Pacific County Democrats

At our last club meeting on November 9th, a very spirited discussion was held on how Congressman Brian Baird had voted concerning healthcare reform. Congressman Baird voted “No” on the motion to send the bill to the floor for debate, citing his concern that the bill had not been “scored” for it’s cost impact on future insurance premium prices and total cost. A motion was made and seconded to send him a letter expressing our dissapointment on his vote. The following letter was sent to the congressman through his website and in letter form to his office in Vancouver, WA.

I’m writing to you as chair of the Pacific County Democratic club to express our deep disappointment at your “No” vote on HR  3962. While we respect your concern for fiscal responsibility, your “Yes” vote in support of the Democratic leadership in Congress is needed during this critical time in order to pass meaningful healthcare reform. Please support this legislation that is urgently needed and wanted by an overwhelming majority of our members and the American people.

We did receive a very thoughtful and detailed reply from the congressman. through his campaign manager Cindy Gipson. I believe that Brian got quite a large number of calls, emails, and letters about his vote. You can go to his website here and read his statement on HR3962: http://www.baird.house.gov.

My friends, this is a complex and difficult issue. We are fortunate to have as our representative in congress a thoughtful and compassionate man who is also a doctor of clinical psychology, a highly trained healthcare professional with years of experience in the field. I truly believe that he wants the best he can get for all of us in the way of healthcare reform, though it seems that he is going against popular opinion with this vote.

Robert Kuttner has written a piece for The American Prospect praising  Maria Cantwell’s work on legislation that would effectively regulate Wall Street. She is fighting to secure fundamental reforms of the financial system, including regulation of credit-default swaps and derivatives.

Kuttner is one of the nation’s most respected progressive journalists. His most recent book, Obama’s Challenge: America’s Economic Crisis and the Power of a Transformative Presidency, presents a vision of Barack Obama’s opportunity to transform American politics.

The Washington State Democratic Party is proud that Maria is fighting for us.  As Kuttner states, “If you want to see how one determined junior legislator can make a difference, Cantwell is your woman.”

Dwight Pelz, Washington State Democrats

Friends and Fellow Democrats:
It is with great sadness that I tell you that our friend and fellow Democrat, Mr. Royal Harshman, has passed away following a 2 year battle with colon cancer. Royal was an enthusiastic and committed Democrat, our PCO in Long Beach for many years, and a willing volunteer for the Pacific County Democrats. A memorial is being held on Saturday, Nov. 14th, at 1 PM at the Artisan, 114 Main St. in Ilwaco.

SEAVIEW–Pacific County Democrats will meet at 7 p.m. on Monday, November 9 at the Seaview Transit Center, 2750 Pacific Way, in Seaview, WA.

The Guest speaker will be Patrick Webb, Managing Editor, Daily Astorian, discussing “How to Write an Effective Letter to the Editor.”

For more information contact John Adams, 665-0102 or pcd@pondhouse.com.