of Medicare For All if it meant abolishing private health insurance plans.

As time went on support grew for a Medicare For All plan if preferred providers stayed in the program.  Recent polls are showing up to 70% supporting the Medicare for All proposal. There’s a sea change in the way doctors, themselves, are talking about health care reform. From 2008 to 2017, the share of physicians who favor single-payer health care increased from 42% to 56%.

But which version of Medicare For All? At this point public opinion seems to be split between expansive changes, like Sanders and Warren proposals, or a less sweeping overhaul that would simply move the country closer to universal coverage, such as those from Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg.  A final third support Republican plan which would reduce federal involvement in the health system and give more money and autonomy to states.

In a survey released on Oct 19, the Kaiser Family foundation found that “more Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents would prefer voting for a candidate who wants to build on the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) in order to expand coverage and reduce costs…..In addition they found broad support for proposals that expand the role of public programs like Medicare and Medicaid as well as a government-administered public option.”

 

Respond

  • Watch tomorrow’s debate in Georgia, Wednesday Nov 20
  • Link to the presidential candidate sites above and learn more about those you are leaning toward.
  • Attend Presidential candidates and your own Congressional member rallies and public events. Each presidential candidate will list activities and dates under the “Events” link. Your Congressional member will post town hall meetings and fundraising events. Ask questions.
  • Volunteer and Donate to Presidential primary and Congressional candidates. Your Democratic House Representatives are already beginning their campaigns for re-election in 2020, along with 12 Democratic Senators.
  • Follow the candidate(s) on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
  • Research the remaining 9 candidates who are still running, (as of Nov 18), and have their own policy proposals out there.  Just recently, former Massachusetts Governor and Bain Capital partner Deval Patrick has announced his candidacy.  In addition, billionaire former mayor Michael Bloomberg is close to announcing his decision to run. The remaining 7 Democratic candidates include Julian Castro, Steve Bullock, Michael Bennet, Marianne Williamson, John Delaney, Joe Sestak, and Wayne Messam
  • Volunteer to Get Out The Vote for 2020 with organizations such as

My next post: Climate Change, COP25 and The Green New Deal

Posted in Amy Klobucher, Andrew Yang, Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren, Health Care, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Medicare for All, Michael Bloomberg, Peter Buttigieg, presidential candidates, Tom Steyer, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Health Care & Medicare For All

November 2019: Where We Are, The Presidential Primaries, and The Future

Posted on November 6, 2019 by Debra29

It is you, the individual citizen, who stays informed, attends meetings, makes financial contributions, votes, canvasses, demonstrates, phone banks, volunteers and does all you can to make a difference. And it does. On the local, state and national level.

This political blog was created as a civic response to the current presidential administration’s policies and legislation. Past posts included information and actions in preparation for the 2018 Congressional, State and Local elections. Today we start to prepare for the 2020 Presidential and Congressional elections.

The House of Representatives

The past
For Democrats to flip the House, they needed to gain 23 seats in 2018.  Any fewer and Republicans would maintain control.

2018 Midterm Election Results: Democrats gained 41 seats and won control of the House.

The present
There are 234 Democrats, 197 Republicans and 1 Independent in the House of Representatives. The Democrats hold the majority. In addition, there are 3 vacancies as of September 30 2019: Representative Duffy (R) resigned, Representative Chris Collins (R) resigned and Representative Cummings (D) passed away. A total of 435 seats.

The future
The 2020 House Race: All 435 U.S. House seats will be up for election.

The Senate

The past
For Democrats to flip the Senate, they needed to gain two seats. Any fewer and Republicans would maintain control.

2018 Midterm Election Results: Five incumbents—four Democrats and one Republican—lost their seats in 2018. The Republican Party expanded their majority by two and controlled 53 seats in the chamber. Democrats controlled 45 seats, and Independents in Maine and Vermont held two seats.

The present
There are 45 Democrats, 53 Republicans and 2 Independents (both caucus with the Democrats) for a total of 100 seats. 

The future
The 2020 Senate Race: Republicans will be defending 23 seats (including the special elections in Arizona and Georgia), while the Democratic Party will be defending 12 seats.

The 2020 Democratic Presidential Primaries

“……may (God’s) care still be extended to the United States; that the virtue and happiness of the People, may be preserved; and that the Government, which they have instituted, for the protection of their liberties, may be perpetual.”
President George Washington….8th Address to Congress 1796

Today, 223 years later, this democracy and its promised liberties have never been so tested. We are in the midst of the most crowded Democratic candidates field in history.  How will you decide who is the best candidate to support?

Inform

Updated July 9: 

The primaries were rescheduled in some states once the pandemic began. Updated information  on the dates they were originally scheduled for.

February 3

Iowa
(There is a lot at stake in terms of momentum and attention from donors and the news media as these are the first votes cast.)

February 11

New Hampshire
(Don’t be surprised if only a few candidates are still standing after the votes are counted here)

February 22

Nevada
(Another key early state with a high-turnout caucus, and the first one with a significant Hispanic population)

February 29

South Carolina
(This state will offer the first real indication of the candidates’ strengths
with black voters.)

March 3 Super Tuesday

(This day accounts for about 40 percent of total delegate allocation)
Alabama, American Samoa, Arkansas
California
(Because it has the largest delegate trove in the country, California is key )
Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina,
Oklahoma, Tennessee
Texas
(Texas has the second-largest delegate trove of the primary)
Utah*, Vermont*, Virginia, Democrats Abroad

March 10

Idaho 
Michigan
(Midwestern powerhouses like Michigan and Ohio will test the candidates’ appeal among suburbanites, African-Americans and working-class white voters. If the race is not decided on Super Tuesday, this could be a line of demarcation.)
Mississipi, Missouri, North Dakota, Washington

March 14

Northern Marianas Islands

March 17

Arizona
(If one candidate sweeps Arizona, Florida and Illinois, there will be immense pressure on the other candidates to exit the race.)
Florida, Illinois, Ohio

March 24

Georgia postponed its presidential primary until June 2.

March 29

Puerto Rico postponed its presidential primary until July 12. 

April 4


Alaska canceled in-person voting and extended its deadline for mail-in ballots until April 10.

  Wyoming canceled in-person caucuses, and extended its deadline for mail-in ballots until April 17 .

Hawaii canceled in-person voting, and extended its deadline for mail-in ballots until May 22. 

Louisiana postponed its primary until  July 11.

