CHENEY WILL BE IN ATLANTA MONDAY!! ACTION ALERT

Please spread the word and urge others to come out to fight against the privitization of social security.

Vice President Dick Cheney Will be in Smyrna Monday, May 2nd for a town hallmeeting supporting the Bush Social Security Privitazation Plan. Thisplan will dismantle the current social security system and cause thedeficit to skyrocket. We are asking everyone that is able to come outand protest the plan. We are asking everyone to be at Campbell HighSchool at 10:30 AM to prepare for the Vice President's arrival.Please spread the Word and urge others to come. It is VERY importantthat we have your support. If you have any questions, feel free tocall or email me. Directions to Campbell High School are below.
-Javier BrownPresident, College Democrats of Georgia404-602-8485
DIRECTIONS:
From the NORTH
I-75 South to Windy Hill Road. Exit Right (West) onto Windy HillRoad. Go West for 3.5 miles to Ward Street. Turn left onto WardStreet. The school is on the left.
From the SOUTH
I-75 North to Windy Hill Road. Exit Left (West) onto Windy Hill Road.Go West for 3.5 miles to Ward Street. Turn left onto Ward Street. Theschool is on the left.
From the EAST
Roswell Road/Hwy 120 or Sandy Plains Road. Go West to Cobb Parkway(Hwy 41) or I-75. Follow directions above.
From the WEST
Powder Springs Road to the East-West Connector. Head EAST on the East-West Connector to Austell Road. Turn Left (North) onto Austell Road.Continue to Windy Hill Road. Turn Right (East) onto Windy Hill Road.At the 6th traffic light (Ward Street) turn Right. The school is onthe left.
Dallas Highway (Hwy 120). Head East to Powder Springs Street (Loop120). Turn right. Head South for 1/2 mile and turn left onto SouthMarietta Pkwy (Loop 120). Go East to Fairground Road (by theConvention Center) and turn right. Take Fairground to South CobbDrive and turn right. Follow South Cobb Drive to Windy Hill Road.Turn left onto Windy Hill road. Go East to Ward Street and turnright. The school is on the left.

Jackson asks black caucus to help stage rally vs. ID bill

By SONJI JACOBS

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 04/12/05

Civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson met privately with Georgia's Legislative Black Caucus on Monday to discuss plans to fight a controversial bill that would require voters to show photo identification at the polls.
Jackson asked the caucus to help his national civil rights organization, the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, organize a national march in Atlanta on Aug. 6 — the 40th anniversary of the day the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law.

Tara Todras-Whitehill/Special
(ENLARGE)
Sen. Valencia Seay (from left), the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rep. Jo Ann McClinton were part of a meeting to oppose the recent voter ID bill passed in the Legislature.
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He said House Bill 244 underscores the importance of making sure that Congress renews the provisions of the Voting Rights Act that are set to expire in 2007. One provision allows the U.S. attorney general to send federal observers to monitor elections and requires primarily Southern states to gain the approval of the Department of Justice before implementing new voting procedures or practices.
"Your fight here is part of a bigger move to deny voters rights and voter access," Jackson said. Last month, he criticized President Bush for not clearly indicating support for extending the Voting Rights Act.
Jackson said the August march in Atlanta would spotlight the importance of the Voting Rights Act and other issues such as quality public education, affordable health care and saving Social Security. Jackson had tough words for the right wing of the Republican Party and urged Georgia's black caucus to build a coalition with other like-minded people.
"This march is the beginning of a resistance movement," Jackson said.
State Sen. John Wiles (R-Marietta), who carried HB 244 in the Senate, said the bill "ensures fair and open elections."
"It provides assurance to voters and citizens that there will not be voter fraud at polling places by requiring identification," Wiles said. "The ID will be provided free to those who cannot afford it."
He doesn't agree with critics who say requiring photo identification will keep some people from voting. "People know about the bill, and they can go get an ID with ample time before the next election," Wiles said.
If signed into law, the bill must be reviewed by the U.S. Justice Department.
State Rep. Stan Watson (D-Decatur), chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, said the meeting with Jackson had been in the works for several weeks.
"We want to mobilize folks about the policies that are affecting the African-American community, from education to health care to the Voting Rights Act," Watson said. He and other black caucus leaders, including state Sen. Valencia Seay (D-Riverdale) and state Rep. Alisha Morgan (D-Austell), plan to have a news conference Monday to announce more details about the march.
Last month, the Georgia General Assembly passed the voter identification bill despite protests from Democrats, especially African-American lawmakers. Black Democrats walked out of the Senate and House when early versions of the bill initially passed. The measure would require voters to show one of six forms of government-issued photo identification at the polls. Previously, voters had been able to show 17 forms of identification, including utility bills, hunting and fishing licenses, and bank statements. The bill also allows voters to cast an absentee ballot for any reason.
Black lawmakers, civil rights groups, AARP, labor unions, the League of Women Voters of Georgia and the Mexican-American Legal Defense Fund lobbied furiously against the bill, saying it could turn elderly, minority and poor voters away from the polls.
The bill is pending before Gov. Sonny Perdue, who has until May 10 to sign or veto it. If he does neither, the bill becomes law. Perdue's office has indicated that he supports the measure.

