August 31, 2012 (El Cajon)--California State Ballot Propositions 30 through 40 will be discussed at the East County Democratic Club Meeting on at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012. 

The main speaker will be Eric Banks, immediate past-president of SEIU Local 221, who will be addressing issues embedded in Proposition 32, focusing on the questionable issue of "paycheck protection" and sharing information about his public employee union.  Diane Cates, a new member of the SEIU Executive Board will be in attendance and adding her insights.  ECDC President John Martes and his wife Gloria will be presenting information about the other propositions.  Also local Propositions C,D,G,and V, which are bond issues for public education, will  be addressed. 

AB 1731 would require $3 test to save lives, anguish, medical expenses

September 1, 2012 (Sacramento) —Legislation by Assemblymember Marty Block (AD-78) to ensure early detection of life-threatening congenital heart disease in newborns left the Assembly today on a 59-16 vote. It is co-sponsored by the March of Dimes and the American Heart Association.

September 1, 2012 (Sacramento)--Senator Joel Anderson’s (R-Alpine) Senate Concurrent Resolution 90, which commemorates the service and sacrifice of the Tuskegee Airmen, gained final legislative approval August 29 when the Senate voted 34-0 in support.  SCR 90 had previously been approved by the Assembly on a 78-0 vote.

By Nadin Abbott

August 30, 2012 (Rancho Bernardo)-- At a gathering today in Rancho Bernardo outside the Republican party’s county headquarters, members of labor and the Democratic Party reacted to the Romney\Ryan ticket.

By Miriam Raftery

August 24, 2012 (San Diego) – Last week, San Diegans for Open Government sued San Diego’s Supervisors for apparent Brown Act violations at a June 26 meeting. 

Governor , who wants to “crush” opponents of big energy projects, called CEQA reform  “Lord’s work”

“Governor Brown is dangerous to the financial and environmental health of California, and I am extremely disappointed in his short-sightedness.”--Laura Cyphert, Cedar Fire Survivor and cofounder of the East County Community Action Coalition

By Miriam Raftery

August 23, 2012 (Sacramento)—In a stealth effort that shocked enviornmentalists, business groups succeeded in gutting a bill in the State Assembly and inserted language to essentially repeal the California Enviornmental Quality Act (CEQA) .  The measure passed the Assembly yesterday and advanced to the State Senate. But today, State Senate President Darrell Steinberg and the bill’s author, Michael Rubio, held a press conference to announce that the measure will not be taken up before the end of the legislative session next week.  

Sierra Club California director Kathryn Phillips voiced relief, calling SB 317 “one of the worst attacks on environmental protections that we’ve seen in the 40-year life of the law.”

Officials,organizations across party lines dissect benefits and shortcomings of initiative; consumer interest groups call measure deceptive

By Thea Skinner

August 19, 2012 (San Diego)--According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) for the State of California, Proposition 32 is an initiative that seeks to prohibit political contributions via payroll deductions and contributions to candidates.

The ballot measure proposes to change state campaign finance laws to restrict spending by public and private labor unions, corporations and government contractors in local and statewide political races. The measure has sparked fierce debate and is emerging as one of the most controversial measures on the November ballot.

By Nadin Abbott

August 11, 2012 (El Cajon)--The mood at the Cuyamaca College Water Conservation Garden was relaxed. People came to have good food, drink, and listen to some of our local politicians debate in a friendly forum.

August 2, 2012 (Rancho San Diego) -- The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce’s  lively annual political event, Politics in Paradise, will be held on Friday, August 10 at the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College.