Hello Democrats,

Thank you so much for all of your work this cycle to elect great Democrats. Because of exceptional leaders like you we earned tremendous victories in Washington State and nationwide and we're so grateful to have you on our team! I hope you’ll join me in bidding a hearty congratulations and welcome to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris! It’s been a long, difficult road to reach this moment, but as I watched yesterday’s inauguration it was crystal clear to me that a new day has dawned in America. 

Thank you for all you have done to make this possible. Thank you for your tireless work and support for strong Democratic candidates. Thank you for keeping our powerful and diverse majorities alive here in Washington State. Thank you for helping deliver a Democratic Senate to our new administration. And most of all thank you for your unwavering commitment to our shared Democratic values. 

Let’s take a moment to celebrate and enjoy this clarity and hope – the kind we haven’t felt for four long years. Then let’s take a moment to reaffirm our commitment to building an America that works for everyone. That’s what we stand for as Democrats and I’m thrilled that we can finally resume this project at a national level.

We are so excited to work with each and every one of you in the coming days, weeks, months, and years to keep up our fight and make sure Washington stays true blue! 

I know many of you were able to attend our “Inauguration Eve” celebration on Tuesday – a huge thank you to those who tuned in! We have also made a recording of the event available online via this link: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1coNcq2Ij8kb3gJpk5sPC8t8IMcVLb08p/view?usp=sharing  

I hope you’ll take a peek so you can hear inspiring messages from terrific Democratic leaders including Biden Presidential Campaign Co-Chair Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, President Biden’s DNC Chair Appointee Jaime Harrison, several of our WA State Democratic elected officials, and the man of the hour himself, President Joe Biden! 

Now we celebrate the dawn of a brighter era in American politics – and soon we will begin the challenging but critical work of mending the wounds of the past four years. This means continuing to show voters that Democrats will fight for their interests and work tirelessly to rebuild a better, more just society. Thank you so much for standing with us through this important work.

Just because we won big in 2020 doesn’t mean we can stop working and I’m so excited to share our plans for 2021 with each and every one of you. We have spent the past 4 years building critical Democratic infrastructure everywhere in Washington State and we have no intention of slowing down. This year brings critical opportunities to double down on year-round organizing in historically underserved rural and diverse communities – not to mention “building the bench” by recruiting a diverse slate of strong Democrats to run for thousands of local and municipal elections this fall. This is how we preserve our majorities and build a more powerful party for years to come! 

This is just the tip of the iceberg – so please stay tuned for more updates about our program!

I also want to take this chance to ask you to dig deep and double down on your commitment to our Party. We were able to earn so many victories here in Washington and nationwide in 2020 because of tireless work and support from Democrats like you and we must not stop now. I can’t wait to work with you this year – and if you’re so moved please consider donating today to help us kickstart our 2021 organizing. And do know we especially appreciate monthly gifts -- as they allow us to hire organizing staff with confidence early in the cycle and keep our program moving at top speed. Any amount helps and earlier investment means more work and more wins!

The best place to give is online via this link:

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/wsdcc21

Once more – thank you for standing by us and making our work possible. We owe all our success to your hard work and unwavering commitment to our values and we’re so very glad to have you on our Democratic team. 

Congratulations to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Congratulations to Senators John Ossoff and Rev. Rafael Warnock and every Democrat who can now enjoy strong majorities in both chambers of the legislature. Congratulations to each of our Washington elected officials for managing the most effective state in the nation. Congratulations to every Democrat who plans to run for office this year - joining the project of building an even better Washington. And most of all congratulations to you for making all of this work possible. 

This is the moment our efforts pay off – now let’s get to work! 

With so much gratitude,

Tina

Chair Podlodowski’s Statement on Inauguration

For Immediate Release | January 20, 2021

SEATTLE -- Following the inauguration of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and Vice President Kamala Harris, Washington State Democratic Party Chair Tina Podlodowski released the following statement:

“After four long years, the American people can finally have faith that our President will put their interests above his own and honor his sacred oath to defend our Constitution. And after enduring relentless assaults on their basic humanity, women, people of color, and immigrants can see in Vice President Harris’ historic inauguration the triumph of the promise of America. 

