California Democratic Party - Rural Caucus: News

Welcome to the California Democratic Party
Rural Caucus!

The mission of the Rural Caucus is to identify and promote rural issues and candidates who are seeking elected and appointed positions at all levels of government. To this end, the Rural Caucus will partner with the CDP, Central Committees, Clubs, Assembly Districts, Regional Directors, and Democratic grassroots organizations to raise Democratic visibility, voter registration, and support candidates and issues.

Savings If SB-840 Were Passed

The Lake County Democratic Club began a campaign last summer to ask each local jurisdiction (schools, city, county,) how much they would save if SB 840 were enacted. As of June 25, 2008, that county would have saved $1.66 million.

Stan Gold of Progressive Democrats of Sonoma County began figuring out just how much Sonoma County ($20 million) and Marin County (over $9.5 million) would have saved.

The Gray Panthers found the following savings:

Eureka City Schools ($1.5 to $2.6 million)
Salinas UHSD ($4 to $6.5 million)
Stockton USD ($9.9 to $17 million)
San Diego USD ($15 to $41 million)
Elk Grove USD ($2 to $12 million)
LAUSD ($127 to $279 million)
Long Beach Combined Employer and Employee Savings ($22 million)
Visalia USD ($8.7 to $12.8 million)

To figure out what your county could save, follow this simple 4-step calculation process:

Multiply $7,000 (the exemption per employee) by the number of insured employees. The result is the amount of the total payroll that is exempt from SB-840 taxes.
Subtract the result in Step 1 from the total annual payroll of those same employees. The result is the SB-840 taxable payroll.
Multiply the result in Step 2 by 0.0817 (the SB-840 factor of 8.17%, as shown in the Lake County memo). The result is the new annual healthcare cost under SB-840.
Subtract the result in Step 3 from the current annual healthcare cost (include retirees' cost). The result is the potential annual cost reduction (savings).

Ask your local jurisdictions to run the numbers!

Comments 0

Letter to the Editor

The following letter has been sent to editors of the Fresno Bee, Marin Independent Journal, Stockton Record, Sacramento Bee, Woodland Daily Democrat, and Chico Enterprise Record. If you know of other publications we should be sending it to, please let us know.

"Editor,

The Rural Caucus of the California Democratic Party wishes to express its strong support of the Food and Farm Protection Act, Assembly Bill 541. The bill offers fundamental protections for farmers whose crops may be contaminated by genetically engineered varieties. The bill will be heard by Senate Judiciary Committee on June 24 and is scheduled to go to the legislative floor in August.

This bill has the support of Community Alliance with Family Farmers, the California Farmers Union, California Certified Organic Farmers, the California Farm Bureau, the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations, and many food safety and environmental organizations.

California currently has no laws in place to address the issues related to genetically engineered crop production despite the number of concerns raised as to possible affects on our environment, the productivity of our farms and the health of our citizens.

AB 541 constitutes a first step in helping to guide G.E. technology forward in a moderate and responsible manner by protecting our farmers from legal liability based on nothing more than the inevitable drift of genetically engineered seed or pollen.

Currently, farmers with crops that become infiltrated by patented seeds or pollen may be subject to both patent infringement lawsuits and breach of seed contract actions regardless of the circumstances giving rise to that infiltration. AB 541 will protect farmers from such claims in situations of unintentional or de minimus possession of genetically engineered seed or pollen.

Additionally, this bill provides a mandatory protocol for obtaining and testing a crop sample to be used by patent holders when investigating farmers they believe may have violated patents or seed contracts. This legislation requires that the patent holder must notify the farmer in writing of the allegations and must obtain the farmer's written permission, or failing that, a court order, to enter the farmer's property to obtain crop samples. Further, AB 541 requires that, if requested by either party, a state agriculture official will accompany the patent holder during the sampling and will collect duplicate samples for independent verification.

This legislation does not obstruct the planting of genetically engineered crops by some farmers, but it does offer a significant measure of protection to all farmers in the State of California who choose not to do so.

The Rural Caucus of the California Democratic Party is strongly in favor of the passage of AB 541..

