1 February 2009

The Republican State Central Committee, hit hard by losses in state House races last year, left Hartford for New Britain's A.H. Harris Building in December in office space that is "twice as big as our current digs and provides us with some exciting new opportunities," according to a GOP blog. The opportunities, say the Republicans, involve a facility big enough for in-house training classes "so that our candidates can improve their communication skills, learn about web-based tools...and engage in discussions on key policy questions with the smartest people we can find."

In Scott Whipple's recent Herald story on the Republicans' move, State Chair Chris Healy explained:

“New Britain is really the heart of the state..Not just geographically. It’s emblematic of the kind of hard-working, family-oriented, community-involved city where we want to be.....The city has its own notable Republicans: Mayor [Tim] Stewart, Nancy Johnson and Tom Meskill. We didn’t need to be in the capital city, yet we wanted to stay in metro Hartford.”

Nonetheless New Britain seems an unlikely place for the state GOP to locate an office. There are 18,072 Democrats here compared to about 3,699 Republicans -- part of the surge that favored Democrats everywhere in 2008. When unaffiliateds (11,749) are counted, Republicans account for little more than 11 percent of the electorate. Republicans would counter that they hold the Mayor’s office with incumbent Tim Stewart, who rode into office when residents were hit with 40% revaluation hikes a few years ago. Stewart certainly didn't get elected because he is a Republican; residents in a divided government mood voted the incumbent out for ignoring assessment hikes in a property tax system that state Republicans, by and large, want to maintain. Two years ago, however, Stewart’s expected coattails didn’t materialize as the GOP lost ground on the Common Council. His state party’s presence is also a double-edged sword for the Mayor. The only party affiliation you’ll find on his lawn signs is "Democrat" (as in “Democrats for Stewart”). The same could be said for former Congresswoman and New Britain resident Nancy Johnson who finally lost in 2006 when her Republican antics and actions in Washington finally outpaced her moderate, bi-partisan tone back home, complete with the "Democrats for Johnson" lawn signs all over town in her recent elections.

The often acerbic and confrontational Healy appears to be borrowing a page from the national strategy of former Democratic National Chair Howard Dean whose 50-state strategy is credited with turning red states to blue in the Presidential and congressional races last year. He says his party's candidates need to get support from all parts of the state, not just Fairfield County where even the last of the GOP members of Congress in New England, Chris Shays, lost last year.

Healy's challenges, however, run much deeper than finding and training candidates to run for office. In the Herald story, he unwittingly lets us in on the problem with the Republican brand:

“I’m not worried. We have plenty of talented people who want to run. We’ve got Republican mayors in Danbury, Middletown and New Britain with ability and passion. Democrats will always have people who want to make a career out of politics. A lot of Republicans come from the real world; they’re not interested in government.”

They're not interested in government. That statement provides as good an explanation as any of the mounting foreign and domestic troubles of the country with Republicans in charge of the White House and Congress over these last eight years. You might say Bush and the Republicans "weren't interest in government working effectively," leading to the train wrecks left to the Obama administration to solve now.

And in New Britain, Healy couldn't be thinking of his Mayor, Tim Stewart, with his lifelong career in government in the Fire Department. Nor his local party chair, Paul Carver, who left the private sector years ago to take a Rowland patronage appointment to the DPUC. Actions speak louder than words, and phony arguments that always tear down the public sector can't help our current difficulties when public and private solutions are needed for the recovery. Whatever happened to that well-known Republican Abraham Lincoln who famously said the role of government is "to do for the people what they can't do for themselves."

Healy's mantra and that of many of his Republican brethren remains that the individual is more important than the community; that private interest and gain should always trump the public interest even in these dire economic times. Witness the incredible display of selfishness by Republican House members last week in Washington: not one GOPer voted for a federal stimulus and reinvestment package that would reach down and provide some measure of relief to local governments, schools and the unemployed. Better to fork over more tax breaks to the wealthy and continue Wall Street welfare; promise that all of the government largesse will eventually trickle down to the rest of us living in Hooverville.

