Go add the caucus at myspace.com/ydawomenscaucus.

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***A MESSAGE FROM THE YDA WOMEN’S CAUCUS LEADERSHIP***

Take Action on Pay Equity Day!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Currently, women earn 77 cents to the dollar, a narrowing of the wage gap by less than half a cent a year. Over a working lifetime, this wage disparity costs the average American woman and her family an estimated $700,000 to $2 million, impacting Social Security benefits and pensions.

In 1996, Equal Pay Day was created by the National Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE) as a way to raise awareness about the gap between men’s and women’s wages. The day, observed on a Tuesday in April, symbolizes how far into the year a woman must work, on average, to earn as much as a man earned the previous year. (Tuesday is the day on which women’s wages catch up to men’s wages from the previous week.) Because women earn less, on average, than men, they must work longer for the same among of pay. The wage gap is even greater for most women of color.

Equal pay has been the law since 1963. But today, 45 years later, women are still paid less than men—even when we have similar education, skills and experience.

Ideas for Action
Show “We’re in the Red”
On April 22, wear red to symbolize “women are in the red”.

Become informed
Read up on research, employment laws, and current legislation being introduced to close the wage gap. Click on this link: http://www.pay-equity.org/PDFs/PaycheckFairnessAct_2007.pdf

Share the benefits with our Democratic and Non-Democratic brothers
Equal pay benefits men as well! Share this fact sheet with them: http://www.aflcio.org/issues/jobseconomy/women/equalpay/FactSheetHowEqualPayHelpsMen.cfm

Raise awareness
Send a pay equity e-card to your friends, family and colleagues to help highlight the issue. Click on this link: http://www.aauw.org/postcards/payequity.cfm.

Coordinate a seminar on negotiation skills for women
Economists agree that differences in negotiating abilities can lead to pay variation among workers with similar skill sets. This would be a great women’s caucus event if you have a women’s caucus in your state!

Contact Your Senators
Let them know that you want them to support the Fair Pay Restoration Act. Information on the Act can be found here: http://www.now.org/issues/economic/070918s1843update.html.

Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121, or find your Senators and their direct phone numbers by clicking here: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

To send them an email, click here: http://www.capwiz.com/now/issues/alert/?alertid=10323036#action

For More Information:

Coalition of Labor Union Women
http://www.cluw.org/programs-payequity.html

American Association of University Women
http://www.aauw.org/advocacy/issue_advocacy/actionpages/payequity.cfm

National Committee on Pay Equity
http://www.pay-equity.org/

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Below are a few of young dem state women’s caucuses with Facebook Groups. If from from that state, (or if not, but just want to be supportive) join their group today! We’ll keep you posted as more spring up!

California
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2548987851

Connecticut
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6248264362

Georgia
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7987331543

Maryland
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19771625928

Oklahoma
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=11073133371

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NOTE: THE YOUNG DEMOCRATS OF AMERICA SUPPORT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR STATEHOOD FOR PUERTO RICO. ALL PUERTO RICANS, INCLUDING THE TERRITORY’S LGBT POPULATION, ARE DENIED FULL PARTICIPATION AND REPRESENTATION IN OUR POLITICAL PROCESS. PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO READ THIS MESSAGE FROM CAUCUS MEMBER EMILIO SEIJO AND TAKE ACTION TO SECURE STATEHOOD FOR PUERTO RICO AND WELCOME OUR LGBT PUERTO RICAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS FULLY INTO OUR POLITICAL MOVEMENT FOR LGBT EQUALITY.

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -

Dear GLBT Caucus member:

I am Emilio Seijo, Vice President of the Young Democrats of America Puerto Rico Chapter and a proud Gay Democrat. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my good friend Rachel, my good friend Kyle and all the members the GLBT Caucus, which are my extended family, for their support and enthusiasm in the discussion of this important issue for our Nation and our Community in the past YDA’s 2008 Winter National Conference.

