Week of August 4, 2005
Democratic women senators seek questions for Bush nominee
Seven Democratic women senators are giving ordinary Americans an opportunity to participate in the Senate's confirmation process for Bush's Supreme Court nominee, Judge John Roberts. On Thursday, July 28, they launched a website soliciting questions for Roberts that they would like answered at his upcoming Senate hearings. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) spearheaded the effort.
The senators are particularly interested in hearing what the public would like to know about Roberts' views on civil rights, including a woman's right to privacy as embodied by Roe v. Wade.
The site strikes a populist chord. "As Senators, we believe it shouldn't only be Senators that get to ask the questions this time around," the women write. "We want the American people to have a voice."
Click here to submit a question -- http://democrats.senate.gov/askroberts/
At a press conference to kick off the new site, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) was unequivocal in her calls for a vigorous questioning of Roberts. "We have to see the man's heart, his soul, his mind, and we need to know if he's going to protect the rights of the American people," she told reporters.
Also at the conference, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) expressed concern that the Senate Judiciary Committee lacked diversity, a point brought home to Americans in 1991 during the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, when an all-male, all-white panel of 14 senators grilled Anita Hill as she described how Thomas had sexually harassed her. Cantwell served on the Judiciary Committee for the first four years of her term, voting against John Ashcroft's nomination as attorney general and leading the fight against Bush's right-wing nomination to lower federal courts. Today, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is the only woman on the committee.
"I can't wait for the picture to be shown on national television consistently through the hearings ... of a group of men and one woman deciding a very important issue," Cantwell said. "Yes, she [Feinstein] will speak loud and clear, and so will that picture."
New York Rep. Louise Slaughter engages citizens in choice legislation process
New York Rep. Louise Slaughter engages citizens in choice legislation process
To build momentum behind her Putting Prevention First Act of 2004, Cong. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) has launched a website for citizens to engage in her bill's success by signing on as co-sponsors.
Slaughter's legislation is designed to promote access to preventive health care services and education to ensure women's reproductive care; reduce the number of unintended pregnancies; stop the spread of sexually transmitted diseases; and help women make informed decisions about their reproductive well-being.
Slaughter re-introduced the Putting Prevention First Act in April and was joined by 100 co-sponsors. In the Senate, Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) are co-sponsoring similar legislation.
Slaughter's site allows supporters from around the country to petition for other legislation she has sponsored, educating them on the issues and allowing them to play an active role in government.
Click here to read more about Slaughter's petition.
A fierce champion of reproductive rights, Slaughter also introduced the Emergency Contraception Education Act July 18 to further ensure that patients and health care providers receive adequate, factually correct information about the efficacy, safety, use, and availability of emergency contraception.
Life on the campaign trail begins for 41 young Campaign Corps activists
Campaign Corps, EMILY's List's training program for recent college graduates, concluded the week-long campaign training boot camp last week with assignments for the 41 young activists. All have been dispatched to targeted progressive races for the final three months before off-year elections are held in New Jersey, Virginia, and various municipalities Nov. 8.
More than half have headed to Virginia and New Jersey for the states' 2005 assembly and statewide races. Just in time, too -- because several candidates backed by EMILY's List's Political Opportunity Program (POP) are waging hard fought campaigns. These trainees will help campaigns meet the demand for savvy political operatives who can hit the ground and begin organizing field programs, raising money, and filling other crucial campaign roles. The large number of Campaign Corps workers EMILY's List has trained complements the astoundingly rapid growth of POP.
In addition to working on campaigns that will be decided this fall, several Campaign Corps staffers have been sent to 2006 campaigns that are gearing up early. This includes six Campaign Corps staffers in California, a state that figures prominently on POP's radar screen as well. California has a high number of targeted state legislative races this election cycle, and a potential for three statewide races in 2006.
The enthusiastic Campaign Corps trainees are eager to launch their careers in progressive politics. One participant, a Yale graduate who just ended a five year stint as a stock trader at a million-dollar investment firm, told his classmates, "Campaign Corps is my first step toward repurchasing my soul from Wall St. Honestly, I can't wait to begin working for something I believe in."
EMILY's List members meet Challenge Fund goal, boost vital political programs
Thanks to generous support from EMILY's List members nationwide, our 2005 Challenge Fund -- which raises early money for vital political programs like Campaign Corps and the EMILY's List Political Opportunity Program (POP) --exceeded its goal of $1 million! As of the July 30 deadline, members contributed $1,677,429 -- well above the goal of $1 million, which in turn qualifies EMILY's List for an additional $100,000 from an anonymous member.
As we prepare for the 2006 election and the state races that will be decided later this year, the Challenge Fund gives EMILY's List an opportunity to ramp up our critical political programs, putting more pro-choice Democratic women in the pipeline at the state level and training the next generation of political leaders. Thank you for your participation and support!
Frye places first in San Diego mayor's race, advances to runoff
Donna Frye, who nearly won her bid for mayor of San Diego last fall as a write-in candidate, came in first in the city's special mayoral election Tuesday, July 26, advancing to a run-off against a former police chief with extensive ties in the beleaguered city's government.
Frye, a political outsider and community activist who won a seat on the San Diego City Council in 2001, secured an astounding 43 percent of the vote in a field of 11 eager contenders -- including one millionaire businessman who spent about $2 million of his fortune on a barrage of advertising.
Her write-in mayoral bid last fall helped her build and consolidate popular support across the city and secure the top spot on the run-off ballot.
Frye now faces Republican Jerry Sanders, the city's former police chief and a 26-year veteran of the force, in the Nov. 8 run-off. Neither Sanders nor Steve Francis, the millionaire, managed to break 30 percent against her.