April 7


Wisconsin’s Supreme Court ruled on Monday, April 6  that the governor could not postpone the state’s primary over concerns about the coronavirus. Consequently it remained as originally scheduled.

April 28

(This may be last big delegate day of the race. If one candidate dominates every state this late in the primary, party leaders will likely move to get behind that person and seek to bring the race to an end. )

Connecticut postponed its presidential primary until August 11.

Delaware postponed its presidential primary until  July 7. 

Maryland postponed its presidential primary until June 2.  Most voters must cast their ballot by mail.

Pennsylvania postponed its presidential primary until June 2.

Rhode Island postponed its presidential primary until June 2.

New York canceled its already-postponed presidential primary after the Democratic presidential race was settled, but a federal judge ordered that the election go forward on June 23. 

May

 Guam, Kansas, Nebraska,  Oregon remained as originally scheduled. 

Indiana postponed its presidential primary until June 2.

West Virginia postponed its presidential primary until June 9

Kentucky postponed its presidential primary until June 23

June 2

 DC, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico,  South Dakota, and Virgin Islands
remained as originally scheduled.

July 11 & 12

Louisiana and Puerto Rico (see above)

August 11

Connecticut (see above)

Democratic National Convention
August 17-20

Democratic officials postponed the convention, originally planned for mid-July.  It will still be held in Milwaukee, placing a spotlight on a key Midwestern battleground state.

Republican National Convention
August 24-27

The Republicans are scheduled to hold their convention in Charlotte, N.C. Mr. Trump will deliver his convention speech in Jacksonville, Fla., on Aug. 27.

 

Respond

  • Watch the debates

Primary Debates

The upcoming Democratic primary debate will be November 20 in Georgia. In order to qualify for this debate, candidates will need at least 165,000 donors (up from 130,000) and at least 3 percent support in four approved polls (up from 2 percent). Ten candidates;  Elizabeth Warren, Andrew Yang,  Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttegieg, Amy Klobucher , Joseph Biden, Cory Booker, Tulsi Gabbard and Tom Steyer  have qualified before the Nov 13 deadline (as of November 11).

The December debate date will be December 19 and cohosted by Politico and PBS. To qualify for the Dec. 19 debate, White House hopefuls must meet 4 percent support in at least four approved polls. In addition, candidates must receive contributions from at least 200,000 unique donors.

  • Link to the presidential candidate sites above and learn more about those you are leaning toward.
  • Attend Presidential candidates and your own Congressional member rallies and public events. Each presidential candidate will list activities and dates under the “Events” link. Your Congressional member o will post town hall meetings and fundraising events.  Ask questions.
  • Volunteer and Donate to Presidential primary and Congressional candidates.  Your Democratic House Representatives  are already beginning their campaigns for re-election in 2020, along with 12 Democratic Senators.
  • Follow the candidate(s) on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
  • Become informed about policy issues such as Health Care & Medicare For All, the Climate Crisis & The Green Deal,  Closing the Wealth Gap, Criminal Justice Reform, Immigration,  Foreign Policy, College Debt, Guns, and Housing.  

It’s important to understand the complexity and details of each  proposal before deciding whether you’re for, against, or would support a modified version of.  Future posts will focus on these issues and the candidates’ positions.  

Upcoming Post

Health Care & Medicare For All

 

 

 

 

Posted in 2020 Democratic Primaries, Debates, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Comments Off on November 2019: Where We Are, The Presidential Primaries, and The Future

November 2018: The Future Of This Republic

Posted on November 4, 2018 by Debra29

We are now on the eve of the 2018 Midterm Elections, the culmination of endless months, weeks and hours of volunteering, canvassing, phone banking and donations. Many motivated by the spirit expressed within:

Where you see wrong or inequality or injustice, speak out, because this is your country. This is your democracy. Make it. Protect it. Pass it on.         Thurgood Marshall

More Americans are taking advantage of absentee and early voting this year. In 22 states and Washington, D.C., advance vote counts have already surpassed those of the last midterm election.  Others are expecting long lines at polling sites this Tuesday November 6. Some states permit voters who are in line at closing time to cast a ballot, but that provision can vary by jurisdiction.

The House of Representatives

Democrats must net a 23-seat gain in order to take power in the House, and there are now 17 districts currently held by Republicans that are leaning slightly or strongly toward Democratic candidates.  

There are an additional 56 Republican-held seats that are vulnerable, rated either as toss-ups or as leaning slightly to the right. Republicans must win nearly 90 percent of those seats to keep control. Republicans could still keep control of the House by a slim margin, but they would have to win the overwhelming majority of competitive races in order to hang on.

Flipping The House includes an up-to-date analysis of each House race by the Cook Political Report and Nat Silver’s Five Thirty Eight. 

The Senate 

The GOP is heavily favored to hold or boost its 51-49 advantage in the Senate. Polling suggests Republicans have an edge to flip at least one Democratic seat, while the GOP either has a lead or is locked in tight races for all of the seats it will defend on Tuesday.

The Battle For The Senate provides up-to-date analysis of each Senate race by the Cook Political Report and University of Virginia’s Sabato’s Crystal Ball. 

Gubernatorial and State Legislature Races

There are 36 gubernatorial races this year. Up to 29 of the governors elected this year will have the power to veto the maps that local legislatures draw after the 2020 Census. These maps could impact the eventual makeup of the House of Representatives and, in turn, which bills become laws. Republicans currently occupy the governors’ mansions in more than 30 states.  

The outcome of 6,069 state legislative races will determine political control in the states. Voters will also decide on over 160 statewide ballot measures that will cover everything including finances, health, the environment and hot button issues.

This Land Is Your Land offers an  up-to-date analysis of each Governor race by the Cook Political Report and University of Virginia’s Sabato’s Crystal Ball. New York, My Hometown’s State Elections provides an analysis of New York’s issues and analysis of crucial state senate races.

The Nation In Brief

Last, but not least, A State by State Sizzling Hot Season, offers a snapshot of all competitive battlegrounds across the 50 states without poll analysis.

America votes on Tuesday, Nov 6.