Because of our relation to the United States we are tied by federal laws. As an example, federal laws knew as Selective Service, We Don’t Ask You Don’t Tell and Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). And you are thinking what the difference between you and us is because you are also tied to those federal laws; which is true. The difference is that we have neither Senators nor Representatives at Congress; we only have a Resident Commissioner who has only voice but no vote. We don’t have the power/strength to change those policies that affect us in a negative way.

This means that Puerto Rico GLBT community is deprived of power because our current political status.

A Commonwealth “is not a political status in the way that State, nation, and territory are. It is a word also used in the names of four States and another territory”. What the United Nations concluded was wrong.

Since Puerto Rico became a Commonwealth three plebiscites have been held, all of them by State sanction only. In the first plebiscite in 1967, the commonwealth received 60.4% votes, statehood 39% and independence 0.6%. In 1993, commonwealth got 48.6% votes, statehood 46.3%, independence 4.4%, and blank and void ballots 0.6%. The third plebiscite in 1998 was based on a U.S. House bill never enacted. The Governor and the State Legislature chose to conduct a plebiscite even without a federal sanction. With two additional options; the votes tallied were commonwealth 0.1%, free association 0.3%, statehood 46.5%, independence 2.5%, none of the above 50.3%, and blank and void ballots 0.3%. As you can see the tendency is towards a non-territorial status, and that Puerto Ricans are not satisfied with the current status.

In 2000, President Clinton established the President’s Task Force to address the issue of Puerto Rico’s status. The purpose of the Task Force was to identify options for the island’s future status and the process for realizing an option.

On December 2005, the Task Force filed its report, concluding that only two non-territorial options are recognized by the United States Constitution and made three recommendations. The two options are statehood and the independence. The three recommendations are:

1. [T]hat the Congress within a year provide for a Federally sanctioned plebiscite in which the people of Puerto Rico will be asked to state whether they wish to remain a U.S. territory subject to the will of Congress or to pursue a Constitutionally viable path toward a permanent non-territorial status with the United States. Congress should provide for this plebiscite to occur on a date certain.

2. [I]f the people of Puerto Rico elect to pursue a permanent non-territorial status, Congress should provide for an additional plebiscite allowing the people of Puerto Rico to choose between one of the two permanent non-territorial options. Once the people have selected one of the two options, Congress is encouraged to begin a process of transition toward the option.

3. If the people elect to remain as a territory… that a plebiscite occur periodically, as long as that status continues, to keep Congress informed of the people’s wishes.

Thanks to President Clinton’s initiative, of establishing the Task Force, at this time there is a bill in the House that deal with the status issue of Puerto Rico. The H.R. 900, which is based on the Report by The President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s Status.

On December 2007, the Task Force filed its second report, concluding again that only two non-territorial options are recognized by the United States Constitution and reiterates the previous recomendations on the 2005 Report.

I can not believe that the United States “intended” to “keep colonies forever …” and “justify 108 years of colonialism.”

As members of the YDA, we had received your support on several resolutions on this issue. In the past years, the National Committee has approved three important resolutions, recognizing the colonial status of Puerto Rico and urging the U.S. Congress to approve legislation where the people of Puerto Rico can vote for their future political relation with the United States, based on non-colonial non territorial formulas. Also, in August of 2005-2007, YDA adopted its platform, which states their support that Puerto Ricans should be given an opportunity to determine the future of Puerto Rico, either as United States’ state, or as an independent nation. The current platform has the same statement.

Now, if you are asking yourself, what can I do? It’s simple. A few calls, emails, and more. We need your help in this endeavor. You voted for your congressperson and you will be voting again, so therefore, you have the power to persuade and convince them to vote in favor of the H.R. 900. We do not have that kind of electoral power/strength since we do not participate in national elections. What we can do is ask for your support. We need you! You would be our best lobbyists. This is an ambitious plan, but I trust America and I trust you my fellow democrats.

P.S. Congressperson draft letter:

March __, 2008.

Dear Congresswoman (man) ________:

I am a young voter who believes in Democracy. For 108 year, we the United States have been keeping a colony, Puerto Rico. The Puerto Ricans do not have real voting representation in the national government and their island is not an independent nation. We have an obligation to enable them to have a democratic form of government at all levels because we promote Democracy.