Washington Democrats have tirelessly organized since the day former President Trump took office to make this day possible. This historic day belongs to everyone who knocked on their neighbor’s door to remind them of the undeniable truth that democracy will always win the day -- as long as we stay in this battle for the soul of our nation.”

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr., (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968) was born Michael Luther King, Jr., but later had his name changed to Martin. His grandfather began the family’s long tenure as pastors of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, serving from 1914 to 1931; his father has served from then until the present, and from 1960 until his death Martin Luther acted as co-pastor. Martin Luther attended segregated public schools in Georgia, graduating from high school at the age of fifteen; he received the B. A. degree in 1948 from Morehouse College, a distinguished Negro institution of Atlanta from which both his father and grandfather had graduated. After three years of theological study at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania where he was elected president of a predominantly white senior class, he was awarded the B.D. in 1951. With a fellowship won at Crozer, he enrolled in graduate studies at Boston University, completing his residence for the doctorate in 1953 and receiving the degree in 1955. In Boston he met and married Coretta Scott, a young woman of uncommon intellectual and artistic attainments. Two sons and two daughters were born into the family.

In 1954, Martin Luther King became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Always a strong worker for civil rights for members of his race, King was, by this time, a member of the executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the leading organization of its kind in the nation. He was ready, then, early in December, 1955, to accept the leadership of the first great Negro nonviolent demonstration of contemporary times in the United States, the bus boycott described by Gunnar Jahn in his presentation speech in honor of the laureate. The boycott lasted 382 days. On December 21, 1956, after the Supreme Court of the United States had declared unconstitutional the laws requiring segregation on buses, Negroes and whites rode the buses as equals. During these days of boycott, King was arrested, his home was bombed, he was subjected to personal abuse, but at the same time he emerged as a Negro leader of the first rank.

In 1957 he was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization formed to provide new leadership for the now burgeoning civil rights movement. The ideals for this organization he took from Christianity; its operational techniques from Gandhi. In the eleven-year period between 1957 and 1968, King traveled over six million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest, and action; and meanwhile he wrote five books as well as numerous articles. In these years, he led a massive protest in Birmingham, Alabama, that caught the attention of the entire world, providing what he called a coalition of conscience. and inspiring his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, a manifesto of the Negro revolution; he planned the drives in Alabama for the registration of Negroes as voters; he directed the peaceful march on Washington, D.C., of 250,000 people to whom he delivered his address, “l Have a Dream”, he conferred with President John F. Kennedy and campaigned for President Lyndon B. Johnson; he was arrested upwards of twenty times and assaulted at least four times; he was awarded five honorary degrees; was named Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963; and became not only the symbolic leader of American blacks but also a world figure.

At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.

On the evening of April 4, 1968, he was assassinated, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city.

Washington Democrats - On the eve of the weekend celebrating and honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, I can’t help but reflect on so many of his words related to accountability. Getting right to the point, “The time is always right to do the right thing.” 

With Trump being impeached for a second time after inciting violence, death, and sedition at our Nation’s Capitol, it was heartening to see two of Washington’s three Republican Congressional members vote to impeach. That’s the right thing. But it’s not accountability for four years of unbridled support for Trump and Trumpism, and the lies that exacerbated the deepest divisions within our country caused by systemic and institutional racism.

There have been many GOP calls for “reconciliation,” - and I do believe we need to heal our country. But those calls ring hollow without any sense of responsibility for past Republican actions. Because accountability and truth are required if we ever want to reach reconciliation and justice.

To that end, we will keep holding the GOP accountable. Take a look at this joint statement from the incredible King County Democrats Chair Shasti Conrad and me on the actions - and racism and misogyny - of King County GOP Chair (and failed gubernatorial candidate) Joshua Freed. 