Sincerely

Jamie Beutler - Chair, Rural Caucus"

Comments 0

Message from the Chair

Dear Rural Caucus Members,

When we began our journey together about three years ago, our membership was dwindling, rural county Democrats all across this state were disappointed, dejected and discouraged about the direction our state was headed. There was very little activity in many of the counties, especially the "red" counties.
Most of the counties in California were under Republican control and growing stronger. None of us could let that trend continue.

We came up with ideas to fund rural candidates and help rural counties, and initially we had no success at capturing the attention of the CDP. Then came the Convention in San Diego in April of 2007. There were no less than five resolutions from every part of this state offering different solutions to elect Democratic candidates.

Out of that came the 58 County Strategy. Because of your enthusiasm and determination, we have begun to turn our state around. One year ago there were 23 counties that had a majority of Democratic voters registered. Today, there are 26, and there are three more that have less than 1% difference between Republican and Democratic registrations. We are closing the gap, one county at a time.

Just several years ago, we had only a very few brave souls running for local offices in red counties. Today, we have countless candidates. Some of them won this year and some of them will be the Democratic candidates in the November election. Jerry McNerney became a rock star, and Charlie Brown is not far behind. We are beginning to win races in the reddest parts of this state which was almost unthinkable just one year ago.

We have come a long way in a short period of time. It has been a joy to see the transformation of our rural counties. Our struggles are not over, but we have made our voices heard throughout the state. We have partnered with eachother and with the California Democratic Party and the momentum continues to build.

The Rural Caucus will continue to represent the interests of Democrats in the rural areas of this state. The time has come to drive the "red" tide out and ride the "blue" wave in. 2008 is our year, and we are more prepared now to face the challenges that lie ahead than we have been in the past 10 years.

Thank you for the honor of allowing me to be your Chair.

Keep Fighting!

