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THE RULE OF LAW
If nothing else, this year’s elections are about the rule of law. Despite Donald Trump's conviction on 34 felony charges this past week, he and other election deniers are on ballots all over the country, and his various court cases all speak volumes about his disrespect for the law and the norms that underpin our democracy.
Meanwhile, we had a modest reminder last month here in Connecticut that our democracy works by a set of rules that we have collectively agreed to follow. Last month, the Democratic and Republican Parties held conventions to nominate candidates for US Senate, US House of Representatives, state Senate, and state House of Representatives. Convention delegates, who had been selected through local elections, convened as they do for every state election, to nominate and select their candidates for public office. Most citizens are probably unaware that this age-old process even exists, much less how it works. It has worked for a long time, but only because we have agreed to run our democracy according to its rules, regardless of who is running, gets nominated, and or wins the election.
As always,
Your faithful editor
In This Issue
- Campaign Boot Camp - Today!
- The Slate
- Thank Your CT Democrats
- What is a Democrat?
- Upcoming Events
- Things You
Can Should Do Now
- In Case You Missed It
- Share Your News and Announcements
- Tell Your Friends
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CAMPAIGN BOOT CAMP - TODAY!
Now that our candidates have been officially nominated, it's time to get out and start reaching voters. Our friends at the Sharon Democratic Town Committee have put together an immersive, daylong training so you can be an effective advocate for candidates. This event is limited to 50 people, so please register here.
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THE SLATE
We have an outstanding set of Democratic candidates who were selected at last month's nominating conventions. These men and women -- three incumbents and one challenger - have consistent track records working on important policies in the public interest. They deserve our enthusiastic support.
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Chris Murphy - US Senate
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Jahana Hayes - US House of Representatives (5th Congressional District)
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Justin Potter - State Senate (30th District) - challenger!
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Maria Horn - State Assembly (64th Assembly District)
Keep reading below to learn about some of the ways you can help.
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THANK YOUR CT DEMOCRATS
We continue to see the fruits of our Democratic-led state house in Hartford. This legislative session saw the implementation of new programs based on prior legislation and the passage of additional commonsense policies and programs.
Expanding Healthcare and Forgiving Student Loans. Connecticut is launching a new program that will expand healthcare to underserved communities while forgiving the student loans of healthcare workers. The Connecticut Student Loan Repayment Program incentivizes eligible healthcare providers to practice full time in underserved CT communities for at least two years. It will offer up to $50,000 in student loan repayments. Options for part-time options are also available. This major win is the result of the legislature acting on Governor Lamont’s post-COVID proposals to expand access to care and address the healthcare worker shortages.
SB 292 - Concerning the Use of PFAS in Certain Products. It will help to prevent these toxic synthetic chemicals, which have been used in consumer products since the 1950s, from entering our bodies and water by banning their use in more consumer goods, such as apparel, homewares, furniture, children’s products, and personal hygiene products. More good news is that the bill also applies to firefighting protective clothing worn by firefighters and EMS personnel.
HB 5232 - Expanding Solar Projects. This bill expands caps on non-residential solar projects, which have been severely limiting the ability of farmers among others to install solar for their operations. It will also simplify the process for solar canopy installation over parking lots, walkways, driveways and more.
SB 395 - Reporting of Medical Debt. Under this bill, healthcare providers and hospitals are barred from reporting a patient's medical debt to consumer reporting agencies.
SB 5005 - Expanding Paid Sick Days. CT will expand coverage in three phases by lowering the qualification threshold from companies of 50 employees or more. The benefits will apply to nearly every worker in the state by 2027.
There were also some disappointments. One of the biggest bills on climate change, HB 5004, aka the "Big Green Monster," passed in the CT House, but failed in the Senate due to Republican opposition. The bill would have offered measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, phase out use of natural gas, invest in renewable energy, incentivize sustainable purchasing by local governments, and enhance nature-based solutions to mitigate climate change.
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WHAT IS A DEMOCRAT?
We often answer this question answered in terms of public policies, such as approaches to taxation, regulation, states’ rights, and federal power. In his recent acceptance speech, Justin Potter, our Democratic nominee for State Senate, put it in terms that are both personal and universal. Consider his words:
"I was recently asked, 'What makes a Democrat?' I responded, 'Compassion. Compassion for the woman who got pregnant at the wrong time. Compassion for the young adult living with her parents with little hope for independence here. Compassion for the family who wants to live without fear of having their lives upended by gun violence. Compassion for our children who will inherit the society and the world we leave them. Compassion is what makes a Democrat.'"
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June 2: Gun Violence Awareness Day. Salisbury is joining other towns and cities across CT to proclaim this Gun Violence Awareness Day. Everyone is encouraged to wear the color orange that day. Lawn signs saying "Stop Gun Violence" will be available for $10 each in front of the White Hart Inn.