Take a look at the Washington State Bar Association complaint we just filed today against attorney Stephen Pidgeon, lawyer of record for failed gubernatorial candidate Loren Culp (and Rudy Giuliani wannabe). The complaint seeks an immediate investigation into Dr. Pidgeon’s multiple violations of his oath to defend the U.S. and Washington State Constitutions and impose appropriate disciplinary action. After we filed this complaint yesterday, the Culp campaign has announced that they are withdrawing their lawsuit with prejudice, meaning they cannot re-file. He should never practice law in a courtroom again.

Remember the extensive website we put together many months ago on former GOP state representative and domestic terrorist Matt Shea? Shea has not left Washington State and leaves both a tarnished legacy as well as a host of like-minded Republican allies in the state legislature including Robert Sutherland, Jim Walsh, Rob Chase, Vickie Craft and Jesse Young, among others. The silence of their Caucus leaders - J.T. Wilcox and John Braun - speaks volumes. We will hold them accountable.

But our Democratic legislators ARE speaking up! Today we launched “Democracy on Demand” on Facebook live at facebook.com/washdems/live. Every Friday during our legislative session, we’ll spend 15 minutes with some of our great Democratic state legislators talking about key bills and the week’s events in Olympia - you won’t want to miss it, and of course, you can watch it live or watch at your convenience. Bookmark it! Today we heard from Senate Deputy Majority Leader Manka Dhingra and House Civil Rights on legislation related to police accountability. Timely. And there’s that “accountability” word again.

Finally, our gratitude for all of our Democratic Congressional members for their efforts through extraordinary circumstances - thank you, Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, Representatives Rick Larsen, Suzan DelBene, Derek Kilmer, Adam Smith, Marilyn Strickland, Dr. Kim Schrier, and Pramila Jayapal. We especially wish Rep. Jayapal and her husband a speedy recovery from the COVID virus, as she/they were likely infected after GOP Congressional colleagues refused to “mask up” during the horrifying events at the Capitol.

Show your care and respect for the health and well being of others and yourself - do “Mask Up!”

With gratitude for all you do,

Tina Podlodowski

Chair, Washington State Democrats

Something to read:Letter From a Birmingham Jail - Dr. Martin Luther King. Link here: https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html

Something to watch:13th, the documentary from director Ava DuVernay, intersection of race, justice, and mass incarceration in the United States, through the lens ofThirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, adopted in 1865, which abolished slavery and ended involuntary servitude except as a punishment for conviction of a crime. Streaming on Netflix, and most other services.

Something to do: The Biden Inauguration Committee is asking folks to submit the details of their service actions or eventshere. We encourage members to support local food programs in their communities safely, in whatever way they can. If you or members of your organization are not hosting an event, you canfind an event to join here. Please note that we encourage you to donate within your personal means. We also encourage everyone to post pictures with the hashtag #MLKDayofService and tag @washdems on social media. 

We've gathered a list of resources for you to find a local food donation center near you: 