 

The future of this republic is in the hands of the American voter.
                                                                             Dwight D Eisenhower

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on November 2018: The Future Of This Republic

New York, My Hometown’s State Elections (Updated Nov 15 2018)

Posted on October 28, 2018 by Debra29

“The genius of the United States is not best or most in its executives or legislatures, nor in its ambassadors or authors or colleges, or churches, or parlors, nor even in its newspapers or inventors, but always most in the common people.”      Walt Whitman

Inform

The Status of State Elections Nationwide 

Democrats are working hard  to gain back statehouses across the country during next week’s  elections.Republicans have consistently gained seats and control at the state level. They control both the House and Senate chambers in 31 states, while the Democrats are in control of only 14.  Republicans control 66 of the 99 state level legislatures, while the Democrats have control of 31. 

The present focus is on the five divided state legislatures where just a few seats in once chamber can give them the majority: Colorado, New York, Michigan, Maine and New Hampshire.  Other states to watch include Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona and Florida.   

The State of New York Elections 2018

Your state representatives have offices within the community so they can represent your concerns and needs.  Here is a sampling of issues (in alphabetical order) from New York State Senate and Assembly sites that are important to fellow New York residents : 

  • affordable health care, NY Health Act, prescription price fixing
  • cleaning up corruption
  • combating sexual harassment
  • disability rights
  • environment protection for air, water and soil, renewable energy, opposition to offshore drilling, protecting aquifers, clean energy that creates local jobs and protects the environment, wastewater treatment
  • gun laws, protection from gun violence
  • incentivizing homegrown industries
  • infrastructure improvements including public transportation like LIRR
  • LGBTQ rights
  • local development
  • lower property taxes, SALT relief
  • medical marijuana
  • opioid crisis
  • overdevelopment
  • public education
  • reproductive rights
  • senior citizen protection and support
  • skilled manufacturing and advanced technology jobs 
  • small business investments
  • sustaining small farms
  • veteran support
  • voting procedures

The New York State Senate

There are 63 seats in the New York Senate and all are up for re-election. Sixty-three Assembly districts are divided among 62 New York counties. Each of the senate districts have an average population of 307,500.  The New York State Senate will help you confirm your State Senate district and its candidates for office. 

Republicans control the New York State Senate with a narrow 32-31 majority with the support of Democrat State Senator Simcha Felder who caucuses with them.  Flipping a single net seat from red to blue in November would put Democrats in control of the entire state government for the first time since 2010.

Election Results: Democrats have won 37 seats. Three seats leaning Democrat but still undecided.  Republicans won 21 seats. Two seats leaning Republican, but still undecided. 

Respond

Volunteer if a Democratic candidate is local, or within driving distance. This can take the form of phone banking (can be done at home), canvasing, and/or  fundraising. Participate in activities to Get Out The Vote.

Donate to all or a few critical senate and assembly races.  Many of us have donated to races outside of our own state. No amount is too small. Find the blank section of the donation section and add your own amount.

LIKELY DEMOCRAT (1)
District 9 County: Nassau Election Results: Democrat (62 vs 38)
+ Support State Senator Todd Kaminsky (D)

TOSS UP (4)

District 5 Counties: Nassau & Suffolk  Election Results: Democrat (54 vs 46)
^, ^^, + Support Democrat Candidate James Gaughran

District 7 County: Nassau Support Election Results: Democrat (55 vs 45)
^Support Democrat Candidate Anna Kaplan

District 8 Counties: Nassau & Suffolk Election Results: Democrat (55 vs 45)
^, ^^, + Support State Senator John E. Brooks (D)  

District 39 Counties: Orange, Rockland, and Ulster
Election Results: Democrat (54 vs 47)
^^Support Democrat Candidate James Skoufis

 

LEAN REPUBLICAN (3)

District 22 County: Kings Election Results: Democrat (51 vs 49)
^^Support Democrat Candidate Andrew Gounardes

District 42 Counties: Delaware, Orange, Sullivan and Ulster
Election Results: Democrat (51 vs 49)
^Support Democrat Candidate Jen Metzger  

District 50 Counties: Cayuga and Onondaga
Election Results: Republican (51 vs 49)
^Support Democrat Candidate John Mannion

LIKELY REPUBLICAN (5)

District 3  County: Suffolk
Election Results: Democrat (51 vs 49)
+ Support Democrat Candidate Monica Martinez 

District 4 County: Suffolk
Election Results: Republican (52 vs 48)
+ ^ Support Democrat Candidate Lou D’Amaro

District 6 County: Nassau
Election Results: Democrat (51 vs 49)
Support Democrat Candidate Kevin Thomas

District 40 Counties: Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester
Election Results: Democrat (51 vs 49)
Support Democrat Candidate Peter Harckham

District 41 Counties: Dutchess and Putnam
Election Results: Republican (51 vs 49)
^Support Democrat Candidate Karen Smythe

District 43 Counties: Columbia, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Washington
Election Results: Republican (54 vs 46)
Support Democrat Candidate Aaron Gladd

SAFE DEMOCRAT (29)
State Senator James Sanders, District 10 County: Queens
Democrat Candidate John Liu , District 11 County: Queens
State Senator Michael Gianaris, District 12 County: Queens
Democrat Candidate Jessica Ramos, District 13 County: Queens
State Senator Leroy Comrie, District 14 County: Queens
State Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. District 15 County: Queens
State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, District 16 County: Queens
Democrat Candidate Julia Salazar, District 18 County: Kings
State Senator Roxanne Persaud, District 19 County: Kings
Democrat Candidate Zellnor Myrie, District 20 County: Kings
State Senator Kevin Parker, District 21 County: Kings
State Senator Diane Savino, District 23 Counties: Kings, Richmond
State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, District 25 County: Kings
State Senator Brian Kavanagh, District 26 Counties: Kings, New York
State Senator Brad Hoylman, District 27 County: New York
State Senator Liz Krueger,District 28 County: New York
State Senator Jose Serrano, District 29 Counties: Bronx, New York
State Senator Brian Benjamin,District 30 County: New York
Democrat Candidate Robert Jackson, District 31 County: New York
State Senator Luis Sepulveda District 32 County: Bronx
State Senator Gustavo Rivera, District 33 County: Bronx
Democrat Candidate Alessandra Biaggi, District 34 Counties: Bronx, Westchester
State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, District 35 County: Westchester
State Senator Jamaal Bailey, District 36 Counties: Bronx, Westchester
State Senator Shelley Mayer, District 37 County: Westchester
State Senator David Carlucci, District 38, Counties: Rockland, Westchester
State Senator Neil Breslin, District 44 Counties: Albany, Rensselaer
^Democrat Candidate Rachel May, District 53 Counties: Madison, Oneida, Onandoga
State Senator Timothy Kennedy, District 63 County: Erie

