State Senator Diane Savino

Transcription

1 February 2016 Staten Island Democratic Association est as Staten Island s reform Democratic Club At our Next Meeting: State Senator Diane Savino Speaking on Paid Family Leave and an Overview of the N.Y.S. Budget Tuesday, February 16, 2016, 8:00 P.M. Charlie Brown's Steakhouse, 1001 Goethals Road North S.I.D.A. February 2016 Page 1

2 Editorial Policy Items for publication must be submitted to the newsletter no later than the last Friday of the month before the meeting. Please send items to: Unless explicitly stated, the views herein are those of the authors and not of S.I.D.A. Chris Bauer, Editor (917) Table of Contents Mark Herman... 3 S.I.D.A. President s Statement... 4 State Senator Diane Savino... 6 Letters... 8 December 2015 Minutes January 2016 Minutes Congressman Donovan Votes Bulletin Board Lathrope Voorspuy Memorial Scholarship Fund Upcoming Meetings Join/Renewal Form I hold it, that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms are in the physical. - Thomas Jefferson 1787 S.I.D.A. Executive Committee President... Joann Olbrich Member at-large... Clara Ogburn Vice President... Bobby Digi Ex Officio... Michelle Akyempong Executive Secretary... Dennis Brown Ex Officio... Gary Carsel Corresponding & Ex Officio... Paul Cinquemani Recording Secretary... Marie Dwyer Ex Officio... Belinda Dixon Treasurer... Bonita Rothman Ex Officio... John Mancuso Social Secretary... Bryan Ellicott Ex Officio... Rosemarie Mangano Member at-large... Carl Chew Ex Officio... John Mastellone Member at-large... Susan Chew Ex Officio... John Sollazzo Member at-large... Robert Holst Ex Officio... Tom Shcherbenko Member at-large... Roy Moskowitz S.I.D.A. February 2016 Page 2

3 Mark Herman S.I.D.A. February 2016 Page 3

4 S.I.D.A. President s Statement February 2016 n Wednesday, January 13, 2016, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo delivered his O State Of The State address, in which he offered proposals for progress in New York. [ Among the highlights of the speech were proposals for ethical reforms in the state legislature, improvements to infrastructure throughout New York State, and investment in affordable housing. Of particular interest were proposals for Paid Family Leave, and increasing the Minimum Wage to $15, topics I have discussed previously in the Newsletter. Raising the minimum wage is an important step in reducing poverty. The minimum wage has not kept pace with the rate of inflation over the last 50 years. Many of the modern, industrial nations of the world, our allies, have much higher minimum wages, without the disastrous consequences predicted by those who oppose raising the minimum wage. In fact, each of those states that have raised their minimum wages have experienced job growth much higher than that in every single state that did not raise the minimum wage. This is because raising the minimum wage pumps millions into local economies, providing a massive stimulus effect. The Governor s proposal for raising the minimum wage [ Part K - Increase in the Minimum Wage Purpose: This bill would gradually increase the minimum hourly wage from $9 to $ Summary of Provisions and Statement in Support: A minimum wage ensures that the most vulnerable members of the workforce can participate in and contribute to a robust economy. An increase would improve the standard of living for 2.3 million workers and inject $15.7 billion into New York's economy. New York s minimum wage has not kept pace with increases in the cost of living. At present, eight states and the District of Columbia have a higher minimum wage than New York, including our neighbors Connecticut, Vermont, and Massachusetts. New York s current statutory minimum wage of $9, which took effect on December 31, 2015 and was enacted with the FY 2014 Budget, is insufficient to lift a family of four out of poverty. This bill would amend section 652 of the Labor Law to increase the minimum wage by $1.50, to $10.50, in New York City and by $0.75, to $9.75, in the rest of the State effective July 1, Incremental increases would continue until the wage reaches $15 in New York City on December 31, 2018 and in the rest of the State on July 1, Budget Implications: Enactment of this bill has broad budget implications as it increases the standard of living for workers, reduces poverty, and incentivizes fair and more efficient business practices. Effective Date: This bill would take effect immediately. Providing working people with Paid Family Leave is another important step in helping the middle class and working poor. While the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) requires covered employers to provide employees job-protected and unpaid leave for qualified medical and family reasons, many workers cannot afford to lose their pay for extended periods of time. They have to balance taking time off for such qualified medical and family reasons as personal or family illness, family military leave, pregnancy, adoption, or foster care placement, and being able to pay their rent, and for other expenses of daily life. Most of the world recognizes the value of Paid Family Leave; the United States is one of just three countries, out of 185, that does not have guaranteed paid maternity leave. The other two are Oman and Papua New Guinea. S.I.D.A. February 2016 Page 4