Ample Harvest -ampleharvest.org/find-pantry

Feeding America -feedingamerica.org

Food Pantries -foodpantries.org

Food Finder -foodfinder.us

Find virtual volunteer opportunities atpowerof.org
-- 

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. As your representatives in the Washington State Legislature, we send occasional email updates designed to keep you informed about the issues being debated in Olympia that may impact our community and Washington state. If you received this message in error or do not want to receive email updates from us, click here to unsubscribe from our email list. 23rd-District Legislative News January 11, 2021 Dear Friends and Neighbors, Today I did something that for a long time I would not have thought possible. At noon Monday, January 11, 2021, I was privileged and humbled to take part in the opening of a new session of the Washington state Legislature, as your newest state representative, a proud member of your 23rd-district legislative team. I may not have fully grasped yet what a profound honor this is; I’m told that it will take a while to set in. But from the moment I learned that I would be working for my Kitsap friends and neighbors in this position, I’ve been aware of the responsibility that I asked for, and that you gave me. Today at noon we began a journey together, you and I. For me to be as effective as possible in this position I will need your input, your advice, your ideas, and what I hope will be your constructive criticism. For my part, I will use these regular e-newsletters to keep you up to date on the issues facing our community and our state, and what your Legislature is doing to make Washington a better, more equitable, more inclusive and more prosperous place for all of us to live, work, and raise our families. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic that has raged in Washington, and the world, for nearly a year, the Legislative session will be conducted remotely, with today’s opening events being the only time that lawmakers will gather as a group to conduct business at the state Capitol in Olympia. Shortly after the session was gaveled into existence at noon, I cast my first vote to approve the rules that will allow lawmakers and staff to work remotely and safely for the balance of the 105-day session., Obviously, it’s going to be different. At times it will be difficult, no doubt, with the limitations imposed by the coronavirus and by the new technology that we’re so dependent on. But that same technology has opened up opportunities for people all over Washington to take part in the session in ways never before possible. Every single committee hearing and work session will be streamed live by TVW. Every floor session of the House and Senate, every debate and every vote, will be yours in real time. There are new opportunities for remote testimony during committee hearings, sparing citizens the need to take off work and spend a day or more traveling to and from the Capitol. For those who prefer to put their thoughts in writing, written testimony will be invited and given the same consideration as oral comments. Here’s a comprehensive how-to prepared by legislative staff that will answer most if not all of your questions about how this strange new thing will work, and it will tell you how private citizens in their homes can make the most of the situation.   My First Bill I’ve been very vocal about my priorities over the last several months, and managed to share them with as many people here in Kitsap as possible, given the constraints of the pandemic. At the same time, I also listened to you to make sure that I could be an advocate for your priorities as well. As a longtime resident of our beautiful district, I was not surprised to learn that my priorities, and yours, meshed more often than not. We want our kids to have the best schools and the bright futures that education can bring about. We want every single person to have access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. We want our communities and our state to have a thriving economy, with an abundance of family wage jobs, successful small businesses, and fertile ground for entrepreneurs to grow their ideas into the next great thing. We want an equitable society that makes conscious, continuous efforts to undo the toxic realities of centuries of systemic racism that harms us all regardless of our origins. We want everyone to feel safe in our homes and in public. And to put it simply, we want everyone to get a fair shake. Many of those priorities come together in the first bill I introduced as a lawmaker. House Bill 1078 is a simple bill, long overdue, that restores the right to vote to formerly incarcerated persons who are no longer in total confinement under the jurisdiction of our Department of Corrections. As a person who was incarcerated at one time, I know firsthand how difficult it can be for a person in that circumstance to feel that they are once again a full-fledged member of society. The evidence is clear that restoring voting rights is linked to reduced recidivism. If the goal of our corrections system is truly to correct, rather than simply to punish, this is an important step we can and should take. I’m pleased that the first lawmaker to sign onto my bill as a cosponsor is a Republican, demonstrating that this is not a partisan issue. HB 1078 will have a public hearing in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations on Thursday, January 14, at 10 a.m. I’ve also introduced, again with a Republican cosponsor, HB 1086, which will create the state office of behavioral health advocacy. We are finally recognizing that behavioral health is just as crucial to a person’s well-being as physical health, and having a committed advocate within the state government can benefit countless Washington residents and their families, especially in times of stress like we’re experiencing now.   COVID-19 Update: Vaccinations and Contact Tracing The vaccine has arrived at last. Many here in Washington have already received their first of two doses, but there is still a long, long way to go. We need to accelerate the pace of vaccinations, and I’m relieved that the incoming administration in Washington D.C. has announced that as a goal. Even if vaccinations become widely available and are embraced by the majority of Washingtonians, we should not expect a return to normalcy anytime soon. Just in the week that ended yesterday, 17,776 new cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in Washington, and there is no telling how many people are infected but have not been tested and diagnosed. It’s important that we continue to do everything we can do to follow public health measures and support contact tracing. That is why I am pleased to see that more than 1.6 million Washingtonians have signed up for WA Notify, Washington’s exposure notification tool. WA Notify is free to use, anonymous, and protective of your privacy. It works by alerting you whenever you are around another WA Notify user who later tests positive for COVID-19. You can download the app on your iPhone or Android. For more instructions on installing, please see below, and in the meantime, you can check your eligibility for the vaccine by taking a short survey at findyourphasewa.org. Also, visit this DOH page for helpful information and videos that detail everything else you might want to know about the vaccines.   Again, Thank You This legislative session began on a cold, dark, and rainy day. It is scheduled to come to a close April 25 on what we can all hope will be a sunny spring day. I’d like to think that’s an apt metaphor for how things are going to go for all of us, too. We’ve been through a difficult 2020, for many reasons. The events of the first few days of this new year have shaken us as well. But I’m an optimist. If I didn’t think bad times and tough situations could be improved, I would never have gone to nursing school and become a registered nurse. I never would have gone to law school and taken on challenging cases. And I certainly never would have found myself in the Legislature. Thank you for giving me this chance to work on problems that affect us all. I know that when we adjourn we won’t have fixed everything that needs fixing. But with your help, we will make progress. And then we’ll make some more. Sincerely, Tarra Simmons

