LCDP Spring Fling/St. Pat's Day Party
Saturday March 15th, 5:30 P.M.
Loren Kannenberg & Karri Kline residence
322 23rd St. South
La Crosse

National Convention Delegate Presentation
Wednesday, March 26, 7:00 P.M.
Ho Chunk Nation 3 Rivers House
724 Main St.
La Crosse
see details below

3rd Congressional District Convention
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Jake's Northwoods
1132 Angelo Rd.
Sparta
Registration: 8:30 A.M. to 10:00 A.M.
Call to Order: 9:30 A.M.
see details below

First Tier National Convention Delegate Selection
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Registration:12:00 P.M.
Call to Order: 2:00 P.M.
Cartwright Center (Port O'Call Room)
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
see details below

Democratic Leadership Institute
April 12-13, 2008
Devil's Head Resort
Merrimac, WI
see details below

LCDP General Party Meeting
Monday, April 21, 2008
7:00 to 9:00 P.M.
Ho Chunk Nation 3 Rivers House
724 Main St.
La Crosse
Speaker: Scot Ross, One Wisconsin Now

Democratic Party of Wisconsin State Convention
June 13-14, 2008
Stevens Point Holiday Inn & Convention Center
Stevens Point, WI

February was an exciting time in La Crosse as the presidential primary got everybody energized for the year ahead. Thanks to all who participated in and staffed the various events. Special thanks go out to the UW-L College Dems, particularly co-chairs Graham Clumpner and Casey Giltner, for their tireless work at the many events on campus.

Thanks also to Pablo Ruiz who is responsible for the new look of the U.S mail newsletter. Please let us know if there are possible new members to whom we should be sending the newsletter.

Finally, thanks to all who have renewed memberships in '08. Increased membership is the backbone to all party operations and ultimately, to successful Democratic candidates in November.

Fabio Burgos
Chair
La Crosse County Democratic Party

LCDP ST. PAT'S DAY/SPRING FLING

Loren Kannenberg and Karri Kline have again been kind enough to host the LCDP St. Pat's/Spring Fling party on Saturday, March 15th. Please join us to toast the prospect of an exciting year, March Madness,the onset of warmer weather, and anything else you can think of. The suggested donation is $10.00. Beverages will be provided, please bring a dish to pass.

The 2008 Democratic Leadership Institute will take place on April 12-13th, 2008 at the Devil's Head Resort & Convention Center in Merrimac. There is an activist track and a student track. For more information, please contact Steve Gillitzer at (608) 260- 2412 or email dli@wisdems.org

The deadline for signup is Friday March 21st. An application can be found at the link below.

The 3rd Congressional District Democratic Convention will take place on Saturday, March 29th at Jake's Northwoods, 1132 Angelo Rd. in Sparta. Registration is from 8:30 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. The convention will be called to order at 9:30 A.M.

You must be a current party member to be a delegate to the 3rd CD convention. The list of La Crosse County delegates must be submitted to the 3rd CD no later than March 14th at 5:00 P.M. Therefore, if you have not already done so, please contact Fabio Burgos at 792-0878 or fburgos@laxdems.com as soon as possible to make sure that you are on the delegate list.

DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION DELEGATE INFORMATION

If you are interested in being a Delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention, you must fill out a Delegate Intent form and return it to the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, 222 W Washington Ave, Suite 150, Madison, WI 53703.

Your application must be received no later than 5:00pm CST on Friday April 4, 2008. This Delegate Intent form can be found at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin's National Convention webpage.(link is below).

The La Crosse County 1st Tier Delegate Selection Caucus will take place on Sunday, April 6th, at the Port O'Call Room at the Cartwright Center at UW-L. Registration begins at 12:00 noon and the caucus will be called to order at 2:00 P.M. At this caucus 49 delegates will be elected to go to the 2nd Tier caucus (for the entire 3rd Congressional District) on Sunday May 4th. The location of the 2nd Tier is yet to be determined. Six delegates from the entire 3rd Congressional District will ultimately be elected as delegates to the National Convention in Denver.