Reauthorization of Key Provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965Background and Summary

Reauthorization of Key Provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965Background and Summary


Question #1: Which provisions of the Voting Rights Act will expire inAugust 2007 unless Congress acts to reauthorize them?Answer: There are three key parts of the VRA that will expire in 2007unless reauthorized:* ? Section 5 of the Act which requires certain jurisdictions toobtain approval (or "preclearance") from the U.S. Department of Justice orthe U.S. District Court in D.C. before they can put into effect any changesto voting practices or procedures. Under the statute, federal approvalrequires proof that the proposed change does "not have the purpose and willnot have the effect of denying or abridging the right to vote on account ofrace or color [or membership in a language minority group]."* ? Section 203 of the Act which requires certain jurisdictions toprovide bilingual language assistance to voters in communities where thereis a concentration of citizens who are limited English proficient. Thisprovision was added to the VRA in 1975.* ? The portions of Sections 6-9 of the Act which authorize thefederal government to send federal election examiners and observers tocertain jurisdictions covered by Section 5 where there is evidence ofattempts to intimidate minority voters at the polls.
Question #2: Where does Section 5 apply?Answer: Section 5 applies to any state or county where a literacy test wasused as of November 1, 1964, and where less than 50% of the voting ageresidents of the jurisdiction were registered to vote, or actually voted, inthe presidential election of 1964, 1968, or 1972. Currently, Section 5affects all or part of 16 states: All of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Georgia,Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas. Most of Virginia, 4counties in California, 5 counties in Florida, 2 townships in Michigan, 10towns in New Hampshire, 3 counties in New York, 40 counties in NorthCarolina, and two counties in South Dakota.
Question #3: What kinds of laws and practices affecting voting must beprecleared?Answer: Because any change in election law or procedure could potentiallydiscriminate against minority voters, all proposed voting changes in coveredjurisdictions must be submitted for pre-clearance. Examples are plans forredistricting, annexation, at-large elections, re-registration requirements,polling place changes, and new rules for candidate qualifying. The SupremeCourt has recognized that seemingly insignificant changes can really besubtle attempts to discriminate.Question #4: How can a jurisdiction be removed from Section 5 coverage?Answer: The Act includes a "bail-out" mechanism, which allows jurisdictionsto be removed from Section 5 coverage if it can show that (1) it has been infull compliance with the preclearance requirements for the past 10 years;(2) no test or device has been used to discriminate on the basis of race,color, or language minority status; and (3) no lawsuits against thejurisdiction, alleging voting discrimination, are pending.
Question #5: Where do the minority language provisions of the Act apply?Answer: The language assistance provisions of the VRA apply to fourlanguage groups: Americans Indians, Asian Americans, Alaskan Natives, andthose of Spanish heritage. A community with one of these language groupswill qualify for bilingual assistance under Section 203 of the Act if (1)more than 5% of the voting-age citizens in a jurisdiction belong to a singlelanguage minority community and have limited English proficiency; OR (2)more than 10,000 voting-age citizens in a jurisdiction belong to a singlelanguage minority community and are LEP; AND (3) the illiteracy rate ofcitizens in the language minority group is higher than the nationalilliteracy rate.Jurisdictions qualify for language assistance under Section 4(f)(4) of theAct if (1) over 5% of the voting-age citizens on November 1, 1972 weremembers of a single language minority group; (2) the U.S. Attorney Generalfinds that election materials were provided in English only on November 1,1972; and (3) the Director of the Census determines that fewer than 50% ofvoting-age citizens were registered to vote on November 1, 1972 or thatfewer than 50% voted in the November 1972 Presidential election.As of 2002, there are 382 local jurisdictions that need to provide languageassistance in Spanish and 119 that must provide assistance to AsianAmericans, Alaska Natives, and/or Native Americans. Because some of thesejurisdictions overlap, a total of 466 local jurisdictions across 31 statesare covered by the language minority provisions of the Act.
Question #6: Have these provisions been previously reauthorized?Answer: Yes. Section 5 was reauthorized with broad bi-partisan support in1970, 1975, and 1982 (for 25 years). Section 203 was enacted in 1975, andreauthorized in 1982 and 1992 (for 15 years).
Question #7: Should Section 5 of the VRA be made permanent?Answer: While making this provision permanent may seem attractive, doing sowould make it vulnerable to a constitutional challenge. Because Section 5is race conscious, it must be able to withstand "strict scrutiny" by thecourts. What this means, in part, is that the provision must be "narrowlytailored" to address the harms it is designed to cure. Many legal expertsquestion whether the Court would find a permanent Section 5 to be "narrowlytailored," such as to survive a constitutional attack.
Question #8: Should Section 5 apply nationwide?Answer: No. A "nationwide" Section 5 would also be vulnerable toconstitutional attack as not "narrowly tailored" or "congruent andproportional" to address the harms it is designed to cure, as required bythe Supreme Court's recent precedents. Section 5 is directed atjurisdictions with a history of discriminating against minority voters. Inaddition, nationwide application of Section 5 would be extremely difficultto administer, given the volume of voting changes that would have to bereviewed. This expansion of coverage would dilute the Department ofJustice's ability to appropriately focus their work on those jurisdictionswhere there is a history of voting discrimination.
Question #9: Why are congressional hearings important for thereauthorization effort?Answer: The Supreme Court has made clear in recent years that it willrequire Congress to establish a detailed record, through hearings andlegislative findings, in order to ensure that provisions such as thesesurvive constitutional scrutiny.

