22 August 2009: Obama Refutes Republican Lies On Health Insurance Reform

Here is President Obama's weekly address that corrects the record on health insurance reform and the lies being spread by the GOP and industry lobbyists who are spending record amounts to sway the Congress' decision on the legislation up for debate and votes this fall.

19 August 2009

Message from Organizing for America and the Democratic National Committee: Online Strategy with President Obama on Health Care Reform Thursday

President Obama is holding a live strategy meeting on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time for all Organizing for America supporters. I hope you can join us, online or by phone. The President will update us on the fight to pass real health insurance reform -- what's happening in D.C. and what's happening around the country. He'll lay out our strategy and message going forward and answer questions from supporters like you. And we'll unveil the next actions we'll organize together.

This is a critical time in this President's administration, and in the history of our country. I hope you can join us.

Here are the details:

What: Organizing for America National Health Care Forum
When: Thursday, August 20th, 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time
RSVP and submit a question for the President.

Click here to RSVP and submit a question for President Obama:

http://my.barackobama.com/forum


August Town Committee Meeting Agenda

When: Thursday, August 20, 2009—7 :00 p.m.
Where: New Britain City Hall 27 West Main St. Room 504

A. Welcome and roll call
B. Treasurer’s report/Minutes of prior meeting
C. Guest Speaker: DAN MALLOY, Mayor of Stamford
D. Old Business — Justices of the Peace nominations
E. New Business — Primary poll checkers campaign announcements
F. Adjournment


Six Ways To Help Tim O'Brien and the Democratic slate. Vote Row B November 3rd.

Your time and support are needed now.

1. Make calls to voters about November 3rd
2. Drop lit in the neighborhoods/sign up new voters
3. Send cards to family, friends and neighbors
4. Write letters to the editor
5. Sign up for a lawn sign
6. Make a financial contribution


NBDTC Post Office Box 2112, New Britain , CT 06050
Labor donated and paid for by. New Britain Democratic Town Committee.
John Valengavich Treasurer. Approved by John McNamara

Dan Malloy Is Guest Speaker At August 20th Meeting

Dan Malloy, Stamford’s Mayor and a 2010 gubernatorial hopeful, will be the guest speaker at the August meeting of the NB Democratic Town Committee Thursday, August 20th at 7 p.m. at New Britain City Hall, 27 West Main Street.

Malloy, who has served as Stamford’s mayor since 1995, is serving a fourth term and is expected to seek the Democratic nomination for Governor next year. A Boston College and Boston College law school graduate, Malloy served as an assistant district attorney in Brooklyn, NY in the early 1980s before returning to his native Stamford to practice law and pursue local politics. He contended for the gubernatorial nomination in 2006.

This summer he has been critical of the Rell Administration on the stymied state budget negotiations and on Governor Rell’s veto of the Sustinet health care reform legislation that was overridden by the state legislature. More information at www.danmalloy.com

From the Chair: NB Republicans start early on personal attacks, negative campaigning

It usually takes until Labor Day for some candidates to resort to negative campaigning. But New Britain Republicans aren’t waiting until then to engage in name calling and invective as a substitute for discussing the issues.

Don Naples, a Ward 4 candidate for the GOP, signed off on a letter to the editor earlier this week that takes off on Ward 4 Ald, Phil Sherwood for inquiring about the plans for prospective developers to build retail at the Pinnacle Heights site. Naples falsely chastises Sherwood for “taunting” the proposed developers as he engaged in a dialogue with the developer’s attorney. The developers, by the way, were seeking full developer designation after admitting that “due diligence” on their part needs to be done on the site before offering any specifics. For doing his due diligence in a respectful manner, Sherwood was called “jerky” by Naples. And in a new blog that is anonymous but has all the trappings of the Republican Town Committee and Mayor Stewart’s inner circle Sherwood is referred to as “filthy Phil Sherwood.” Check it out at http://thebizybee.blogspot.com/

And in one of his many attack missives GOP Ald. Lou Salvio rants on about “some Democrat Council agitators” using “neighborhood rabble-rousers”, “mercenaries” and “Democratic shills to promote doubt.” Salvio’s letter was posted on the Frank Smith Says NB blog, another conduit for personal attacks on local Democrats generally and vitriolic, extremist reports against President Obama specifically. There was nary a word about any substantive issue in this latest salvo from Salvio.

