LCDP General Party Meeting
Monday, February 19th, 7:00 P.M.
Ho-Chunk Nation 3 Rivers House,
724 Main St., La Crosse
Business only meeting.
 

Myths on Taxation
Monday, February 26th, 7:00 P.M.
Speaker: Dr. Jack Norman
Insitute for Wisconsin's Future,
"Wisconsin Tax Heaven" -- on the corporate contribution to Wisconsin's tax burden
Seven Bridges Restaurant
1219 2nd Ave. N. (Hwy 35)
Onalaska

On February 26, at Seven Bridges Restaurant in Onalaska, the La Crosse County Democratic Party will be welcoming a speaker on an issue that the Republican Party has distorted and demagogued for years: taxation.

Dr. Jack Norman from the Institute for Wisconsin's future will discuss how individual taxpayers are being shafted at the expense of corporations.

Please tell anyone who might be interested about this event to attend, as this issue, along with health care, is one for which it is absolutely critical for our party to have its message heard loud and clear.

Please note that this will not be a general party meeting. The general party meeting will be held on February 19 at the Ho-Chunk Three Rivers House and will be a relatively short business only meeting

In 2007 the LCDP plans to hold events and host speakers at times apart from general party meetings so that we bring attention to these issues in all parts of La Crosse County, and not just the City of La Crosse.

There is membership information provided later in this newsletter and a membership mailing will be sent out to all party members in March. However, I would urge you to consider making a contribution to the local party on top of your yearly membership fees. I realize that not everyone can afford such a contribution; I would ask those who can to so.

It is a fact of political life that our local party will only be as strong as it is well funded. Our goal is to build the La Crosse County Democratic Party in every ward and precinct so that there is nowhere within La Crosse County that our candidates cannot compete and win. In addition, a La Crosse County that is a Democratic stronghold will pave the way towards taking seats away from the Republicans in surrounding areas as well. Wisconsin should be an impregnable BLUE state -- on par with New York, Massachusetts and now Illinois. What we do in this county -- erasing the idea that it is a "swing" area -- will go far towards making the Democratic Party the majority party throughout Wisconsin. We can all help this effort ensure a strong 2008 by making 2007 a strong year for party fundraising. Thank you.

The 3rd Congressional District Democratic Convention will take place on April 21, 2007, at the Best Western Trail Lodge Hotel and Suites in Eau Claire. Marge Baecker is resigning as 3rd CD chair, so a new chair will be elected at that time.

The 2007 Democratic Party of Wisconsin State Convention will be held on June 29th and 30th in at the Hilton City Center Hotel in Milwaukee. Hotel reservations can be made with the Hilton by calling 414-271-7250 or 1-800-445-8667. Convention delegates and guests can reserve hotel rooms under the Democratic Party of Wisconsin’s room block. You can find more information by clicking here.

The Democratic Leadership Institute (DLI) will be holding its training on April 14 and 15 at Devil's Head Resort. Topics will include fundraising, member recruitment and compliance. There will be a leadership track (for ages 18-25) and an activist track for those older than 25.

The cost is $40.00 per person for the activist track and the application is due by March 16, 2007. You may call 1-800-472-6670 for hotel reservations.

A printable application can be found here.

For any questions about the enrollment process please contact Mary Triick at the DPW at (608) 255- 5172 or maryt@wisdems.org

Please renew your memberships for 2007. If you have not done so, you can find our 2007 membership form at laxdems.com. (Left side of front page).

Our goal is to push party membership over 400 people. Please check our website at laxdems.com, which has a membership form or email laxdems if you cannot come to our future party meetings.

Again, a reminder about the membership rates, effective October 1, 2006, as established by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin: Students, Senior Citizens: $10.00 General: $25.00 Pairs (two memberships): $35.00 Activist (up to three): $45.00 Family(includes all family members: $75.00 Supporter: $120.00 Friend: $240.00 Patron: $600.00 Investor: $1200.00 Benefactor $2400.00 Half of the above membership dues go to the State party, with the exception of the Family membership, where $45.00 of $75.00 goes to the local party. Those who join at the higher levels of membership ($120.00 and above) should remember that only $50.00 of those memberships will stay with the local party.

If your intention is to become a new member or renew your membership with the Democratic Party and you want more of your contribution to go to the Local County Party, I encourage you to join at the single $25 or $75 Family membership level and make additional contributions to the county party directly.

