Villages Dems Club

Editor - Jerry Meyer

jerrymeyer.meyer1@gmail.com

thevillagesdemocrats.org

sumterdemocrats.com

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Mark your calendar now for

The June 8th meeting of

The Villages Democrats

Our speakers will be:

State Rep. Anna Eskamani

and Andrew Gillum

Please note:  the capacity of the meeting room at Colony Cottage Rec. Center is 408 and when that number is reached, the room will be declared full and no one else will be allowed to enter.

Because of the guest speakers and the room capacity only members whose dues are current will be admitted to this meeting.  If you are not a paid member and wish to join or re-join the club, please go to thevillagesdemocrats.org and click on "Join the Club" on the left side of the screen.

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Highlights of the May 11th

Meeting of The Villages Democrats

Brenda Edwards (standing) checks her
video material with program chairperson
Ann Wade

     Brenda Edwards and Marsha Shearer presented a spirited discussion on whether or not Donald Trump should be impeached.  Edwards took the Pro argument and Shearer the Con.  

     Both agreed Trump should be removed from office, but they differed on the method.

     Edwards highlighted the chaos of the Trump administration and the Mueller report which details at least 10 instances in which Trump tried to obstruct justice.

      "We must send a message to other nations that we are trying to hold him accountable and maintain the rule of law." she said.

      Shearer sees impeachment as an exercise in futility, saying the Senate, which makes the decision will never vote to convict. 

Marsha Shearer

Republicans control the Senate, plus which most would be voting themselves out of office if they vote against Trump.

      Shearer sees the impeachment process working for Trump, as it would allow him to again play the role of "victim," claiming the Democrats would be  keeping him from completing necessary legislation.

      She advocates continuing the investigations, with witnesses appearing before the committees on television for the public to see and hear.  She also urged a focus on Democrat candidates and working for a win in the General election.

      There was little doubt the speakers and the audience felt Trump's term of office should end as soon as possible and at the conclusion of the presentation there was a standing ovation for the two speakers.

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Other meeting News

Cathy Hardy

      Cathy Hardy, Chairperson of the Democratic Executive Committee, spoke briefly to the opportunities for volunteers.   The party can use help in voter registration, canvassing, phone banking, staffing the front desk at campaign headquarters, precinct leadership, fund raising, and public relations
     Members were invited to visit tables around the room to inquire about specific opportunities.
Detailed information will be presented at orientation sessions on Wednesday May 15th at 6:00 pm and Sunday May 19th at 2:00 pm.   These  sessions will be held at the Sumter Co. Democrat Headquarters at 300 S. Main St. in Wildwood

Iris Gordon     Carolyn Freed

Two volunteers were recognized by the Villages Democrats Club President Chris Stanley for their long time service in welcoming Democrats moving into the Villages.  Carolyn Freed and Iris Gordon write letters to people identified as Democrats when they move into their new homes, letting them know about club and party activities and inviting them to participate.




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World Beyond War

Why do discussions about Israelis and Palestinians  often end up in shouting matches?  Is our viewpoint shaped by American Media?  How does the European media cover the conflict? World Beyond War -Central FL invites you to a free film screening  and discussion of  "The Occupation of the American Mind," on Thursday, May 16th. 

It will be held at the Belvedere Library, 325 Belevedere Blvd in the Villages at 3:00 pm.

For information contact: Al Mytty  317-373-7355 or amytty@hcamllc.com

World Beyond War-Central FL is a global network of volunteers, activists and allied organizations advocating for the abolition of the very institution of war.  Their success is driven by a people powered movement working for a culture of peace

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An update on the Florida legislative session with information from the Florida

Democratic Party and other sources.

When lawmakers ended the 2019 legislative session, they left behind hundreds of bills and issues that did not pass. But there’s always the 2020 session, which will start in eight short months.

Here are 10 high-profile issues that didn’t make it through the Legislature:

--- Abortion: The House approved a measure that would have required parental consent before minors could have abortions, but the issue stalled in the Senate. Lawmakers also did not pass a proposal that would have barred doctors from performing abortions after fetal heartbeats are detected.

--- Campus surveys: With some Republicans raising concerns about indoctrination on college campuses, the House supported a proposal that would have required surveying faculty members and students about their ideological viewpoints. But the Senate balked at the idea and refused to include it in a higher-education package.