SAFE REPUBLICAN (19)
State Senator Kenneth LaValle (R) District 1 County: Suffolk
State Senator John Flanagan (R)  District 2 County: Suffolk
State Senator Andrew Lanza  (R) District 24 County: Richmond
State Senator Betty Little (R) District 45 Counties: Clinton, Essex, Franklin, St. Lawrence, Warren Washington
State Senator George Amedore, District 46 Counties: Albany, Greene, Montgomery, Schenectady, Ulster,
Joseph Griffo,District 47 Counties: Lewis, Oneida, St. Lawrence
Patty Ritchie, District 48 Counties: Jefferson, Oswego, St. Lawrence
James Tedisco, District 49, Counties: Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Saratoga, Schenectady
James Seward, District 51 Counties: Cayuga, Chenengo, Cortland, Delaware, Herkimer, Ostego, Schoharie, Tompkins, Ulster
Fred Akshar, District 52 Counties: Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Tioga
Pamela Helming, District 54 Counties: Cayoga, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Tompkins, Wayne
Rich Funke, District 55, Counties: Monroe, Ontario
Joseph Robach, District 56, County: Monroe
Cathy Young, District 57 County: Alleghany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqual, Livingston
Patrick Gallivan, District 59  Counties:  Erie, Livingston, Monroe, Wyoming
Chris Jacobs, District 60 County: Erie
Michael Ranzenhofer, District 61 Counties: Erie, Genesee, Monroe
Robert Ortt , District 62 Counties: Monroe, Niagara, Orleans

The New York State Senate Races above have been rated by City and State New York’s Updated Guide to the 2018 State Elections.

^Former President Barack Obama has added support to candidates and incumbents at the Executive Level, in addition to State Legislative Races.
^^Endorsed by The New York Times Vote For Real Change In Albany
+Endorsed by Newsday.

The New York State Assembly

There are 150 seats in the Assembly and all are up for re-election.  One hundred fifty Assembly districts are divided among 62 New York counties, .Each district has an average population of 128,652. Democrats have a  104-41 majority in the New York State Assembly.  

Election Results: Democrats won 107 seats, Republicans won 42. One still undecided.

The New York State Assembly  will help you confirm your Assembly district, and its candidates for office. . Here are all 150 New York Assembly District Candidates. Find out where your Democratic candidate stands on the issues that are concerning your community the most. It can be found on their campaign website,  i.e. Mary Smith For Assembly.

This Land Is Your Land post delves into the importance of state elections throughout the United States. As stated,  Incumbent Governor Mario Cuomo’s re-election seems to be secure.

Reflect

“My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of earth.”                                    Abraham Lincoln

 

 

Posted in Local and State Elections, Midterm Elections, State Elections, The House Race, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Comments Off on New York, My Hometown’s State Elections (Updated Nov 15 2018)

How States Can, and Will, Suppress The Vote

Posted on October 17, 2018 by Debra29

Voter suppression is the discouragement or prevention of citizens from voting and is a strategy often used to influence the outcome of an election.

Inform

One of the root causes of low turnout for midterm and general elections is the prevalence of restrictive voting laws. The modern GOP generally tries to make it harder to vote, because obstacles to voting tend to hit key Democratic constituencies—young people, low-income people, minorities—the hardest. 

In 2013, the high court struck down a key section of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. No longer would areas of the country with a history of discrimination in voting be required to pre-clear all changes in voting laws and procedures.

“Our country has changed,” wrote Chief Justice John Roberts for the conservative five-justice majority. Nearly 50 years after the Voting Rights Act became law, he said, instances of blatant race-based discrimination were rare. And now we are here.

Ten Ways to Suppress Voting

1.”Exact Match” Registration:

The “exact match” law requires election officials to flag and pause any voter registration application if the identifying information doesn’t precisely match the voter’s information in existing records, even because of something as small as a missing hyphen or a transposed number. Although voters are not barred from casting a ballot, they must take extra steps to verify their identities.

Legal Response:

 A coalition of civil rights groups sued Brian Kemp, Georgia’s secretary of state and Republican gubernatorial candidate, in his official capacity Thursday over a 2017 voting law that has hampered the registrations of more than 50,000 people — of whom approximately 80 percent are black, Latino or Asian American, according to the lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Atlanta.

2.  Voter ID

Voter ID is when a registered voter must show ID in order to vote.

States with No Voter ID Laws

California, Oregon, Nevada, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts,  New York, Maryland, Vermont,  New Jersey,
DC, Pennsylvania, North Carolina

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), 34 states have voter ID laws, which will be in force for the 2018 mid-term elections.

Examples of ID:

Photo ID: Voter ID card, driver’s license, state ID, military ID, passport, hunting or fishing license or other current or valid photo ID.
No-photo ID:  current utility bill or paycheck, government check or bank statement or other government issued document.

If a voter fails to show the photo ID that is asked for by law, states provide alternatives. These laws fit two categories, non-strict and strict. 

States with Strict Voter ID Laws

Requiring photo ID: Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia,  Wisconsin
Requiring a no-photo ID: Arizona, North Dakota, Ohio

States with Non-strict Voter ID Laws

Requiring photo ID: Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, Oklahoma,  Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas
Requiring a no-photo ID: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire,  Utah, Washington, West Virginia

Who do these laws affect the most? 

Poor and Minority Communities 

Minorities are less likely to have driver’s licenses because they are more likely to be poor and to live in urban areas. If you can’t afford a car, or if you don’t need one because you take the bus or subway, you are less likely to have a driver’s license. Nor will they have the other forms of ID: passports, military IDs, concealed gun permits.  In addition, each  person is less likely to be listed on a utility bill.

Native American Voters

When Democrat Senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota narrowly won her seat in North Dakota, Republicans changed a voter identification law in the state. They stopped allowing any voter identification that lists a post office box as an address. The reason for the change is that her support base was Native Americans and they use post office boxes as the U.S. Postal Service does not deliver to their communities.

Young student voters

Young student voters are not likely to have a drivers license as a smaller portion of students have a drivers license today than in the 1980s. They are also less likely to be listed on a utility bill.

Students attending out of state colleges  are also less likely to have other forms of ID commonly required by state laws.  Some states accept a student ID on its own, but several do not — even when it is issued by a public university and includes a photo.    In addition, states including Texas don’t allow student IDs, a policy that clearly hinders younger voters.

