August 1, 2011 (Washington D.C.) – President Barack Obama and Congressional leaders from both parties reached a last-minute deal last night aimed at forestalling the U.S. from defaulting on the national debt by tomorrow’s deadline. But the agreement hinges on getting both sides of Congress to pass it swiftly.
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A new direction—starting with Boehner debt reduction plan—is needed, says Hunter
July 30, 2011 (Washington D.C.) - Yesterday Congressman Duncan Hunter (CA-52) responded to release of the second quarter report on America’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), calling the report one more example of why “the country needs a new direction.” The GDP report shows the economy grew at a rate of 1.3% from April through June, which, according to the Los Angeles Times, is a “sign that the recovery has faltered dramatically.”
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“Would you rather reduce deficits and interest rates by raising revenue from those who are not now paying their fair share, or would you rather accept larger budget deficits, higher interest rates, and higher unemployment? And I think I know your answer.” – Ronald Reagan
Protests planned nationwide at Congressional offices over deficit issue
View video and read full text of President Obama’s speech and full text of President Obama’s speech
July 26, 2011 (Washington D.C.) – In a special address to the nation last night, President Barack Obama invoked the words of Ronald Reagan and urged the American people to let their representatives know if they support a balanced approach to resolving the deficit that would include a combination of deep spending cuts but also ask “millionaires and billionaires” to make some sacrifices to avoid cuts that would hurt senior citizens, students and working people.
Thus far, Republicans have insisted on a cuts-only plan as a condition of raising the debt ceiling to prevent the nation from defaulting for the first time in history on its debts. Republican Speaker John Boehmer insists Congress and the nation must "live within their means" as small businesses and families must do.
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July 22, 2011 (Tierrasanta) – San Diego City Councilwoman Marti Emerald has issued the following statement in response to inquiries regarding her decision to sell her home Tierrasanta.
The move follows the death of her husband, Mike Klarfeld, in February, and has raised questions as to whether she intends to continue representing the district.
Emerald offered assurances to constituents in her explanation:
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July 22, 2011 (San Diego) –Just how tough is it to balance the federal budget? While Congress wrestles with the issue on Capitol Hill, a roomful of ordinary citizens got the chance to find out on Tuesday, when Congresswoman Susan Davis’ office sponsored a workshop at San Diego State University to get constituents’ inputs on budgetary priorities.
I planned to go as a neutral observer. But since our table was short one participant, i found myself recruited for a lively and enlightening session. Creative minds proved adept at thinking outside the box—challenging conventional wisdoms, expanding the choices presented for cutting costs and raising revenues, plus citizens came up with some innovative ideas of their own.
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July 21, 2011 (Washington D.C.) – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) has issued a press release blasting an energy spending bill that seeks to gut funding for clean energy, including biomass and solar programs. The bill would hit San Diego hard, since it has a large concentration of clean technology companies, Davis indicated.
“San Diego has 767 clean technology companies and has become an innovation hub, especially in solar power, energy storage, and advanced biofuels,” said Davis. “If we’re going to remain competitive in the global economy, we must invest in clean energy innovation.” According to the San Diego Association of Governments, the algae energy section alone provides the region with 410 direct jobs and $108 million in economic activity each year.
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July 21, 2011 (Washington D.C.) -- Washington D.C.—U.S. Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-El Cajon), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, said yesterday that he will oppose any debt ceiling proposal that arbitrarily cuts spending—in particular, a “Gang of Six” agreement.
Hunter cited the military’s existing mission requirements, aging inventory and the cost of containing emerging threats and strengthening force projection.
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July 19, 2011 (La Mesa) -- Helix Water District will hold an informational public meeting on the proposed water rate increase on July 21 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive in La Mesa.
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July 18, 2011(Washington) -- Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) has introduced legislation, the Universal Right to Vote by Mail Act (H.R. 2084), that would end restrictions many states impose on a person’s ability to vote by absentee ballot.
Currently, 21 states restrict an eligible voter’s ability to vote by mail, also known as absentee. The other states offer no-excuse absentee voting. Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) re-introduced her bill to end such restrictions and allow all eligible voters nationwide to vote by mail for any reason in federal elections.
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July, 16, 2011 (Washington, DC) – Congressman Bob Filner applauded the announcement of more than $1.4 million for San Diego area school-based health centers. The Department of Health and Human Services, along with the Department of Education, today. The announced awards went to Family Health Centers of San Diego, Inc. $500,000; La Maestra Family Clinic was awarded $406,733; and the National City based Operation Samahan, Inc. was awarded $493,885.
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July 16, 2011 (San Diego) – Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) announced today that the Senate unanimously passed her bill to extend the deadline for students to receive their whooping cough vaccine this coming school year. It now heads to the governor for his consideration.
