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| CLINTONCOUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEWSLETTER |
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May 9, 2005 |
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| http://www.clintoncountydemocrats.org |
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"Thanks to all the people who helped make The Clinton County Democrats Hall of Fame Dinner a huge success. Saturday night we had the largest crowd we've ever had for this event. Thanks to the people who helped with arrangements and ticket sales and members of the Central Committee who phoned people in their precincts. With wonderful spring weather, genial Democrats, deserved honors and a motivating keynote; our annual event helps us stay the course to elect Democrats."
(Jean Pardee) |
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MANY DEMOCRATIC EVENTS ARE COMING UP |
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Sunday, May 15: District Central Committee meeting will be held in Monticello at 1:00 P.M. at the Blue Chip.
Tuesday, May 17: The Clinton County Democratic Central
Committee will meet at 7:30 P.M. at Democratic Headquarters.
Saturday, June 4: Democrats will be participating in Clinton's Sesquicentennial Celebration.
Saturday, June 11: Governor Howard Dean will speak at The State Hall of Fame Dinner at the Five Seasons in Cedar Rapids. This is the first time the event has been held outside of Des Moines. Among those being honored are the long-time DNC committeewoman Pat Marshall of Cedar Rapids, posthumously, as outstanding state activist and Jean Pardee as outstanding state central committee member. The dinner will be Saturday, June 11. More information on reservations will be available later on our website. |
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| Saturday, June 18: The District (12 counties) Workshop will be held at NICC in Peosta with registration beginning at 9:00 A.M. |
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| Sunday, June 26: Jackson County Democrats with whom we work closely will hold their annual steak fry at Kalmes Restaurant in St. Donatas. The time is 4:30 to 7:00 |
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IT'S NICE TO HAVE GOOD NEWS! |
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GOVERNOR VILSACK SIGNS MENTAL HEALTH PARITY BILL |
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"Last week, Iowa took a significant step forward in providing health security for vulnerable Iowans. House File 420 provides for fair health insurance coverage for patients with biologically-based mental illnesses." |
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| "Advocates of mental health parity have been fighting for the passage of a health parity bill for years. So many Iowans quietly suffer because of mental illness and they suffer further because their disease has been treated differently in the eyes of lawmakers and insurance companies. Those Iowans can now be hopeful and demand that they be treated fairly so that they can be more productive members of Iowa's economy and Iowa's communities. We have been fighting for mental health parity for so many years, and we are encouraged to have taken this first significant step towards fairness for all Iowa families." |
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| "HF 420 provides that a group policy, contract or plan providing third-party payment of health, medical or surgical coverage shall provide coverage benefits for treatment of a biologically-based mental illness if the policy, contract or plan is issued to an employer who on at least 50 percent of the employer's working days during the preceding calendar year employed more than 50 full-time equivalent employees. The bill defines 'biologically based mental illness' as psychiatric illnesses including schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, major depressive disorders, schizo-affective disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, pervasive developmental disorders and autistic disorders." |
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| 'There will be Iowans today and over the course of the next several years whose lives will be improved as a result of this legislation. I am truly encouraged that families in Iowa suffering from mental illness now have hope through greater health security." (Sally J. Pederson Lieutenant Governor) |
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A MESSAGE FROM ONE OF PRESIDENT BUSH'S LOYAL SUPPORTS |
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| "Earlier this week, Pat Robertson made the audacious claim that federal judges are a greater threat to our nation than a few bearded terrorists who fly into buildings." |
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| "A few bearded terrorists who fly into buildings? How, in the name of everything dear to America, could Pat Robertson possibly say that federal judges - the men and women in our government who make sure everyone plays by the rules - are a greater threat than the enemies of our nation who killed thousands of people and who instantly made widows and widowers and orphans of thousands more? What was he thinking?" |
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| "What he seemed to be thinking is that just because a few judges have ruled against him a few times, they are a bigger threat than Al Qaeda, more dangerous than Nazi Germany, and more divisive than the Civil War." After all, that's what he said on national TV." |
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| "That's just wrong. These kinds of irresponsible and dangerous falsehoods have no place in mature political discourse. But Senate Republicans - Robertson's ideological allies - have steadfastly refused to condemn these scurrilous remarks." |
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| ";Robertson didn't stop there, either. He all but called Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg a communist, just because she once served as general counsel for the ACLU. Apparently, wanting to make sure your First Amendment rights are protected is somehow 'anti-American' |
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| "The whole affair would just be kind of pathetic if Robertson didn't go on to make one of the most hateful comments you'll ever hear from a major political leader on national TV. According to Robertson, Hindus and Muslims don't belong in the Cabinet and he wouldn't want somebody like that sitting as a judge. Advocating blatant discrimination isn't just distasteful or uncomfortable, it's wrong-headed hate speech." |
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| ";We're used to this kind of poisonous rhetoric from Pat Robertson. But why won't the Senate Republicans condemn these offensive remarks? Is this the type of party that just accepts this kind of hateful behavior from its leaders? Robertson owes America an apology. And his ideological allies in the Senate must publicly repudiate his repugnant behavior. " (Anne Lewis for DSCC) |
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| We in the Democratic Party demand respect and dignity for all people regardless of national or racial origin, sexual orientation, religious faith or economic level. If you would like to learn more about Pat Robertson's ravings go to this website: http://www.dscc.org/robertson |
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| Play ball! "President Bush threw the ceremonial first pitch for the Washington (D.C.) Nationals. He practiced for three days to make sure he wouldn't look silly. If he had put this much planning into all his ventures, we would be out of Iraq by now." (Argus Hamilton) |
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