Lincoln County Democrats

What:  TOWN HALL MEETING ABOUT THE EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT

Where:  Airport Inn

When:  Thursday, May 14, 2009    4pm

Who:  Jane Kleeb and the local SEIU members

Purpose – To talk about how the bill has the potential to change working situations for people locally in North Platte

For questions call:

Laura Larsen
Change that Works
Director of Community Outreach
Cell: (308) 249-4228
Office: (402) 731-2416

So Iowa and Vermont are our two newest entrants into the whole gay-rights, same-sex marriage discourse, the newest to grant rights that is. Iowa did so through legal means, as Massachusetts and Connecticut before it, while Vermont being the first to grant same-sex marriage through its legislature.   Vermont officially granted same-sex marriage rights this week when its houses overrode the Republican governor’s veto.  What’s interesting in Vermont’s case is that by having the state’s duly elected representatives pass the measure, opponents’ entire Judicial Activist argument is officially cut down.

So what does all this mean?  Well, according to my favorite most crazy congressperson Steve King of Iowa (who also happens to be Republican, imagine that), we are now on the path to the “complete dissolution of society and religion.” 

Go figure. 

Then of course there is this interesting statistical extrapolation from fivethirtyeight.com predicting a turn in Nebraska public sentiment whereby we would be willing to support such a similar measure by the year 2014.  (Hard to imagine, but who’d have thought Iowa would make such a ruling.)

As for me, I don’t necessarily see the apocalypse on the horizon.  (In fact, it’s my hope that it has already occurred with very few takers.)  However, using my own discussions with my Iowan resident parents and the common attitude I see from people in this area of the state, I realize this is an issue that will likely resonate and drive political wedges for some time to come.  My hope, however, is for this issue to spawn needed discussions between the young and the old, the religious and not so much, the gays and the straights.  Ask each other why you believe this to be the new front of civil liberties or the destruction of society, and anything in between.  I, for example, have never really before talked to my parents about their feelings and beliefs concerning gays and lesbians.  (That despite my repeated attempts to convince my mother that I am gay to get her off my back about not having a girlfriend, which never seems to work.)  It is interesting to get their perspective on such issues considering their Democratic, Catholic and pro-life backgrounds.  It’s also something overdue and, admittedly, very frustrating at times.

All and all, understand that the world really can seem quite a bit different from only a few years ago (just look at these last eight years).  However, I have a feeling that the things that bond us will remain the same.

Principle trumping politics? I’m not so certain that is how this will play. Either way, the North Platte Housing Authority has turned down $588,000 in stimulus funds. I can’t help but to wonder if the board’s decision would have been different if they lived in the very houses they are charged to up-keep. But then what do I know?

You are Invited!

What: A word from the First Lady followed by the NET video presentation “Your Kids Are Drinking,” a message from a medical expert on the dangers of alcohol in adolescent brain development, and a Q&A with a panel of experts.

When: Monday, April 6^th at 7:00pm

Where: North Platte High School Performing Arts Center (1020 W. 2nd Street)

Community Connections presents the NET television production “Your Kids Are Drinking,” a documentary that examines the most under-reported aspect of underage drinking by youth – the adults that allow it to happen.  This documentary includes a visit to a small Nebraska town celebration where heavy drinking is a tradition and families protect their teenage drinkers.  In a larger community, cameras capture underaged decoys purchasing liquor from stores and restaurants.  Finally, one family’s tragic story illustrates the horrible consequences of teenagers drinking before they can handle its effects.  From tougher parenting to a hard-line from law enforcement officials, there is a new emphasis on how adults need to take responsibility for the drinking behavior of teens.

This event is open to parents, youth, community leaders, teachers, special event board members, city council, churches, and all interested parties.  Everyone is strongly encouraged to attend.

For more information please contact Community Connections at (308) 696-3358

A message from NYD President Kyle Michaelis:

If you are a Nebraska Democrat between the ages of 13 and 35 (sorry, we had to draw the line somewhere), please join us on Saturday, April 4th for the 2009 Nebraska Young Democrats Convention hosted by the Creighton College Democrats in Omaha.

Registration begins at 9:30 am
Convention begins promptly at 10 am
Parking available at 20th Street & California.

This is an important convention for NYD and the Nebraska Democratic Party as each looks to the next generation of young leaders to carry us into the next decade.  Special guests will be joining us, and we’ll even be devoting time to helping Omaha’s Democratic candidate for mayor days before the city’s primary election.

As previously announced, I will be stepping down as NYD president at the convention and look forward to helping our new leaders realize Young Democrats’ potential as a powerful force and a progressive voice in Nebraska politics.

The deadline for presidential nominations is this Thursday, April 2nd, at 10 am.  Just send your nomination to convention@nebraskayoungdemocrats.org.  We also encourage nominations for our other elected offices at this address, although they will be accepted from the convention! floor.  Please see our Conventions 101 guide for more information.

The deadline for submitting amendments to the NYD Constitution is also Thursday, April 2nd at 10 am.  Any proposed amendments should be sent to convention@nebraskayoungdemocrats.org.  This is our one opportunity all year to change our organization’s guiding document, which can be read here.  If there’s an issue you’re very passionate about, our members will also have the opportunity to propose and debate resolutions in the name of Young Democrats across the state.

I look forward to seeing you this Saturday at Creighton University.