 

Contact Me
 P.O. Box 40600, Olympia WA 98504
tarra.simmons@leg.wa.gov

(360) 786-7934 | Toll-free Hotline: (800) 562-6000 | (800) 635-9993 (TTY)
housedemocrats.wa.gov/simmons

Legislative Assistant
Shannon Turner | shannon.turner@leg.wa.gov

Committees
 Public Safety
Civil Rights & Judiciary
Healthcare & Wellness

 

As your representative in the Washington State Legislature, I send occasional legislative updates designed to keep you informed about the issues being debated in Olympia that may affect our community and Washington state. If you received this message in error or do not want to receive email updates from me, click here to unsubscribe from my email list.

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From: Val Torrens 
Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2021 9:25 AM

Subject: FW: Alert: SB 5096 hearing Thurs, send your email now! 
Importance: High

Please share so folks can make their views known. We have no official position as the 23^rd at this point.

On another note, I saw Rep Kilmer twice on CSPAN today serving as proxy for those who can’t be at DC to cast their vote. So far, so good – the vote count hasn’t finished re supporting impeachment but a majority has approved HR 41 so that is good (221 for, 203 against) . It’s definitely been a real live education of our Constitution in action. Stay safe,

Val

I should have clarified – the vote was in support of House Resolution 41…

+++++++++++++++

From: Tucker Baespflug <info@investwanow.org> 
Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2021 8:40 AM
To: Val Torrens <chair@kitsap23rd.com>
Subject: Alert: SB 5096 hearing Thurs, send your email now! 

We've been talking a lot about making sure the wealthiest in WA pay their share, just like the rest of us. Now it's time to take action!   Send an email to key WA State Senate Ways & Means Committee members in time for the 4pm hearing on Thursday, Jan 14.   That’s when lawmakers will take testimony on SB 5096, Sen. June Robinson's bill taxing capital gains from big sales of stocks and bonds.   We've drafted an email for you, but you can always personalize it as you like.   BACKGROUND:    THE PROBLEM: Washington is the worst in the nation when it comes to making millionaires and billionaires pay their share like the rest of us.   Almost every other state in the nation – including Idaho, Montana, and Oregon – taxes capital gains, and are better situated to help their states’ economies recover from this pandemic.   THE SOLUTION: SB 5096 would: add a 9% tax on high-end capital gains – such as sales of stocks and bonds – only on profits greater than $25,000 (or $50,000 for couples filing jointly); and raise more than $1 billion for community investment in the coming budget cycle and more than $2 billion in following budget cycles. With additional revenue from SB 5096, we’ll be able to provide more help to Washington’s struggling small businesses, protect more families from eviction, improve health care and public health, and create more jobs to boost our state’s economy.   Sign your note to committee members NOW!    Invest In Washington Now 603 Stewart St Ste 819 Seattle, WA 98101   If you received this message in error, please accept our apologies and feel free to Unsubscribe.

