DEMOCRAT - Yavapai County Democratic Party

DemocratJuly, 2013In this issue:Truman-Clinton Banquet 2From the Chair 3Fundraising Update 4Calendar of Events 5Yavapai Blue Form 6We’re on the Web!Visit us atwww.yavdem.orgFind the ArizonaDemocratic Party at:www.azdem.orgYavapai CountyDemocraticHeadquarters1555 Iron Springs Road,Prescott, AZ 86303Mailing Address:PO Box 1644Prescott, AZ 86302928 - 541- 0413Editor: Jo KelleherContact Jo at jokelleher42@gmail.comTheme for JulyWe are still a nation of immigrants!Looking Back at ImmigrationBy Michelle MarkevichLooking back at the history of immigration since the late 1600’s, it’s amazing to seehow quickly immigration reform started. America, the land of opportunity, certainlywas an attractive country for Europeans, Asians, and others to settle and find a betterway of life. Free from so much political and religious oppression, many cultureslived fairly harmoniously in this country. There was much appreciation for the freedomsto be had here in the United States.But, as the adage goes: “all good things must come to an end.” Immigration“reform” was right around the corner. The Know Nothings of the Republican Partyin 1843 was the first organization to oppose Irish and German immigration, primarilybecause many of the immigrants were Catholics.Good jobs were coveted, and the various nationalities – German, Italian,Asian, English, Polish, and others from eastern Europe - competed for these jobs. Inthe 20th century, Hispanics and African-Americans joined the race for jobs.The first immigration law passed was the Page Act of 1875, also known asthe Asian Exclusion Act, inspired by the huge influx of Asians settling on the westcoast and working as “coolies” during the Gold Rush. Much like the Europeans inthe 1600’s and 1700’s, these men often worked as indentured servants and took thelowest paying jobs. The Literacy Act of 1917 and the Immigration Act of 1924 werepassed to further curtail immigration.My grandfather, of Croatian descent, retired from General Motors. I can stillremember his remarks about the different ethnicities he worked with, at times not inthe most gracious of terms.During the “McCarthyism” of the 1950’s, the Internal Security Act waspassed, preventing known communists from entering the United States. OperationWetback was passed after a record 6000% increase in Hispanic immigrants, whowere now the ethnic group willing to take the least coveted jobs here.These laws give you just a bird’s eye view of a few of the many laws enacted.And of course, the issue of immigration continues to our present time. We do have 11million undocumented people living here, after all.Surprisingly, most of these people came by way of having a school or work visa andoverstayed the allotted time.Today, senators known as “The Gang of Eight” have been tasked to create thebest law for immigration reform. And it seems as if they are doing their very best, ifsize of the bill is any indication – 1200 pages. A big issue is: should there be bordercontrol before handling all of the documentation of immigrants or, vice versa?Continued on page 2

Page 2Immigration, continuedOf course, we already see amendments to the bill to entice senators to supportit, including:Democrat• Double border agents to 40K• Complete 700 miles of new fence• Deploy drones, radar and ground sensors• A “Registered Provisional Temporary” status for people who arrivedprior to the end of 2011• E-verify for all employers• Increase entry-exit tracking on visas.• A new merit-based immigrant visa for “talented individuals”• Creation of a visa for lower-skilled, non-agricultural workersDepending on whom you talk to, the bill will either increase or decreasethe various costs to our government.Four of the eight senators in the “Gang of Eight” are Democrat, and fourare Republican – interesting. The Hispanic community that will be helped by thebill might be willing to give another thought to voting Republican in future elections.As usual, more will be revealed as time goes by.Yavapai County Democratic Party2013 Truman – Clinton Banquetfeaturing Speaker Grady Gammage, Jr.Arizona’s foremost thinker and writeron the future of our great state!Thursday, September 125:30 – 8:30 PMAntelope Hills Golf ClubGourmet Buffet Dinner!Silent Auction!Pie Auction featuring RenownedAuctioneer Ralph Harris!Great Democratic Camaraderie!$60 per person(no increase in three years!)And on the Home Front . . .Arizona’s leaders are making their mark on the immigration issue as well. As reported by the Yellow Sheet*:• The Arizona Board of Regents today sent letters to the state’s congressional delegation, particularly Senators Flakeand McCain, thanking them for their work on immigration reform and urging them to support several amendments tothe DREAM Act provisions of the “Gang of 8” bill. The letter stresses Arizona’s need for an estimated 166,000 skilledworkers in science, technology, engineering and math fields by 2018 and notes that streamlining the green card processfor immigrants earning a college degree in those areas, including those that grew up in the US, will help the state fillSTEM-related jobs.