Georgia for Democracy Needs You

Georgia for Democracy needs volunteers to help with the following two projects this week:WABE RADIO PLEDGE DRIVE Tomorrow, Wednesday April 13thWe need 10 volunteers to answer phones for the WABE Radio pledge drive on Wednesday April 13th (tomorrow afternoon/evening). If you are a student, retired person or have a flexible schedule, please volunteer to help. A script will be provided for volunteers, but basically, all we'll be doing is answering calls and filling out pledge forms. If you can only work for part of our shift, or need a ride, please let us know. The Georgia for Democracy shift runs from 3:00-7:00pm on Wednesday April 13th, and WABE will serve our volunteers free dinner! In addition to helping a worthy cause, this will offer good publicity for our group, targeted to a friendly audience during prime drive time. To volunteer, please contact Melanie Goux: Mel@georgiafordemocracy.org or 404-873-3277 ext.702. I'll send you driving directions to the WABE Studios located near Ansley Mall.BUTTON BEE Thursday April 14thOn Thursday, April 14th, volunteers are needed to help make buttons for The March for Women's Lives. We'll make buttons for Georgians for Choice to distribute, and "I value choice" buttons for GfD volunteers to sell at the event. We need about 18 volunteers, or enough to keep two button machines going, plus give everyone a break! Button making is fun and easy. We'll provide all the supplies, and all we need is you. Our ambitious goal is to produce 800 buttons on Thursday evening. There's no need to call or RSVP, just come on out to 410 14th Street, NW at 7:00pm on Thursday April 14th. Iced tea and cookies will be served. If you need more info, please contact Catherine Smith: Catherine@georgiafordemocracy.org or 404-355-9355. Please join us for one or both of these fun and productive work sessions this week. We need you! Thanks,Melanie Goux & Catherine Smith

