Question 1: Both the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico with the oil rig explosion/leak and the Upper Big Branch coal mine explosion in West Virginia are connected to a lax in enforcing safety measures by the companies involved. These safety measures are regulated by government departments that did not enforce them. What plans do you have to ensure that these departments enforce those safety regulations in the future? What culpability do you think that these companies should face for safety regulation violations?

Answer: Laws and regulations exist that have clearly not been followed or enforced in both of the disasters you mention. I will communicate directly with the administration and the DOJ to ensure the enforcement of regulations is improved and that the laws that enable us to hold the companies liable are strongly enforced. BP in particular had literally hundreds of safety violations, compared to between one and eight for other companies, and both the Bush and Obama administrations failed to adequately enforce existing rules.

Question 2: Recent information has surfaced that soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan who have been wounded in battle and subsequently given honorable discharges because their injuries prevented them from serving further are being billed for equipment that they lost track of during the time that they were injured. The majority of these situations seem to be outside of a soldier’s ability to control, in that once injured, a soldier can’t determine what happens to his/her equipment. Do you feel that these soldiers should be billed for this lost equipment anyway, and why? If not, what measures do you plan to implement to prevent further billing of these soldiers (and repay those who have already paid)?

Answer: I have looked into the situation with the wounded soldiers being charged for losing equipment. Thus far, in the cases I have looked at including the one here at Fort Lewis, the soldiers were not in fact charged for lost equipment. One had been accidentally overpaid and the Army is trying to get the extra pay back. I am looking into the other cases and certainly feel strongly that wounded soldiers should not be charged for lost equipment.

Question 3: Many investment companies have admitted that they made decisions regarding stock and bond purchases/sales based solely on the rating given by stock and bond rating companies. However, in the 90′s, in order to be more transparent, these same rating companies published their rating algorithms, which means that any company could skew their bond/stock rating by simply using the algorithm themselves on their stock/bond. Do you feel that this is an issue that should be fixed with more regulation? If not, what should be done to prevent the taxpayer from footing the bill of foolish investment company decisions?

Answer: Yes, stock and bond rating agencies must be reformed. It is an issue I am looking at closely as we consider Wall Street Reform. I will look into the downside of transparency issue you raise, and also feel that these agencies must be forced to be completely independent and have no ability to gain a financial stake in the ratings they pass out.

Question 4: A large number of presidential appointees have not been confirmed due to stalling tactics by House and Senate Republicans. These tactics are often archaic rules (such as filibustering) that do not actually promote communication, cooperation, or compromise that is necessary to create good legislation. This is not the first time that Republicans (or Democrats) have used these rules. Do you feel that these rules (such as filibustering, making changes to bills that require a committee to reconvene at a time when that is impossible, etc) should be changed? How would you go about changing them?

Answer: Even though I am not in the Senate I believe that filibuster rules must be changed. For one thing it should not be allowed for appointments. Each appointee deserves an up or down vote in a timely manner. I am also interested in other ways to limit the times when the filibuster can be used. I do not believe it should be eliminated but both it and the ability of one Senator to put a hold on any Senate action should be more limited in scope.

The 11th LD is hosting a Michael Moore Movie Watch Party at the Columbia City Cinema, featuring Moore’s film “Capitalism, A Love Story”. The film will be shown on April 24th from 10 AM to 1 PM. A suggested donation of $10 is requested. Concessions will be available for sale, and Larry Grubb of the 11th will be selling Obama Soda. A discussion will follow the showing of the film. A Facebook event page has been set up for RSVPs.

DETAILS
Capitalism, A Love Story
April 24th, 10 AM to 1 PM
Columbia City Cinema
4816 Rainier Ave. S
Seattle, WA 98118
Suggested donation: $10

Legislators will speak briefly about state efforts to spur job creation and get the economy back on track. The rest of the event will be free time for attendees to visit tables from the participating agencies and speak one-on-one with the legislators.

WHAT: 33rd District Community Jobs Forum
WHEN: Saturday, February 20, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to noon.
WHERE: Kent City Hall – Council Chambers, 220 Fourth Avenue South, Kent
WHO: Rep. Dave Upthegrove, Rep. Tina Orwall and Sen. Karen Keiser.

Confirmed participating agencies include:

• WorkSource
• Port Jobs
• Highline CC
• Green River CC
• Renton Technical College
• The Veterans Conservation Corps
• US Census Bureau

This Community Jobs Forum is a free event; all South King County job seekers are encouraged to attend.

This year’s honoree is James Fossos. Jim is a current commissioner of the Board of Fire Commissioners of South King Fire and Rescue. He started his career in firefighting back in 1970 with the Seattle Fire Department. Before becoming a Seattle Firefighter, Jim served proudly as a US Marine in the Vietnam War. He has an Associate Degree from Seattle Community College in Fire Command & Administration and Supervisory and Management. Jim also currently serves as Board Secretary with the Board of Directors of the Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union.

Dinner was provided both by Galliano’s Catering and by 33rd member Steve Juneau (thanks, Steve, so much for the home-made lasagna!). Members donated desserts for the dessert auction, and included some very tasty home-made concoctions.