Kyle Michaelis
President (for a few more days)
Nebraska Young Democrats
kyle@nebraskayoungdemocrats.org

Dear Friends – as many of you may know, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is facing severe budget cuts.  As part of the proposed cuts, “Buffalo Bill State Historical Park and State Recreation Area…will have limited visitor hours and tours and school groups will be by appointment only.”

Scouts Rest Ranch is an extremely important part of North Platte’s travel and tourism industry.  The North Platte/Lincoln County Convention and Visitors Bureau is urging each one of you to write Governor Heineman asking that he do what he can to restore funding to the Ranch in the NGPC budget, and send copies to Richard Baier, Rex Amack, Senator Tom Hansen and Jerrod Burke.  I have attached the NP/LCCVB letter for your reference, and the addresses are below.

Time is of the essence in this situation, as the budget will come up for review within a week or so.  Please take the time to write as soon as possible.

Please forward this e-mail on to anyone you think would be willing to write a letter.

Thank you in advance for giving of your time and energy to write these letters.

~Muriel Clark – mclark@visitnorthplatte.com

Governor Dave Heineman

Office of the Governor

P.O. Box 94848

Lincoln, NE 68509-4848

Richard Baier, Director

Nebraska Department of Economic Development

301 Centennial Mall South

P.O. Box 94666

Lincoln, NE 68509-4666

Senator Tom Hansen

District 42, Room 1012

P.O. Box 94604

State Capitol

Lincoln, NE 68509

Rex Amack, Director

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

2200 North 33rd Street

PO Box 30370

Lincoln, NE 68503-0370

Jerrod Burke, Commissioner District 5

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

220 Crook Ave.

Curtis, NE  69025

Title: LCD Monthly Meet and Greet
Location: North Platte Airport Tiffany Room
Description: Monthly Lincoln County Democratic Meeting.
6:00pm for meal
7:00pm Call to Order
Start Time: 18:00
Date: 2009-04-02

Mark your calendars for the upcoming April LCD Monthly Meet and Greet.

Where: Airport Inn Restaurant, North Platte Airport Tiffany Room

When: April 2, 2009; 6:00pm for meal, 7:00pm Meeting Call to Order

Meeting Itinerary:

Pledge of Allegiance

Welcome everyone and any newcomers!

Welcome Lisa Hannah

Old Business:

1.      Dianne Nicholson – Meeting minutes

2.      Post card announcements and Email notification

3.      OpEd pieces in the Telegraph

         Pat Kasson – 3/10/09

         DeLoyt Young – 3/11/09

4.      Any additional Old Business

New Business:

1.       Meeting of the 3rd District Democrats

SPECIAL GUEST  – Lisa Hannah  
Chair, 3rd Congressional District
Nebraska Democratic Party
http://nebraskademocrats.org
lisaks@inebraska.com
(308) 379-2118

2.      Tom Brown – Treasurers Report

3.       100 Days for Obama

4.       Legislative updates

5.       Other New business

I hope to see you there!

Senator Tom White

First of all, I’m digging Senator Tom White’s embrace of the internet to gather support for his proposals in Lincoln.  Most recently he has circulated an online petition gathering signatures in support of LB16: The Taxpayer Transparency Act.  This is an act which will require the Legislature to develop a searchable, publicly-available website detailing state spending and tax incentives.  The idea is to make state government more open and transparent. 

Click here if you would like to sign the petition.

Or, if you prefer, you can read the text of the proposed bill itself here (LB16: Taxpayer Transparency Act) or you can just read its Statement of Intent.

More senators need to take advantage of the technological resources available to them as Sen. White does.  I encourage you to check out his website at www.JoinTomWhite.com.

The rest of this post is dedicated to the ongoing news of our lone Democratic federal office holder dragging his feet on several legislative proposals.

Ben Nelson Opposes Employee Free Choice Act

Democrats Battle Bailout Fatigue

Most Democrats Confident Spending Bill Will Pass

If you would like to hear the latest about the happenings within the Nebraska legislature and the state of the state Democratic Party, consider attending one of the following upcoming events.

Town Hall Meeting with LD42 Senator Tom Hansen

When: Saturday, 14 March 2009

Time: 9:00am to 12:00pm

Where: North Platte Holiday Inn Express

Additional Details: Click here to read and subscribe to Sen. Hansen’s “Over the Fence” bi-weekly newsletter.

Meeting of the 3^rd District Democrats

When: Saturday, 14 March 2009

Time: 11:00am to 3:00pm

Where: Broken Bow Country Club (Turn at mile marker 176.5 on Highway 2, located 1.3 miles west of Broken Bow. Turn east and go 3/10ths of a mile to the Country Club.

Additional Details: Cost is $10 per person and there will be a roast beef dinner lunched served.  Featured speakers will be Sen. Annette Dubas, LD 34, and Sen. Kate Sullivan, LD41.

AARP Nebraska News Hotline – 1-866-955-6297

A new cool source to get your weekly Nebraska legislative session update provided by the Nebraska AARP.  When you call that number you will receive a recording from local experts covering the bills discussed in the legislature that week.  A great free service you can use to stay in-tune with the Nebraska legislative activity.

And of course, don’t forget the Unicameral Update provided by the legislature itself.

Again, stay informed and let your concerns be heard.