"This bill will help get more young people vaccinated and give school districts time to put together an immunization plan at their campuses,” said Kehoe. “Protecting public health is one of the government’s biggest jobs, and this legislation reflects our obligation to keep Californians healthy and safe.”
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July 15, 2011 (East County) -- The Alpine and Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce invites you to join your elected representatives for a lively evening discussing importanthot topics on Monday, July 18. Bring your questions, enjoy appetizers and the opportunity to meet your friends and neighbors at this informative event, which is cosponsored by Viejas and San Diego Gas & Electric Company.
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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
July 11, 2011 (San Diego) -- Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) is coordinating an event July 22 regarding the future of Medicare and efforts to protect it for future generations. Davis is encouraging constituents to attend this meeting which is free to the public.
What is Medicare? What does it mean for you? What is the future of Medicare?
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July 10, 2011 (San Diego) -- Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) will hold an event on balancing the federal budget, and the debate raging in Washington on where and how to cut spending. Davis is encouraging constituents to attend this meeting which is free to the public.
During the meetingConstituents are invited to share their views with Davis about priorities and challenges in the federal budget. Davis will be joined by an expert from the Concord Coalition, a national non-partisan organization dedicated to educating the public about federal budget deficits and ways to spur economic growth.
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Will Not Release Second Draft Maps in Order to Gather More Public Input Throughout Line Drawing Process and Produce Best Final Maps Possible
July 10, 2011 (Sacramento) -- The California Citizens Redistricting Commission decided at a recent meeting, that in order to produce the best district maps possible, it would amend its schedule and not release a second round of draft maps. The Commission will be posting visualizations of proposed districts, and make equivalency files available for organizations and news outlets to provide greater detail to the public on the visualization proposals. The visualizations are proposed options for districts and are considered and discussed by the Commission at their meetings instructing the line drawers.
At a previous meeting, the Commission set July 28th as the deadline for submission of public comment on the Commission's second round of draft maps to be released July 14th. The Commission encourages the public to submit their written comment as soon after July 14th as possible so the testimony can be fully considered.
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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
July 5, 2011 (Culver City) -- The California Citizens Redistricting Commission, in order to accommodate and incorporate greater public input, voted to move its release of second draft district maps to July 12th. The Commission is charged by voters to draw California Congressional, Legislative and Board of Equalization districts.
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Fire parcel fee, redevelopment cuts, tuition hikes, freeze on teacher lay-offs, and "crippling" cuts in border crimes enforcement among the budget impacts on our region
By Miriam Raftery
June 30, 2011 (Sacramento) –Governor Jerry Brown and Democrats in the state Legislature have approved a majority-vote budget without a single Republican vote. The move ends a months-long impasse in which Republicans held out for an all-cuts budget, while Democrats sought revenue increases to prevent slashing programs ranging from healthcare to law enforcement. The budget includes $7.9 billion in cuts which aim to reduce the state’s $26 billion deficit to $5 billion.
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June 29, 2011 (San Diego)—The California Citizens Redistricting Commission heard input from area residents this month, including some residents of East County and Imperial County who objected to the redrawing of Congressional and state leglsiative district lines to lump the two regions together.
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June 27, 2011 (Alpine) – San Diego County Counsel Thomas Montgomery has barred the Alpine Planning Group from removing Louis Russo, a member. The board had attempted to oust Russo after he wrote an article published online in the Alpine Community Network criticizing recent board decisions and suggesting that the planning group may need to be disbanded.
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June 20, 2011 (Sacramento) – Legislation authored by Senator Joel Anderson (R-El Cajon) aimed at protecting taxpayers and businesses from the impacts of state-issued IOUs has been approved by the State Senate.
“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” stated Senator Joel Anderson. “Right now, the state IOU process is a forced-borrowing scheme at the expense of the taxpayers. This measure will offer taxpayers protection by forcing the state to accept its own IOU as payment.”
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June 19, 2011 (San Diego) – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego), whose district may soon extend to include La Mesa, part of El Cajon and other areas in East County with reapportionment, has joined several other legislators in sending a letter asking Attorney General Eric Holder to conduct an investigation into oil speculation. The legislators seek to “determine whether illegal practices may be artificially inflating oil and gas prices” and also ask for “common sense limits" on the trading of oil futures.
“It's infuriating that major oil companies continue to profit from tax exemptions while American families struggle with rising gas prices," Davis said in a letter to constituents. "I joined in sending a letter to Vice President Biden asking him to make sure that cutting unnecessary tax subsidies for major oil companies is part of a deal to reduce the deficit.”
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In the 52nd Congressional District represented by Duncan Hunter (R-El Cajon), a Democratic analysis estimates the plan would shift thousands of dollars in costs onto individuals --$182,000 to $287,000 per person for those ages 44-54--while sharply cutting benefits for those over age 54 and the disabled.