5 Legislation has been introduced at both the state level and federal to rectify this injustice. The states of New Jersey, California and Rhode Island offer some paid family leave, and there are proposals in other states for such paid leave. Passing Paid Family Leave in New York should be a priority for our state legislators. Governor Cuomo s Paid Family Leave proposal in the State Budget for 2016: [ is as follows: Part H - Establish Paid Family Leave Purpose: This bill would authorize Paid Family Leave (PFL) to allow employees to bond with an infant or newly-adopted child or to care for a seriously-ill family member. Summary of Provisions and Statement in Support: Federal law currently provides for unpaid family leave, which can create a dilemma for those caught between the need to care for a sick relative or newborn and the pressure to return to work and earn money. Moreover, Federal unpaid family leave only covers approximately 60 percent of all workers. This bill would establish a comprehensive statewide PFL program providing: Employees up to 12 weeks of PFL on an annual basis to bond with an infant or newly adopted child or to care for a seriously-ill family member. All private employees would be covered and State and local government employers would be able to opt-in to coverage through collective bargaining or other agreements; Job protections and protection against retaliatory actions; and A phase-in of PFL benefits over four years, beginning in 2018, when employees would be eligible to receive 35 percent of their average weekly wage to a maximum benefit of 35 percent of the State s average weekly wage. The PFL benefit would be fully phased-in by 2021, as follows: o In 2019, the effective rates increase to 40 percent; o In 2020, to 45 percent; and o In 2021, to 50 percent. 13 Costs to support the PFL program would be established as follows: Premiums for PFL policies would be supported through a minimal payroll deduction on all covered employees; and PFL coverage will be provided by insurance carriers, the State Insurance Fund (SIF), or selfinsured employers. In order to limit premium volatility, the Superintendent of Financial Services will determine whether coverage provided by carriers and SIF will be experience rated or community rated. Finally, this bill sets forth a dispute resolution process. Budget Implications: Enactment of this bill is necessary to implement the FY Executive Budget. Effective Date: This bill would take effect on April 1, On the Federal level, The Family Act has been introduced: [ Sponsored by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D Conn.) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D N.Y.), the Family And Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act (H.R. 1439/S. 786) would ensure people have some income during family or medical leave. This legislation does not have the support of the majority party in the House and Senate, and therefore has not advanced. - Joann Olbrich * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * S.I.D.A. February 2016 Page 5

6 February 2, 2016 Dear S.I.D.A. members and friends, It is with a very heavy heart that I write to let you know of the passing early this morning of our beloved member, Mark Herman. It is so difficult to believe that this is the unfortunate reality. In spite of his illness over the past few years, it seemed that he would go on forever. Mark was one of earliest members of SIDA, back in 1961, and remained a loyal member of SIDA, and the Democratic Party, until the very end. Mark served SIDA in many ways over the years, was a past president, and in recent years served as Executive Secretary. He also served the Democratic Party, and was recognized by the local party last year as the longest serving member of the Democratic Committee of Richmond County. Mark had been a District Leader years ago, a Board of Elections Commissioner, and in recent years, a member of Democratic Committee of New York State. Mark wasn't just a proud Democrat, he was a proud liberal Democrat! A lifelong activist, Mark would regale us with the stories about getting gassed by Mayor Daley's police force at the 1968 Democratic Convention. Mark was my friend, my mentor, my role model, my adviser, and I will miss him. Mark was a devoted friend to those he loved. I remember his dear friend, Robin Carey. A wonderful person and brilliant woman, Robin's mind was destroyed tragically by Alzheimer's Disease. Mark was at her side to the very end, visiting her daily even when she no longer knew him. Mark's children have said that he did not want a traditional wake or funeral; they are planning a memorial for him, with the tentative date of March 19. I will keep the members posted when I get any of the details. Rest in Peace Mark, and give my love to Robin, Loretta, Gene, Bob, Dan, Lathrope, Henk, John Lavelle, Tyrone, and the rest of the old gang no longer with us. With great sadness, - Joann Olbrich President Mark Herman Memorial Service Saturday, March 19, from noon until 2 p.m. in the Harmon Home for Funerals, West Brighton. Senator Diane Savino New York State Senator Diane Savino will be the guest speaker at our February 16 General Membership Meeting. She will speak about paid family leave and give an overview of the New York State budget, which is due April 1. The following biography of Senator Savino was taken from her Senate website Diane J. Savino District 23 emocrat, Independence Party, Working Families D S.I.D.A. February 2016 Page 6

