Beach Cities Democratic Club P.O. Box 2192, Redondo Beach, CA 90278 April, 2006

Next Meeting Tuesday, April 25, 7:30PM David K. Hayward Center 2000 Artesia Boulevard, R.B.

At our April meeting, we will hear from candidates for LA County Supe- rior Court Judge and LA County Democratic Central Committee. We will also hear about Proposition 81, the Library Bond Measure, and dis- cuss the upcoming State Convention.

South Bay Democratic Candidates’ Forum

Saturday, April 22, 2006 10 AM—1 PM UFCW Local 770 Hall 25949 Belleporte Avenue Harbor City

Confirmed speakers include: State Treasurer Phil Angelides, LA City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown, Sen. Jackie Speier, Sen. Liz Figueroa, Assemblywoman Judy Chu

Sponsored by the Beach Cities, Torrance, Lawndale, Gardena, Lomita-Harbor City, Palos Verdes, Progressive, San Pedro, and West LA Democratic Clubs Environmental Priorities Fair retrofits and appliances, rooftop solar panels, and energy-saving transporta- May 20, 2006, 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM tion, which can be obtained utilizing Pacific Unitarian Church cost-cutting federal and state rebates. Volunteers Needed 5621 Montemalaga Drive, RPV The Pacific Unitarian Social Justice The membership committee still needs Come and learn how to help reduce Committee, the South Coast Interfaith volunteers to call members about re- the dangerous consequences of global Council, and the South Bay Energy newing. Callers would only be required warming. Exhibits and workshops will Savings Center are cosponsors of this to contact a few people and the pay- demonstrate ways to reduce energy important event. A $5.00 donation is off—a strong membership in an elec- consumption, save money, and avert optional. For more information please tion year—is well worth the effort. the crisis of climate change. Local contact Lillian Light at 310-545-1384 The club is also seeking a fund-raising installers, contractors, and companies or [email protected]. chair. will demonstrate energy-efficient home

Visit our Website at lafn.org/politics/bcdc Page 2 Beach Cities Democratic Club

From the in 2006 across the country—how do March Recap we pick up that extra 6% in races from Candidates and Propositions President the California 50th to the Pennsylvania We heard from both candidates run- The Six Percent Senate? We need to pick up 6% of the ning for the Senate seat (28th District) Solution Senate seats to gain a majority in that being vacated by Debra Bowen. chamber. We need to pick up a little more than 6% of the House seats to First, Jenny Oropeza spoke, describ- Tom Delay has make Nancy Pelosi the speaker. ing her years of activism beginning in cut and run, Democrats are poised to have a college, when Bobby Kennedy was one Duke Cunningham can’t have his good electoral year. In generic congres- of her heroes. She served on the Long fun. sional preference polls, Democrats Beach School Board and was the first Scooter Libby’s on the rocks lead by 10-15 points nationally. Both Latina member of the Long Beach City George Bush has messed up in Iraq. Steve Westly and Phil Angelides have Council. She has held a seat in the The VP shot somebody’s face slight leads over Arnold in recent Assembly (55th District) for six years, And Arnold’s been a huge disgrace. gubernatorial polls. The American where she was named chair of the The House? The Senate? The State- people now agree with us that the Budget Committee and now leads the house too? Bush administration has been a failure. powerful Transportation Committee. In 2006, it all depends on YOU! And the public agrees with Democratic Her passions include working on

visions for health care, education, wage equality for women, education, The 2006 election season kicked taxes, social security, and the environ- health care, and environmental issues. off last week with a special election in ment. And while in past years we have Her proposals have been signed into the 50th Congressional District, for- questioned how well our leaders in law on issues ranging from port secu- mer home of Duke Cunningham, and Washington are doing, Amy Sullivan’s rity to radiation exposure to sexual a seat considered solidly Republican. recent article in The Washington Monthly assault prevention. Despite the seeming Republican shows that our party’s leadership is Asked how she felt about tort advantage, Democrat Francine Busby turning the tide, capitalizing on Repub- reform, Oropeza said she believes con- led the race with 44% of the vote, lican mistakes, and pushing forward sumers should have the right to sue outdistancing the combined total of our ideas through the difficult filter of corporations that have been negligent. her three closest Republican oppo- the DC media. She supports Clean Money but freely nents. And although she led the race, But the difference between a good admits she accepts money from large she will have to face a run-off against year and a great year is up to us—can donors even when she does not cast former Congressman-turned- we put in the extra 6%—the extra her votes in their favor as a result. lobbyist-turned-congressional- time, the extra effort, and the extra Asked about the initiative process, candidate Brian Bilbray. To win, she money? The election season is upon she said it’s out of control and ties the will need to pick up another 6% of us. Let’s pick up that 6%! hands of lawmakers. She does support the vote in the June 6 election. Lee Fink certain proposi- That is the Democrats’ challenge tions such as Prop 98, which Club Business will invite all candidates to speak, then provides a mini- vote to endorse up to seven of them. mum level of Here are the recommendations from Ballot initiatives—No recommenda- the executive board on endorsements: funding for edu- tions were offered. cation. She is Judicial races—Candidates screened A motion to accept these recom- by a committee made up of attorneys, currently working mendations was carried. on legislation that and approved candidates will be Hermosa Beach City Councilman invited to address the club. would put some Michael Keegan reported that the city controls over the Nonpartisan races—Ray Waters’s will put up a signal at 16th and PCH local elections committee will field following the death of a 15-year-old these candidates. skater in a recent traffic accident. Clockwise from Partisan primaries—No endorse- Ira Steinberg reported from Jane top: Jim Kennedy, ments by the club. After the primary, Harman’s office that Jane has co- George Nakano, we will support the winner. authored a letter with John Conyers David Green, and County Central Committee—We opposing Bush’s unwarranted wiretaps. Jenny Oropeza Page 3