Salvio, who has made a habit of name calling and insults in e-mails to his Democratic Council colleagues and in letters to the editor through the years, complains bitterly that the “voters elected the evildoers with a super majority on the council.”

These remarks are disappointing, counterproductive and disrespectful to voters. Every election is an opportunity to have a conversation with voters and to engage them in constructive dialogue. Democrats believe this. Unfortunately members of the Stewart team appear to want to trade insults and tear down the good faith efforts of public servants rather than promote their own qualifications, ideas and solutions.


Black Dems Set For Soul Food Fast, Saturday, August 15th

The Black Democratic Club and its President, Ward 3 Ald. Shirley Black , invites you to its annual Soul Food Fest Saturday, August 15th. The annual event will be held from 12-4 p.m. Pride of CT, Lodge of Elks 24 Elm Street, New Britain. The donation $15. Bring your appetite.

End Quote

The Republicans, hoping to steal the message as they have so often before, have invited in the brass-knucklers of the wacko-fringe: the racists, the haters, the misanthropes, the nest of the bombers and shooters, the lunatics. They’ve done this before and think it’s high theater. Except this time there’s no moderating forces left at all in the GOP hierarchy to hit the “off” switch. The party has been reduced down to the coffee grounds. It is the base distilled to the base of the base. A few southerners, a few wild westerners, the usual opportunists. …..The demagogues of the airwaves, who alone define and control the Republican party once of Lincoln and Roosevelt and Eisenhower — racist to the core — whip the mob to its mad frenzy.

from Angry? How about nuts? Author and blogger Denis Horgan August 5, 2009-08-13

9 August 2009

Council Takes Up Anti-Blight Issue Wednesday, August 12
Stewart, Republicans Seek To Weaken Enforcement

A proposal by the Stewart administration to weaken the city’s policy against property blight will get a hearing at Wednesday’s City Council meeting amid calls by Democrats for stronger enforcement of existing ordinances.

The Herald quoted Stewart as saying: “We have serious deficiencies in our anti-blight legislation because of its complexity and reliance on the courts. The proposed ordinance reduces and codifies it down to a more workable ordinance.”

Democratic Chairman John McNamara said the administration’s proposed policy is an abdication of the city government’s role in protecting neighborhoods against deterioration. “The Mayor is walking away from the tools that many cities rely on to deal with irresponsible absentee landlords. Limiting the options the city has over slumlords won’t get the job done. Sometimes a city has to ‘rely on the courts’ to protect its citizens.”

McNamara, a former Building Commission Chairman, called upon the Mayor and Council to maintain and strengthen the anti-blight policy by adopting a certificate of occupancy in non-owner occupied housing. “Instituting the Building Commission was only a half-step last year. Certificates of occupancy are needed to hold landlords and tenants responsible in multi-unit housing.”

State Rep. Tim O’Brien (D-24), the endorsed Democratic candidate for Mayor, was instrumental in writing a strong anti-blight ordinance when he served on the city council. Stewart now seeks to weaken provisions that set quality of life standards in neighborhoods and give the city powers to hold absentee owners accountable.

“ Unfortunately, our city has not received the benefit of these strong anti-blight protections because these rules have never truly been enforced,” said O’Brien. “I have worked hard, both on the City Council and in the state legislature, for anti-blight ordinances and laws. For too long slumlords and other irresponsible absentee property owners have brought down the quality of life in whole neighborhoods with their neglect and bad management. This harms everyone. It hurts people of meager means who live in slum housing, because there is a shortage of quality affordable housing. It hurts the people whose neighborhood quality of life is torn down because they live near boarded-up buildings and slums. And it means that taxpayers watch as their money ends up spent dealing with the problems caused so that out-of-town investor-owners can make money on the backs of New Britain residents.”