The acerbic Healy knows that that message will never sell in New Britain. He must know that a conservative Republicanism serving the interests of corporate giants over Main Street and small business is morally and politically bankrupt. The only thing left to do is to keep tearing down Democrats without offering much in the way of solutions or programs in return. In his new New Britain digs, Healy joins kindred spirits with the likes of Mayor Stewart, Ald. Lou Salvio and Chairman Paul Carver who could write a book on petty politics. Instead of reaching out to govern on a bipartisan basis between elections, their tactics frequently involve personal attacks, using official complaint processes for partisan ends and losing one Freedom of Information case after another to keep public information from Democrats and everyone else.

Let the battle for the hearts and votes of New Britain voters begin in 2009. Meanwhile, New Britain Democrats welcome the state Republican office to New Britain. And kudos to State Party Chair Chris Healy for demonstrating that New Britain is not a bad place to re-locate a business or a group seeking to rebound from a disaster.

By John McNamara

Photo Credit: http://forwardliberally.wordpress.com/2008/11/21/more-from-the-republican-civil-wars/

A New State Central Committeeman For Sixth District: Welcome Kevin Murphy

New Britain Democrats congratulate Kevin Murphy of Berlin as the newest member of the Democratic State Central Committee representing Berlin, New Britain and a part of Farmington.

Delegates to the 2006 state convention convened on January 15th at Berlin's Italian Independent Political Club to unanimously elect Murphy. Murphy, a member of the Berlin Town Committee, replaces Ned Statchen who recently relocated to Unionville. He will work alongside State Central Committeewoman Emma Pierce of New Britain, the state party treasurer.

Federal Economic Stimulus: Education

The U.S. House adopted a comprehensive stimulus package last week to stave off growing unemployment lines and a bad economy from getting worse. The package -- addressing infrastructure, health, employment, local government and education needs with a price tag of more than $800 billion -- did not receive one Republican vote in the House of Representatives. The legislation now needs to be reconciled with a Senate version to be considered this week.

Here's a look at what the House Democrats adopted for education

Education for the 21st Century: To enable more children to learn in 21st century classrooms, labs, and libraries to help our kids compete with any worker in the world, this package provides:
•
$41 billion to local school districts through Title I ($13 billion), IDEA ($13 billion), a new School Modernization and Repair Program ($14 billion), and the Education Technology program ($1 billion).
•
$79 billion in state fiscal relief to prevent cutbacks to key services, including $39 billion to local school districts and public colleges and universities distributed through existing state and federal formulas, $15 billion to states as bonus grants as a reward for meeting key performance measures, and $25 billion to states for other high priority needs such as public safety and other critical services, which may include education.
•
$15.6 billion to increase the Pell grant by $500.
•
$6 billion for higher education modernization.

You can access the complete bill (H.R. 1) at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:h.r.00001:

New Britain Democrat e-letter: John McNamara, Chair and Editor

Post Office Box 2112, New Britain , CT 06050
New Britain Democrat e-letters and updates may be found at
http://newbritaindemocrat.blogspot.com

NOTICE: If you do not wish to receive this e-letter reply to newbritaindemocrat@gmail.com
Write cancel in the subject box. Please send address corrections and additions to the same address. THANK YOU

23 January 2009

Town Committee Meets January 29th: Agenda Include Justice of the Peace Re-Appointments And Ethics Commission Issues

Re-Appointments of Justices of the Peace and controversy involving the city Ethics Commission will be discussed at the first Democratic Town Committee of the year on Thursday, January 29th. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in Room 504 of New Britain City Hall, 27 West Main Street.

A new Justice of the Peace term has begun, but not all Democratic nominees who were endorsed last spring appeared for their swearing in by the January 5th deadline at the Town and City Clerk's office. Democratic Chair John McNamara said that Democrats re-nominated at the meeting will have 10 days to visit the Town Clerk to be sworn in for the term that will end in 2013. The Town Committee will continue to consider Democrats to fill JP vacancies from Democrats who demonstrate their are volunteering in some way in their community.

Recent conflicting decisions by the ethics commission involving complaints by Republican Ald. Louis Salvio against Democrats on the Common Council are raising concerns that the ethics panel is being used for partisan attacks. According to McNamara, due process with regard to the ethics regulations and municipal employees who hold elective office have been violated. He said he will be proposing a change in the structure of the ethics board to ensure that it "will not be politicized as has occurred more than once during the Stewart administration."