Elderly voters over 85

Elderly voters — like black and Latino voters — are more likely to lack photo ID than the voting population overall as they have stopped driving.

Legal Responses:

On October 9, 2018, the Supreme Court decided 6 to 2 to leave in place a North Dakota  law that requires residents to provide an ID displaying a residential address rather than a P.O. box number to vote.

In response, Native American voting rights activists in North Dakota have launched an audacious plan aimed at pushing back against a Supreme Court ruling that threatens the reelection of Sen. Heidi Heitkamp — and that could decide the fate of the Senate in the process.

The biggest win for voting rights advocates was in North Carolina in 2016,  where a federal appeals court panel unanimously threw out not only the voter ID requirements, but numerous other provisions that the court said were enacted with the intent of making it harder for minorities to vote. The judges pointedly observed that Republican leaders drew up the new laws in North Carolina only after receiving data showing that African-American voters would be the most significantly and adversely affected. “We cannot ignore the record evidence that, because of race, the legislature enacted one of the largest restrictions of the franchise in modern North Carolina history,” the panel wrote.

Similar rulings followed in Wisconsin, Ohio and South Dakota. And in Kansas, a state with a foreign-born population of 6.8 percent, courts have repeatedly rejected efforts by the Republican secretary of state to require voters to provide proof of citizenship to vote.

In July 2016 a federal court ruled that Wisconsin’s strict voter ID law was unconstitutional, and that an alternative to showing an ID, such as signing an affidavit attesting to identity, must be permitted.

A 2011 Texas strict photo ID laws has been in the courts since its passage. On April 10, 2017 a federal judge ruled, for the second time, that the law discriminated against minority voters. On June 2, 2017 SB 5 enacted non-strict, photo voter ID requirement.

3 . Early Voting Cuts:

Ohio cut a whole week from early voting, eliminating the “golden week” in which voters could register and vote on the same day. And Nebraska cut its early voting period from 35 days to no more than 30 days. 

Who does this affect?  Parents with full-time jobs who cannot afford to take unpaid time off work to vote. For many working parents, the ability to vote by mail or through early in-person voting on weekends is critical. However, a number of states, give residents neither the option to vote early in person nor the option to vote by mail (without satisfying certain requirements).

4. New requirements to register to vote:

Kansas passed a law that requires new voters to show proof of citizenship to register to vote. Virginia also required groups submitting 25 or more voter registration forms to register with the state, and reduced the amount of time to deliver the forms from 15 days to 10 days.

5. Limits on mail-in ballots: 

Arizona made it a felony to collect and turn in someone else’s mail-in ballot, even with that voter’s permission.

6. Provisional and absentee voting changes: 

Ohio passed strict rules that can invalidate absentee and provisional ballots if forms accompanying those ballots aren’t filled out in a very specific way.

7. Polling place closures:

Southern states, from Arizona to North Carolina, have closed down at least 868 polling places since the US Supreme Court struck down part of the Voting Rights Act in 2013. (The Voting Rights Act could have allowed the Department of Justice to stop these closures before, but not anymore.) These are only the closures tracked in about half the counties that were once covered by the Voting Rights Act due to their long histories of racial discrimination, so there have likely been hundreds or even thousands more closures nationwide.

8. Voter roll purges:

Several states have attempted to conduct sweeping purges of voter rolls, potentially undoing voters’ registration without their knowledge. Some of these purges — such as North Carolina’s and Florida’s — have been overturned by courts, but not all are even known to the public until it’s too late.  In June 2018, a divided U.S. Supreme Court upheld Ohio’s method for removing ineligible voters from its rolls, saying it does not violate any part of the National Voter Registration Act.

9. Reduction in state services: 

When Alabama, for example, was required to offer a free alternative to a driver’s license, it responded by closing Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offices in areas with large black populations.

These are just some examples of an organized effort toward voter suppression in the United States.  Others include disinformation about voting procedures, transgender disenfranchisement, and inequality in Election Day resources. Many Americans who have been convicted of a felony but are now out of prison, on parole or on probation may want to vote, but many states have laws that expressly limit their voting rights.

10. Gerrymandering

The nation’s 435 House districts are adjusted after each decennial census. The goal, as required by the U.S. Supreme Court, is to make sure that, in states with more than one House member, the congressional districts have roughly the same number of people. (State legislative districts are redrawn as well.)  

At present, Republicans control 67 of the 99 chambers and control both chambers in 32 states. The party that controls two branches of state government can steer the direction of elections for a decade. Gerrymandering works by Party A “packing,” or cramming many of Party B’s voters into a few districts that it will win overwhelmingly, with many (wasted) votes to spare. The other technique, “cracking,” splinters Party B’s voters among multiple districts so that it can’t prevail in any of them. To counter the influence of politics, Some states have have shifted redistricting responsibility to an independent or bipartisan board or commission. Others have not.

Legal Responses:

This past February, Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court has redrawn the map of the state’s congressional districts, overturning a Republican gerrymander that’s been used in the past three congressional elections.

Yet in June, the Supreme Court favored Republicans in other states accused of gerrymandering.

 

RESPOND

Take action through the League of Women Voters :” We actively oppose discriminatory voter photo ID laws, fight against attacks voter registration process and hold lawmakers accountable when they try to institute last-minute Election Day barriers. We work year-round to combat voter suppression through advocacy, grassroots organizing, legal action and public education. Our efforts have resulted in the protection of voting rights and ballot access for millions of Americans.”

Dissent, an online magazine published by the University of Pennsylvania Press, offers concrete straggles in  How To Fight Voter Suppression in 2018.

Donate to ACLU.  “Through litigation and advocacy, the ACLU is fighting back against attempts to curtail an essential right in our democracy, the right to vote. ​”

State lawmakers have had more latitude than ever to enact laws affecting whether, how and when one can vote in a federal election. Become involved in state elections. My prior post This Land Is Your Land tells you how.

REFLECT

“My story is a freedom song of struggle. It is about finding one’s purpose, how to overcome fear and to stand up for causes bigger than one’s self.”

                                                                    Coretta Scott King

Posted in Midterm Elections, Voter Suppression, Voting | Tagged , | Comments Off on How States Can, and Will, Suppress The Vote

Vote Now – Absentee, Vote by Mail, Early Voting and Voter Registration

Posted on September 30, 2018 by Debra29

“Our collective self-rule is established and fostered through free, fair, accessible, and secure elections through which the voice of every eligible American is heard.”