Social Security Op-Ed

You've probably heard what George Bush and Republicans are saying: By the time you retire, Social Security won't exist. The truth is that the Congressional Budget Office numbers say the program is solvent until 2052, when we will be near 70 years old. Even then, Social Security will meet 80 percent of its obligations. If this is a crisis, the paper cut I just received is a medical emergency.
Bush calls his plan "personal accounts" because privatization doesn't sound quite as safe. His plan would cost nearly $5 trillion over the first 20 years, adding to the $420 billon deficit. That money needs to be paid off eventually, which means higher taxes, slower economic growth, and, higher interest rates on student loans.During Bush's State of the Union address he said that people over 55 are guaranteed not to have any benefit cuts under his privatization plan. Privatization would slash benefits by more than 40 percent by changing the way Social Security benefits are calculated, even for those who do not choose to open a private account. A young worker would lose about $152,000 in benefits under the leading privatization plan. What about a worker who has a spouse and two children who becomes disabled or dies at the age of 27? Right now Social Security provides the equivalent of a $403,000 life insurance policy and a $353,000 disability insurance policy.
Privatization would weaken Social Security by gutting the guaranteed benefit. Private accounts are not 100-percent stable, just ask the employees of Enron. The guaranteed benefit brings in a steady cash flow.
For 70 years, Social Security has been the bottom-line commitment to America's retired generations. Eighty-year-olds should not be forced into backbreaking labor to bring home enough money to eat. This is an enduring social principle.Surely some will protest: but there's still a paper cut, we need to fix the problem. At this point, though, we should remember that even the paper cut is a prophecy foreseeing the future from 50 years away. Even if Social Security does fall short, there are reform solutions that can solve the problem without upending the American social contract. A bipartisan effort can be made to create a solution just like Republican President Ronald Reagan and Democratic Speaker Tip O'Neill did to solve the Social Security problem in 1983.We cannot afford to trust just one side of the aisle on such a crucial issue. If we learned one lesson from the Iraq War, it is that this administration will play fast and loose with facts and figures to achieve its goals. This administration played those games with our generation once and ended up with a war and a potential draft.They are playing the same games again. This time the threat affects our grandparents, our parents, and us. Don't let George W. Bush cut Social Security's benefits; instead let's fight to keep the promise of Social Security alive for our generation and the generations to come.


Javier A. Brown
President, College Democrats of Georgia

Javier A. Brown for CDG President

Fellow Democrats,

    November 2nd was a cold rainy night in Georgia filled
with sorrow. I along with many of you were
discouraged. However on November 3rd, I woke up and
remembered that the sun will shine again.  As
democrats we must continue to fight.  We must continue
to fight for health care for All Americans.  We must continue to fight
for equal opportunities for all. We must continue to fight against the
destruction of social security. Allow me the opportunity to fight
with you.
    Today I ask for your support in my quest to become
your next College Democrats of Georgia president. My
experience, vision, and energy will lead our
organization to do great things. 
    I am currently a junior English/ Pre-Law Major at Morehouse
College.  I have served College Democrats of America in various ways on a
state, local, and national level.  On the summer of 2004, I assisted in
organizing a trip to take 50 students from Atlanta to Boston for the
Democratic National Convention. Last year, I also served as an Intern for
Denise Majette's US Senate Campaign.  These were eye opening experiences
that further enhanced my dedication to the democratic party and this
organization.
   We must continue to improve communication by effectively
integrating our e-chapters system throughout the state.  My vision is to work
with every chapter so that we may have "College Dems Day" On campuses
throughout Georgia where local, state, and
national leaders come to the campus to energizestudents.
    The campaign for 2006 begins today so we must begin working to
take back the State House, Senate, and the Governor's mansion!! Below you
will find a short resume outline my experience that show that I am
qualified to serve you.  I look forward to seeing you
in Savannah and ask for you to vote Javier A. Brown, President, College
Democrats of Georgia; Working with You for a Better Georgia.


                 ***MY EXPERIENCE***

2003-2004, Secretary Atlanta University Center (AUC) College Dems
2004, Vice President AUC College Dems,
2004, Campus Coordinator, Students for Kerry
2004, Intern, Denise Majette for US Senate
2004-present, Member, Morehouse College NAACP
Political Action Committee
2004-present, Member, Morehouse College SGA Political
Action Taskforce
2004-present, Acting President, AUC College Dems
2004-Present, Communications Director, College
Democrats of Georgia
2005, Host Committee, 375-CDA Fundraiser
2005, Black Caucus Chair, College Democrats of America

Thanks,

Javier A. Brown
southerndemocratjab@yahoo.com