New Britain Dems On Facebook: Join The Dialogue and A Free Exchange of Ideas

One of the lessons of the 2008 Obama campaign (with a big nod to the pioneering work in 2004 of former Party Chair Howard Dean) was the use of the internet and social networking to get messages out, mobilize volunteers and easily communicate issues and concerns individually and collectively.

Meet ups, text messaging, e-invites and on-line communication will now be indispensable to all state and national campaigns. They can also provide a low-cost/no-cost citizenship tool for city and town politics. There is now a home for the New Britain Democratic Party on Facebook with the formation of a group that can be a forum for raising issues and concerns in an online community that will not be anonymous, will value all opinions and show mutual respect for all members. Joining Facebook, the social network tool, is free at www.facebook.com

State Party Officers Re-Elected: New Britain's Emma Pierce Retains Treasurer Post

Incumbent officers of the Democratic State Central Committee were re-elected January 22nd in Hartford, including Emma Pierce, state central committeewoman and member of the Town Committee from District 6. Besides Pierce, other incumbent officers re-elected were Chairman Nancy DiNardo, Vice Chairman Rep. Steve Fontana and Secretary Barbara Gordon. Thanks to State Central Committeewoman Audrey Blondin of Litchfield for her update on State Central.

End Quote

"Your election to this high office has inspired people as few other events in recent times have done. Amidst all of the human progress made over the last century the world in which we live remains one of great divisions, conflict, inequality, poverty and injustice. You, Mister President, have brought a new voice of hope that these problems can be addressed and that we can in fact change the world and make of it a better place." Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa in the post-apartheid era, in a letter congratulating Barack Obama

New Britain Democrat e-letter: John McNamara, Chair and Editor

Post Office Box 2112, New Britain , CT 06050
New Britain Democrat e-letters and updates may be found at
http://newbritaindemocrat.blogspot.com

NOTICE: If you do not wish to receive this e-letter reply to newbritaindemocrat@gmail.com
Write cancel in the subject box. Please send address corrections and additions to the same address. THANK YOU

19 January 2009

"When I recall the image of that preacher at the Lincoln Memorial on Tuesday, I'm sure he will be smiling, and both of us may have eyes moistened with tears of joy. I'm equally certain that we will continue to pray for justice to roll down as waters, and for that day when there will be peace in the valley, and for that day when every man and every woman will sit under his or her own vine and fig tree and none will be afraid, and for that day when black will not be asked to get back, brown can stick around, yellow will be mellow, the red man can get ahead, man, and white will embrace what is right! Amen!"

The Rev. Joseph Lowery, a contemporary of the Rev. Martin Luther King, who will give the Inaugural benediction. From his essay in the Chicago Tribune
http://www.courant.com/news/nationworld/chi-lowery-essay-19-jan19,0,5436309.story

Inaugural Reception And Thank You To New Britain For Obama Committee Tuesday 5:30-8 pm at Pride of Connecticut Lodge of Elks

The New Britain Democratic Town Committee and the city's Black Democratic Club will hold an Inauguration Day Reception on Tuesday, January 20th, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Pride of Connecticut, Lodge of Elks, 24 Elm Street, New Britain. Food, music and good company to thank the New Britain for Obama committee.

All Democrats and friends are welcome to attend the celebration that will coincide with Inauguration Day activities in Washington, D.C. The festivities will be black tie optional :). The suggested donation for the reception is $25 to the NBDTC but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

A Call For Action By Service Employees International Union On Bailout

When taxpayers gave Bank of America a $25 billion bailout, the country's largest bank was supposed to use the funds to help jumpstart the economy. Bank of America instead misspent the money on foreign investments, executive salaries, and corporate jets. To top it off, Bank of America double-dipped, taking more money from our cash-strapped states by not paying for their workers' healthcare.

Yet this morning, the Wall Street Journal reports that Bank of America wants "billions" more in bailout funds.

Well, enough is enough. It's time for Bank of America to either use its bailout to help the economy and its workers - or give back the bailout.