7 Committees Chair Banks Member Children and Families, Cities, Civil Service and Pensions, Codes, Finance, Judiciary, Labor, Consumer Protection, Crime Victims, Crime and Correction, Heroin Task Force Diane Savino has dedicated her entire professional career towards improving the lives of working families. She began her career in public service as a caseworker for New York City s Child Welfare Administration, providing direct assistance to abused and neglected children. An active member of her local labor union, the Social Service Employees Union, Local 371, DC 37 of AFSCME, she quickly rose through the ranks to become the Vice President for Political Action & Legislative Affairs, where she became one of the most respected labor leaders in New York State. As a labor official, she actively and successfully campaigned for an increase in the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.15 the first raise for New Yorkers in over a decade. As a Senator and Chair of the Labor Committee she continued her commitment to workers by supporting and advocating for a further increase to $9.00 to be phased in over the next three years that was included in the Executive Budget. In 2004, she was elected to represent the 23rd Senatorial District, which encompasses the North and East Shores of Staten Island and portions of Southern Brooklyn, including Bensonhurst, Brighton Beach, Coney Island, Dyker Heights, Gravesend and Sunset Park. In their endorsement of Senator Savino, the New York Times described her as scrappy and effective. Her dedication to her constituents earned her the Staten Island Advance s strongest endorsement for a third term, saying no lawmaker works harder and no lawmaker commits herself to the fight for her constituents more than Ms. Savino". City and State Newspaper has rated her as one of the 100 Most Influential People in New York State (2013 and 2014) and one of the 100 Most Influential People in New York City (2014). Senator Savino s hard-work and influence was evidenced as she championed the Compassionate Care Act through the legislative process despite opposition and misinformation. The ACT will allow New Yorkers with serious medical conditions limited access to medical marijuana under the supervision of health care professionals and under strict state regulations. Senator Savino has championed legislation protecting hard-working New Yorkers. Among the laws she has had enacted is the first in the nation Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, expanding basic worker protection rights to domestic workers; the Prompt Pay Bill, which ensures prompt payment to construction contractors and their employees; Wage Theft Prevention Act, assessing preventative and punitive measures on employers that steal income from their employees; and another national first The New York State Commercial Goods Transportation Industry Fair Play Act, establishing new standards for determining whether a commercial truck driver is an employee or an independent contractor, helping to further protect workers' rights statewide. Senator Savino currently serves as Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Labor and has previously served as chair of both the Civil Service and Pensions Committee and the Children and Families Committee. From those committees she authored the law that would limit public authorities from contracting out for services that can be performed by public employees; provided a cost-of-living increase in the death benefit for widows and widowers of police S.I.D.A. February 2016 Page 7

