Oakmont Democratic Club

Highlights of Previous Meetings

Descriptions of the last three meetings are followed by a comprensive list of the topics of previous meetings.

June 2

Judith Volkart, a lawyer, educator and past Chair of the American Civil Liberties Union of Sonoma County discussed the Supreme Court decision in the Citizens Unied vs. Federal Election Commision case. She explained how this case was initiated, how it was litigated and what we can expect the ramifications to be.

Citizens United, a conservative non-profit organization, brought suit against the Federal Election Commission because under current laws it was prohibited from trying to influence the 2008 presidential elections through Hillary: The Movie. Citizens United argued that political speech rights of corporations should be equal to those of individuals.

The Federal Election Commission argued that since 1947, for a variety of reasons, corporate profits have not been allowed to be used for political activity and that the Court should adhere to the legal principle of stare decisis, by which judges are obliged to respect the precedents established by prior decisions.

In a 5-4 decision, the Court ruled that this case constituted a free speech issue and that the First Amendment does not differentiate between individuals and corporations.

It is expected that corporations will now play a significant role in election campaigns because there is no limit to the amount of money that can be spent from profits. The extent of corporate influence could be "breathtakingly broad," said Ms. Volkart.

There are attempts being made in Congress to put constraints on corporate financing of elections. A bill is awaiting a House vote that among other things would: require CEOs of corporations to appear on camera and state "I am so-and-so and I approve this message"; require shareholder authorization before a corporation can make a political donation; not allow corporations that have not repaid their TARP or bailout funds to make campaign contributions.

The Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission decision does not differentiate between American and foreign corporations. There will probably soon be a case before the Supreme Court to determine if there is a distinction.

April 7

On April 7, Betty Yee, Chair of the California State Board of Equalization, the only elected tax commission in the country, painted a rather grim picture of California's financial circumstances.

Among the problems are:

new home construction and consumer spending are very low, causing a significant decline in tax revenues to the state
many of California's tax laws go back to the 1930s, not taking into account changes in lifestyle and business practices or the advent of new products (for example, no provision for taxing marijuana if dispensing becomes legal in November)
the current structure of Internet sales that causes California to lose $1.2 billion in sales tax receipts annually
resistance to changing loopholes in tax laws that would provide substantial revenues

Ms. Yee said there are a few positive signs: corporate tax revenues are up slightly, Silicon Valley is hiring and there is an increase in activity at the ports. There is a decline in new unemployment claims, but it has yet to be determined if this comes from sustainable job creation.

Ms. Yee thinks that the budget is a statement of what we want California to be. We currently have a dispassionate budget with vital programs being cut. There are those in the legislature who think that if a program is cut, the needs will go away. Right now, there is a disconnect between the decision-makers and those most affected by those decisions. Since this is an election year, we cannot expect any bold budget measures.

Ms. Yee stated that there will be budget gaps for the next several years, that the legislature is not seeking long-term solutions, rather trying simply to muddle through by, among other things, pushing current expenses onto next year's balance sheet, obviously solving nothing. The age-old question of how to raise revenues without raising taxes goes unanswered.

John Perez, Speaker of the Assembly, intends to take budget discussions on the road, getting input from those significantly impacted by the rash of cuts that have occurred and will continue in the future. We can only hope the legislature listens.

"Taxes are what we pay for a civilized society," said Oliver Wendell Holmes.

For more information, visit www.boe.ca.gov/members/yee

March 2

Teed Rockwell, a lecturer in the Sonoma State University Department of Philosophy, spoke to the Oakmont Democratic Club about the California Democracy Act, an initiative for which signatures are currently being gathered and is only 14 words long: "All legislative actions on revenue and budget must be determined by a majority vote."

Proposition 13, passed in 1978, is most well known and was widely popular for its first paragraph, which caps real estate taxes. Also in the initiative is language requiring a two-thirds majority in both legislative houses for future increases in all state tax rates or amounts of revenue collected, including income tax rates. The effect of the two-thirds majority has been to cripple California irrespective of which party is in power.

A democracy is defined as government by the people, especially rule of the majority. In California, the minority rules because the members of that minority refuse to vote for necessary tax increases until they are promised enough pork to bribe them into submission or often never agree to the increase.

When the income tax cannot be raised, the legislature turns to the sales tax, which requires only a majority vote. The sales tax, of course, is the most unfair of all, hitting the lower and middle classes the hardest.

The polls that have been taken to determine Californian's interest in changing the Constitution show that the key is how the question is posed. If people are asked whether they approve changing the law from two-thirds to a majority vote, a high percentage agree. If Prop 13 is mentioned, the percentage drops significantly. The importance of Prop 13 in people's minds is its impact on property taxes, not the two-thirds vote requirement.

Mr. Rockwell believes that "until a movement has a popular song, it is the dogma of the few rather than the faith of the multitudes." A musician by hobby, he wrote and played a song whose chorus states: "The tyranny of the minority makes a wasteland of the land of the free."

Meetings have been held on the following topics (chronologically listed with the most recent first): The State of the City of Santa Rosa; The California Democracy Act; The California Prison System; The Heritage of the Democratic Party; The Politics of Direct Democracy; The 2009 Presidential Transition; California Initiative Process; Post-election Analysis; Pre-Election Analysis; City Council Candidate Forum; Foreign Policy; Voting and Voting Machines in Sonoma County; Immigration; Post-Presidential Primary Discussion; 2008 Presidential Primary Candidates; Project Censored; Sonoma County Health Care; National and State Health Care; The Californa Legislature with Assemblywoman Noreen Evans; Affordable Housing in Sonoma County; Wal-Mart Business Model; Fair Trade versus Free Trade; Smart Growth; Campaign Finance Reform; Church/State Relations; Santa Rosa City Council Candidates' Night; Demographics and Future Politics in California; The Middle East with Chris O'Sullivan; Green Day; 6th District Congressional Candidates' Debate; Taking Back the Future Congressman with Mike Thompson; The California Public Utilities Commission with Loretta Lynch; 2006 State Ballot Measures; Project Censored; Economic Justice in Sonoma County; Universal Health Care with Assemblyman Joe Nation; State of the Schools with Sonoma County Schools Superintendent Carl Wong; California State Democratic Chair Art Torres.

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