Yes, IT’S MONDAY! again, and not quite a week ago, Raphael Warnock won his election for a full six-year term as Senator from Georgia. The Republican Administration of that state keeps playing with the voting roles and rules, (I remember Raffensberger saying, “Yes, Joe Biden won the election in Georgia, but we are going to fix that”), and yet Democrats came out to vote despite the roadblocks. Sen. Warnock gives the Democrats a clear majority in the Senate, or so we thought! I think this deserves a discussion about the makeup of that body and what it may mean to Democrats.
In the current Congress, we all know that the Senate is divided 50-50 with two Independents reliably caucusing with the Democrats. That would be Angus King of Maine and Bernie Sanders of Vermont. So that makes Kamala Harris’s vote very important, but we also have, what I would call, rogue senators in Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema. These were the two that held up a lot of legislation for dubious reasons most likely related to their ties to the energy industry and big pharma.
It was, therefore, a fantastic win for the Democrats when Pennsylvania elected John Fetterman because he would preserve the 50-50 Senate. There were three shaky campaigns in Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia, and by hard work and some luck, we won all three, giving us a 51-49 edge.
The celebrations started after the Georgia Runoff but then Sen. Sinema announced that she was leaving the Democratic Party and becoming an Independent but will still caucus with the Dems. So, the new Senate will actually be 48 Democrats, 49 Republicans, and 3 Independents. The Democratic Majority depends on 3 Independent Senators joining them in their legislative efforts, so there will still be fights and failures along the way. The important thing will be in the Committee assignments. Democrats will have majorities and Chairmanships on Senate Committees, making it easier to accomplish the Democratic Agenda.
I know this all seems dry and uninteresting, and it’s not too sexy or flashy but it should show all of us just how important the work we did to elect John Fetterman was. Voting on a regular basis is very important. Rural counties are important also, maybe even more so going into future elections if we want to preserve the democratic ideals we were raised with. There is nothing wrong with conservatism if true conservatism is what is offered.
We should spend our money wisely and rationally meter how and who we allow into our country. That should also include a comprehensive audit of the Defense Department, which makes up more than 50% of our annual spending. We should not allow businesses and corporations showing record profits to pay zero taxes. I’m getting off the rails here a little but the idea is that the work we do is instrumental in putting people in office who will work for us and to preserve our Democracy. If we don’t, people like Trump, Kemp, DeSantis, and Cruz will be calling the shots. I don’t want that, and I’ll bet that you don’t either.
PARTICIPATE! DONATE! VOTE!
John Huot, JeffDems Chairperson
CALENDAR
Tuesday, January 10, 2023 7pm JeffDems Executive Board Zoom Meeting
Email jeffersoncountypadems@gmail.com if you wish to attend.
Saturday, January 21, 2023 “Ready to Run: Campaign Training for Women”
Chatham University, Mellon Board Room, Pittsburgh, PA.
The Pennsylvania Center for Women & Politics (PCWP) at Chatham University will host a day-long, non-partisan program to encourage women to run for political office and to train them to launch their own campaign. We encourage interested women to take their first steps as a potential candidate.
Learn more by going to pcwp.org or contact PCWP at 412-365-1878 or pcwp@chatham.edu. Early-Bird Registration is $65, before Jan. 2, 2023, (thereafter is $75). Includes conference materials and meals. Program opens with registration starting at 7:45am, then a full day of sessions, starting at 8:30am and ending with closing remarks at 5:30pm.
An anonymous donor is pleased to offer a scholarship of the $65 fee for one person to attend, and JeffDems will offer a second $65 scholarship for a second person to attend. Please contact jeffersoncountypadems@gmail.com by December 27 for a program brochure and for scholarship consideration.
DONATIONS ACCEPTED
Thanks in advance for supporting your Jefferson County Democratic Committee!Send your check to:
Jefferson County Democratic Committee
c/o Jane Halin, Treasurer
PO Box 266
Punxsutawney, PA 15767
or use ActBlue I just gave to Jefferson County Democratic Committee (PA)!