Election Day Tuesday November 6 

Inform

The structure and complexity of voting in America varies widely. States have moved past limiting your ability to vote on the day of the election.  Take advantage of these choices and vote now. I’ve posted how in each of the 51 states.  Please forward to friends and family members living in any of the states below.

Military Families and Overseas Citizen Voters

The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) works to ensure Service members, their eligible family members,  and overseas citizens are aware of their right to vote and have the tools and resources to successfully do so – from anywhere in the world. It provides these citizens with the tools for registration and absentee voting for each and every state.

Register To Vote

The deadlines are upon us. Volunteer for a registration drive  in your church, neighborhood or community center. Encourage and support children, grandchildren, and other young adults 18 or older to do the same. You must register if you’ve moved to a new state. The traditional way is in-person or by mail. The National Voter Registration Form can be completed and mailed to your local election office. Specific state directions are included for voter registration by mail. Many states offer other choices:

Online voter registration is used by multiple states in which a voter fills out a form via an Internet site, and that paperless form is submitted electronically to election officials.

Same-day voter registration enables voters to register and vote at the same time. Same-day registration is sometimes referred to as Election Day registration.

Automatic voter registration  Eligible voters are automatically registered to vote whenever they interact with government agencies (e.g., departments of motor vehicles). Eligible voters are registered by default, although they may request not to be registered.

Vote Now

Absentee Voting:  All states will mail an absentee ballot to certain voters who request one. The voter may return the ballot by mail or in person. In 20 states, an excuse is required, Some states offer a permanent absentee ballot list: once a voter asks to be added to the list, s/he will automatically receive an absentee ballot for all future elections. New Jersey is doing this presently. 

Vote By Mail: Twenty seven states and the District of Columbia permit any qualified voter to vote absentee without offering an excuse. Some states call this vote by mail, while others still refer to it as absentee ballot.

In Person Absentee Voting:  These states  allow a voter to apply in person for an absentee ballot ,  and cast that ballot in one trip to an election official’s office.

Early In-Person Voting Period: Any qualified voter may cast a ballot in person during a designated period prior to Election Day. No excuse or justification is required

Mail Voting: A ballot is automatically mailed to every eligible voter (no request or application is necessary). In-person voting sites may also be available for voters who would like to vote in-person and to provide additional services to voters. Three states mail ballots to all eligible voters for every election. Other states may provide this option for some types of elections.

Online Resources 

One-stop websites include Vote.org  whose toolset currently includes a voter registration tool, an absentee ballot tool, and tool that helps you verify your voter registration status, and a stand-alone election reminders too. Ballotpedia is an bottomless resource of voting and elections in America. VoteRiders is a non-partisan, non-profit organization with a mission to ensure that all citizens are able to exercise their right to vote. It informs and helps citizens to secure their voter ID.  Nonprofit VOTE provides official voting information directly from your state’s elections website.  Lastly, the National Conference of State Legislatures is a bipartisan nongovernmental organization (NGO) which provides absentee and early voting information.

Respond

Alabama 

Register To Vote:
Has online registration ,in addition to by mail or in person. Deadline: 15 days before Election Day (Oct 22) or up to and including Election Day at your County Elections office.

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, Excuse Required  Also has In Person Absentee Voting

Alaska

Register To Vote:
Has online registration. , in addition to by mail or in person. It also offers automatic voter registration. Deadline: 30 days before Election Day. (Oct 7)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, No Excuse Necessary
Early In-Person Voting Period:  15 days before Election Day: about Oct 22.  

Arizona 

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person.  Deadline: 29 days before Election Day (Oct 8)

Vote Now:
Ballot by Mail No Excuse Necessary
Early In-Person Voting Period: begins 26 days before Election Day : about Oct 11. 

Arkansas

Register To Vote:
Citizens must register to vote by mail or in person. Deadline: 30 days before Election Day (October 7)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, Excuse Required
Early In-Person Voting Period:  begins 15 days before Election Day: about Oct 22. 

California

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person.  Also has same day and automatic voter registration. Deadline: 15 days before Election Day (Oct 22) or up to and including Election Day at your County Elections office.

Vote Now:
Vote by MailNo Excuse Necessary
Early in-Person Voting Period:  varies by county 

Colorado

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person.  Also has same day and automatic voter registration. Deadline: In person up to Election Day. Mail and online deadline: 8 days before Election Day. (Oct 29)

Vote Now:

Mail Voting: A ballot is automatically mailed to every eligible voter (no request or application is necessary). The 22 day voting period starts October 15
Early In-Person Voting Period:  7 days before Election Day: about Oct 30.

Connecticut 

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person.  Also has same day and automatic voter registration. Deadline: 7 days before Election Day. (Oct 30)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, Excuse Required Also offers In Person Absentee Voting 

Delaware 

Register To Vote:
Has online registration in addition to by mail or in person. Deadline: Fourth Saturday before Election Day

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, Excuse Required  Also offers In Person Absentee Voting

District of Columbia

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail and in person. Also has same day and automatic voter registration. In Person: Election Day .  Mail and online deadline: Received by 4:45 pm on the 21st day before  Election Day. (Oct 16)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, No Excuse Necessary
Early In-Person Voting Period: begins 15 days before Election Day: about Oct 22.

Florida

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person.  Deadline: 29 days before Election Day (Oct 8)

Vote Now:
Vote By MailNo Excuse Necessary
Early In-Person Voting Period:  begins 10 days before Election Day: about Oct 27. 

Georgia

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Also has automatic voter registration. Deadline: the fifth Monday before Election Day (Oct 8)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, No Excuse Necessary
Early In Person Voting Period:  begins the 4th Monday before Election Day: about Monday Oct 15

Hawaii 

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Also has same day voter registration. Deadline: 29 days before Election Day. (Oct 8)  In person: up to Election Day

Vote Now
Vote By MailNo Excuse Necessary

Early In-Person Voting Period:  begins two Tuesdays before Election Day: about Oct 23.

Idaho 

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Also has same day voter registration. Deadline: In person: up to Election Day. By mail and online: 25 days before Election Day. (Oct 12)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, No Excuse Necessary
Early In-Person Voting Period: begins the 3rd Monday before Election Day: October 22  or earlier based on county

Illinois

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Also has same day and automatic voter registration. Deadline: In person: up to Election Day. By mail and online: 28 days before Election Day. (Oct 9)

Vote Now:

Vote by Mail No Excuse Necessary  In Person Absentee Voting
Early In-Person Voting Period: Begins 15 days before Election Day: about Oct 22. 

