Progressive Democrats of Genesee Valley Blogspot

Progressive Democrats of Genesee Valley Endorses its First Candidates for 2009 Monroe County Legislature Races

pdagv — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:11:00 GMT

Rochester, NY - We are pleased to announce that following endorsement deliberations on July 7, 2009, Progressive Democrats of Genesee Valley endorsed Nora Bredes in the race for the 18^th Legislative District seat against incumbent Ciaran Hanna; Jo Meleca-Voigt in her contest for the 19^th Legislative District seat challenging Jeffery McCann; and Michele Weaver in her candidacy for the 3^rd Legislative District opposing sitting Monroe County Legislator, Mary Valerio.

A former Suffolk County Legislator, Nora Bredes resigned her position to join her family in Pittsford eleven years ago. She is a reform-minded candidate whose main plank involves improving the effectiveness of the Monroe County Legislature. She is a proponent of government that is responsive to its citizenry, and with her years of legislative experience and grassroots involvement , seeks to collaborate to implement greater transparency and accountability in the Monroe County legislative process.

Jo Meleca-Voigt is a teacher in the Greece Central School District and lifelong resident of Monroe County. She is running on a platform of openness and accountability, with which she intends to restore representative government to the hands of the constituents of Monroe County’s 19^th Legislative District, as opposed to well-funded special interests there.

Michele Weaver, while a relative newcomer to the political scene in Rochester, nevertheless brings a wealth of corporate experience and a sound fiscal management background to her candidacy for the Monroe County Legislature’s 3^rd District. She is committed to using her knowledge to improve the transparency of the Monroe County budgetary process and foster increased accountability to the people it serves.

We appreciate the time spent by all candidates in explaining their policy positions to our membership and we laud their commitment to open dialogue between government and its constituents, as well as their support of grassroots-driven reform in the progressive tradition.

Please join us in congratulating these worthy aspirants for office.

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Progressive Democrats of Genesee Valley attend Leadership Conference

pdagv — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:36:00 GMT

Progressive Democrats of America hosted a Grassroots Leadership Conference the weekend before the Inauguration, January 17-18, 2009, at the University of District Columbia. The conference was attended by two co-founders of Progressive Democrats of Genesee Valley, Nicholas and Robin Wilt.

On Day One, January 17, Kimberly Buchan presented information on PDA's structure and finances, and advised that local PDA chapters should create state PACs if they implement a formal fiscal entity. Activities supporting a federal candidate can be directed through PDA's federal PAC, as PDA-GV did with our fundraisers for Eric Massa.

Later in the day, conference attendees were treated to appearances by Barbara Lee, Congressman of Ohio (CA-9), who spoke and signed copies of her book "Renegade for Peace and Justice: Congresswoman Barbara Lee Speaks for me" and staunch progressive Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-03). Finally, in an unexpected and welcome surprise, John Conyers (MI-14), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and architect of H.R. 676 ("The United States National Health Insurance Act"), arrived at 8:00pm and hosted an hour-long roundtable discussion. We went back to the hotel exhausted but very happy.

On Day Two, January 18, attendees were treated to two panel discussions. The first was on single payer activism and featured Donna Smith, whose tribulations with the health insurance industry were among the stories featured in Michael Moore’s documentary SiCKO. With her were Chuck Pennacchio, a progressive candidate for Senate from Pennsylvania who made single payer the cornerstone for his campaign; Katie Robbins, who coordinates the grassroots coalition Healthcare-NOW! (an organization that was just asked to consult with Obama’s transition team on health care issues as a result of electorate feedback on change.gov); and Michael Lighty, the lobbying coordinator with California Nurses’ Association, the nation’s largest RN union and staunch single payer advocates. The discussion was moderated by Tim Carpenter, PDA’s national coordinator.

The panelists had some good reflections on what we could do as progressive activists and the interplay between all of the priority issues (ending militarism, environmental sustainability, social justice, election reform, and universal single payer health care) in a progressive platform. They noted that we are at a crossroads for single payer advocacy right now, and encouraged activists to host town hall meetings in their districts, inviting their representatives to listen to listen to constituents’ health care experiences and concerns. Our goal right now is to shift the dialogue from center left to left center, and to frame the issue in terms of our public officials making a choice between the people they represent and the health insurance industry lobby. California Nurses’ Association has provided a compelling lobbying tool in the form of a report that demonstrates that single payer health care reform would represent a major economic stimulus package for the nation. Check it out on their website: http://www.calnurses.org/media-center/press-releases/2009/january/first-of-its-kind-study-medicare-for-all-single-payer-reform-would-be-major-stimulus-for-economy-with-2-6-million-new-jobs-317-billion-in-business-revenue-100-billion-in-wages.html..

