CALIFORNIA LIST celebrates Inauguration Day in Washington, DC with Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass
Just hours after the presidential inauguration on Tuesday, January 20th, CALIFORNIA LIST hosted California Dreamin’, a celebratory gathering to mark this moment in history at Johnny’s on the Half Shell in Washington, D.C. and hosted by the leaders of our California legislature.
“I am happy to be here with CALIFORNIA LIST, that gave me the support and inspiration right away as a candidate, and all that they do for women to run for office, and recognizing that it’s not just about Federal office, but supporting women in local offices, in the State Legislature.”
Karen Bass, Speaker of the California State Assembly
“I want to thank the CALIFORNIA LIST for your groundbreaking work. Today means so much to this country and to the world. I think the number one thing it means to me is that barriers are meant to be broken. There’s nothing that we can’t do, there’s no place where a person can’t strive to become whatever they want to be — no matter who they are. That’s the Barack Obama story, that’s the CALIFORNIA LIST story, that’s the story of this country and it’s going to be the story of the next 8 years in this country. So let us celebrate tonight! You know, someone was saying to me tonight, 100 years from now, 200, 300 years from now, this day will be remembered in history. And we were all part of it, January 20, 2009!”
Darrell Steinberg, Speaker Pro Tempore, California State Senate
CALIFORNIA LIST presents Pink Collar Politics
The Democratic Party’s success in 2008 wasn’t just a result of charismatic, qualified candidates or dissatisfaction with the Republican leadership — it came from a strategy of building and growing Democratic activists from the ground up in all 50 states. It is in this spirit that we are introducing Pink Collar Politics: The Status of Elected Women in California.
Renee Brown Holt, a California for Obama campaign alum, will be helping organize community gatherings where we share ideas and meet local elected officials and 2010 candidates. Read Renee’s account of working on the Obama campaign and how it inspired Pink Collar Politics here.
Political Commentary by Bettina Duval
Dissent carries a negative connotation that many view as the unproductive workings of social malcontents. Without a doubt some forms of rebellion breed strife, but some are simplistic strategies produced by those with limited resources in an effort to affect a degree of change. Read More.
While running his campaign, President Barack Obama promised that, if elected, his administration would champion the rights of women, especially in the area of equality. True to his pledge, he has already begun working on this vital issue, a mere 53 days into his Presidency. As the Founder of CALIFORNIA LIST, a group that fosters women’s rights in the political arena, I was particularly moved by President Obama’s signing of an Executive Order on March 11 establishing the White House Council on Women and Girls. Citing his mother, grandmother, and wife as personal examples, President Obama wants to make clear that areas like equal pay, family leave and child care are not just women’s issues, but that they are family and economic issues. Those of us who work tirelessly to advance this cause realize that we are still far from equality, especially in the workplace. During his announcement the President said, “The purpose of this Council is to ensure that American women and girls are treated fairly in all matters of public policy.” I say, it’s about time!
California is known for leading the way when it comes to governmental policy, and women’s issues have long been an important focus for the Golden State – especially when it comes to electing women. From Esto Broughton, who was a suffragette and one of the first women elected to our state legislature, to Nancy Pelosi, the first woman Speaker of the House – California women often lead the charge for equality. In fact, many of our cities have already established resources for women and girls dating back to 1974, through the creation of Commissions on the Status of Women. Up and down the state, from San Diego to San Francisco, the commissions are dedicated to serving as a source and a networking channel on issues that impact women and girls throughout the state. In Los Angeles alone, the Association of California Commissions for Women supported the introduction 13 pieces of legislation on behalf of women in California in the 2007/2008 legislative session. And in most cases, those bills were drafted and sponsored by women legislators.
CALIFORNIA LIST understands that elected women are most likely to advocate issues that matter to women in our state – that’s why we know electing women is important. Many of our endorsed candidates who were elected to serve in the legislature are avid voices for equal pay for woman, elder care, and women’s health issues. Assemblywoman Julia Brownley stood firm against human trafficking with AB 2810; Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani fought against the exploitation of minors with AB 426 and former Senator Sheila Kuehl drafted SB1489 to establish workplace protections to domestic violence and sexual assault victims. CALIFORNIA LIST supported these women early in their campaigns because electing women matters!
We’ve come a long way, but there is still much to be done. Today, only 33 of our legislators in California are women and that number continues to drop each election cycle. In 2010, we will lose six women due to term limits – we must reverse this decline if we are truly to fulfill the promise of democracy for all people.
A serious focus from Washington on fairness and equality for women will help. Legislation is moving through the House of Representatives to create a Commission on Women and Girls. Please sign this letter to the California delegation urging them to support it.
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Congratulations to Congresswoman Hilda Solis who was confirmed as Secretary of Labor this afternoon!
Secretary Hilda Solis is one of the reasons that I founded the CALIFORNIA List. I was working for EMILY’s List and met then California State Senator Hilda Solis, who was running for Congress. She was challenging longtime Congressman Marty Martinez, who she believed did not represent the district with any enthusiasm or effectiveness. It was inspiring to watch her as a candidate and she won! I saw first hand how the pipeline of terrific, qualified leaders works, and I see it again today as Barack Obama’s choice of one of California’s finest public servants was confirmed by the Senate 80-17.
Read More.
“My concern is immigration—I think I’ve been shut out of jobs as a restaurant chef on the (Las Vegas) Strip by illegals because the hotels can pay them less.”
“My worry is healthcare—I’ve got a 10 year old autistic son and no one will pay for the coverage I think he needs to help him function.”
“My worry is the war in Iraq—my friend’s son is over there and we both feel that it’s now time for the Iraqis themselves to step up and start governing so we can bring our military home.”
And my worry was the outcome of the 2008 Presidential election. So when I heard that the Obama campaign needed volunteers to canvas voters in Nevada, I decided it was time to go. I didn’t want to wake up on November 5 feeling that I had once again missed the opportunity to make a difference, as I had in 2000 and 2004.
What I discovered in Las Vegas, in some of the poorest, roughest areas where I was sent to canvas, is that people in this country want to be heard. By someone; by anyone. They want to share their concerns, their worries; want to believe that things can change, that our government cares about them. They needed to be told that their vote counted.
Read More.
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