June 17 from 5:30-7:30pm: “Messaging Mondays” with the Sharon Democratic Town Committee (DTC) at The Edward, 19 West Main Street in Sharon. The Sharon DTC hosts twice-a-month gatherings to write postcards to voters. This session will be for writing to likely Democrats in NY's 19th Congressional District to encourage them to register to vote. Click here to sign up. For more info call 860-364-0362.
| June 18 at 7pm: Salisbury Democratic Town Committee. This regular monthly SDTC meeting will be held at Town Hall and via Zoom. The SDTC is committed to promoting good government and democratic principles at every level of our civic life. The SDTC recruits candidates for local elective and appointed offices and supports the most qualified Democrats to run in municipal, state, and national elections. Meetings are usually on the third Tuesday of every month. Contact Al Ginouves to receive a copy of the agenda and the link to the meeting. | |
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June 21 from 5:30-7pm: Meet and Greet with Justin Potter in Torrington. Come and meet Justin Potter, Democratic candidate for State Senate - 30th District. This event is hosted by George and Candace Craig and the Northwest Democrats. There will also be a special guest: Danbury Mayor Alberto Alves. The event will take place at 120 Hoerle Boulevard, Torrington. This is not a fundraiser. Please RSVP at geocandace@yahoo.com or (860) 806-8880.
| June 24 from 1-3pm: “Messaging Mondays” with the Sharon Democratic Town Committee (DTC) at The Edward, 19 West Main Street in Sharon. See details above in the Sharon DTC's June 17th event. | |
June 24 at 6-7:30pm: Meet and Greet Fundraising Reception for Congresswoman Jahana Hayes in Falls Village. RSVP by email at rsvp@jahanahayes.com or by donating here. Suggested donation amounts: $1,000, $500, $250, $100, or other. The location will be emailed 48 hours prior to the event.
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June 29 at 5pm: The Annual John Bailey Dinner Featuring Special Guest House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Sponsored by the Connecticut Democratic State Central Committee, the annual John Bailey Dinner brings together Democrats from every corner of the state for an evening of celebration and inspiration. The event takes place at the Hartford Convention Center. For information and tickets click here.
July 20 from 5:30-7:30pm: Garden Party Fundraiser for the Sharon Democratic Town Committee (DTC) at the gardens of Lynden Miller in Sharon. Tickets are $50 per person at sharondtc.org. Tour the garden with Lynden while sipping a signature cocktail/mocktail and enjoying homemade hors d'oeuvres. Chat with local candidates and participate in the silent auction. All funds raised will go toward actions to support Democrats in the 2024 election.
July 27 from 5-7pm: SAVE THE DATE. Fundraiser for Congresswoman Jahana Hayes in Salisbury. A host committee is being formed. More details, including location, will be forthcoming. For any questions, please email Kathy Voldstad.
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THINGS YOU CAN SHOULD DO NOW
November is just five months away and the stakes couldn't be higher for our democracy. If you aren't already volunteering, now is the time to join your fellow citizens. We can win, but only if we all do our part. Below are just some of the ways you can step up and become a force for positive change. We are continuing to update this list each month, so you will see previous suggestions as well as new ones.
| Volunteer for Justin Potter – Justin is our candidate for state Senate (District 30). He's a bright, smart newcomer with the right energy and platform to defeat one-term GOP Senator Stephen Harding. We can turn this seat blue for the first time since 1978. We've got a great candidate, and the timing is good for Democrats. Running as a "practical Democrat," Justin has a strong background in affordable housing, which he has made a cornerstone of his agenda. That issue has become a priority for Democrats, Independents, and even Republicans, and is increasingly important to local businesses, which are struggling to attract employees who can live within reasonable distances of work. The 30th District is geographically the largest in our state and Justin needs our help making sure that voters across the district learn about him. Please sign up to volunteer. | |
The Center For Common Ground – The CCG has kicked off its 2024 phonebanking efforts. Right now, the calling is to Black voters in Virginia for the upcoming June Congressional Primaries. These are nonpartisan calls, but you’ll be calling voters who are highly likely to vote Democratic. They are also the type of voters who are often the victims of voter suppression efforts, so this is really good work to do! You are invited to join the CFG’s national guided phonebank every Tuesday evening from 6-8pm. Sign up here.
Wisconsin Democrats (WisDems) – Wisconsin is a key swing state that Joe Biden narrowly won in 2020. The WisDems have been gradually turning back the GOP tide in the state and are looking for volunteers for a variety of activities for this summer's state elections leading to the fall Presidential and Senatorial elections. Join in WisDems' weekly virtual phonebanks on Thursdays from 6-8pm. Sign up here.
All in for North Carolina (AINC) – This New England-based group is working remotely to help Democrats win elections in North Carolina. Joe Biden lost here to Trump in 2020 by the smallest margin in any state. However, the influx of young progressive voters, especially in Mecklenburg County where Charlotte is located, makes NC a state that Democrats can win. This phase of calling is focusing on calling people in Mecklenburg County who have expressed an interest in volunteering to elect Democrats. This is a great opportunity for those who have felt reticent to do phonebanking. These efforts should have a multiplier effect. For every person that signs up to canvass, phonebank, or help out in the office, that will mean many other voters reached. Join AINC every other Sunday night for phonebanks from 6-8pm to recruit volunteers for the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party's initiatives. For more information and to sign up click here.