8 officers and fire fighters killed in the line of duty and expanded and made permanent the Family Differential Response (FAR) Program. In January of 2011, Senator Savino co-founded the Independent Democratic Conference to provide a clear break from the dysfunction that had defined Albany for too long and to allow for a return to governance that her constituents expect and deserve. She serves as the Independent Democratic Conference s Liaison to the Executive Chamber. Local initiatives include the establishment of a Quiet Zone on the Staten Island Ferry; Access-a-Ride, Railway, Ferry and Express Bus Service Surveys; a Mobile District Office; the annual Back to School Blasts to give away free school supplies to students; Veterans Benefit and Job Fair; Street Games; Soap Box Derbies; Read to Lead literacy programs; Women s Health Events; a series of hearings on the foreclosure and subprime lending crisis; district-wide workshops for seniors on the Medicare prescription drug plan, and statewide hearings on Heroin and Opioid abuse and HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine. Senator Savino sponsors a wide array of programs in the 23rd District, including the only kosher soup kitchen in New York City, Staten Island s Downtown Drive-In Movies, a mobile mammography unit, as well as a wide variety of programs for at-risk youth and senior citizens. Standing Committee Assignments: Labor (Chair present), Banks, Children and Families (Chair, Sessions), Civil Service and Pensions (Chair, Sessions), Consumer Protections, Elections, Finance, Health, Higher Education, Subcommittee on New York City Education and Senate Bi-Partisan Task Force on Hurricane Sandy and Senate Bi- Partisan Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction. Letters We in S.I.D.A. like to make our views known. The following are some of the letters written by S.I.D.A. members that have appeared in print. Unless otherwise indicated, all letters were in the Staten Island Advance and/or posted on the Advance s website Unless explicitly stated, the views herein are those of the authors and are not the views of S.I.D.A. On-line January 22, 2016 Printed January 31, 2016 Incumbents Thrive in Managed Democracy I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment expressed in the Staten Island Advance late last year that it is a problem for a democracy when we are not presented with choices. Unfortunately, a choice may signal a managed democracy rather than an actual democracy. One need not think very hard for examples of managed democracies. In his 2012 election, Russian President Putin unsurprisingly triumphed with percent of the vote against a billionaire and an established member of the Communist Party. In his 2014 election, Egyptian General Sisi won 96 percent of the vote against his challenger. Over in Iran, three years ago Hassan Rouhani beat out five candidates selected by the appointed members of the Guardian Council. When measuring our democracy against a managed democracy one sees incumbents choosing their voters (i.e., partisan redistricting), the government bribing voters (i.e., an S.I.D.A. February 2016 Page 8

9 unexpected tax refund in the mail just prior to the election), government supported candidates (i.e., the government paying for the literature and the campaigning of the incumbents), and a one-party system (i.e., incumbents throwing their support behind incumbents from the opposing party). Sadly, what we have on Staten Island sounds frighteningly like a managed democracy. My experience as a political candidate seems to have borne out this disappointing perception. When addressing a veterans' group as a political candidate, I felt more than a little disheartened that those aging warriors who had given so much for democracy, had returned to what passes for democracy on Staten Island. When I spoke up about these matters to the veterans, not surprisingly, I was told by the moderator to not be critical of the incumbents. - Gary Carsel On-line January 27, 2016 Workers Deserve Paid Leave for Family Obligations What does the U.S. have in common with Papua New Guinea and the African nations of Lesotho and Swaziland? The U.S. is one of only four nations that don't offer paid leave for women after childbirth. In 2015, Senator Gillibrand introduced the Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act (S. 786). This legislation will provide workers with up to 12 weeks of paid leave during a calendar year when they take time for their own serious health condition, including pregnancy and childbirth recovery, and to handle family obligations such as the serious health condition of a child, parent or spouse. Those granted leave under Senator Gillibrand's bill will receive 66 percent of their pay, up to a maximum of $4,000 a month. To pay for this insurance benefit, the employer and employee will pay a premium of two dollars for every $1,000 in salary. For example, if someone earned $50,000 a year, the employee will have to pay a $100 premium for the year and the employer would have to pay a $100 premium. Paid leave is an issue, like Social Security and Medicare, that defines Democrats and Republicans. Democrats believe that the role of government is to be responsive to the needs of its people. Republicans believe that the fewer government programs there are the better. It is therefore not surprising that none of the 20 cosponsors of Senator Gillibrand's bill are Republicans. In the House, all 116 members signed onto the bill are Democrats. Congressman Donovan is not a supporter of the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act (H.R. 1439). If we are truly a nation that believes in the importance of the family, then it is time for the U.S. to join the rest of the world and grant workers paid leave to handle their family obligations. - Richard Reichard On-line February 2, 2016 Let's Phase Out Indian Point Nuke Plant The question is: With safe alternatives such as solar, wind, geothermal and wave energy now available, why had the Indian Point Nuclear Power facility not been phased out years ago? With these safe alternatives we do not have to worry about meltdowns or serious accidents endangering lives and they do not contribute to the climate change disaster facing us. I think it is in our best interest to educate ourselves about the dangers we face with a nuclear plant that aged out years ago and is so close to home. - Jay Bocchicchio S.I.D.A. February 2016 Page 9