From: Will Casey <will@wa-democrats.org> 

Sent: Monday, January 11, 2021 12:54 PM
To: Cvc <cvc@wa-democrats.org>
Subject: Joint Statement on KCGOP Chair Joshua Freed’s Failure to Reckon with Extremist Violence in WA GOP

  

Joint Statement on KCGOP Chair Joshua Freed’s Failure to Reckon with Extremist Violence in WA GOP

WA Democratic Party Leaders Reject Meaningless Olive Branch Devoid of Accountability

For Immediate Release | January 11, 2020

SEATTLE -- Prior to the attempted insurrection in Washington, D.C. last Wednesday, newly-elected King County Republicans Chair Joshua Freed committed to speaking at and advertised his upcoming appearance at a rally with the “Olympia Freedom Party” espousing similar rhetoric to the rioters who breached the Capitol building the following day. 

Following the violence in both our nation’s capitol and in Olympia last week, he failed to publicize his withdrawal from the event. When called out by his counterpart in the King County Democrats, Chair Shasti Conrad, for this failure of leadership he resorted to classic Republican whataboutism and attempted to divert attention from his complicity with this extremist violence by requesting a “sit down” with his Democratic counterparts. 

In response to this and what are sure to be many meaningless gestures from Republicans seeking to whitewash their reputations of supporting extremist factions within their party, King County Democrats Chair Shasti Conrad and Washington State Democrats Chair Tina Podlodowski issued the following statement:

“There can be no unity, no healing, and no ‘moving past’ the events of the last week without meaningful accountability from existing Republican leaders and elected officials for their role in promoting the extremist elements of their party responsible for this violence. There is no equivalence between isolated incidents of property crime -- which Democratic leaders have and continue to condemn -- committed during Black Lives Matter protests for racial justice and the violent insurrections by white militia members taking place across our country. 

“To even imply a moral equivalence between largely peaceful protests by communities of color and those standing in solidarity and the organized, militaristic mobilization of mobs seeking to lynch our elected officials by the sitting President of the United States is absurd on its face. We will not stand by and let Chairman Freed’s attempt to distract from his role elevating this extremist wing of his party go unchallenged. His ongoing failure to do so only further endangers the communities of color in King County that he allegedly wants to serve.

“We welcome any Republican leader or elected official sincerely interested in de-escalating this violence to join us in this work, which we have been engaged in for nearly two years as we worked to hold them accountable for enabling extremists like former Rep. Matt Shea. Chairman Freed has not even begun to do the work of dismantling the support he helped build for these extremists, as evidenced by his failure to publicly condemn the event from which he allegedly withdrew until challenged by his political opponents.

“To make this unmistakably clear to Chairman Freed, the public, and members of the press, we have identified a short list of actions he could take to demonstrate his good faith and sincere regret for his role in amplifying extremists within his party during his failed runs for governor and lieutenant governor last year:

• Unequivocally denounce any violence at the Capitol in Olympia today as well as the violence in Washington, D.C. and Olympia last week;
• Condemn Republican Representative Robert Sutherland’s “call to war” in response to President-elect Joe Biden’s democratic victory;
• Condemn former Representative Matt Shea’s call to arms last week, and cease any pandering to such extremists in the Washington GOP as they have clearly have no respect for democracy;
• Demonstrate his commitment to excising this anti-democratic cancer from his party by ceasing any professional association with his “best friend” who represented Shea during his clashes with the Public Disclosure Commission and also represented Freed during his refusal to respect the rule of law in Washington State;
• Condemn former gubernatorial candidate Loren Culp’s call for his supporters to show up at Republican Secretary of State Kim Wyman’s office to object to certified election results who was subsequently the target of death threats;
• Publicly retract his endorsement of Loren Culp’s gubernatorial campaign and commit to refraining from endorsing any campaign Culp launches for public office due to his refusal to accept Washington’s certified election results;
• Call on fellow Republican elected officials and leaders to boycott rallies or protests held by groups who encourage members to openly carry firearms in the proximity of government offices or the Capitol in Olympia; and
• Publicly acknowledge the legitimacy of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory and submit a binding resolution to his executive board to withhold endorsements and any material support for candidates who fail to do the same.

“Until Chairman Freed demonstrates through his actions -- and not just empty rhetoric -- that he is interested in the hard work of rebuilding our democracy in the wake of the devastation wrought by Trump and his enablers here in Washington State, we at the Democratic Party have no interest in providing political cover for his transparent attempt to rehabilitate his public image.”

