Polk County Democratic Party Weekly Digest: August 16-22, 2021
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Statement by President Joe Biden on Afghanistan
The news about the collapse of Afghanistan will continue to develop over the coming days. At the time of compiling the Weekly Digest, this was the most recent statement coming from the Biden Administration.
Related: Democrats defend Afghan withdrawal amid Taliban advance
“Staying one more year in Afghanistan means we stay forever, because if 20 years of laborious training and equipping of the Afghan security forces had this little impact on their ability to fight, then another 50 years wouldn’t change anything,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said this week on the Senate floor.
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ICYMI: Polk County DEC chair Catherine Price penned a guest column for the Lakeland Ledger, that was printed last week, titled: Jan. 6 was just the beginning of the GOP's attempt to control elections.
In part, the column made clear the Democrats' position that the events at the Capitol on Jan. 6 led to an insurrection. Catherine also raised concerns that the insurrection was just the beginning of the GOP's attempts to further thwart democracy.
"We are living through historically difficult times. This letter is a public challenge and clarion call to our community. Let’s work together to elect people who will work for all of us, not just the well-off people at the top of the GOP donor list."
The column can be found here.
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR - Legislative Delegation Meeting
Representative Colleen Burton, Chair Designate of the Polk County Legislative Delegation, has announced that a Legislative Delegation meeting will be held on October 26, from 1:30 pm – 6:00 pm, at the Center for Public Safety Building, 1251 Jim Keene Blvd., Winter Haven.
The annual public meeting is an opportunity for citizens, elected county and city officials and members of civic organizations to address the delegation before the 2022 state legislative session begins.
We have been advised that those interested in speak before the delegation will have a chance to register starting Oct. 1. Further details will be provided when that system opens.
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Training Opportunities
Have you wanted to do a Mobilize event for your Club or Caucus, or for your get togethers? We are here to help. Easily manage events & build advocacy in a whole new way.
Please join the Polk DEC PR & Publicity Committee to see how to increase your membership to your Club & Caucuses by learning how to use the mobilize.us.com training. This will be a virtual meeting.
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The Democratic National Committee is offering virtual training sessions this week for those interested in learning how to get involved in organizing their community and laying important groundwork for Democrats.
We Are All Organizers: Community Organizing Training will be held 7.30-9.00 pm both Tuesday, Aug 17, and Thursday, Aug 19, via Zoom. Register here to receive a link.
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Call to Action
In March, President Biden put forward a bold plan to invest $174 billion in electrifying the nation’s transportation system. In bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, though, that investment has been cut to a mere $7.5 billion, just 4% of what President Biden wanted for Americans!
There is a possibility that additional EV funding could be added into the upcoming reconciliation bill in the Senate, but this is FAR from a done deal, due to opposition in Congress.
Tell your members of Congress the president’s original proposal to fund our clean transportation future is crucial for our great nation! Show your support for full EV funding here.
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Postponed: The Florida Democratic Party's annual Leadership Blue Convention has been postponed due to the rise in COVID cases in Florida, and Orange County. Please see the statement from organizers, here.
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Senate OKs Dems’ $3.5T budget in latest win for Biden
Democrats pushed a $3.5 trillion framework for bolstering family services, health and environment programs through the Senate early Wednesday, advancing President Joe Biden’s expansive vision for reshaping federal priorities just hours after handing him a companion triumph on a hefty infrastructure package.
Lawmakers approved Democrats’ budget resolution on a party-line 50-49 vote, a crucial step for a president and party set on training the government’s fiscal might on assisting families, creating jobs and fighting climate change. Higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations would pay for much of it. Passage came despite an avalanche of Republican amendments intended to make their rivals pay a price in next year’s elections for control of Congress.
House leaders announced their chamber will return from summer recess in two weeks to vote on the fiscal blueprint, which contemplates disbursing the $3.5 trillion over the next decade. Final congressional approval, which seems certain, would protect a subsequent bill actually enacting the outline’s detailed spending and tax changes from a Republican filibuster in the 50-50 Senate, delays that would otherwise kill it.
For more, click here.
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Judge vows 'expedited case' on DeSantis schools mask order
A Florida judge on Friday gave defense attorneys until noon today to file a motion to dismiss a case that challenges Gov. Ron DeSantis' ban against school mask mandates.