O’Brien said he agreed with the Mayor that the city should take advantage of state anti-blight laws, like collecting anti-blight fines and fees through irresponsible property owners' tax bills and activating the state Urban Homesteading law. “But, the most significant thing that the Stewart-Republican proposal would do would be to weaken our city's anti-blight ordinance by repealing important quality of life standards designed to protect the people of our city. We should be moving forward, not backward,” said O’Brien. O’Brien said his differences with the Stewart administration on blight issues is one of the reason he is running for mayor. “We can have a city that creates jobs, building up homes and neighborhoods, instead of making excuses for why our anti-blight ordinance is not being enforced,” said O’Brien.

Public participation at Wednesday’s City Council meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 27 West Main Street.


Rained Out Tomato Crop Cancels Urban Oaks’ Annual Tasting Feast: Special Fund Will Help Organic Farmers

The annual “Tomato To-mah-to 2009: Heirloom Tasting Feast” scheduled for Sunday, August 23rd and hosted by New Britain’s Urban Oaks Farm and the Upper Forty Farm in Cromwell has been cancelled because of weather-related blight to tomato crops this year.

“Both farms are suffering greatly from circumstances related to this unseasonably cool and wet weather. It is unclear if there will be any field grown tomato plants surviving in four weeks. Flooding and blight are taking an enormous toll on everything,” wrote Susan Chandler, the chapter leader of Slow Food Connecticut. “Slow Food Connecticut is establishing a Tomato Fund in support our farmer friends, who have generously hosted this event for eight years on our behalf, as small token of our appreciation. Proceeds will be equally divided between Upper Forty Farm and Urban Oaks Organic Farm and be entirely tax-deductible. If you would like to participate, please send a check to "Slow Food Connecticut" and mail to Susan Chandler, 1870 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117. Note "Tomato Fund" on the memo line.

Black Dems Set For Soul Food Fast, Saturday, August 15th

The Black Democratic Club and its President, Ward 3 Ald. Shirley Black , invites you to its annual Soul Food Fest Saturday, August 15th. The annual event will be held from 12-4 p.m. Pride of CT, Lodge of Elks 24 Elm Street, New Britain. The donation $15.

Car Wash for NBHS Marching Band To Be Held August 22nd

The New Britain High School Golden Hurricanes Marching Band, celebrating its 75th year of New Britain music pride, will hold its Annual Car Wash on Saturday, August 22, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The CAR WASH FUNDRAISER will be held at the Masonic Temple, corner of Shuttle Meadow Avenue and Corbin Avenue, New Britain, across from Martha Hart Park. The car wash will include student participation, with music provided by NBHS Band members. Hot dogs will also be sold to benefit the Band. Olivia Pietrowicz is the 2009-2010 Drum Major and will coordinate the car wash activities along with the Band Unit leaders, Canettes Co-Captains and Head Majorette. Car wash tickets are $5.00 and can be purchased at the Car Wash

26 July 2009: Endorsements On Tuesday July 28th

O’Brien asks town committee members for mayoral endorsement
Democratic Endorsement Meeting Tuesday, July 28th

State Rep. Tim O’Brien (D-24), in a letter to the members of the Democratic Town Committee, has asked for their support at the DTC’s endorsement meeting to be held Tuesday, July 28th, at the Italian Fraternal Society, 153 Monroe Street.

O’Brien, reiterating points made at his July 17th announcement at the Pulaski Democratic Club, said “change” is needed in the Mayor’s office “to help homeowners, especially seniors, with unfair property taxes; to improve quality of life in all of New Britain's neighborhoods; to create good paying jobs and revitalize our economy; to improve the quality of education and create new opportunity.”

“I believe, deep in my heart, that New Britain can be brought back, that we can restore hope to the people of our city. And I believe that the Democratic Party, as the party of the people, is where the new ideas and vision must come to change from policies that benefit a select few to leadership that benefits all of the people of New Britain. As I have said, I want this campaign to be about empowering the people of our city, not just about electing one person.” O’Brien, serving his fourth term in the Legislature, previously was elected to the Common Council.