From the DNC:
February 12, 2007

John McCain reacted angrily yesterday after the Washington Post scrutinized his change of heart on campaign finance reform, an issue he once championed. According to CNN, McCain "blasted" Sunday's front page report that found McCain is using the type of "soft money" for his presidential campaign he once campaigned against.[CNN, 2/11/07],

As the report noted, "McCain has embraced some of the same political-money figures, forces and tactics he pilloried during a 15-year crusade to reduce the influence of big donors, fundraisers and lobbyists in elections". [Washington Post, 2/11/07]

Despite McCain's objections, however, his change of heart on campaign finance reform may have earned him a reception at the "premier event in Christian communication." According to the Politico's blog today, the Rev. Jerry Falwell himself will co-host a meet and greet reception for McCain at the National Religious Broadcasters convention next week--almost a month to the day after McCain voted against the grassroots lobbying reform he once cosponsored, but which conservative leaders opposed. Apparently not yet sold on McCain, Falwell may not show up to his own reception. [politico.com, 2/12/07; The Hill, 1/18/07]

"McCain's complete abandon for campaign finance reform might get him face time with conservatives, but his waning credibility is bound to cost him as a presidential candidate," said Democratic National Committee spokesman Luis Miranda. "Conservatives still don't trust McCain enough to show up at their own reception, and his do-anything-to-win approach is a far cry from the leadership and new direction the American voters want."

In Perspective
McCain Panders to Conservatives, Votes Against Grassroots Lobbying Reform Similar to What He Once Sponsored.
McCain voted to strike provisions requiring that activist organizations which engaged in grassroots lobbying efforts had to report details of their activities and finances. "While grassroots groups on both sides of the political spectrum oppose the proposal, social conservative leaders such as Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, who broadcasts a radio program to hundreds of thousands of evangelical Christians, have been its most vehement critics. McCain sponsored legislation last Congress that included an even broader requirement for grassroots lobbying coalitions to reveal their financial donors." [The Hill, 1/18/07; S.Amdt.20 to S.1, Vote #17, 1/18/07, agreed to 55-43; R: 48-0, D: 7-43, McCain voted "Yea"]

And Now, Rev. Jerry Falwell Will 'Co-Host' a Reception for McCain. The Politico's blog is reporting that Rev. Jerry Falwell "will co-host a "meet and greet" for McCain at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Orlando next week. The convention is billed as "the premier event in Christian communication." "Falwell's name is listed along with five other clergy members and broadcasters as co- host's of the reception." [politico.com]

In Detail
Below are the highlights of McCain's turn to the right on campaign finance reform, as outlined by the Washington Post, 2/11/07.

McCain Then:
"long supported" public financing and spending limits on campaigns.

McCain Now:
McCain's campaign "is still studying whether to forgo the public financing and spending limits" and have said that he "will not be handicapped by restrictions his competitors will not face in 2008."

McCain Then:
"McCain the reformer worked unsuccessfully through Congress and the courts to try to stop nonprofit political groups known as 527s from using unlimited donations to run political ads and fund other activities aimed at influencing voters in the run-up to elections."

McCain Now:
"McCain the candidate now expects Republicans to use the same big-money 527 groups in the 2008 elections to beat Democrats, if the groups remain legal...At least six of McCain's first eight national finance co-chairmen have given or raised large donations for political parties or 527 groups, campaign and IRS records show. In all, the finance co- chairs have given at least $13.5 million in soft money and 527 donations since the 1998 election."

McCain Then:
McCain "relentlessly argued that six- and seven- figure 'soft money' checks that corporations, wealthy individuals and unions were giving to political parties to influence elections were corrupting American politics."

McCain Now:
"McCain the candidate has enlisted some of the same GOP fundraising giants who created and flourished in the soft-money system, including Bush's fundraising 'Pioneers' and 'Rangers,' who earned their designations by raising at least $100,000 or $200,000 for his campaigns.

McCain Then:
"Just about a year and a half ago, Sen. John McCain went to court to try to curtail the influence of a group to which A. Jerrold Perenchio gave $9 million, saying it was trying to 'evade and violate' new campaign laws with voter ads ahead of the midterm elections." [Washington Post, 2/11/07]

McCain Now:
"As McCain launches his own presidential campaign, however, he is counting on Perenchio, the founder of the Univision Spanish-language media empire, to raise millions of dollars as co-chairman of the Arizona Republican's national finance committee." [Washington Post, 2/11/07]

McCain Then:
McCain "proposed legislation requiring so-called grass-roots groups that organize average citizens into lobbying forces to disclose their financial backers."