$10 Billion and Counting!

Merry Christmas to Florida!

According to recipeints' reports of stimulus money in the Sate of Florida, over 11 billion dollars have been awarded to Florida.  Of that amount, 4 billion dollars have been received.  The totals are even higher if you read the federal agency reports. 

10 billion of the total has been in the form of grants - not loans!  That's a lot of federal money for a state that didn't want to receive any of the funds in the first place. And think about; where would our Republican legislators and Governor found 11 billion dollars to spend on behalf of Florida citizens without raising taxes?  And just think, our Senator-elect Rubio and Governor-elect Scott each believe Washington is broken.  They better hope it remains 'broken" unless they want to replace 10 billion federal grant dollars with Florida tax dollars!

People need to know the facts about how much the Obama Administration has done for Florida and this country via his economic policies.  Yes it's a lot of debt - but more importantly, it's an investment in people and jobs and the future of Florida and the United States at a critical time for both.

We need more responsible political leaders to take the correct bold steps for our collective well being...even if we can't (or won't) see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Back in it to WIN it!

Five Post-Election-Achievements of the "Lame-Duck" Session

It will be important in future elections for Americans to remember the positive accomplishments of this current "lame-duck" session.  Too often we forget the good news and focus on and retell the negative news.

See the digest of the top five, post-election- accomplishments lead by President Obama and Democratic leaders in the House and Senate.

Back in it to WIN it!


 

Stay Informed So You'll Know The Facts

The pros and cons about heath care reform still make good headlines.  However, it's important to stay on top of the facts as the national conversation - and legal battles - go on.  It's also interesting to watch the Republicans back away from previously held positions on which reform components are's good for the country...they do it regularly and certainly have done so in the heath care debate.  But President Obama has a couple of back-up options if his Heath Care Plan gets struck down.  Many experts on the matter don't believe it will be overturned.

Nonetheless, check out some of the comments made by Gail Wilensky in a recent article on the subject.  Wilensky is an economist who ran the Medicare Program under Bush II and is herself a Republican.

On the economic front, the tax cut compromise bill made it to the President's desk. House Minority Leader Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Reid didn't attend the signing ceremony.  Interesting....when will Democrats play as well together as the Republicans do? I love this "fight" in them now, which is well after wimping out earlier when the President wanted the tax cuts for the middle class to stay and cuts for the richest 2% of Americans to end.  Well Harry and Nancy , you're a "day late and a dollar short".

But, I'm still excited about Democrats growing a little backbone!  Maybe the relatively good economic news of late is helping them.

Stay informed!

Back in it to WIN it!

Plan Ahead For 2011

We can't let Republicans win 2011 local elections across the country like they did in November 2010. Start planning NOW to win the many local races - school board, city/county council, mayor, chief cop, and others....join your local Democratic Executive Committee (or whatever the local Party organization is called) and then help build and implement campaign strategies to help local Democrat win local offices - ANY office. In Jacksonville, call 904-390-7001 or go to www.duvaldemocrats.org


Also, make sure to encourage friends and colleagues in your social/civic/professional organizations to get involved - your faith home; your professional societies and clubs; your workplace groups, etc...there's power in numbers.

I firmly believe Democrats have the right values, policies and practices needed to lead our country back to greatness. But, we can't lead if we don't win political races. And, we can't win unless we commit ourselves to support our Party and our Party candidates. We need All Hands On Deck to make it work...the environmentalist-Democrats; the right to life-Democrats; the faith community-Democrats; the progressive-Democrats; the anti war-Democrats; the big business/top 2%-Democrats, etc....All Hands On Deck!

My mantra for 2011 is: Back in it to WIN it!

Stop the Republicans' Gift to the Wealthy

Once again the Repubilcans are positioned to help the wealthy and not help ease the fiscal crisis facing our Country.  The Administration's preference to lift the tax ban for the wealthiest 2-3% of Amricans is a resonable path to increasing revenues in the short run and minimizing pain for the middle and lower class citizens.  Besides, if "full employment" leaves 3 - 5 percent of Americans unemployment....why can't Republcans accept "tax-breaks for all" that leave out 2-3 percent of Americans -especially the wealthiest ones?  But to hold up government actions on other worthy issues facing the Country over tax breaks for the wealthy is just plain bad business - even if they see it as good politics!

Stand with the Democrats in the US House of Representatives!

Check out one article on the topic......

Back in it to WIN it!!