The DTC will endorse candidates for Mayor, Town and City Clerk, Tax Collector, Treasurer , City Council, Board of Education, Board of Assessment Appeal and Constable at Tuesday’s meeting. “We’re striving to offer the voters a diverse and competent group of candidates who are truly representative of all residents and who can help Tim O’Brien bring positive change to City Hall,” said Democratic Town Chair John McNamara.

Meet The Candidates: Sharon Beloin-Saavedra seeks new term on board of education (one of a series about the Democratic candidates for municipal offices)

Board of Education President Sharon Beloin-Saavedra is seeking endorsement for a second four-year term on the Board of Education.

A former city alderwoman during the administration of former Mayor Donald DeFronzo, Beloin-Saavedra, a lifelong resident and 1987 CCSU grad, describes herself as a “domestic engineer…a stay at home, hard-working dedicated mother.” Beloin-Saavedra has three children, Noah, 13, and Gabriella and Alexandra, 11. She is married to Ed Saavedra, who also has previously served as a Board of Education member. Beloin-Saavedra, who succeeded BOE member Peter Kochol as board president, said her priorities are to “fix the resource deprivation that exits for New Britain schools; close the achievement gap and achieve equity in education for urban students.”

“Voters should know that I am a life long resident of New Britain. I grew up here, went to school here and am choosing to raise my family here. I am committed to helping children succeed and break down barriers,” said Beloin-Saavedra. The DTC will endorse three candidates at its July 28th meeting.

Let’s Get Congress To Act!

Support urged for Employee Choice Act in Congress
A majority of Americans worry that their children will be worse off than they are. While our families struggle to get by, corporate CEOs are making record profits--all while they're trying hard to deny us a voice on the job. When workers are free to choose to join a union, our economy can work for everyone again. That's why we need the Employee Free Choice Act--a bill in Congress that would make it easier for workers to join together and bargain for wages that support a family and quality, affordable healthcare. This bill will make it easier for workers to unite on the job, imposing stiff penalties for corporations who fire or intimidate workers who try to form unions and giving workers a seat at the table so they can negotiate their contracts just like CEOs do.
The Employee Free Choice Act: (1)Makes it easier for working people to join unions by giving employees the choice to form a union and taking away corporations' veto powers; (2) Helps America's working families improve their standard of living. Workers in unions earn 30 percent higher wages and are 63 percent more likely to have employer-provided health insurance; (3) Fixes a broken system that gives corporations and CEOs far too much power. When workers try and organize unions, they are often harassed and intimidated; 25 percent of companies unlawfully fire pro-union workers; (4) Restores fairness and the promise of the American Dream, with a robust middle class, economic growth, and shared prosperity.

It's time our economy worked for everyone again. It's time for the Employee Free Choice Act. Ask Congress to act favorably at http://action.seiu.org/page/s/majoritysignup

Additional information available at www.seiu.org

Health Care With Public Option Is Priority
With the CT Legislature’s veto override and passage of a Sustinet Health coverage reform plan, attention will now focus on President Obama’s health care legislation that will be up for debate and Congressional action in the fall.

Sustinet provides for a policy making process that is not dominated by insurance lobbyists and interests. “Under SustiNet, we do anticipate affordable public health insurance options starting in 2012,” said Juan A. Figueroa, president of the Universal Health Foundation, which led a broad-based, nonpartisan coalition for passage. “Connecticut is now positioned on the national health reform stage, surpassing Massachusetts with a smart plan that will expand coverage and lead us on the road to better health and health care.”

At the federal level, U.S. Senator Chris Dodd is one of Congress’ leading advocates for a health care plan with a public option: “We have a unique opportunity to make a difference for millions of Americans who are caught between the cracks of our current health insurance system. We all know someone who is uninsured or underinsured, someone who has had to battle their insurance company to cover desperately needed medical care. President Obama has been providing important leadership on this issue, pushing for strong reform, trying to work with Democrats and Republicans to make health care for all a reality. Stand up against the political games and stand up for real leadership on health care reform.”