10 On-line February 2, 2016 Close Indian Point; Come to Feb. 18 Forum It's been years since the Advance has covered the efforts to shut down the aging 40-year-old Indian Point Nuclear Power Facility that lies just north of NYC on the Hudson River and presents a concern to us on Staten Island, especially after what we saw happen in the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster in Japan on March 12, Maybe it's time to check in because it looks like it can finally be shut down. We even have Governor Cuomo and New York State working actively to make this happen. Indian Point's owner, Entergy Corporation, spends a lot of money on ads and campaign donations to convince us that New York will suffer severe economic consequences if these plants are shut down. But the truth is that only 4-6 percent of New York City's energy comes from Indian Point and all of this can more than be made up with renewable energy sources and conservation savings. There's an opportunity to learn more: Come to a forum on Indian Point, sponsored by Peace Action of Staten Island and other community and environmental groups, on Thursday, Feb. 18, at 6:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Church of Staten Island, 312 Fillmore Street. - Sally Jones December 2015 Minutes P General Meeting December 15, 2015 resident Olbrich called the meeting to order at 8:10 p.m. She mentioned that due to rowdiness at recent meetings she decided to appoint Richard Reichard, Bobbi Digi and Phil Jonas to serve as Sergeants at Arms at future meetings. All three agreed to serve in this capacity. Vice President s Report Vice President Susan Chew presented highlights from the recent Executive Committee meeting. Susan Chew made a motion to join the G.M.O. Coalition. The motion carried with one opposed. Minutes Bryan Ellicott made a motion to accept November s minutes as printed in the newsletter. Mary Kain seconded the motion. The motion carried. Executive Secretary s Report Executive Secretary Mark Herman announced that this would be his last meeting serving as Executive Secretary. He spoke about how much it meant to him and thanked the members for their support over the years. The members gave Mark a standing ovation. President Olbrich gave kudos to Roy Moskowitz and other members of the Executive Committee for the work they did organizing the recent holiday party held on December 10. President Olbrich announced that New York s Presidential Primary will be held on April 19. On that day we will vote to choose delegates to the Democratic National Convention. S.I.D.A. February 2016 Page 10

11 Guest Speaker Tom D Angora mentioned that he is working with Hillary Clinton s Campaign, Hillary for America. He spoke about Hillary s background, her position on various important issues, and her vision for the country. He urged members to get involved with the campaign. After the presentation he took questions from several members. Executive Committee Candidates The following candidates running for Officer Positions gave brief presentations: President - Joann Olbrich; Vice President Bobby Digi; Executive Secretary Rich Florentino and Dennis Brown; Corresponding and Recording Secretary Marie Dwyer; Social Secretary Bryan Ellicott; and Treasurer Bonnie Rothman. The following candidates running for Member at- Large positions also gave brief presentations: Jill Latman, Clara Ogburn, Charlotte Mentzer Sharma, Susan Chew, Sharon Santana, Roy Moskowitz. Susan Chew delivered statements for Robert Holst and Carl Chew, as both were unable to attend the meeting. President Olbrich reminded members to send their 200 word statements to Chris Bauer by December 31. President Olbrich announced that Bernie Sanders campaign chose three provisional delegates, S.I.D.A. members Tom Shcherbenko, Anne Taylor and Gary Carsel. She also announced that two provisional delegates were chosen on the Brooklyn side. President Olbrich gave all three candidates a few minutes to speak to the members about why they decided to support Bernie Sanders for President. President Olbrich also announced that Bryan Ellicott is running as a delegate for Hillary Clinton s campaign for President. She gave Bryan a few minutes to speak to members about his background and the reasons he decided to support Hillary Clinton. President Olbrich mentioned that people running as delegates for President will start petitioning on December 29. President Olbrich also explained some rules about the upcoming S.I.D.A. Election to be held on January 19. New Business Gary Carsel reminded members that in November the club passed a resolution asking Senators Savino and Klein to rejoin the regular conference. He mentioned to members about the fact that Senator Savino and her companion, Senator Klein were selected to be Masters of Ceremony at the South Shore s Sparkle of Winter luncheon to be held on January 10. He made a motion for S.I.D.A. to send notice to the South Shore Club censuring them for inviting the Senators to be Masters of Ceremony at their January 10 luncheon. President Olbrich said that she doesn t think we have the right to dictate to the South Shore Club and that both Senators would be there as guests for social reasons. Sally Jones made a friendly amendment that we send an educational letter to the South Shore Club. Dennis Brown asked Gary to drop his motion. Gary accepted Sally s friendly amendment. The motion read as follows Send an educational letter to the South Shore Democratic Club about our November resolution and to explain what the I.D.C. is about. The motion failed with three in favor, 17 opposed, and two abstentions The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted Marie Dwyer Corresponding & Recording Secretary S.I.D.A. February 2016 Page 11