--- Constitution revision commission: Though many lawmakers were unhappy with proposals placed on the November ballot by the state Constitution Revision Commission, they did not agree on plans to rein in --- or even eliminate --- the powerful panel. The Senate passed two measure targeting the commission, but the House didn’t follow suit.

--- Fracking: With support from Gov. Ron DeSantis, environmentalists hoped lawmakers would ban the oil- and gas-drilling technique known as “fracking.” But the issue died in the House and the Senate, after a controversy emerged about allowing another drilling technique that uses many of the same chemicals as fracking.

--- Gambling: Powerful Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, and the Seminole Tribe of Florida negotiated for weeks on a possible gambling deal that could have included sports betting in the state. But time ran out on the issue without a bill being introduced. DeSantis said  he will work on reaching a deal with the tribe.

--- Genetic information: The Senate in the closing days of the session did not take up a House proposal that would have prevented life insurance companies from using genetic-testing information in making decisions about customers’ policies. Supporters of the proposal pointed to privacy concerns, while the insurance industry argued it was over-regulation

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Republican dominated Florida Legislature

gives its' own interpretation to a 

vote approved felon voting rights bill

     In last November's mid-term elections, Florida voters gave 64.5% approval to a constitutional amendment restoring voter rights to individuals who had completed their felony sentences and made any required restitution.  Persons who had committed violent crimes, such as murder and sex offenses were excluded.
     The bill's text did not include fines, fees or costs that accrue after the date of the "underlying court order."  The measure specifies a felon's voting rights can be restored without payment if the court terminates his or her case debt, or converts it to community service hours.
     However the Florida legislature has modified the bill to require the payment of any restitution debts or other financial penalties before the right to vote can be restored.
     Republican State Senator Jeff Brandes of St. Petersburg told the press the wording "terms of their sentence," in the bill plainly includes restitution as well as court costs and fines.
     Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman was aggressive in her dissent of Brandes interpretation during a U.S. House Administration Subcommittee on Elections hearing held in Fort Lauderdale.
     Other Democrats chose to refer to it as a "Poll Tax."
     Former Tallahassee Mayor, Andrew Gillum, testifying before the committee also used the term "Poll Tax," and cited a study showing only a small number of people with felony convictions  exercise the right to vote if required to pay court costs, which can amount to thousands of dollars. It can be an impossible financial burden for people hoping to rebuild their lives.
      Both sides of the issue anticipate a legal challenge.
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From the Network for Public Education

     

   The Florida legislature has added yet another voucher program, bringing the number of programs to five.  Florida spends more than one billion dollars on voucher programs already.

      As Valerie Strauss wrote in the Washington Post:

     An effort has been made in the legislature to require school districts to share with charter schools, money voters chose in a referendum to go to school districts, but it is unclear how this will end.   And recently, the state legislature voted to allow teachers to carry guns at school, in spite of opposition from many school districts.

     The deliberate and systematic destruction of public education in Florida began a long time ago, according to the Network for Public Education.  With large numbers of students enrolled in an unstable charter sector, combined with growing voucher programs, Florida is poised to be the first state in which public education collapses.

    How did this unrelenting attack on public education come to pass? It began in 1998 with former governor Jeb Bush's introduction of the A+ plan for reforming education.  A new report:  Twenty Years Later: The Jeb Bush A+ Plan Fails Florida's Students by NPE Action Board member Sue Legg, Ph.D. traces the history of the Jeb Bush A+ reform movement and documents why a test driven curriculum, supported by school grades and school choice, has failed to raise student achievement while undermining public education at every turn.

      The report will serve as a valuable resource, not only for the Florida public, but as a cautionary tale for all who believe in democratically governed public schools.

To read the full report, click HERE.

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Citrus Co. "Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense"

 will wear orange on June 8th to draw attention to gun violence.

   

Following the state legislature's approval of allowing teachers who volunteer to be armed, the Moms group is now focusing on persuading local school districts to refuse permission.

     According to the Citrus County group orange has become the defining color of the gun violence prevention movement, and on June 8th will wear orange and urges other citizen groups to join them.

     At 9:00 am on June 8th there will be a gathering at the Gazebo at Little Springs Park in Crystal River for what is described as a family-friendly community event to honor victims of gun violence and commit to work toward solutions to end gun violence.  After opening remarks at 9:30 the group will walk quietly to "The Boat" lot on Rt. 19 and return to the Gazebo by 11:30 for a brown bag lunch and fellowship.  The event is open to anyone who wishes to participate.

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