Click here to watch and sign: http://freechoice.seiu.org/page/s/bankofamerica

What can Bank of America do? To start, it can provide health care for its 247,000 workers using the money it spent last year on executive salaries and bonuses.

We're also asking that Bank of America:

• Keep over 12,000 troubled borrowers in their homes with executive bonus money
• End the practice of unilaterally changing credit cardholder agreements.
• Sign new leases with renters who live in buildings that are being foreclosed upon

JPs Who Missed Deadline Will Be Re-Nominated By Town Committee

With the January 5th deadline now passed for Democratic Justices of the Peace to be sworn in for this new term at the Town Clerk's office, JPs who did not meet the deadline but were nominated last May will be re-nominated at the January 29th meeting of the Democratic Town Commitee. Nominees will then have 10 additional days from the 29th to be sworn in for the four-year term. The Town Committee will continue to fill vacancies for Democrats in good standing who demonstrate they are volunteering a minimum of two hours per month in the community. Justices of the Peace terms run concurrently with the Presidential election year and are four years in length. For more information email newbritaindemocrat@gmail.com.

End Quote

"The betting here is he will recall that long ago August 28th as he prepares to lead Democrats into the fall election. The moment will not be lost on Obama that his political ascendancy this week is a direct consequence of both King's movement and Johnson's Democrats and what was said and done a generation ago. Obama's nomination will not be the end all for civil rights struggle, but a fulfillment of a huge piece of the "Dream". An NB Politicus comment before Barack Obama accepted the Democratic nomination on the 45th anniversary of the "I Have A Dream" speech. http://nbpoliticus.blogspot.com/2008_08_24_archive.html

Murphy To Meet Constituents In New Britain Saturday, Jan. 10
Donations For Food Bank To Be Collected

Less than a week after the opening of the 111th Congress, U.S. Rep Chris Murphy will be back in New Britain Saturday, January 10th, to meet and greet constituents and collect non-perishable food donations.

Murphy, who garnered 80 percent of the vote in the city on Nov. 4th, plans to be at the New Britain Stop & Shop on West Main Street at 2 p.m. on one of his regular listening stops in the 41-town 5th Congressional District. Non-perishable food items for a newly-opened pantry in the city will be welcome.

Focus To Be Health Care In 2nd Term

Murphy is beginning a second term and he immediately indicates that health care will be a priority in the current session with his appointment to the Energy and Commerce Committee. In a statement released today, Murphy's office announced the additional assignment of serving on the Energy and Commerce Committee's Health Subcommittee. In the state Senate, Murphy served as Co-Chair of the General Assembly's Public Health Committee

According to Murphy's office, "the influential subcommittee will be responsible for crafting landmark health legislation, extending health benefits to millions of America's children, unlocking the promise of stem cell research, and ensuring America's food and drug safety."

Said Murphy: "This subcommittee will be the epicenter of any health care reform debate in the coming Congress, and I am thrilled to have the chance to be at the table to represent Connecticut in these deliberations.

"I am pleased to have the chance to continue the work I started in Hartford, as the Chair of the Public Health Committee. Now more than ever, as our economy is teetering and we are seeing its ugly cracks, we have to make changes that will pay off in the long run. And an investment in a universal and cost efficient health care system will go a long way toward improving the lives of families and the balance sheets of businesses.

"I am looking forward to working with the members of this influential subcommittee - some of the brightest minds in the nation - to make our vision for equal access to quality, affordable health care a reality."

Photo: Rep. Murphy and Ward 3 Alderwoman Shirley Black on the campaign trail

More information is available at http://chrismurphy.house.gov/

6 January 2009

Celebrating A New President: New Britain Democrats' Reception On 1/20/2009

The New Britain Democratic Town Committee and the city's Black Democratic Club will hold an Inauguration Day Reception on Tuesday, January 20th, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Pride of Connecticut, Lodge of Elks, 24 Elm Street, New Britain.

All Democrats and friends are welcome to attend the celebration that will coincide with Inauguration Day activities in Washington, D.C. The festivities will be black tie optional :)

The suggested donation for the reception is $25 to the NBDTC. For tickets and information email newbritaindemocrat@gmail.com or call the Town Chair at 827-9469.