petition process. Monroe’s promote & sell its best seller, LIPI- George Nakano, who also served in TOR. Many other drug companies the Assembly for six years, opened by Corner promote various cures & remedies talking about his own history. He spent Considering the mira- for things like irritated bowel syn- his early years in internment camps, cles of modern medi- drome, sexual dysfunction, & atten- finally being released at the age of ten. cine, research, & tion deficit disorder. In all, $3 billion His family settled in Norwalk, where hospital care, we now is spent on direct-to-consumer ads. his father was a tenant farmer. control, cure, or Recently too, there was a financial George’s first job was as a radio and eliminate many diseases. The real consideration in raising prices. TV repairman. Later, he worked at dilemma, however, is BIG PHARMA MERCK produced a drug that cost Hughes Aircraft while attending col- & the tendency for them to promote & $77.50 for a 2-weeks’ supply. They lege in the evening. It was then that he advertise remedies that we do not need sold the manufacturing rights to decided to become a teacher. He or can live comfortably without. OVATION PHARMACEUTICALS taught high school math in Watts and BIG PHARMA is like the 400 who raised the price of the 2-weeks’ was promoted to assistant principal. pound parrot who says, “Polly wants a supply to $548.50. The reason was Nakano was the first Japanese cracker....NOW!” This gigantic that there was now a need to cover American elected to the Torrance City oligopoly of Pharmaceutical companies the cost of the new investment, and Council in 1984 and served four terms control & regulate our government, the consumer must pay the tab, if until he was elected to the California our health & our lives. BIG PHARMA they want to live or die. State Assembly in 1998. spends less on research & develop- In her book, The Truth About the In a prominent episode, Nakano ment than it generates in profit. BIG Drug Companies, by Marcia Angell, was attacked in a full-page ad in the PHARMA spends much more on mar- MD, she indicates that BIG Daily Breeze for backing AB 22, legis- keting & administration than it does on PHARMA has the largest lobby in lation to protect gay and lesbian any research. Washington, DC. BIG PHARMA students from harassment and criminal In a recent book written by the spent $11 billion in 2001 for “free acts. Other issues he has worked on in- chairman of Pfizer, he indicated that samples” to doctors’ offices, includ- clude protecting the Ballona Wetlands many factors affect the pricing of ing lavish gifts for free sports events, and preventing pollution of the LA drugs. They include the cost of doing tickets, meals, etc. She urges that 1) harbors. business, competitive drugs, patent BIG PHARMA keep out of medical

status, anticipated volume & most education; 2) BIG PHARMA expose Jim Kennedy then spoke on behalf importantly the estimated income. all its financial records; 3) Drug of Prop 82, Rob Reiner’s Preschool for None of this includes the health of the pricing be controlled, uniform, All initiative aimed at providing a high- patient or the ability to pay for the regulated & fair; 4) Consumers must quality preschool education for every medication, or even the question of ask many more questions about the four-year old in living or dying. drugs they use; and 5) Consumers pay California. 50% A BOOMER COALITION absolutely no attention to ads of all 4th graders recently urged the BABY BOOMERS directed at us by BIG PHARMA. fail to meet basic to watch & protect against high choles- And I wish you all a happy Easter reading standards. terol & then heart disease. This is a as well as a sweet healthy Passover. But when chil- program developed by Pfizer to Monroe Weinstock dren go to pre- school, studies show that they quality preschool could return $2.62 in Reagan and Pete Wilson. In the initial enter school savings from reduced remedial phase, counties will offer preschool better prepared to education, less crime, and a better- to children in areas with the lowest learn, more likely educated workforce. performing elementary schools. The to read by the The initiative would be funded by a program will become available to all third grade, and 1.7% tax on family income over children as the state completes more likely to go $800,000 and individual income over teacher training, school construction, on to college. $400,000, essentially repealing tax cuts and other needs. Every dollar Cali- for the wealthiest individuals enacted fornia invests in by Republican Governors Ronald

Box 2192, Redondo Beach, CA 90278. 90278. CA Beach, Redondo 2192, Box P.O. to mail and Club Democratic es Citi Beach to payable check make Please

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POSTED MONDAY, APRIL 10, 2006, ON SLATE “I strongly believe what we’re doing is the right thing. If I didn’t believe it—I’m going to re- peat what I said before—I’d pull the troops out, nor if I believed we could win, I would pull the troops out.”—George W. Bush, Charlotte, N.C., April 6, 2006 Beach Cities Democratic Club P.O. Box 2192, Redondo Beach, CA 90278 President Lee Fink—310-370-3020 Vice-President Ray Waters—310-374-4744 Treasurer Edna Murphy—310-545-6292 Secretary Ani Haigazian—310-798-7903 Newsletter Moira Zucker—310-546-7562 Database Steve Zucker—310-546-7562 Mailing Tammy Minion—310-406-8057 Web Manager James McGreevy—310-320-1638

Membership Barbara Blum—310-540-6346