Speaking of expanding the dialogue, that was the focus of the afternoon panel discussion for the conference. Featured panelists included august progressive political thinkers: Steve Cobble, a longtime political strategist and onetime consultant to Jesse Jackson’s rainbow coalition campaign; labor strategist Bill Fletcher, co-founder of "Progressives for Obama" and executive editor of Black Commentator; and John Nichols, The Nation magazine’s Washington Correspondent and progressive political commentator. They offered their reflections on what progressive activists should be engaged in this year, in light of Obama becoming President. John Nichols advocated that instead of “pulling” Obama to the left, or “pushing” him on issues where he and progressives might not agree (and potentially pushing him straight into the arms of the conservative elite that are trying to woo him), instead we ought to exert our efforts toward expanding the political dialogue in the country outward, toward the left, so that Obama is given room to migrate to the left, where his natural tendencies lie. That is not to say that progressives ought not to oppose wrongheaded policy, but since Obama has demonstrated some left-leaning sympathies (like participating in the grassroots anti-war movement in Chicago and attending a New Party endorsement event) along with the recent political pragmatism we are seeing with his cabinet selections, the panelists believe that if given the opportunity and the political capital from grassroots feedback, we may be able to help Obama become the President we want him to be.

Medea Benjamin of Code Pink was in the audience (having just arrived from an Emily’s List function with Nancy Pelosi and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton). As a result of their peace activism, John Nichols revealed that he will select Code Pink as The Nation’s most successful Progressive Organization at shaping Bush Administration policy.

Veterans, Progressive Democrats of Genesee Valley Challenge Kuhl on Commitment to Veterans

pdagv — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:26:00 GMT

Canandaigua, NY – On July2, 2008, Rep. John R. “Randy” Kuhl (R – Hammondsport), held a press conference at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center to announce his leadership role in the formation of a House of Representatives Veteran’s Mental Health Caucus. However, local veterans groups and the Genesee Valley chapter of Progressive Democrats of America appeared at the event to challenge the two-term incumbent on his record in support of veterans’ affairs.

The Congressman, who shared the stage with his colleague, Rep. Thomas Reynolds (R – Clarence), issued prepared comments lauding the service of America’s armed forces and emphasizing the need to enhance the awareness and understanding of mental health issues among veterans like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury. At the conclusion of his address, instead of opening the floor to public comments, Rep. Kuhl pled time constraints and hastily truncated the press event without allowing most of the veterans present to share their concerns. This was met by a cacophony of protest from disgruntled veterans, who charged that Rep. Kuhl had not been responsive to the concerns of veterans who oppose the Iraq War. Some veterans shouted questions after Rep. Kuhl as he left the podium.

See Video Here

Paulette Swartzfager, a member of Progressive Democrats of Genesee Valley, pointed out that Rep. Kuhl didn’t attend the Winter Soldier four-day event in Washington, D.C., in March, although he was invited. The conference consisted of testimony by Iraq war veterans about their experiences.
In closed press interviews, Rep. Kuhl defended his voting record, which in 2006, had garnered him a “D” on an A to F (highest to lowest) rating scale from Iraq and Afghanistan veterans of America.

http://www.iava.org/full-ratings-list

New York
Rep. Gary L. Ackerman B+
Rep. Tim Bishop A-
Rep. Sherwood L. Boehlert C+
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton A-
Rep. Joseph Crowley A-
Rep. Eliot Engel A-
Rep. Vito Fossella C+
Rep. Brian M. Higgins A-
Rep. Maurice Hinchey C+
Rep. Steve J. Israel A-
Rep. Sue W. Kelly C+
Rep. Peter King C+
Rep. Randy Kuhl D
Rep. Nita M. Lowey A
Rep. Carolyn Maloney A-
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy A
Rep. John McHugh C+
Rep. Michael R. McNulty A-
Rep. Gregory W. Meeks B
Rep. Jerrold Nadler B
Rep. Major R. Owens C
Rep. Charles B. Rangel B-
Rep. Thomas Reynolds C
Senator Charles E. Schumer B+
Rep. Jose E. Serrano B-
Rep. Louise McIntosh Slaughter B+
Rep. John E. Sweeney C+
Rep. Edolphus Towns B
Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez B-
Rep. James T. Walsh C+
Rep. Anthony D. Weiner B

Although Rep. Kuhl earned the lowest score of any legislator in New York State, he described his votes well thought-out and independent to “Democrat and Chronicle” reporter Justina Wang.

“Later, in a meeting with the Democrat and Chronicle editorial board, Kuhl said he defends every vote he has cast, calling them independent and well thought-out. He said that with the current Democratic majority, he couldn't support every bill that included benefits for veterans.”
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200807030300/NEWS01/807030353

Marine Corps veteran Gene Simes suggested that Rep. Kuhl is publicly promoting the caucus for political reasons. Kuhl is running for a third term this fall. He is being challenged by Progressive Democrats of America-endorsed candidate, Eric Massa [CDR, USN (retd.)], a twenty-three year veteran. Simes cited Rep. Kuhl’s lack of support for a number of organizations and lawmakers in other states who have already taken up the cause of pressing legislation and programs to boost mental-health care for returning soldiers.

Welcome to the Progressive Democrats of Genesee Valley Blogspot

pdagv — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:02:00 GMT

Serving the 28th and 29th Congressional Districts of New York, Progressive Democrats of Genesee Valley is an activist network in the Greater Rochester, New York area for progressive causes. We have created this blog to enable subscribers to share information and promote progressive discussion and issues-awareness in the Greater Rochester, NY area.