Indiana

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Deadline: 29 days before Election Day (Oct 8)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, Excuse Required
Early In-Person Voting Period: begins 28 days before Election Day or later based on county

Iowa

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Also has same day voter registration. Deadline: In Person and Online: 10 days before Election Day (Oct 27)  and by mail 15 days before Election Day. (Oct 22) If you miss these deadlines, you can also register to vote on Election Day

Vote Now:
Absentee Voting By Mail Ballot, No Excuse Necessary Also offers In Person Absentee Voting

Kansas

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Deadline: 21 days before Election Day. (Oct 16)

Vote Now:
Advance Voting Ballot No Excuse Necessary

Early In Person Voting Period:  varies by county from one week to 20 days before Election Day: from about Oct 17-30.

Kentucky

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Deadline: 29 days before Election Day.(Oct 8)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, Excuse Required Also offers In Person Absentee Voting

Louisiana 

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Deadline: 30 days before Election Day. (Oct 7)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, Excuse Required
Early In Person Voting Period: begins 14 days before Election Day: about Oct 23 or later depending on county

Maine

Register To Vote:
Citizens must register to vote by mail or in person. Has same day voter registration. Deadline: 21 days before Election Day (Oct 16)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, No Excuse Necessary Also offers In Person Absentee Voting

Maryland 

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Also has same day and automatic voter registration Deadline: 21 Days before Election Day (Oct 16)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, No Excuse Necessary
Early In-Person Voting Period: begins the second Thursday before Election Day: about Oct 25

Massachusetts 

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Also has  automatic voter registration. Deadline: 20 days before Election Day (Oct 17)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, Excuse Required
Early In-Person Voting Period:  Begins11 business days before Election Day: about October 22

Michigan 

Register To Vote:
Citizens must register to vote by mail or in person. Deadline: 30 days before Election Day (Oct 7)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, Excuse Required

Minnesota 

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Also has same day voter registration. Deadline: 21 days before Election Day (Oct 16) or in person on Election Day

Vote Now:
Vote By Mail No Excuse Necessary Also offers In Person Absentee Voting

Mississippi 

Register To Vote:
Citizens must register to vote by mail or in person. Deadline: 30 days before Election Day (Oct 7)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, Excuse Required 

Missouri  

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person.  Deadline: the 4th Wednesday before Election Day

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, Excuse Required

Montana 

Register To Vote:
Citizens must register to vote by mail or in person. Has same day voter registration. Deadline: 30 days before Election Day (Oct 7)  or by Election Day if in person.

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, No Excuse Necessary  Also offers In Person Absentee Voting

Nebraska

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person.  Deadline: In Person 11 days before Election Day, (Oct 26) By mail and online: 18 days before Election Day (Oct 19)

Vote Now:
Early Voting Ballot Has In Person Absentee Voting

Nevada 

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Deadline: In Person and Online: 21 days before Election Day (Oct 16) By Mail: 31 days before Election Day (Oct 6)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, No Excuse Necessary
Early in-Person Voting Period: October 20 – November 2

New Hampshire

Register To Vote:
Citizens must register to vote by mail or in person Has same day voter registration. Deadline: In Person: Election Day, by Mail: 10 days before Election Day (Oct 27)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, Excuse Required

New Jersey 

Register To Vote:
Citizens must register to vote by mail or in person.  Has automatic voter registration. Deadline: 21 days before Election Day (Oct 16)

Vote Now:
Vote By Mail Also offers In Person Absentee Voting

New Mexico

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Deadline: 28 days before Election Day (Oct 9)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, No Excuse Necessary
Early in-Person Voting: Third Saturday before Election Day: October 20

New York 

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Deadline: 25 days before Election Day (Oct 12)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, Excuse Required  Also offers In Person Absentee Voting

North Carolina

Register To Vote:
Citizens must register to vote by mail or in person. Has same day voter registration. Deadline: 25 days before Election Day (Oct 12)  or register and vote at the same time during Early Voting

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, No Excuse Necessary.  Also offersIn Person Absentee Voting

North Dakota 

Register To Vote:
North Dakota is the only state without a formal voter registration procedure. You just need to bring proof of  ID and residency to the polls.

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, No Excuse Necessary
Early in-Person Voting Period:  October 29 – Nov 2 but varies by county

Ohio 

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Deadline: 30 days before Election Day (Oct 7)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, No Excuse Necessary  Also offers In Person Absentee Voting

Oklahoma 

Register To Vote:
Citizens must register to vote by mail or in person. Deadline: 25 days before Election Day (Oct 12)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, No Excuse Necessary Also offers In Person Absentee Voting

Oregon

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Also has  automatic voter registration. Deadline: 21 days before Election Day. (Oct 16)

Vote Now:
Mail Voting: A ballot is automatically mailed to every eligible voter (no request or application is necessary).

Pennsylvania

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Deadline: 30 days before Election Day.(Oct 7)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, Excuse Required

Rhode Island

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Has automatic voter registration. Deadline: 30 days before Election Day (Oct 7)

Vote Now:
Mail Ballot ,  No Excuse Necessary

South Carolina 

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Deadline: 30 days before Election Day. (Oct 7)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, Excuse Required Also offers In Person Absentee Voting

South Dakota

Register To Vote: Citizens must register to vote by mail or in person. Deadline: 15 days before Election Day (Oct 22)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, No Excuse Necessary  Also offers In Person Absentee Voting

Tennessee 

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Deadline: 30 days before Election Day (Oct 7)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, Excuse Required
Early in-Person Voting Period: begins 20 days before Election Day: about October 17 

Texas 

Register To Vote:
Citizens must register to vote by mail or in person. Deadline: 30 days before Election Day (Oct 7)

Vote Now:
Ballot by Mail , Excuse Required
Early in-Person Voting Period: begins 17 days before Election Day: about October 20

Utah

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Also has same day voter registration. Deadline: In Person and Online: 7 days before Election Day (Oct 30) By Mail: 30 days before Election Day (Oct 7)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, No Excuse Necessary
Early in-Person Voting Period: begins 14 days before Election Day: about October 23

Vermont

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Also has same day and automatic voter registration. Deadline: Election Day

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, No Excuse Necessary Also offers In Person Absentee Voting

Virginia 

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Deadline: 22 days before Election Day (Oct 15)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, Excuse Required Also offers  In Person Absentee Voting

Washington 

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Also has same day and automatic voter registration. Deadline: In Person: 8 days before Election Day By Mail (Oct 29) or Online: 29 days before Election Day.(Oct 8)

Vote Now:
Mail Voting: A ballot is automatically mailed to every eligible voter (no request or application is necessary). The 18 day voting period starts October 19. 