###

-- 

Will Casey|Communications Director (he / him / his)

Washington State Democrats|615 2nd Ave., Suite 580, Seattle, WA 98104

Office|206.583.0664 Ext. 121 

The League of Women Voters-Kitsap Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee is sponsoring a webinar entitled    Deconstruct Barriers for Full Participation of Diverse Communities. We will have representatives from the Voices of Pacific Island Nations, the Filipino American community, and Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community. Our guests will speak about what brought them to their current communities, the barriers that keep them from fully participating in our country and/or county, and what has helped them overcome some of these barriers to be included in their current community.    This Zoom webinar will be on Friday, January 22, 2021, at 4:00 pm You must pre-register for this free webinar. After registration, you will be sent a link to the Zoom. Click here to pre-register for the Zoom webinar   Please share this Zoom webinar invitation with your friends, family, colleagues, congregations, and any circles who might be interested. You may access the LWVK webpage here.     Speakers   Leslie Daugs is a first generation Filipino American who is in her fourth term serving on the Bremerton City Council. Leslie is known for being very outspoken and a tireless advocate for working families, minority rights, and progressive civic empowerment. In addition to her service as an elected official, Leslie is a past president of the Bremerton Chapter of SEIU Local 925, a shop steward, bargaining negotiating team, political member organizer, and past member of the state executive board. Leslie, and her husband Daryl, have three grown children and two grandchildren. They have also been foster parents to 54 children. Lilly Kodama is on the board of the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community and the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Association.  She was born on Bainbridge Island in the house that her grandfather originally owned, then her parents, and now by Lilly.  Her family was part of the group of people of Japanese ancestry on Bainbridge who were exiled during WWII by Presidential  Executive Order 9066 after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor.  She was 7 years old and the oldest child of 4.     Patrick J. Woo-Ching was born in the U.S. Territory of American Samoa. He served four years of active duty and eight year in the reserves with the U.S. Military. Patrick is currently a juvenile corrections supervisor with the King County Dept. of Adult and Juvenile. Patrick is also the interim director and one of the co-founders of Voices of Pacific Islander Nations (VOPIN). VOPIN is an exempt nonprofit that serves the Pacific Island community of Kitsap County. VOPIN’s long-term objective is to extend services to their communities of the region.

This email was sent to dougmackenzie1@gmail.com  why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences  League of Women Voters of Kitsap · PO Box 1524 · Poulsbo, WA 98370-0169 · USA

What a week, Washington Democrats. And what a week to start our new “short” Friday notes from the Chair, talking about one issue from the week, and also giving some ideas on things to read, watch, and do to increase your knowledge and effectiveness as party leaders (all optional of course - it’s up to you).

Next week, we will ALSO launch Democracy on Demand - a 15-minute Friday afternoon Facebook live session with our Democratic state legislators to keep you updated on events during the 2021 Legislative Session, which begins this Monday, January 11th. Feel free to bookmark our Facebook Live page so you don't miss it! 

From the joys of our Senate victories in Georgia with Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff (and the absolutely thrilling prospect of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as the new “tie-breaking” vote) to the attack on the American system of democracy and our very U.S. Capitol by white domestic terrorists -- aided by the woeful response of Capitol Police, and inflamed by a wannabe dictator and (once, soon to be twice) impeached president, who is simply out-of-control and treasonous.

Let’s not forget how momentous those Georgia victories are: the FIRST African-American Senator from that state and the ONLY Senator under the age of 50 (Jewish or not!). Black women - including Stacey Abrams and Nikema Williams - have saved democracy from racist roots and rioters (again). Organizing efforts win. Community matters.

However, it’s clear that Vice President Pence and the conveniently “resigning” GOP Cabinet Members will not invoke the 25th Amendment to remove this madman. Therefore, articles of impeachment have been drawn for a second time (supported by our Congressional members from Washington State) and a vote will be taken if Trump does not resign today.

