House District 2 Monthly Meeting - 4/4/09

House District 2 Monthly Meeting – Saturday, 4/4/09, 9:30 - 11 am These notes have been prepared by Thyria Wilson and Tom Parson, as an outline of discussions at our monthly meeting. Any corrections or feedback will be appreciated! 

Cecilia Flores gave opening remarks and then attendees introduced themselves.

Denver Dems Executive Committee Report: Cecilia gave the Executive Committee report. The Denver Dems committees cover a variety of issues similar to HD2 clusters. Our representation on these committees should involve activists already working on these issues in HD2. One omission was noted: that the Public Policy committee did not include immigration in its list of issues! There will be access to a Speaker’s Bureau with experts on different subject matter. HD4 has teams similar to HD2. Volunteer opportunities can be posted on the Website, such as collecting clothes.

HD2 Leaders Planning Meeting: Tom Parson reported on this month's HD2 Planning meeting. The team consists of the Captains, Co-Captains and the treasurer. The cluster ideas were discussed and plans made to contact people who signed up for teams. There was a start on the communications efforts by posting the minutes of the last meeting on our web portal, www.DenverHD2.com.

HD Websites: The County party had training on the web portal site and 27 people attended the training. Julie Kronenberger, Andrea Merida, and Tom have been trained on creating content on the site. One problem is that if a person creates a page, only that person can edit that page. The HD portals get the most hits. If something is put on the calendar, it goes out to the whole county, so local meetings may be listed as items in the general content but not on the calendar. There is also a possibility of posting slide shows and videos. On the county page is a link to a “library” with manuals. A current list of Precinct Committee People and party officers is available, and HD2 sign-up for volunteers, donations, email and our Facebook group will be possible on the portal page.

Mark Ferrandino Legislative Report: The budget has gone from bad to worse--a $900 million cut is required. Higher education will have a $300 million cut. The cuts may require capping enrollment, hiking tuition and closing schools. Higher education is the only place to cut. There is a resolution to use excess money from Pinnacol Assurance Company (which was founded in 1914 as a state agency for Colorado’s worker’s comp) to fund higher ed. There will be a fight over who owns the money. The legislature could dissolve Pinnacol and it pays no taxes. Other states have done this. There will be a major battle. If the budget deficit is not solved, the state may need to close down some institutions, or the School of Mines could go private, with potential loss of federal money. The state can’t cut K-12.

(Note: subsequent to our meeting, the Pinnacol option was taken off the table and the current budget issue was resolved with a series of other cuts and adjustments in the House bill.)

HB1260 on designated beneficiaries will be signed next week.

The rainy day bill will be out on the floor on Monday.

SB170 - instate tuition for illegal immigrants is very close--Romer, Sandoval support, but need about 3 more people to support it. (Note: The tuition equity bill did not receive the necessary votes and will have to be re-introduced next session).

David Simmons spoke on immigration law. The burden of proof is on the individual. There has been no major reform of the 1965 system. Cubans have a completely different circumstance. Ways of getting permanent residence:

1. Political asylum and refugees. Asylum seekers have only a 30% chance.

2. Family. Citizens can petition for spouses and parents. In limited circumstances can petition for adult children, but there is an 86 year backlog. In 1986 set a 35,000 per country limit.

3. Employment. a) Extraordinary persons - superstars, multinational business leaders, b) Advanced degrees etc. - exceptional, c) Skilled workers - 2 years training or education in professional areas, d) Unskilled workers - 5,000 per year, e) Special immigrants - victims of domestic violence, ministers.

Temporary - performers, students and visitors - 30 days to 6 months, to the completion of study. Until 1986 there were no sanctions on employers. 1989 - agency told to stop enforcing law for onion growers. 1991 - Rise in restrictionist movement. 1996 - Enforcement loaded. Took discretion away from local and added restrictions. The laws are out of step, the backlog of legal applications is absurdly extreme, and there are enforcement problems. Thanks to David for his expertise and his summary of these issues.

Mike Cerbo of the AFL-CIO spoke on the Employee Free Choice Act. The strength of unions has declined over the past 25 years. Middle class strength is tied to the strength of unions. The 1980 National Labor Relations Act has no penalty. Ways around the law - employers control elections, may recognize a union if a majority sign up or they can call for secret ballot election and then use the time to pressure workers. Free Choice Act would make it the union’s decision whether to have an election. If a majority of workers sign up, the union must be recognized. There is an increase in penalties for violations and an arbitration of first union contract if agreement is not reached. All 5 democratic representatives are co-sponsors of bill. Senators Udall and Bennet have not yet taken a position, though Udall was a co-sponsor when he was in the House.

Contact: mpcerbo@yahoo.com

Alice Gardner told about the Invisible Children Organization and “Change the world. It just takes cents.”

There are child soldiers in Africa and in Uganda the children are expendable. There is an event on April 25th to campaign for the safe rescue of Joseph Kony's children, with a march from Coors Field to Cheseman Park. 

On May 11^th there will be a Change the World march/ rally/ tree planting/ picnic at the Pavillion in City Park, to honor the children of Darfur. --9:30 to 1:00.

Senator Sandoval Reported on bills introduced.

Tuition Bill - the $0 fiscal note on the tuition bill was challenged.

Personal property tax - will phase out business property tax - died on tie vote.

SB100 - taxing employee meals, Bill said not going to tax.

School finance bill - passed out.

Merger of PERA and DPSRS will be introduced, to address problems when employees move between Denver and other school districts in the state - retirement starts all over again.

SB226 - Colorado School Children’s Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Act is in Senate Appropriations committee.

Kindred Act - will pay grandparents for taking in grandchildren - will only be implemented if money appropriated.

Heather Lurie, Rep. DeGette’s Political director, introduced herself. She just joined the team and will represent DeGette in the community. The Representative’s top priority is health care reform. Wants to strengthen FDA for food safety with authority and traceability of food. $0 funding for abstinence-only!

Contact: heatheralurie@gmail.com