For more information and to sign the petition go to

http://www.chrisdodd.com/Action/HealthCarePresident?utm_source=sp2096037&utm_medium=e&sc=sp2096037

12 July 2009

Rep. O’Brien To Make Announcement July 17th

State Rep. Tim O’Brien (D-24) is set to make an announcement on his political plans this year at an announcement on July 17th to be held at the Pulaski Democratic Club, 89 Grove Street, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

O’Brien formed an exploratory committee earlier this year to consider running for Mayor and he has since been meeting with voters and groups to gauge and build support for a possible mayoral run.

According to the Democratic Town Committee (DTC), no other Democrat has expressed an interest in the running for Mayor in the run up to endorsements to be held later this month.

O’Brien, a former councilor at large, was elected to the state House in 2002 and has made clean elections, property tax reform and equitable funding for cities cornerstones of his legislative efforts.

Friday’s announcement is an O’Brien for New Britain Committee event with a suggested donation of $10.

Dems Getting Ready For July 28th Endorsement Meeting

The Democratic Town Committee will meet Tuesday, July 28th at 7 p.m. to endorse candidates for all city offices. The meeting will be held at the Italian Fraternal Society, 151 Monroe Street. A reception for candidates will follow the meeting.

Endorsed will be candidates for Mayor, Town and City Clerk, Tax Collector, Treasurer, Common Council, Board of Education, Board of Assessment Appeal and Constable.

Democratic Town Chair John McNamara said the nominating sub-committee continues to gather candidate information and interview candidates. The Committee is also expected to draft a platform or policy statements on city finances, education and preserving neighborhoods.

Candidate and related information is available at www.newbritaindemocrat.net .



Campaign 2009: Meet The Candidates (first in a series)

Teresa Sapieha Yanchak Seeks New Term As Treasurer

City Treasurer Teresa Sapieha Yanchak will seek re-endorsement at the Democratic Town Committee later this month. Sapieha-Yanchak, a former Ward 4 City Councillor, is seeking a third two-year term for the office of Treasurer

"I have experience and a commitment to serving my community to the best of my ability," says Sapieha Yanchak. "As a lifelong resident I want to see my town become a thriving epicenter of arts and dining experience. I want to be a part of that happening." Yanchak points to economic development, financial oversight and grant funding opportunities as key issues that she will focus on in a new term.

Employed at the University of Connecticut Health Center, Sapieha Yanchak holds a psychology degree from the University of Hartford and is pursuing a master's degree in health psychology at CCSU. She is the single mother of six-year olds twins, Will and Tim, and resides on Dennis Drive.


End Quote: Cheney's "High Crimes and Misdemeanors" Part I

The Central Intelligence Agency withheld information about a secret counterterrorism program from Congress for eight years on direct orders from former Vice President Dick Cheney, the agency’s director, Leon E. Panetta, has told the Senate and House intelligence committees, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said Saturday.

New York Times story, July 12, 2009. pg. 1
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/12/us/politics/12intel.html?_r=1&hp

3 July 2009

O'Brien Seeks Coordinated Action To Aid Displaced Wal-Mart Workers

The August 31st closing of New Britain's Wal-Mart store, abruptly announced by the company this past week, has prompted State Rep. Tim O’Brien (D-24) to call for coordinated action to assist more than 160 displaced workers at the Farmington Avenue store.

“It’s vital that we do what ever we can to stem any job loss here in New Britain that may be created from Wal-Mart closing its doors,” said Rep. O’Brien. Rep. O’Brien said that he hopes that employees are able to find jobs at other Wal-Marts but expressed concern that positions at stores in Newington and Bristol will be not available in a tight labor market. O'Brien and others also fear that transportation challenges will complicate the prospects for some workers for out-of-town jobs. “Anytime a business closes and workers lose jobs it is devastating to those families,” said Brian A. Petronella, President of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW – 371). “It is our responsibility to step forward and help those workers in any way we can.” The UFCW does not represent the Wal-Mart workers but will support efforts at re-employment.