Saving Democracy – Saving Democracy, our local advocacy group, continues to write postcards on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 2-4pm at the White Hart Inn. Grab a friend, a neighbor, an acquaintance, or meet someone new and write postcards encouraging Democrats to vote. It is easy – cards, address labels and the scripts are provided. Voter turnout will have a big impact on the outcome of the elections in November and these postcards – and your hard work – have a positive impact on turnout. For more information, contact savingdemocracyct@gmail.com.
If your schedule doesn't allow you to join on weekday afternoons postcard packets can be picked up during daylight hours from the bench near the front door of 37 Chatfield Drive in Lakeville.
Thanks to all who came out to the "Saving Democracy Postcarding Pub" at the White Hart. The organizers were pleased with the enthusiastic response to the Friday evening postcard writing sessions, which will resume in July.
The States Project – The States Project focuses on winning governing majorities in the states by making state legislative campaigns more effective and better-funded. Majorities at the state level are the key to preserving voting rights and other important rights. Using data, the States Project selects states and races where strategic investments can result in wins. The good news is that a typical state races costs just a fraction of a US Senate race. Learn more and consider donating. Regardless of where you live, you are invited to join the Saving Democracy giving circle. Contact Kathy Voldstad if you would like to attend an informal informational session this summer.
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 |  | What If He Wins? If you’re reading this newsletter, you probably don’t need another warning about the extreme danger of a second Trump presidency. Yet it is useful to know some details as you engage with family and friends who may have gotten numb to these dangers as his extreme behavior has become normalized. Time magazine did a cover story in April based on its recent interviews with Trump. Over the course of the interviews, Trump discussed his agenda for a second term, which includes deporting millions of people, cutting the US civil service, and intervening more directly in Justice Department prosecutions than his predecessors. He also discussed his thinking on abortion, crime, trade, Ukraine, Israel, and the prospects for political violence in this election cycle. Read "How Far Trump Would Go?" for a stark reminder of how terrifying Trump’s return to office would be. Time also provides full transcripts of the interviews, and an extensive fact-check. (Spoiler alert: Most of his statements include gross exaggerations and outright falsehoods.) Share these articles with your friends and family to remind them why we need to defeat Donald Trump.
| Revealed: Conservative Partnership Institute Pushing Far-Right Agenda at Events With GOP Members. The Conservative Partnership Institute (CPI), a powerful, rightwing lobbying group, is promoting a hard-right policy agenda and cementing ties between the Republican party and the far right. Newly-revealed documents offer details of CPI’s trainings and “bootcamps” for junior and senior congressional staff at its sprawling Maryland ranch, and lavish, star-studded retreats for members of Congress. They also show how CPI, widely described as the “nerve center of the Maga movement,” enlisted its own network of affiliated organizations along with like-minded far-right organizations – some classified by experts as hate groups – as well as individual extremists to promote anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-vaccine measures as well as other policies premised on the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen. CPI was founded in 2017 by Jim DeMint, a former South Carolina senator and former president of the Heritage Foundation. Learn the scary details about CPI this extensive article in The Guardian. | |
The Progressive Agenda That Appeals To Swing State Voters. We sometimes fall victim to the assumption that Democrats are isolated in their belief in specific progressive policies. However, new research shows that we may find allies among Independents and even some Republicans. Data for Progress, a progressive think tank, recently released the results of a poll about the Progressive Proposition Agenda, an extensive set of domestic policy proposals of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, a group of nearly 100 members of Congress. These proposals would ideally serve as a blueprint for the next Congress if President Biden and the Democrats win this November. According to the poll, more than 70% of voters, including majorities across party lines, support the following policies: safety protections for workers (88%), increasing government spending on affordable home- and community-based care for seniors and people with disabilities (83%), a tax on corporations whose CEOs make at least 50 times more than their median employee (80%), requiring corporations to pay the same tax rate on profits earned abroad as they do on profits earned in the US, (79%), free pre-K for all 3-and 4-year-olds (76%), increasing government spending on child care (73%), and national clean energy standards (71%). Even the most divisive policy tested — repealing Donald Trump's tax cuts for corporations and individuals making more than $400,000 per year — garnered support from a majority of likely voters (58%), including 81% of Democrats and 59% of Independents. Read more about the findings from Data for Progress.
Polarization May Decline As Younger Generations Shift Into Power. This is a rough time in the US, with partisan political rancor at historic levels. But there is hope. Political science scientists Sally Friedman at the University at Albany and David Schultz at Hamline University have researched how different generations approach politics, and they report that the current American polarization is in part the result of political differences between older and generations – those born roughly between 1925 and 1981 and younger ones born since 1981. But the older generations are gradually playing a smaller role in politics and Friedman’s and Schultz’s findings about younger people’s political views offers hope that more peaceful, cohesive times may be ahead. The implication of this research is that we can accelerate positive change by engaging more young people in political activity. Read more from The Conversation.
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SHARE YOUR NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please send us any news or announcements that you would like us to share with our community. We publish on the first of each month, so please send us any submissions at least one week earlier. Please submit to the editor at salsdemsnews@gmail.com.
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TELL A FRIEND
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