State Central Vacancy To Be Filled On January 15th; DTC Thanks Ned Statchen For His Service

Ned Statchen, a former New Britain DTC member, city commissioner and State Central Committeeman for the 6th Senatorial District, has re-located to the Unionville section of Farmington, and has resigned his seat on the 72-member state party committee.

In a letter to State Party Chair Nancy DiNardo Statchen said it "has been an honor to serve and represent Democrats of my district and a pleasure to work with and to get to know you, the staff and the other members of the State Central Committee. I was very pleased to play a role in electing the first woman to Chair the Democratic State Central Committee and I would like to say you have certainly earned my support with the great work you have done with the Committee."

Democratic Chairman John McNamara praised Statchen's service on the Town Committee and State Central and his continuing support and volunteer work on Democratic campaigns. "We wish Ned and his young family well in their new home and know we will continue to work with him on behalf of Democratic candidates and for the labor movement," said McNamara.

The 2006 Delegates to the the State Convention are being re-convened on Thursday, January 15th at 6:30 p.m. at the Italian Independent Political Club, 16 Harding Street, in Berlin to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term. The meeting is being convened by State Central Committeewoman Emma Pierce, who also serves as the state party treasurer.

City To Hold Breakfast and Ceremony On Rev. King's Holiday, January 19

The city's Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities will hold observances on the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Monday, January 19th. The Commission is organizing a breakfast at Angelico's Restaurant at 9 a.m. to be followed at 10:30 a.m. by a program at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park at the corner of Martin Luther King Drive and Stanley Street. For information call the Commission at 826-3410.

Deadline Passes For Justice of the Peace Swearing In; DTC Will Continue Nominations

With the January 5th deadline passed for Democratic Justices of the Peace to be sworn in for a new term at the Town Clerk's office, JPs who did not meet the deadline and interested Democrats may be nominated at a meeting of the Democratic Town Committee.

The next meeting of the Town Committee will be January 29th. Prospective Justices of the Peace are asked to demonstrate that they are volunteering in the community for a minimum of two hours per month. For more information email newbritaindemocrat@gmail.com

25 December 2008 -- Best Wishes For the Holidays from New Britain Democrats

Looking Back: Holiday Greetings and A Quote From the "New Deal"

"Finally, in our progress toward a resumption of work we require two safeguards against a return of the evils of the old order; there must be a strict supervision of all banking and credits and investments; there must be an end to speculation with other people's money, and there must be provision for an adequate but sound currency."
-- President Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1933.

Photo Credit: U.S. Government

Looking Forward:Toward Peace On Earth: The Global Zero Initiative

In a post Cold War world facing the constant threat of terrorism, peace advocates and nuclear arms experts are pushing for "the abolition of all nuclear weapons from the earth," according to a December 15th report in the National Catholic Reporter by reporter Rich Heffern.

At a meeting held this month in Paris, France an international group of business, civic and military leaders issued a "Global Zero" declaration that sets a goal for a "binding and verifiable agreement to dismantle all nuclear weapons by a specified date."

The Global Zero declaration, endorsed by a “who’s who” of the world’s foreign policy aristocracy from the past 30 years, calls for a binding and verifiable agreement to dismantle all nuclear weapons by a specified date. Signatories on the declaration include former President Jimmy Carter; former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev; Nobel Prize winners Muhammad Yunus and Bishop Desmond Tutu; British businessman Sir Richard Branson; Ehsan ul-Haq, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Pakistan; Brajesh Mishra, former Indian national security advisor; and Amr Moussa, Arab League secretary-general.

The NCR report quotes President-elect Barack Obama with a qualified endorsement: "As long as nuclear weapons exist, we’ll retain a strong deterrent. But we’ll make the goal of eliminating all nuclear weapons a central element in our nuclear policy.” Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin also issued a supportive statement and pledge of cooperation to engage the Obama administration in the effort to reduce the real and present danger presented by nuclear stockpiles.