12 January 2016 Minutes P Annual Meeting January 19, 2016 resident Olbrich called the meeting to order at 8:00 p m. Joy Robins made a motion to close the 1 st part of the S.I.D.A. Election ballots at 9:00 p.m. Susan Chew seconded the motion. David Jones made a friendly amendment to change the time to 9:15 p.m. President Olbrich suggested that the time be changed to 9:05 p.m. Joy accepted the friendly amendment. The motion carried. Mary Kain, Cindy Lowney, and David Jones volunteered to collect and count the ballots. President Olbrich announced that members would be called to get their ballots one table at a time. Vice President s Report Vice President Susan Chew presented highlights from the recent Executive Committee meeting held on December 30, Essay Contest Committee Susan Chew also announced that President Olbrich asked her to take over as Chair for the Essay Contest which was established to honor Loretta and Gene Prisco. Susan added that the first committee meeting will be held at her home on January 20. Executive Secretary s Report Dennis Brown reported on Mark Herman s behalf. Mark sent regards to everyone in the club. He told members that he was in the hospital because he fell and broke five ribs and otherwise he would have been at the meeting. Dennis added that Mark wanted to encourage everyone in the club to continue to work on issues that are progressive and truly democratic ideas and concerns on behalf of all the people instead of special interests. He also wanted to remind S.I.D.A. members that we must remain true to our founding principles as a progressive democratic organization devoted to electing and supporting good democrats to public office. [This was Mark s final message to the club as Executive Secretary. I called Dennis to make sure I accurately reported Mark s words. Over the years, Mark would occasionally say Marie make sure that is in the minutes. He would also call me to make sure I recorded certain items in a particular way. He kept us all on our toes as he was one of the founding members of this club. Mark you were a wonderful friend to all of us and the memories will live on in our hearts forever. S.I.D.A. will never be the same. Marie] President Olbrich announced that minutes from the December meeting were ed to the members and since some people didn t read them we wait to vote on them next month. She also mentioned that the minutes will be published in February s newsletter. President Olbrich also mentioned that several members of the club are running as Bernie Sanders delegates and are in the process of getting signatures for the petitions. There are also some that are running as Hillary Clinton delegates. President Olbrich added that petitions have to be turned in by the end of January. S.I.D.A. February 2016 Page 12