The evening’s turnout was lighter than expected, but we enjoyed each other’s company on this frigid night and had a great time. Guests included State Representatives Dave Upthegrove and Tina Orwall, Normandy Park Mayor Shawn McEvoy, and Mayor Pro Tem Dan Sherman.

Florence McMullin held a wonderful live auction, assisted ably by Dave Upthegrove. Thanks to everyone who participated in both setting up and bidding at the auction.

The Kit Dexter Dinner would not have happened were it not for the wonderful work of the committee. Paula Joneli, Omaha Sternberg, Florence McMullin, and Carol Anne Maiers worked very hard to put everything together. Additionally, thanks go to Cheryl Birdsong-Juneau, Steve Juneau, Bob Loeliger, and Rod Brewster for helping set up that night and preparation before hand. And thank you to everyone who attended!

Have a wonderful holiday, and we’ll see you in the new year!

The 33rd Democrats invite you to the

Kit Dexter Annual Dinner and Fundraiser

Join Us to celebrate a year of success in Democracy!

Includes guests State Senator Karen Keiser, State Representative Tina Orwall, State Representative Dave Upthegrove, and surprise Kit Dexter Honoree.

Monday, December 7th

Normandy Park Congregational Church | 19247 First Avenue South | Normandy Park

Dinner: 7:00 PM | Auction: 8:00 PM

The auction will include improvisational auctioneering by members of the audience. A dessert auction will also be held. Become the highest bidding table to get your choice of the delectable desserts provided by our volunteers!

Tickets

Individual: $25 | Living Lightly: $15 | Children: $10

To purchase tickets in advance, go to http://www.33rddistrictdemocrats.org/kitdexterdinner/.

For more information, contact Paula at 206-878-2171 or pjoneli@comcast.net

MEET AND GREET YOUR REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 33RD LD

When: October 19th, 6:45 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: Normandy Park Congregational Church, 19247 1st Avenue South, Normandy Park

ATTENDING
State Senator Karen Kaiser
State Representative Dave Upthegrove
State Representative Tina Orwall
King County Councilmember Julia Patterson
King County Councilmember Dow Constantine

Light refreshments will be served.

Do not miss this opportunity for a one-on-one conversation with your representatives in a casual, relaxed atmosphere. Please, bring your friends and relatives. For further information contact Florence McMullin, (206) 878-9111.

For the most part, the crowd participating behaved in a mature, adult fashion, with only a little heckling and shouting here and there. Congressman Smith did an admirable job of maintaining control, allowing the crowd time to cheer and boo as they wished. Only a couple of times did events threaten to get out of control, as when some idiot chose to walk along the lower part of the stadium seats with a sign of President Obama dressed with a Hitler mustache. And though we in the 33rd don’t condone violence against another as they exercise their right to free speech, there were those who could not allow such insults to pass without response. The man’s sign was taken away from him, crumpled, and thrown on the ground, and a couple of members said they saw that he was knocked down briefly in the process. He wasn’t hurt, because he walked away.

It seemed that the vast majority of the people present were in favor of a public option of some kind. The minority who were opposed were vocal, though, and for some reason, they were chosen out of the crowd more often to speak. Congressman Smith had two members of his staff wandering the crowd with microphones and picking out people to ask questions. Seeing as how at least half of the crowd carried signs of some sort (most in favor of the public option), we don’t imagine it would have been hard to determine who was on what side. No 33rd members were called upon to ask a question, though several had their hands up for over an hour.

Interestingly enough, some of the attendees reminded everyone that most all of the concerns that were raised last night, and had been raised throughout the health care reform debate, had been brought up during the debate about Medicare. And yet Medicare was passed, and has been a successful government program (yes, for those out there that apparently don’t know that, it’s a GOVERNMENT PROGRAM).

Congressman Smith’s views on health care reform were varied. He declared that if the health care bill as it currently stands was brought to a vote, he would vote against it. He also stated that he felt that the bill as it stands held a great deal within it that did not work towards health care reform. He was against including end-of-life consultations within the bill. And he stated that he was in favor of a public option, but would not define in more detail what that actually meant for him. He also did not state whether if a bill came to the floor for a final vote that did not have a public option if he would vote against it.

Congressman Smith still needs to hear your opinions about health care reform. He needs to know what you want to see in this health care bill, and what you require of him in voting for it. We need him to know that if a final bill comes to the floor without a public option in it, he must vote against it. It is a make or break issue for the Democratic Party. Please call him and tell him that. He has said that he will listen.

Congressman Adam Smith
Tacoma Office: (253) 593-6600; 1 (888) SMITH09
Washington DC office: (202) 225-8901

Rob Holland Primary Watch Party
When: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 7:00pm
Where: Copper Cart Caf??©;113 Bell Street, Seattle, WA
Suggested donation: $5.00 – $50.00
Notes: From the VIP section lay back and soak in the sweet taste of champagne as primary results play on the club’s 100 foot projection screen. The entire upper VIP section has been reserved and champagne service ordered – all for Rob’s guests. Groove to happy hour prices on food/drinks all night. Dress snappy.

Dow Constantine Primary Watch Party
When: Tuesday, August 18, 2009, 7 – 9 pm
Where: Kells, 1916 Post Alley, Seattle

Larry Phillips Primary Watch Party
When:Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Where: Spitfire Grill, 2219 Fourth Ave, Seattle

We’ll add to these as we receive more info.