• Attorney General Tom Horne is suing Maricopa County Community College District to end the practice of allowingillegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition. The argument from each side: The MCCC district maintains that illegalimmigrants are eligible for in-state tuition if they can produce a work permit obtained through the Deferred Action forChildhood Arrivals program, which allows young people whose parents brought them into the country illegally as childrento work for two years without being deported. Assistant AG Kevin Ray asserts that the permit does not grant legalstatus and Prop 300 explicitly denies illegal immigrants in-state status.*YELLOW SHEET REPORT© by Arizona Capitol Reports, LLC unless otherwise credited. All rights reserved. Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Page 4From the Chair . . .Continuedmaximum visitor’s visa) and then go to Mexico for a monthor two while their application was being processed for anothervisa. They soon determined that getting the properwork visa to practice psychiatry here would cost about$15,000 for each of them. They made a decision that theycould only afford one of those. The net result is that Stephenhas never been able to practice medicine in this country.If it takes four years and $15,000 for a psychiatrist to bequalified to work here, think how difficult it must be for aless skilled worker to get working papers under our currentimmigration system. My son-in-law has been a scienceteacher for the last eleven years, and has been qualified topursue US citizenship for some time. Even though he hasno desire to return to Great Britain, he doesn’t see any particularreason or benefit in becoming a US citizen. Until wepass comprehensive immigration reform that addresses theeconomic realities of our labor force needs, provides a pathto citizenship for the undocumented workers already here,is rational about keeping families together and includes aguest worker program that prevents exploitation of foreignlaborers, I’m hard pressed to come up with solid reasons toconvince my son-in-law to become a citizen. We are still anation of immigrants, but we certainly have some remainingissues to work out!Fundraising UpdateJoin the YCDP, DORR, DOVV, and DWPA at ourFUN and fund raiser, Friday, July 12, 6 to 9 PM inCottonwood. $10 per person, which includes onedrink ticket. Purchase tickets at the door. For furtherinformation, call 928-778-1536, and check theCalendar section of our website, www.yavdem.org to download the flier.• See the new movie, Viva la Verde,under the stars!• Great local food!• Local wines!• Wine auction!• Raffles!“Muddling Toward” a BetterAmericaBy Jo KelleherDemocratMany have borrowed environmentalist writer Warren Johnson’sphrase “muddling toward frugality” to describe slow, but steadyprogress toward one’s aims. I borrow it again to describe thispast month’s “muddling toward democracy”. And to paraphraseanother idiom, it seemed sometimes that our progress was “onestep forward, one step back.”The Affordable Care Act is now the law of the land, butfar right Republicans in state legislatures are still trying to overturnit, despite overwhelming acceptance of health care reformamong Americans.The SCOTUS has overturned the federal Defense ofMarriage Act, and its illegal discrimination against same sex marriedpartners with regard to federal benefits. But the Court hasalso ruled that State laws like California’s Prop 8 can stand. It’sonly a matter of time before all 50 states come to their senses onthe rights of people to marry.The Court has ruled that affirmative action in universityadmissions can stand, but in the ruling, sent back scoldinglanguage that will require higher education to prove that “all avenueshave been exhausted” before using affirmative action tostrengthen diversity on campuses.The ruling on the Voter Rights Act is the most discouraging“step back”. Disingenuously claiming to believe that thepolitical atmosphere has changed so drastically since the 60’s thatthere is “no more need” to force states to adhere to voter rights,five justices whisked away a right that has been fought hard forand cherished by Americans for decades.Courageous Senator Wendy Davis of Texas filibusteredfor over 12 hours in her pink sneakers to prevent Texas womenlosing their reproductive rights, but the Texas legislature and governorare determined to do so anyway.But of all these examples of “muddling” toward justice,the one that stands out is our seemingly endless national conversationon immigration. As I write this, the Senate has passed(finally!) an immigration reform package that has merit, despitethe last minute amendment that requires billions of dollars to bespent on ineffective fences. As the bill heads toward the House,Tea Party Republican congresspersons foment and foam about“amnesty”.Take heart, fellow Democrats, as we “muddle”, slowly butsurely, toward a fairer, more tolerant, more Democratic America!