The DPW will be holding an informational presentation concerning the National Convention delegate selection process on Wednesday, March 26th at 7:00 P.M. at the Ho Chunk Nation 3 Rivers House, 724 Main St. in La Crosse. Those who are considering attempting to become a National Convention delegate are strongly encouraged to attend.

We know one of these three men will be out of a job in January, 2009. Let's do our best to make sure that the other two get to join him in retirement. One of those two up for reelection, Dan Kapanke, on February 28 again voted against the Compassionate Care bill for rape victims. He was one of only six senators to vote against this measure. It's obvious that Dan Kapanke, much like Mike Huebsch, is the personification of President Bush's far right-wing agenda in Wisconsin.

The way to defeat these far-right incumbents is to get involved. The LCDP needs volunteers now for party building and 2008 election preparation. We have several standing committees/projects. To assist in fundraising please contact Marcia Wine at 783-0172 or mrswineiii@charter.net

To assist in newsletter preparation please contact Pablo Ruiz at 738-8251 or pablomruiz3@yahoo.com

We also need assistance in list development, graphic design, and event planning. 2008 is not just a presidential election year. We need a special effort in '08, particularly in the 94th Assembly District and in the 32nd State Senate District.

We need volunteeers now!!! Please contact any Executive Board member to volunteer.

LIT DROP FOR JUSTICE LOUIS BUTLER

As some of you may know, the far right is dumping literally millions of dollars to unseat Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler on April 1st. Justice Butler is endorsed by Senators Feingold and Kohl along with all Wisconsin Democratic Congresspersons, including Ron Kind, as well as by the overwhelming majority of Wisconsin's circuit court judges.

excerpted from Think Progress.org

The Children's Defense Fund Action Council released its 2007 Nonpartisan Congressional Scorecard. CDF reports some positive news, particularly that average scores for members of Congress "improved from the previous three years with more Members scoring 100 percent than in 2004, 2005 or 2006."

Many, however, did not fare so well. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) received a 10 percent rating - the worst in the U.S. Senate.

CDF ranked members on 10 votes affecting children:

1. Increase minimum wage (H.R. 2)
2. Increase funding for children with disabilities (S. Con. Res. 21)
3. Protect children from unsafe medications (S. 1082)
4. 2008 Budget resolution (S. Con. Res. 21)
5. SCHIP Reauthorization (H.R. 976)
6. College Cost Reduction and Access Act (H.R. 2669)
7. SCHIP (H.R. 976 - motion to concur)
8. DREAM Act (S. 2205)
9. Funding child health and education (H.R. 3043)
10. Improving Head Start programs (H.R. 1429)

McCain has missed 57 percent of Senate votes this session, being absent or voting "present" for 8 out of 10 children-related votes. McCain voted "yes" to increase the minimum wage; his only other vote was voting "no" on SCHIP reauthorization on Aug. 2, 2007:

Furthermore, the rankings weren't divided by party. Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Orrin Hatch (R- UT), and Gordon Smith (R-OR) received strong 70 percent rankings.

McCain's CDF score has steadily declined over the years. In 2004, he received a 38 percent; in 2005, 22 percent; in 2006, 10 percent.

La Crosse Vote YES --Supporting the School District of La Crosse Referendum

A "YES GROUP" is forming to support this important referendum. Your commitment and help is only needed for the next month!

A planning/ action meeting is scheduled for THIS THURSDAY, March 6th at 6:30 p.m. at the Southside Neighborhood Center, 1300 S. 6th Street, La Crosse. The meeting will last 1 hour.

The purpose of this meeting is as follows:

-To identify key action items to help for a successful referendum

-To mobilize volunteers into committees of action (letter to the editor writers, yard signs, presentations to various groups, media spots, calling voters, etc.)

This will be the only organized meeting of this group. Other business/ action items will be communicated through committees, email etc.A small commitment now that will have a lasting impact on students and the community for years to come.

If you are unable to attend, but are interested in helping please contact:

Please renew your memberships!! If you have not done so, you can find our 08 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.com if you cannot come to our future party meetings.

Membership rates, effective October 1, 2006, as established by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, are as follows:

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, please join at the $25 general level or $75 Family membership level and make additional contributions to the county party directly.