2023 – 2024 Legislation Session
March 2023
The Federal and State legislation session has begun for the 2023 through 2024 period. Legislation to be voted on includes local ordinances and laws. What is enacted into law depends on who’s elected to advocate for it. This is one major importance of an election, that it will determine what becomes law. In turn, this is also the importance of volunteering to get our candidates elected. Remember that famous quote from John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”
The Placer County Democratic Central Committee is currently in the 2024 election planning stage. The goal is the same, electing Democratic Party candidates to major offices, and electing to local positions those with whom we agree, or who at least lean our way. When Placer County citizens as well as local activist organizations want action from government officials, here’s the answer: What will you do to volunteer? Will you participate in the Democrat Party process to support your Auburn Area Democratic Club and the Placer County Democratic Party, to elect those officials who will voice our issues in Federal and State legislatures and get them passed into law?
What is the status of the Placer County Democratic Party regarding our 2024 election season preparation? I am sorry to say that it is the same status which resulted in our failure to meet our 2022 election goals. We have a good plan, but we are understaffed.
You, the reader, ask, “What can I do for my country, for my state, county, and local Democratic organizations? The results of the 2022 election revealed that we need more volunteers and more participant involvement in our election process. If you want to see changes in the law, you need to volunteer.
We were lucky this past election season, because of the issues and legislation that the Democratic Party championed. Protest against the Republican supported Supreme Court decision on Roe v Wade brought out votes. Kansas voters supported the pro-choice movement. Additionally because of the unpopular Roe v Wade decision, the 2022 election left Republicans in control of the House by only a very slim margin instead of by the landslide margin they predicted. The same Supreme Court decision helped the Democratic Party gain a one-vote advantage in the Senate. Democrats attained success with gains in our California State Legislature. We must continue to build on this success.
The national goals of the Auburn Area Democratic Club and the Placer County Democratic Central Committee are to take back the House and to increase our voting majority in the Senate. In California, our goal is to maintain our voting power in the legislature. For the present California legislation season, there is a good chance that AB 1690 will pass, giving Universal Health Care for All. This campaign is just starting.
Federal legislature is more of a challenge with Democrats in minority in the House, even though our party has control of the Senate. But, the current news is exciting. Senator Bernie Sanders introduced legislation to secure future Social Security Benefits. He will soon introduce a bill supporting Medicare for All. These are measures that will be popular with the electorate, but they will face opposition from the House. This is one area where we greatly need your participation to unite in electing candidates who will add to our voting power.
As Placer County and Auburn Area Democrats, we can change the direction of Federal legislation in our favor. As mentioned, we have an excellent of action to elect our candidates. What we need are officers and other participants in our committees. We are understaffed, and we need your participation. Come to our Thursday, March 2, meeting at the Gomez Center, or to any of our monthly meetings to volunteer. Or email me at lcoastnorcalcd1@gmail.com. Let’s have a conversation about how you can help.