The lawsuit from a group of Florida parents says the governor's order preventing school districts from requiring masks violates state’s constitution, which grants power to local school boards to operate, control and supervise classes within their districts.
For the full story, click here.
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U.S. jobless claims near pandemic low as economy strengthens
The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell for a third straight time last week, the latest sign that employers are laying off fewer people as they struggle to fill a record number of open jobs and meet a surge in consumer demand.
More information here.
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Census shows big population growth in Florida
Based on population figures from 10 years ago, the U.S. Census Bureau data released last week showed growth throughout Central Florida, with Lake and Sumter counties helping push The Villages to the fastest growing area in the United States.
Statewide, Florida now has a population of 21,552,798 people, a jump of 15%.
For details, click here.
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Inside Fox News, DeSantis is ‘the future of the party.’ And he’s taking advantage.
Details of staged news events were captured in four months of emails between Fox and DeSantis’ office, obtained by the Tampa Bay Times through a records request. The correspondences, which totaled 1,250 pages, lay bare how DeSantis has wielded the country’s largest conservative megaphone and show a striking effort by Fox to inflate the Republican’s profile.
Click here for the full story.
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Federal judge orders Biden administration to reinstate 'Remain in Mexico' policy
A federal judge late Friday revived a Trump-era immigration policy that ordered asylum-seekers to remain in Mexico as they waited for their U.S. court hearings.
President Joe Biden halted the controversial Migrant Protection Protocols border policy, known as "Remain in Mexico," during his first days in office, making good on a campaign promise. The program required thousands of non-Mexican migrants to wait in Mexico– an unprecedented handling of immigration protocol.
Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, directed the Biden administration to reinstate the program, saying the administration “failed to consider several critical factors” when ending the program. Kacsmaryk delayed his order for seven days to give the administration a chance to appeal.
More information here.
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Campaign Updates
Starting this week, the Weekly Digest will provide campaign updates involving local Democratic candidates for the upcoming elections in November 2021 and 2022. A report on any given candidate when there is more than one Democrat candidate running for the same position is not an endorsement from the Polk County DEC on that candidate. This is only to keep voters informed.
Ex-comedian running as Democrat in U.S. House-15
Eddie Geller, a former standup comedian and actor, announced his candidacy as a Democrat in U.S. House District 15 by releasing a video Thursday that mimics the opening credits of a TV comedy.
Geller, 37, a Brandon resident, joins Jesse Philippe of Riverview in the Democratic primary race for the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Scott Franklin, R-Lakeland, who is in his first term. Another Democrat, Lily Ramcharran of Winter Garden, ended her candidacy in April.
District 15 covers northern Polk County, eastern Hillsborough County and southern Lake County.
Alan Grayson enters race for Florida’s U.S. Senate seat
Brash, progressive former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson is running for the U.S. Senate.
The three-term Democratic former Congressman from Central Florida has been exploring the possibility of a U.S. Senate run since March, and on Friday began running social media ads attacking Republican Sen. Marco Rubio and touting his own commitment to universal health care.
The Democratic primary field is dominated by another Orlando-area Democrat, U.S. Rep. Val Demings. Both live in Windermere.
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Important Dates and Meetings
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Steering Committee & Regular DEC Meetings
The next Regular DEC Meeting will be held on Monday, September 13 Click here to register.
(Regular DEC meetings are on 2nd Monday of the month)
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A pizza part theme at Jensen's Corner Bar Outdoor Patio, 100 3rd St SW, Winter Haven. Guest speakers will be Lakeland City Commission candidates Dr. Shandale Terrell, for District D, and Allyson Lewis, for District C.
PR & Publicity Committee - Thursday at 7 pm
Interested in PR & Publicity, social media, letters to the editor, ect? Please join our monthly meeting, which will be held virtually for now.
Special guest speaker will be Olivia Thompson from The Blueprint. She will be teaching us how to make the most of our social media to put the word out that there are indeed Democrats in Polk County.
Upcoming Polk County DEC Mobilize Events
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Keep us up to date: If you would like to feature what your club or caucus is doing or introduce a new president, other office holder or person of interest, please send information to polkdemwd@gmail.com
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Democratic Party of Polk County, Club & Caucus Links
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Mailing Address:
Due to the pandemic the Democratic Party of Polk County has closed the office in Lakeland.
The mailing address is the following:
The Democratic Party of Polk County, 6039 Cypress Gardens Boulevard, Suite 328, Winter Haven, FL 33884
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