El Cerrito Democratic Club – Page 132 – Giving Voice to Progressive Democrats for Over 60 Years

July 13, 2014

November 4th State-wide Ballot Measures

At the July meeting, members will be voting to endorse the following State-wide ballot measures on the November ballot.

Proposition 43–Safe, Clean and Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act

The measure, upon voter approval, would enact the Safe, Clean and Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act, thus authorizing the issuance of bonds in the amount of $11,140,000,000 for the purpose of financing a drinking water and water supply reliability program

Proposition 44-State Reserve Policy

The measure, upon voter approval, would alter the state’s existing requirements for the Budget Stabilization Account (BSA), as established by Proposition 58. The BSA is a rainy day fund. Prop 44 would also establish a Public School System Stabilization Account

Proposition 45-Approval of Healthcare Insurance Rates

If approved by voters, the initiative would:

Require that health insurance rate changes must be approved by the Insurance Commissioner before taking effect.
Require a sworn statement by health insurance companies submitting rate change requests certifying the accuracy of the information they submit to the Insurance Commissioner to justify the rate change they are proposing.
Provide for public notice, disclosure and hearing on health insurance rate changes, and subsequent judicial review.
Prohibit health, auto and homeowners insurers from determining policy eligibility or rates based on lack of prior coverage or credit history.
Exempt employer large group health plans under any circumstances

Proposition 46-Drug and Alcohol Testing of Doctors. Medical Negligence Lawsuits

If approved by voters, the initiative would:

Increase the state’s cap on damages that can be assessed in medical negligence lawsuits to over $1 million from the current cap of $250,000.
Require drug and alcohol testing of doctors and reporting of positive tests to the California Medical Board.
Require the California Medical Board to suspend doctors pending investigation of positive tests and take disciplinary action if the doctor was found impaired while on duty.
Require health care practitioners to report any doctor suspected of drug or alcohol impairment or medical negligence.
Require health care practitioners to consult state prescription drug history database before prescribing certain controlled substances.

Proposition 47-Criminal Sentences. Misdemeanor Penalties. The initiative, if it is approved by voters, would reduce the penalty for most nonviolent crimes from a felony to a misdemeanor.

Proposition 48-Referendum to Overturn Indian Gaming Compacts

The initiative, if it is approved by voters, ratifies two gaming compacts (with the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians, and the Wiyot Tribe); and it exempts execution of the compacts, certain projects, and intergovernmental agreements from the California Environmental Quality Act.

For more information on all the ballot initiatives, visit ballotpedia.org or http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ballot-measures.

June 13, 2014June 13, 2014

Resolution Against Citizen’s United

At our last meeting, the Club discussed endorsing language proposed by Ray Sortuno opposing Citizen’s United. Betty Brown brought forward a resolution from the organization Move to Amend that many other clubs, organizations, City Councils, etc have endorsed. The members present agreed we should consider endorsing this resolution at the June meeting.

WHEREAS, the U.S. Supreme Court has granted corporations personhood status, free speech and other protections guaranteed to living humans by the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment, yet historically corporations were created as artificial entities that were subordinate to our democracy, the El Cerrito Democratic Club asserts that corporations are not natural persons with human rights but artificial entities created

by our government; and

WHEREAS, although corporations have made important contributions to society, they may exist simultaneously in many nations, use court granted “corporate rights” to get laws and regulations that protect people weakened or overturned, put profit ahead of any other concern, and use money derived from consumers and employees to

lobby for statutes that endanger democracy, human values, and ecological survival; and

WHEREAS, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Patrick Leahy stated that the ruling “will allow major corporations – who should have law written to control their effect on America – to instead control America;” and former Republican senator Warren Rudman wrote, “Supreme Court opinion notwithstanding, corporations are not defined as people under the Constitution, and free speech can hardly be called free when only the rich are heard;” and former Senator Chris Dodd pointed out that “money is not speech,” that “corporations are not people” and that “a constitutional amendment is necessary to fully restore the trust and voice of the America people.”

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the El Cerrito Democratic Club calls for freeing democracy from corporate control by calling for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to establish that: 1. Money is not speech, and 2. Corporations are not natural persons and not entitled to constitutional rights.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the El Cerrito Democratic Club calls on others to join the movement to amend the U.S Constitution in actions that defend our right to self-governance.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the El Cerrito Democratic Club requests that our appropriate elected representatives introduce and or support a constitutional amendment that contains both of these principles, or introduce motions to include these principles in related constitutional amendments.

Club members present at the June 23 meeting can make amendments to this language and/or vote to endorse it. The Club should also consider what the next course of action should be. Should the Club take the resolution to the El Cerrito City Council?