6th AD Candidates' Forum
January 19, 2006  7:00-9:00PM at Person Theatre, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park
The 6th AD will present a candidates forum where Democratic Candidates for the 6th Assemby Distrist will speak and answer questions. Kathleen Hill and Miles Kurland will be the Moderators; Mervis Ressig and Irma Ramirez will be Timekeepers 
Candidates include: John Alden, Damon Connolly; Jared Huffman; Cynthia Murray and Pam Torliatt. This is an opportunity to meet the candidates and learn about their positions on the issues.
Presented by: Sonoma County Democratic Central Committee/Candidate Search Committee • Sonoma County Democracy for America• Progressive Democrats Sonoma County • Santa Rosa Democratic Club • South County Democratic Club • Sonoma County Latino Democratic Club •Petaluma Tomorrow • Democracy for America - Marin• Osher Life Long Learning Institute
For information: contact Kathleen Shaffer or Phyliss Kirk 707-696-0664 Kathleen Hill, Vice Chair, 6th AD: hilltopub@aol.com
Tel: 707-938-8110. The Forum is free; Parking is $2.50

Bernie Sanders: The Most Important U.S. Senate Race in 2006
Bernie Sanders, Vermont Congressman and candidate for U.S. Senate, is coming to the bay area seeking our support to defeat a millionaire Republican vying for that office. Bernie has been a progressive voice in the house since 1991. His record on the issues is praiseworthy: he has worked against corporate control of media; favors fundamental change in trade policies to protect our workers; favors withdrawal from Iraq; is pro-choice; for equal rights; and has a 100% pro-environment rating. For more information about Bernie, please visit his website at http://www.bernie.org/
Mark your calendars and plan to attend one of the two local events where you can meet Bernie and find our more about his campaign.

Saturday, January 21
Marin County Sanders for Senate Fundraiser: 3-6 PM
Introduction by congresswoman Lynn Woolsey; Honorary Host Barbara Boxer
Hosted by Michael Klein, Chairman Emeritus, Rainforest Action Network at his home which is the former Bill Graham estate in Corte Madera. This magnificent house was designed to exacting environmental standards by Sim van de Ryn and was recently featured in a two-page article in the New York Times as the world's largest green residence.
$100 minimum––$4200 maximum donation levels

Saturday, January 21
Bernie Sanders Speaks to Marin: 7:30 PM
Introduction by Lynn Woolsey & political satire by Johnnie Steele and Geoff Bolt
San Rafael Community Center, 618 B St. San Rafael
For information on all events, please contact sandersforsenate@aol.com

Join Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey for a Dialogue about Medicare Part D
Bring your questions and feedback about the new Medicare Drug Plan to Lynn's Community Meeting on January 9, 2006.  There will also be an opportunity to make an appointment for "individual counseling" with HICAP.Steve Deering, CMS Deputy Regional Administrators and Christine Tschummi, HICAP Project Director will speak and take your questions.
January 9, 2006; 2 pm - 3 pm
Olney Hall
College of Marin
For more information, please call Emmie Morgan, Field Representative for Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey(707) 542-7182

Did You Know the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is Set to Expire?
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is one of our nation's most successful pieces of civil rights legislation, but several provisions of the act will expire in 2007 unless Congress votes to renew them.  In California, the Voting Rights Act (VRA) has played a key role in the empowerment of the state’s diverse ethnic populations through increasing opportunities for political representation and access to the fundamental right to vote.
On Saturday, February 4th there will be a one day conference to learn about how advocates have used the voting rights act to combat discrimination against CA voters; hear how the VRA has helped voters surmount barriers to participation in CA’s elections and; attentd training sessions on media communications, community forum organization, and Congressional visits, in order to mobilize for reauthorization.
For more information please call toll-free: 1 (866) 952-4222 or visit www.calvec.org. California Common Cause is co-sponsoring the conference along with NALEO, ACLU, League of Women Voters, and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center. 

Stand with Congressman Conyers: Demand Censure for Bush-Cheney Misconduct & Investigate Impeachable Offenses
John Conyers has released a report entitled: "The Constitution in Crisis: The Downing Street Minutes and Deception, Manipulation, Torture, Retribution and Coverups in the Iraq War. In sum, the report examines the Bush Administration's actions in taking us to war from A to Z. The report finds there is substantial evidence the President, the Vice-President and other high ranking members of the Bush Administration misled Congress and the American people regarding the decision to go to war in Iraq; misstated and manipulated intelligence information regarding the justification for such war; countenanced torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in Iraq; and permitted inappropriate retaliation against critics of their Administration.
• The Report concludes that a number of these actions amount to prima facie evidence (evidence sufficiently strong to presume the allegations are true) that federal criminal laws have been violated. Legal violations span from false statements to Congress to whistleblower laws
• The Report also concludes that these charges clearly rise to the level of impeachable conduct. However, because the Administration has failed to respond to requests for information about these charges, it is not yet possible to conclude that an impeachment inquiry or articles of impeachment are warranted.www.johnconyers.com
Congressman Conyers has, in response to the Report, introduced a resolution (H. Res. 635) creating a Select Committee with subpoena authority to investigate the misconduct of the Bush Administration with regard to the Iraq war and report on possible impeachable offenses. And he has introduced Resolutions regarding both President Bush (H. Res. 636) and Vice-President Cheney (H. Res. 637) proposing that they be censured by Congress based on the uncontroverted evidence already on the record and their failure to respond to Congressional and public inquiries about these matters and have never accounted for their many specific misstatements in the run up to War.
If you agree with Congressman Conyers, please go to his website, www.johnconyers.com, where you will find an action center, including a copy of the Report via Raw Story, and ways you can help.

Looking for a positive New Year's Resolution? Vow to keep up with national issues!
Visit the American Progress Reports online at www. progress@americanprogressaction.org for excellent analyses and under-the radar-information.