13 Guest Speakers Phil Jonas introduced the guest speakers for the evening, Monica Weiss and Dan Hanson members of both the Climate Reality Project and 350 NYC. Monica and Dan presented a very interesting and informative program with a slide show. They spoke about how climate change is causing immense human suffering and damage to the natural world. It threatens the collapse of civilization within this century. They feel confronting this crisis is the great moral imperative of our time. They encourage members to reach out to the elected officials to help prevent climate change by immediately commencing a social and economic mobilization to restore a climate that is safe, stable and supportive of human civilization. After the presentation, Monica and Dan took questions from members. They also distributed several handouts from 350 NYC. Treasurer s Report Treasurer Bonnie Rothman reported the following balances: $8, $8, President Olbrich gave kudos to her Executive Committee and she told members to look at the ad she placed on page 22 of the January newsletter. Issues Committee Committee Chair Richard Reichard reported that he knows there are some members are currently working on new position papers. He asked that they contact him when the papers are ready so he can get an ad hoc committee together to review them. Results of Officer Election All the officers were re-elected to office. Dennis Brown was reported as the winner in the contested election for Executive Secretary. President Olbrich announced that since Dennis won as Executive Secretary he would not be running in the election for Members at-large. Treasurer Bonnie Rothman asked members to circle the names that they are voting for on the 2 nd Ballot to avoid any confusion as to who you are voting for. Social Secretary s Report Social Secretary Roy Moskowitz reported that he felt last month s holiday party was a success. He also mentioned that Susan was taking over as Chair of the Essay Contest and after this meeting Bryan Ellicott would be taking over as Social Secretary. President Olbrich announced that the Application for the Lathrope Voorspuy Memorial Scholarship is in the centerfold of January s S.I.D.A. newsletter. Current President of the L.V.M.S. Cindy Voorspuy urged S.I.D.A. members to tell others to apply for the scholarship. Sally Jones announced that a Forum Shutting down the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant is scheduled to be held on February 18. The event is sponsored by Peace Action and the Unitarian Church. Sally made a motion to ask S.I.D.A. to co-sponsor the February 18 forum. Richard Reichard seconded the motion. The motion carried. S.I.D.A. February 2016 Page 13

14 Unfinished Business President Olbrich asked members to let her know if they have specific requests for speakers and programs. Joy Robins made a motion to close the ballots for Members at-large at 9:50 p.m. The motion carried. Bobby Digi spoke about his event canvassing for Occupy the Block scheduled for January 22, 8 p.m. at 150 Victory Boulevard. Bobby asked members to support the event and help get his message out. President Olbrich gave kudos and congratulations to Rosemarie Magnano (President of the South Shore Democratic Club) for the great event held on January 10. Rosemarie thanked S.I.D.A. for their ad and for sending President Olbrich to the event. Jenny from Letitia James s office provided an update from the Public Advocate s Office and distributed flyers for the Human Rights Forum to be held on January 26. Member at-large Election David Jones reported the results. The five members with the highest number of votes were elected: Clara Ogburn Carl Chew Susan Chew Roy Moskowitz Robert Holst Charlotte Mentzer Sharma Sharon Santana Rich Florentino Jill Latman... 8 Thank you to all the candidates for running. President Olbrich announced that anyone of the members can attend the monthly Executive Committee meetings but only elected members can vote. President Olbrich asked Executive Committee members to let her know whether they prefer Executive committee meetings on a Wednesday or Thursday so she can set up the first Executive Committee meeting of the year. She also thanked officers and Members-at large that served on the Executive Committee during this past year and encouraged them to continue to attend the monthly meetings. The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted Marie Dwyer Corresponding & Recording Secretary S.I.D.A. February 2016 Page 14

15 Congressman Donovan Votes S.I.D.A. member Richard Reichard has been compiling the voting record of Congressman Donovan. Here are the votes from January 6. For prior votes please see the S.I.D.A. website O Congressman Donovan Votes Since January 6, 2016 n January 6, 2016, Congressman Donovan voted yea on the motion to concur with the Senate amendment to the Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015, H.R (roll call vote 6) (See October 23, 2015 roll call vote 568 for details of Act.) An analysis of the impact of the Act by the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation estimated that the number of nonelderly people in the United States with health insurance coverage would decline by about 16 million in most years, of which 10% to 15%would be children. On January 7, 2016, Congressman Donovan voted yea on the Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2015, H.R. 712 (roll call vote 12). The Act will impede the ability of federal agencies to protect public health, welfare, safety, and our environment, as well as to promote economic growth, innovation, competitiveness, and job creation by requiring numerous, cumbersome layers of reporting from the agencies. It would introduce redundant processes for litigation settlements and spawn excessive, expensive, and time-consuming regulatory litigation. A yea vote is an anti-regulation vote. On January 7, 2016, Congressman Donovan voted yea on the Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessarily Burdensome Act of 2015 ( SCRUB Act), H.R 1155 (roll call vote 20). The SCRUB Act sets an arbitrary goal of cutting regulatory costs by 15%. It also requires that a federal agency could not issue a new regulation unless it cut old regulations that impose equal costs on the economy. A yea vote is an anti-regulation vote. On January 8, 2016, Congressman Donovan voted yea on the Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act of 2015, H.R (roll call vote 33). The Act also referred to as the Volkswagen Immunity Bill would eliminate most consumer class actions by forcing consumers to prove that they ve each suffered the exact same type and scope of injury from a company in order in order for their case to move forward as a class action. A yea vote is an anti-consumer vote. On February 2, 2016, Congressman Donovan voted yea to override President Obama s veto of the Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015, H.R (roll call vote 53). The Act prohibits, for one year, any State from using Medicaid funds to pay an entity such as Planned Parenthood that performs elective abortions. This is the fifth time since being elected that Congressman Donovan has gone back on his campaign promise not to vote to put more federal restrictions on abortions. The Act also defunds the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which was created to help prevent, detect early, and manage medical conditions before they become severe, weakens the Medicare Part A trust fund, likely making it insolvent earlier. An analysis of the impact of the Act by the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation estimated that the number of nonelderly people in the United States with health insurance coverage would decline by about 16 million in most years, of which 10% to 15%would be children. S.I.D.A. February 2016 Page 15