June 19, 2011 (Washington D.C.) – How will the bill passed in April by House Republicans’ to cut $1 trillion in Medicare costs impact people in East County and San Diego?
The plan would eliminate Medicare for those now under 55, making them use vouchers for private insurance instead. Some benefits for current Medicare beneficiaries and the disabled would be cut immediately. Seniors would pay more for prescriptions and government reimbursement to private insurers would not keep pace with the rising cost of medical care, resulting in seniors paying higher costs. That's based on numerous independen analyses, from the Wall Street Journal to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).
Now ranking members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee have posted a breakdown by Congressional districts that shows majorl impacts on seniors and even greater cuts to those currently under 55.
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Garrick reportedly was set to run for redrawn Senate district in East County
By Miriam Raftery
June 16, 2011 (San Diego) – Assemblyman Martin Garrick (R-74th district), who currently represents North County, was arrested yesterday in Sacramento for driving under the influence of alcohol, after speeding, running a stop sign and fleeing from two California Highway Patrol officers.
Garrick, a former vice chair of the local Republican Party and past GOP Assembly leader, has been put forward by the Republican Party as a potential candidate to run for State Senate in a redrawn 38th State Senate district that would include areas in East County north of Interstate 8 if proposed redistricting plans are approved as drafted.
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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
June 15, 2011 (San Diego County) -- After a series of public meetings that began in February, the County’s Redistricting Advisory Committee voted Monday to forward three proposed redistricting plans to the Board of Supervisors. The citizen’s committee was tasked with gathering public input and forwarding no more than three plans for the Board’s consideration. The Redistricting Advisory Committee finished that work and held its final meeting Monday.
The Board of Supervisors is expected to hear the committee’s proposed plans at its regular Board meeting at 9 a.m. on June 28.The Redistricting Advisory Committee’s three proposals can be viewed at the County’s redistricting website at www.sdcounty.ca.gov/redistricting. Once at the site, please choose “view/submit plan” from the left menu; then choose “view the latest proposed plans.”This will take you to the online viewer, where you can “Choose (a) Plan.”
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June 16, 2011 (Washington) – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) introduced legislation, the Universal Right to Vote by Mail Act (H.R. 2084), that would end restrictions many states impose on a person’s ability to vote by absentee ballot.
Currently, 21 states restrict an eligible voter’s ability to vote by mail, also known as absentee. The other states offer no-excuse absentee voting. Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) re-introduced her bill to end such restrictions and allow all eligible voters nationwide to vote by mail for any reason in federal elections.
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June 15, 2011 (Santee) -- Assemblyman Brian Jones, Republican representing the 77th district, announces opening of a new district office location at 10152 Mission Gorge Road in Santee.
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June 15, 2011 (Sacramento)-- Senate Concurrent Resolution 37, authored by State Senator Joel Anderson (R - El Cajon) has been approved by the California State Senate. The measure would dedicate a portion of Interstate 8 in honor of f Border Patrol Agent Roberrt Rosas Jr., who was murdered while on duty in the Campo area of San Diego’s East County on July 23, 2009.
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A new direction—starting with Boehner debt reduction plan—is needed, says Hunter
July 22, 2011 (Tierrasanta) – San Diego City Councilwoman Marti Emerald has issued the following statement in response to inquiries regarding her decision to sell her home Tierrasanta. 
announcement of more than $1.4 million for San Diego area school-based health centers. The Department of Health and Human Services, along with the Department of Education, today. The announced awards went to Family Health Centers of San Diego, Inc. $500,000; La Maestra Family Clinic was awarded $406,733; and the National City based Operation Samahan, Inc. was awarded $493,885.
– Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) announced today that the Senate unanimously passed her bill to extend the deadline for students to receive their whooping cough vaccine this coming school year. It now heads to the governor for his consideration.
July 11, 2011 (San Diego) -- Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) is coordinating an event July 22 regarding the future of Medicare and efforts to protect it for future generations. Davis is encouraging constituents to attend this meeting which is free to the public.
June 20, 2011 (Sacramento) – Legislation authored by Senator Joel Anderson (R-El Cajon) aimed at protecting taxpayers and businesses from the impacts of state-issued IOUs has been approved by the State Senate. 
June 19, 2011 (San Diego) – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego), whose district may soon extend to include La Mesa, part of El Cajon and other areas in East County with reapportionment, has joined several other legislators in sending a letter asking Attorney General Eric Holder to conduct an investigation into oil speculation. The legislators seek to “determine whether illegal practices may be artificially inflating oil and gas prices” and also ask for “common sense limits" on the trading of oil futures.
By Miriam Raftery
June 15, 2011 (San Diego County) -- After a series of public meetings that began in February, the County’s Redistricting Advisory Committee voted Monday to forward three proposed redistricting plans to the Board of Supervisors. 
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