Global Zero's strategy, backed by the leadership of the "super power" nations, involves the following steps: “de-alerting” U.S. and Russian weapons from their current ready-to-launch status, followed by major weapons reductions in the two nations; total elimination of these weapons by all nuclear-armed nations accompanied by strict verification of nuclear fuel activities around the globe. According to the report:

There are now nine countries with nuclear weapons and 40 more with sufficient nuclear infrastructure to build their own arsenal, according to Global Zero’s fact sheet. “The gravest danger facing the world now is that these weapons continue to spread until one day they are used by a country or a terrorist group, with catastrophic consequences,” it says. The only lasting solution to this grave threat, it says, is to eliminate all weapons.

“We cannot persuade terrorists to stop seeking nuclear weapons,” the Global Zero fact sheet says. “The only solution is to eliminate the weapons themselves: to drain the swamp. Global Zero’s plan calls for the verified and enforced destruction of all nuclear weapons and international oversight of all nuclear energy production to prevent the clandestine development of weapons.”

For more information on the nuclear disarmament campaign visit www.cnduk.org

At The State House

Geragosian To Chair Appropriations Committee
New Britain Lawmakers Get Leadership Assignments
Health Care Partnership Expected To Be Key Cost Saving Item In New State Budget

State Rep. John Geragosian (D-25) will be the new House Chair of the Legislature's Appropriations Committee when the General Assembly convenes for 2009 on January 6th. The General Assembly will adjourn in June. The session is expected to be dominated by steps to reduce a growing deficit for a next two year budget to begin next July 1.

A veteran member of the budget-writing committee, Geragosian was first elected to the Legislature in 1994. He is a former New Britain alderman and is the senior member of the city's all Democratic state House delegation. During the last session Geragosian served as Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. Incoming House Speaker Chris Donovan (D-84) named Geragosian to lead the Appropriations committee, the first New Britain lawmaker to do so since former State Senator Joe Harper led the Committee as the state Senate Chair.

State Rep. Betty Boukus (D-22), who represents voting district 15, Plainville and parts of Bristol, will serve in leadership as a Deputy Majority Whip.

Incoming Majority Leader Denise Merrill, who is vacating the Appropriations Chair, has named State Rep. Peter Tercyak (D-26) to be one of seven Deputy Majority Leaders. Tercyak will also lead the Appropriations subcommittee on collective bargaining. State Rep. Tim O'Brien (D-24) will serve as an assistant majority leader and will be vice chairman of the Labor and Public Employees committee.

State Senator Don DeFronzo (D-6) will return to the Chairmanship of the Transportation Committee in appointments announced by Senate President Donald Williams.

The Town Committee extends congratulations to state House members and Senator DeFronzo for their leadership roles in the 2009 session.

The session is expected to be dominated by steps to reduce a growing deficit for a next two year budget to begin next July 1.

At the December 11th Democratic Town Committee Rep. Geragosian said that the 2007 proposal for a Health Care Partnership will be on the table next year as lawmakers seek to reduce costs of health care. The partnership plan, introduced by Rep. Donovan last year, would allow municipalities, agencies and small businesses to join the state's health care pool as a means of reducing soaring costs of medical coverage. It has been implemented in more than a dozen other states providing lower insurance premiums to cities and towns.

To contact your legislators and/or follow legislative issues go to

http://www.housedems.ct.gov/index.asp

Thank You

Thanks to members of the Democratic Town Committee and friends for donating non-perishable food items for the needy at the December 11th Town Committee meeting.

26 Days Left To 1-20-2009

For President-elect Obama's weekly address and Transition Updates Visit

www.change.gov

A conversation on January 21, 2009

When: 1/21/2009

Where: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue


A visitor knocks on the door of the White House in the morning.

"I would like to speak with President Bush. Is he here?"

"No," comes the reply from a White House aide. "He no longer lives here."

The visitor returns at noon and knocks again.

"I would like to speak with President Bush. Is he here?"

"NO," comes the reply again.

Not to be denied, the visitor comes back in the evening.

"I would like to speak with President Bush. Is he here?"

"For the final time, he is not here. Don't you know the inauguration was yesterday?"

"Yes," says the visitor. "But I just love to hear you say President Bush is no longer here."