Per House Speaker Pelosi: “If the president does not leave office imminently and willingly, the Congress will proceed with our action.” However, and to be brutally honest, the prospect of forcing Trump from office in less than two weeks seems remote. There are both logistical and political challenges involved, especially given that a two-thirds majority in the Senate would be required. It’s clear that not enough GOP senators are willing to stand up for democracy and our Constitution.

It’s treason and sedition, Dems. We must hold all of those involved thoroughly accountable (and NOT just via resignations - more to come in the coming weeks). And we must call out these racist actions for what they are.

Bottom line: these insurrectionists have at least 138 allies in Congress who are happy to indulge the president’s violence and end American democracy as we know it. They now have two QAnon champions in newly-elected Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert. Boebart has also run into trouble with DC law enforcement for bragging online about bringing her glock to Congress, for heaven's sake.

And I haven’t even started on the GOP members in the Washington State Legislature yet. 

This crisis of division and seditious acts will not end with Trump’s presidency. This is likely only a foreshadow of the work we will need to do in the coming months and years within our communities and districts.

Stay safe and well, and with gratitude for all you do,

Tina

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Something to read: Dying of Whiteness: How the Politics of Racial Resentment Is Killing America's Heartland. Written by Jonathan M. Metzl, a Nashville, Tennessee Vanderbilt University professor of sociology and psychiatry, it’s based on research undertaken in Missouri, Tennessee, and Kansas from 2013 to 2018.

Something to watch: A Thousand Cuts, a documentary that goes inside the escalating war between the government and the press in the Philippines, and is applicable to what we are seeing in America today. It will be broadcast on PBS Frontline today, Friday, Jan 8. It should be available on the PBS website after the airing.

Something to do: We stand with every member of the Washington State delegation that has called for Vice President Pence to enact the 25th Amendment and supported the drafting of NEW articles of impeachment. We encourage Democrats in Washington to contact their Congressional representatives and senators to show support for their bold and decisive leadership in defense of our democracy.

Senator Maria Cantwell

Phone: (206) 220-6400

Senator Patty Murray

Phone: (202) 224-2621

Representative Suzan DelBene - CD 1

Phone: (202) 225-6311

Representative Rick Larsen - CD 2

Phone: (202) 225-2605

Representative Derek Kilmer - CD 6

Phone: (202) 225-5916

Representative Pramila Jayapal - CD 7

Phone: (202) 225-3106

Representative Kim Schrier - CD 8

Phone: (202) 225-7761

Representative Adam Smith - CD 9 

Phone: (202) 225-8901

Representative Marilyn Strickland - CD 10

Phone: (202) 225-9740

Finally, take a moment for joy: As we approach Inauguration Day,share your visionfor America with the Biden-Harris administration by recording a video here. The Biden-Harris administration will restore our nation to great decency and honor. It will be an administration that works for every American.

 

Statement in Support of Washington State Democratic Delegation that have called for Pence to Enact the 25th Amendment 

For Immediate Release | January 7, 2020

SEATTLE -- Following the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol yesterday, Tina Podlodowski, Chair of the Washington State Democratic Party, issued the following statement:

“Many members of our delegation are calling for Vice President Mike Pence to take action and to remove Trump from office by immediately enacting the 25th Amendment. This is the most effective way to make sure that President Trump is stripped of official powers and blocks him from causing any further harm as we are 13 days out from an official transition to the Biden-Harris Administration. 

What we saw yesterday was an attack on our democracy and an attack on the voting rights of the American people as extremists marched through our nation’s capitol to promote disenfranchisement of American voters and endanger members of Congress and nonpartisan Capitol staff. 

Thirteen days gives too much time that could continue to endanger workers in and around the U.S. Capitol, and as we’ve seen in Olympia, at our state Capitol buildings across the nation. 

We stand with every member of the Washington State delegation that have called for Vice President Pence to enact the 25th Amendment and encourage Democrats in Washington to contact their Congressional representatives and senators to show support for their bold and decisive leadership in defense of our democracy.”

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Will Casey|Communications Director (he / him / his)

Washington State Democrats|615 2nd Ave., Suite 580, Seattle, WA 98104

Office|206.583.0664 Ext. 121