Page 5DemocratCalendar of Events: July, 2013Date Time Events LocationJuly 1, 8, 15,22, 298:15AMDEMOCRATIC PERSPECTIVEKAZM 780 AM Monday Mornings 8:15-8:45ALL shows are available on podcast from the Web Sitewww.vvid.org or iTunes.780 on yourAM dialJuly 13 1:00PMJuly 21 3:00PMJuly 24 10:30AMArizona Democratic PartySummer State Committee MeetingJoin us at the joint YCDP, DOVV, DORR, DWPAViva Verde Event on Friday, July 12!Call 928-778-1536 for info.Yavapai County Democratic PartyAnnual PicnicFood, Fun, Candidates, Pie Auction!DWPA LUNCHEONMeeting - 11:00 a.m. Lunch - 12:00 noonSpeaker - Angela Hughey from "One Community"Lunch cost - $15.00 (includes iced tea,lemonade, coffee and dessert)Menu to be determined: send email to DWPAMail@aol.comDORR and DOVV are taking a break until AugustMingus UnionHigh School1801 E. Fir Street,CottonwoodWatson Lake BigRamada,Roundabout atHwy 89 and WillowCreek RoadStoneridge GolfCourse Grille1600 Bluff TopDrive, PrescottValleyYavapai County Democratic Party Annual PicnicGreat Food, Great Fun! Pie Auction!Candidates!Governor - Fred DuvalAttorney General – Felecia RotelliniCongress - CD 4 – Mikel WeisserPrescott Mayor – Lindsay BellPrescott City Council – Ellie Laumark and Jean WilcoxSunday, July 21, 3:00 – 5:00 PMWatson Lake Big Ramada$12 per person, $22 per family – includes parkingWE NEED HELP!These great events will not happen without your help!For the picnic, we need volunteers for meeting andgreeting, helping with auctions and raffles, foodpreparation and service, cleanup, and making calls.If you can help with the picnic, please e-mailPicnic Chair Barney Blashillat barneyblas@sbcglobal.net.For Truman – Clinton, we need help with desserts,soliciting auction donations, setting up the live auction,decoration, clean-up, and making calls. If you can helpwith the Truman-Clinton Banquet, please call oremail Jo Kelleher at 602-909-6719 orjokelleher42@gmail.com.

Page 6DemocratSeeing RED? Help Turn Arizona Blueby investing in the work of the Yavapai County DemocratsI PledgeI will support the Yavapai County Democrats!_ $10 per month _ $20 per month _ $25 per month _ $50 per month _ $100 per month_ $ ____________ per month _ One-time contribution of $ ______________________Payment Arrangements _ Check Enclosed _Please bill me _Bill my credit card as followsCredit Card _Visa _ MasterCard Bill the amount of $___________ one time _ annually _ monthlyCard No. ___________________________________________________________________________________Signature __________________________________________________________________________________Name (as it appears on card) __________________________________________________________________*Address ___________________________________________________________________________________*City ___________________________________________ State __________________ Zip _________________*E-mail _________________________________________ Phone _____________________________________Occupation _____________________________________ Employer __________________________________**Arizona law requires political organizations to report the name, address, occupation and name of employer for each individual whoseaggregate contributions exceed $25.00 in a calendar yearThe Yavapai County Democratic Party coordinates activities and fundraising with our Democratic partners. Weencourage you to support these organizations, and if you so designate, we will share up to 20% of your YCDPdonation with one or more of the following Democratic groups.Please designate ___ 5% ___ 10% ___ 15% ___ 20% of my YCDP contribution to:_ Arizona Democratic Party_ Democratic Women of the Prescott Area_ Democrats of the Red Rocks _ Democrats of the Verde ValleyIf you wish to make a direct donation to or receive information about YCDP’s Democratic Partners, please contact:Arizona Democratic PartyDemocratic Women of the Prescott Area2910 N. Central Avenue c/o Ginny Garcia-Buñuel, Membership ChairPhoenix, AZ 85012-4200128 N. French Drive(602) 298-4200 Prescott, AZ 86303www.azdem.orgvgarciabunuel@gmail.comDemocrats of the Red RocksDemocrats of the Verde ValleyP. O. Box 1165 P. O. Box 4328Sedona, AZ 86339-1165 Cottonwood, AZ 86326www.democratsoftheredrocks.orgwww.dovv.orgReturn this form with your contribution to:Yavapai County Democratic PartyP.O. Box 1644, Prescott, AZ 86302ATTN: Ms. Fran Chadwick, TreasurerPaid for by the Yavapai County Democratic Party Phone: (928) 541-0413Contributions are not tax deductible for income tax purposesNot authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.Website: www.yavdem.orgE-mail: yavdem@cableone.net