West Virginia  

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Has automatic voter registration Deadline: 21 days before Election Day (Oct 16)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, Excuse Required (a third party link as state site link is down)
Early in Person Voting 13 days before Election Day: about October 24. 

Wisconsin

Register To Vote:
Has online registration, in addition to by mail or in person. Also has same day voter registration. Deadline: In Person: Election Day, By Mail or Online: 20 days before Election Day (Oct 17)

Vote Now:
Absentee Ballot, No Excuse Necessary Also offers In Person Absentee Voting

Wyoming

Register To Vote:
Citizens must register to vote by mail or in person. Has same day voter registration. Deadline: In Person: Election Day, by Mail: 14 days before Election Day (Oct 23)

Vote Now
Absentee Ballot, No Excuse Necessary Also offers In Person Absentee Voting

Reflect

“We are not permitted to choose the frame of our destiny.

But what we put into it is ours”

                       Dag Hammarskjold

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The New York State Primary Perfecta

Posted on September 10, 2018 by Debra29

New York

“There is no place like it, no place with an atom of its glory, pride, and exultancy.” – Walt Whitman

 

We are on the eve of the New York State Primary elections, Thursday September 13, 6am – 9pm. 

Inform

Your governor and state legislature make policy decisions affecting health care, education, infrastructure, immigration, Medicaid, job training, criminal justice reform, gun safety, family leave, sexual harassment and assault policy, income inequality, a woman’s right to choose, marriage equality, discrimination on the basis of gender identity, and protecting the environment to name a few. This Land Is Your Land 

Which New York State Democratic candidate will represent your interests, values and beliefs  for the upcoming crucial November 6th elections?

Governor 

A governor is the chief executive officer and commander-in-chief of the state. He/she implements state laws and advances new policies and programs through executive orders, budgets and legislative proposals and vetoes. 

The Democratic Candidates for Governor are: 

Incumbent Andrew Cuomo……… endorsed by these Public Figures, Unions, Organizations and Political Clubs   

Democratic candidate Cynthia Nixon………..endorsed by other Public Figures, Organizations and Political Clubs

Lieutenant Governor

Official duties under the New York State Constitution is to serve as President of the State Senate, serve as Acting Governor if the Governor is out of state or has a disability, or become Governor in the event of the Governor’s death, resignation or removal of office. The person takes on other responsibilities assigned to them including duties concerning business, technology, environment and more.

The Democratic Candidates for Lieutenant Governor are:

 Incumbent Kathy Hochul ………endorsed by The Post  and Newsday

 Democratic candidate Jumaane Williams ……..endorsed by The New York Times   and Bernie Sanders

New York Attorney General

An attorney general’s job is to serve as counselors to their legislatures and state agencies and also as the “People’s Lawyer” for all citizens. There are a multitude of responsibilities including having to act as public advocates in areas such as child support enforcement, consumer protections, antitrust and utility regulation; propose legislation; enforce federal and state environmental laws; represent the state and state agencies before the state and federal courts; and handle criminal appeals and serious statewide criminal prosecutions.

It’s important to note it would also be the responsibility of the Attorney General to investigate Trump’s businesses and foundation.

The Democratic Candidates for Attorney General are :

Leecia Eve … endorsed by The Queens Tribune and The Times Union 

Letitia James …..  endorsed by Andrew Cuomo and  Newsday 

Representative Sean Patrick Maloney, running for both his Congressional District and Attorney General.

Zephyr Teachout ……  endorsed by The Buffalo News and The New York Times

The New York State Legislature 

 The legislature’s primary purpose is to draft and approve changes to the laws of New York. These changes are driven by a multitude of complex public policy issues including aging, agriculture, banking, children and families, corrections, economic development, education, energy, environment, health, housing, insurance, redistricting , small business, social services, transportation and veterans’ affairs .

New York State Senate 

All 63 New York State Senate seats are up for election. 

Who are the Democratic candidates for your State Senate district? The New York State Senate provides a quick and easy search engine to confirm your state senator’s name and district.  Ballotpedia provides a a synopsis of  the present state of the races, and a chart that lists the New York State Primary Candidates in each of the 63 districts. 

The key Democrat primary challenges are occurring against eight Democratic senators originally of the IDC (Indpendent Democratic Conference) who helped keep Republicans in control of the state Senate. The ten New York State battleground races are State Senate Districts 11, 13, 17, 18, 20, 23, 31, 34, 38 and 53.

The New York State Assembly

The Democratic dominated Assembly has 150 seats, all up for election.

Who are the Democratic candidates for your Assembly district? The New York State Assembly will confirm your Assembly district and your Assembly Member’s name.   

The  2018 New York State Assembly Primary Candidates have Democratic challenges in districts 18, 20, 30, 33, 39, 42, 46, 53, 60, 61, 68, 69, 71, 72, 74, 84, 85, 87, 90, 104, 107, 119, 121, 124, 136,  and 137.  Be sure to research your choices if you live in one of these districts.

Looking Forward: The Trifecta Effect

A party that has control of the governorship and state legislature is much more effective at both lawmaking and redistricting of congressional and state legislative seats after the 2020 Census. The Republicans have come into the midterm elections with 26 trifectas, and the Democrats have 8. There are 9 states where Democrats can win back legislative control  from the Republicans in November: Colorado, Minnesota, Maine, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Arizona, Florida, Michigan and New York.

The Republicans of the New York State Senate now hold a one seat majority.  Flipping just one Republican state senate seat in November would put Democrats in control of the entire state government for the first time in eight years. The Democratic Legislative Committee is focusing on Nassau’s Senate District 7 in November where Democrat Candidate Anna Kaplan  is challenging incumbent Republican Elaine Phillips. 

The New York State Assembly is and has long been controlled by the Democrats.

Respond

Make an informed decision. Research the candidates for New York Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Senator and Assembly Member.

Vote this Thursday, September 13 in the New York State Primary, 6am – 9pm.  The New York State Board of Elections provides a link to find out if you are registered and where to vote.

Reflect

“Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting.”
                                                                                                   Franklin D Roosevelt

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