Jamie Beutler
Chair, CDP Rural Caucus

Comments 0

Information California Democratic Party Rural Caucus (530) 642-1353 Next Meeting: November 2008 Orange County Board Members Chair Jamie Beutler Northern Vice Chair John Rapf Central Vice Chair Richard Blackston Western Vice Chair Barbie Deutsch Southern Vice Chair Lori Vandermeir Secretary Becky Curry Treasurer Ginger Pohlson Parliamentarian Judy Hotchkiss	Welcome to the California Democratic Party Rural Caucus! The mission of the Rural Caucus is to identify and promote rural issues and candidates who are seeking elected and appointed positions at all levels of government. To this end, the Rural Caucus will partner with the CDP, Central Committees, Clubs, Assembly Districts, Regional Directors, and Democratic grassroots organizations to raise Democratic visibility, voter registration, and support candidates and issues. Savings If SB-840 Were Passed The Lake County Democratic Club began a campaign last summer to ask each local jurisdiction (schools, city, county,) how much they would save if SB 840 were enacted. As of June 25, 2008, that county would have saved $1.66 million. Stan Gold of Progressive Democrats of Sonoma County began figuring out just how much Sonoma County ($20 million) and Marin County (over $9.5 million) would have saved. The Gray Panthers found the following savings: Eureka City Schools ($1.5 to $2.6 million) Salinas UHSD ($4 to $6.5 million) Stockton USD ($9.9 to $17 million) San Diego USD ($15 to $41 million) Elk Grove USD ($2 to $12 million) LAUSD ($127 to $279 million) Long Beach Combined Employer and Employee Savings ($22 million) Visalia USD ($8.7 to $12.8 million) To figure out what your county could save, follow this simple 4-step calculation process: Multiply $7,000 (the exemption per employee) by the number of insured employees. The result is the amount of the total payroll that is exempt from SB-840 taxes. Subtract the result in Step 1 from the total annual payroll of those same employees. The result is the SB-840 taxable payroll. Multiply the result in Step 2 by 0.0817 (the SB-840 factor of 8.17%, as shown in the Lake County memo). The result is the new annual healthcare cost under SB-840. Subtract the result in Step 3 from the current annual healthcare cost (include retirees' cost). The result is the potential annual cost reduction (savings). Ask your local jurisdictions to run the numbers! Comments 0 Letter to the Editor The following letter has been sent to editors of the Fresno Bee, Marin Independent Journal, Stockton Record, Sacramento Bee, Woodland Daily Democrat, and Chico Enterprise Record. If you know of other publications we should be sending it to, please let us know. "Editor, The Rural Caucus of the California Democratic Party wishes to express its strong support of the Food and Farm Protection Act, Assembly Bill 541. The bill offers fundamental protections for farmers whose crops may be contaminated by genetically engineered varieties. The bill will be heard by Senate Judiciary Committee on June 24 and is scheduled to go to the legislative floor in August. This bill has the support of Community Alliance with Family Farmers, the California Farmers Union, California Certified Organic Farmers, the California Farm Bureau, the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Associations, and many food safety and environmental organizations. California currently has no laws in place to address the issues related to genetically engineered crop production despite the number of concerns raised as to possible affects on our environment, the productivity of our farms and the health of our citizens. AB 541 constitutes a first step in helping to guide G.E. technology forward in a moderate and responsible manner by protecting our farmers from legal liability based on nothing more than the inevitable drift of genetically engineered seed or pollen. Currently, farmers with crops that become infiltrated by patented seeds or pollen may be subject to both patent infringement lawsuits and breach of seed contract actions regardless of the circumstances giving rise to that infiltration. AB 541 will protect farmers from such claims in situations of unintentional or de minimus possession of genetically engineered seed or pollen. Additionally, this bill provides a mandatory protocol for obtaining and testing a crop sample to be used by patent holders when investigating farmers they believe may have violated patents or seed contracts. This legislation requires that the patent holder must notify the farmer in writing of the allegations and must obtain the farmer's written permission, or failing that, a court order, to enter the farmer's property to obtain crop samples. Further, AB 541 requires that, if requested by either party, a state agriculture official will accompany the patent holder during the sampling and will collect duplicate samples for independent verification. This legislation does not obstruct the planting of genetically engineered crops by some farmers, but it does offer a significant measure of protection to all farmers in the State of California who choose not to do so. The Rural Caucus of the California Democratic Party is strongly in favor of the passage of AB 541.. Sincerely Jamie Beutler - Chair, Rural Caucus" Comments 0 Message from the Chair Dear Rural Caucus Members, When we began our journey together about three years ago, our membership was dwindling, rural county Democrats all across this state were disappointed, dejected and discouraged about the direction our state was headed. There was very little activity in many of the counties, especially the "red" counties. Most of the counties in California were under Republican control and growing stronger. None of us could let that trend continue. We came up with ideas to fund rural candidates and help rural counties, and initially we had no success at capturing the attention of the CDP. Then came the Convention in San Diego in April of 2007. There were no less than five resolutions from every part of this state offering different solutions to elect Democratic candidates. Out of that came the 58 County Strategy. Because of your enthusiasm and determination, we have begun to turn our state around. One year ago there were 23 counties that had a majority of Democratic voters registered. Today, there are 26, and there are three more that have less than 1% difference between Republican and Democratic registrations. We are closing the gap, one county at a time. Just several years ago, we had only a very few brave souls running for local offices in red counties. Today, we have countless candidates. Some of them won this year and some of them will be the Democratic candidates in the November election. Jerry McNerney became a rock star, and Charlie Brown is not far behind. We are beginning to win races in the reddest parts of this state which was almost unthinkable just one year ago. We have come a long way in a short period of time. It has been a joy to see the transformation of our rural counties. Our struggles are not over, but we have made our voices heard throughout the state. We have partnered with eachother and with the California Democratic Party and the momentum continues to build. The Rural Caucus will continue to represent the interests of Democrats in the rural areas of this state. The time has come to drive the "red" tide out and ride the "blue" wave in. 2008 is our year, and we are more prepared now to face the challenges that lie ahead than we have been in the past 10 years. Thank you for the honor of allowing me to be your Chair. Keep Fighting! Jamie Beutler Chair, CDP Rural Caucus Comments 0	Click Here to Join Our Yahoo Group! Chair Questionnaire To participate in our questionnaire for state party chair candidates, Click Here! To review previously submitted questions, Click Here!
©2008 California Democratic Party - Rural Caucus


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