With Congress in recess, now is a good time to reflect on a simple fact: Democrats get things done by Ann Reichlin Given the tsunami of news pertaining to the indictments of the former president, the actual positive impacts of legislation passed by Democrats and signed by Joe Biden hardly get noticed. Here are just two examples of how Democrats get things done: Making the Internet More Affordable Having access to high-speed, affordable service is essential to success in our internet-connected world. The Affordable Connectivity Program, passed as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, helps offset the cost of broadband by offering a $30-per-month credit on broadband bills for income-eligible customers. Tribal customers are eligible for additional credits. Access this program through the websites of internet providers such as Spectrum and Verizon. Energy Tax Credits The Inflation Reduction Act passed by a Democratic Congress and signed by Democratic president Joe Biden provides several tax credits for energy efficiency and clean energy. This link to the IRS page shows what types of federal energy credits are available this year. A recent Washington Post story describes other ways the Inflation Reduction Act works towards clean energy goals.

Our annual summer party, held this year at CRS Barn Studio in Lansing, featured guest speaker Kathy Hochul. New York’s first woman governor fired up the guests with a spirited reminder of the values we share as Democrats. State Assemblywoman Anna Kelles and Senator Webb also spoke. New York Supreme Court candidate Deirdre Hay took advantage of our summer party to huddle with Governor Hochul to discuss various initiatives for New York State. She also participated in the Groton Olde Town Day Parade with the Groton Democrats! Hay’s campaign now has lawn signs; click on this link to request a sign or bumper sticker, or to volunteer. For an overview of her campaign, visit www.hayfornysjustice.com.

TCDC and the Town of Ithaca Democratic Committee hosted Family Fun Day at Stewart Park on August 20. A free event where residents of the City and Town of Ithaca could learn about local government, Fun Day also gave visitors a chance to meet local Democratic candidates and elected public officials. Family Fun Day (L-R): New York Supreme Court nominee Deirdre Hay, Fun Day co-organizer Liz Hartman and State Senator Lea Webb.

Support Your Local Elections! In Texas, local governments are considering new laws that would make it illegal to transport anyone to get an abortion on roads within their municipal limits. Imagine if abortion became illegal in New York state but remained legal in Connecticut, and the Broome County legislature adopted the Texas law. A person suspected of driving a woman from Ithaca to Danbury along Route 79 could be sued for “abortion trafficking” by a stranger in Whitney Point. Local government matters. Local elections matter, too. 2023 is proving to be a robust year for local elections in Tompkins County. Voters in the City of Ithaca will elect a new mayor and fill all ten seats on Common Council. Candidates are running for councilperson, supervisor, clerk, highway superintendent and justice in the towns of Caroline, Danby, Dryden, Enfield, Ithaca, Lansing, Newfield, and Ulysses. County Judge Joe Cassidy, who is seeking re-election, and Deidre Hay, who is running to become a Justice on the New York State Supreme Court, will also be on the ballot. Some would call this an “off” year, saving their attention, enthusiasm and donations for presidential elections. But the facts speak for themselves: In the U.S. we […]

Young people have been turning out to vote in opposition to Donald Trump and the Republican culture wars since 2018. A recent Harvard Youth poll indicates that the trend toward progressive attitudes on issues like gun control and climate change action shows no signs of flagging. The question for Democrats is, How can we help these new voters turn their opinions into votes for our candidates? Source: Harvard Youth Poll

Declaring that “Members of Congress should never be able to take advantage of their positions to make a profit trading stocks,” U.S.Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has introduced bipartisan legislation to ban members of Congress, senior executive branch officials, and their families from holding and trading stocks. Her Ban Stock Trading for Government Officials Act would make sure government leaders put the interests of the American public first and would impose harsh penalties on those who violate the law.

Can a TCDC member publicly support a Democratic candidate who lost their primary? Now that the 2023 primary season in Tompkins County is over, congratulations are in order for the Democratic candidates. They have shown great commitment to the democratic process, spending weeks reaching out to voters, defining their position on the issues and sharing their ideas about governing. Primary winners are now considered Democratic nominees. They advance to the next stage—the General Election—with the full support and recognition of the Tompkins County Democratic Committee (TCDC), which comprises members of the town and ward committees. Over the past few weeks there have been inquiries about TCDC’s role in endorsing candidates. People have asked how they might publicly support a Democratic nominee’s opponent. As TCDC members, we are governed by By-law Article VII, Section 2: “A member or officer of the County Committee will be removed, upon two-thirds vote of the County Committee for corruption in office, or for publicly supporting the opponent of a duly nominated Democratic candidate for public office after notice and charges to be brought by the Executive Committee to be heard by the full County Committee.” Carrying out this process would be arduous. It would require […]

Note: This message about the ERA has been updated and will run in Tompkins Weekly as the August Democratic View. Be sure to look for it this week! One Hundred Years Later, Let’s Ratify the Equal Rights Amendment! Older Democrats will remember the push to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in the 1970s and 1980s. How many of us remember that the ERA was first proposed a century ago? You can relive that historical moment at the ERA Centennial March and Rally in nearby Seneca Falls, where the amendment was first introduced on July 21, 1923. The march and rally are the final events of the first day of the ERA Centennial Convention, to be held July 21 and 22. We’ve made enormous strides toward elevating the status of women and people across the gender spectrum since 1923. Yet here we are in the 21st century, facing attacks on our rights at the federal, state and local levels. Clearly, there is still work to be done. The distinct absence of an explicit prohibition against sex discrimination in the Constitution remains the key impediment to attaining gender equality and women’s progress overall. The ERA is an important tool that will […]

In keeping with his efforts to paint himself as a moderate, Congressman Marc Molinaro continues to straddle the political divide by touting his nice-guy persona on social media while simultaneously voting for partisan GOP priorities. Some of Molinaro’s recent votes include a vote in favor of gridlock such as HR 277, which would require Congress to approve many new rules generated by the executive branch before they could take effect; a vote in favor of legislation that would prevent new regulations pertaining to gas stoves from taking effect, and a vote in favor of censuring Adam Schiff. Molinaro won’t say a word about the egregious behavior of Donald Trump, the GOP’s de facto leader. Instead, he voted to punish the colleague—Representative Schiff—who brought Trump’s misbehavior to light. How is that “moderate?” by Ann Reichlin

The July Democratic View opinion column in Tompkins Weekly notes that the Democratic Party isn’t perfectly inclusive—yet. But we actively promote inclusivity, diversity and equity, because we thrive best as a nation when we’re not busy trying to hold each other down—or keep each other out. Read it here. by Claudia Wheatley