O’Brien is working to organize a meeting early next week among representatives of labor organizations, state and local officials to develop a response to the store closing and lay offs. O’Brien said he thinks that more needs to be done than just trying to save current jobs now. “We need to have long term plans that implement policies that bring good paying jobs and greater economic security to New Britain.”

According to James Craven's Herald report, a company official visited City Hall to inform Mayor Stewart but Stewart, who expressed surprise at the move, was "in a meeting" and did not meet with the Wal-Mart representative.

Under state law, companies must give employees and the community 60 days notice of a closing.


Democratic Endorsement Meeting To Be Held July 28th

The Democratic Town Committee will make its endorsements for city offices on Tuesday, July 28th.

Candidates for Mayor, Town and City Clerk, Tax Collector, Common Council, Board of Education, Board of Assessment Appeal and Constable will be nominated at the DTC meeting that will begin at 7 p.m. The meeting place will be announced. Town Committees are required to hold endorsement sessions between July 21 and 28. The July 28th date changes a tentative date of July 23rd announced last month.

The DTC's nominations committee continues to accept candidate information forms for all offices and any interested Democrats are urged to forward their information as soon as possible.

More information on the endorsement process is available at the Town Committee website at www.newbritaindemocrat.net


Candidates For Board of Education Emerging

Three candidates for Board of Education have emerged thus far for the Democratic endorsement, including Board of Education President Sharon Beloin-Saavadra who is seeking a second four-year term. Incumbents Fran Wolski and Lucretia Holley will not be seeking re-election ensuring that Democrats will nominate two new faces for the BOE.

New candidates who have contacted the DTC include Lindy M. Kwasowski, a past treasurer of the Jefferson and Gaffney schools’ parent-teacher organizations, and Carlos E. Pina, Jr, whose career has included more than 18 years at the state Department of Families and Children and involvement in the schools as a high school football coach.

The DTC nominating committee has also been contacted by other individuals for BOE, including former BOE member Luisa Leal. The DTC will endorse three BOE candidates later this month.

Lieberman (?-CT) Dumps Commitment To Public Health Insurance Option ; At Odds With Dodd , Other Democrats

Senator Joseph Lieberman has reversed support for a public option as part of health care reform, contradicting his positions during a 2006 re-election campaign and 2004 bid for the White House.

The public option issue is crucial to legislation that would help “insure the uninsured” and tamp down skyrocketing health care costs. While Lieberman has avoided any formal statements on the issue on his web site, press reports over the last week confirm that Lieberman will oppose a key element of Democrats’ plans for reform. Sounding a familiar theme, Lieberman says he’s joining forces with senators from both parties to attain a “bipartisan” agreement that would leave out public options, thereby preserving a monopoly for private insurance interests that heavily finance Lieberman’s campaigns.

The New Haven Independent’s Paul Bass has a story and video here www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2009/07/post_459.php

Last week advocates for a plan with a public option staged a Washington, D.C. rally in support of the bill making its ways through Congressional committees. Tom Swan, Executive Director of the CT Citizen Action Group that is part of the Health Care for America Now coalition praised U.S. Senator Chris Dodd for assuming a leadership role on the issue in the absence of an ailing Senator Ted Kennedy. “We thank Senator Dodd for his leadership and support of legislation that will give Americans all across this country what they want - a choice of a strong public health insurance option that will provide lower costs and keep the insurance companies honest, said Swan. “The bill that Senator Dodd has spearheaded will make sure that Americans can keep their own insurance if they want or choose a new alternative to the private insurance industry. That new public health insurance option will encourage better health care delivery at lower cost. The legislation will also make good, affordable health care available to middle-class families in Connecticut and includes strict rules to stop insurance company abuses. The bill is a good prescription for health care reform.”

Citizens may share their views with Lieberman’s office on line at http://lieberman.senate.gov/contact/ or by calling his Hartford office, (860) 549-8463

For more information on the issue go to http://www.healthcareforamericanow.org/