16 On February 2, 2016, Congressman Donovan voted yea on the Iran Terror Finance Transparency Act, H.R (roll call vote 54). The Act will prevent the U.S. from fulfilling its commitments under the P5+1 nuclear agreement with Iran. The nuclear agreement with Iran called for the lifting of sanctions designed to have Iran agree to changes to their nuclear program. Once it had been verified that Iran had reduced its stockpile of enriched uranium by 98%, removed two-thirds of their centrifuges and removed the core of their heavy water reactor at Arak, the sanctions associated with their nuclear program were to be lifted. The White House has pointed out that "U.S. statutory sanctions focused on Iran's support for terrorism, human rights abuses, and missile activities will remain in effect and continue to be enforced" A yea vote jeopardizes the agreement. If the agreement fails the time it would take for Iran to gather enough fissile material to build a nuclear weapon would be reduced from 12 months to 2 to 3 months. Bulletin Board The Soroptimist International of Staten Island Annual Ruby Awards Luncheon is Sunday, March 13, 2016 Noon to 4 pm. The honorees are: Tina Bilcher-Murphy, S.I.D.A. S own Anne Taylor-Carsel, Loretta Cauldwell, Meg Ventrudo, Olga Gaeta, Jean Ringhoff, and Gracelyn Santos. The location is The Vanderbilt at South Beach 300 Fr. Capodanno Blvd, SI NY The cost is $70. S.I.D.A. February 2016 Page 16

17 Bulletin Board Policy Items posted on the Bulletin Board are done so at the request of an S.I.D.A. member and are for informational purposes only. A posting on the Bulletin Board does not imply endorsement by S.I.D.A. S.I.D.A. February 2016 Page 17

18 Lathrope Voorspuy Memorial Scholarship Fund S.I.D.A. February 2016 Page 18

19 S.I.D.A. February 2016 Page 19

20 February 16, 2016 Genera l Meeting 8:00p.m. Charlie Brown s Steakhouse 1001 Goethals Road North State Senator Diane Savino on Paid Family Leave and N.Y.S. Budget Overview March 15, 2016 Genera l Meeting 8:00p.m. Charlie Brown s Steakhouse 1001 Goethals Road North Speaker TBD It s Time to Join or Renew Your S.I.D.A. Membership! To become a member, renew membership, or make a donation, call Bonita Rothman at (917) , or complete and return the coupon. Voting privileges begin 45 days after joining DUES DONATION $15 - Family $5 $10 - Individual $50 $5 - Senior, Student, or Unemployed $100 Other Check (payable to: S.I.D.A.) Cash I understand SIDA is a Democratic Party club. I (or we, if this is a Family Membership) am (are) at least 17 years of age and an enrolled Democrat, or intend to enroll as a Democrat upon becoming eligible. Signature Name(s) Address Apt # City State Zip Phone Make checks payable S.I.D.A. to S.I.D.A. and send to: P.O. Box Staten Island, NY For internal use only: Comp: Received $: Deposited $: Entered Sht: Computer: S.I.D.A. February 2016 Page 20