At this time, there is one bill in the House that deal with the status issue of Puerto Rico. The bill is the H.R. 900, which is based on the reports (2005 and 2007) by The President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s Status and its recommendations.

I am supporting H.R. 900 because the H.R. 900 proposes a federally sanctioned plebiscite in which the people of Puerto Rico will be asked to state whether they wish to remain a U.S. territory subject to the will of Congress or to pursue a constitutionally viable path toward a permanent non-territorial status with the United States.

The real option that gives the people of Puerto Rico a tool to express their decision about what status they want is the H.R. 900.

I invite you to support the H.R. 900 with your vote!

Cordially,

___________
Jane (John) Doe

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We’re ready for some new leadership in the White House and need your help to get there! Join us for a night of House Parties on March 27th at 8:00pm ET as we learn about the role of LGBT Democrats in the process.

Keynote Speakers joining for the call include:
- Rep. Tammy Baldwin
- Corporations Commissioner Jim Roth
- National Stonewall Democrats Executive Director Jon Hoadley
- More guests to come!

To find a house party near you, please visit:

http://www.party2win.com/stonewall/

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What: Senators Clinton and Obama talking to Young Veterans about the War in Iraq

When: 6:00pm (ET/PT) Tonight, March 20

Where: MTV’s Choose or Loose

Prospective Commanders-in-Chief Engage with Soldiers Fighting War on Terror March 20th at 6 pm (ET/PT)

New York, NY, March 17, 2008 — As part of its ongoing Choose or Lose effort to once again mobilize more than 20 million 18-30 year-olds to vote, MTV, in conjunction with The Associated Press, today announced a hour-long special event that will bring together Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton (http://think.mtv.com/profile/HillaryClinton08) and Barack Obama (http://think.mtv.com/profile/BarackObama), as well as eight young veterans just back from at least one tour of duty in Iraq, for an intimate discussion on the 5th anniversary of the Iraq war. Taped in Pennsylvania, home of the next critical Democratic primary contest, each candidate will hear directly from those who have served on the frontlines of the war, as the soldiers engage the Senators, sequentially, in a dialogue on how they will lead America’s armed forces and a variety of other national security issues.

Millions of young adults have cast their ballots in the early contests of the 2008 Presidential election, doubling, tripling, and even quadrupling their turnout in nearly every primary or caucus thus far. The war in Iraq, and the overall war on terror, continue to dominate the concerns of young adult voters and have helped drive this unprecedented youth turnout. Recent MTV research shows that nearly six in ten (58%) 18-24 year-olds personally know someone who has served in Iraq, and this special aims to ensure America’s youth get real answers from those vying to be the next Commander-in-Chief.

The eight veterans featured in “Choose or Lose Presents Clinton & Obama Answer Young Veterans” include:

Chris Weimer, San Diego, CA

Ernest Johnson, Bridgeport, CT

Ryan Groves, Washington, DC

Max Nitze, Cambridge, MA

Wendell Guillermo, Santa Monica, CA

Jessica McDermott, Durham, NC

Christina Correa, Los Angeles, CA

Herold Noel, New York, NY

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On Saturday, March 1 YDA showed its overwhelming support for Disney hotel workers and UNITE HERE Local 681 at an energetic picket march with over 260 members.

Throughout the Anaheim conference Young Democrats made their support known by wearing stickers in support (as seen on the left) and by having conversations with the workers.

There was an overwhelming consensus that the labor march was one of the most successful events/actions ever undertaken by the organization.

Saturday’s march allowed Young Democrats to show exactly why they are Democrats and what they believe in: fair wages, health care, and justice for working Americans in Anaheim and throughout the United States.

YDA President David Hardt, DNC Committeewoman Crystal Strait and DNC Committeeman Francisco Domenech hand-delivered a signed letter from the Young Democrats supporting the workers to hotel management after waiting them out as the hotel executives pretended to be unavailable.

The most inspiring aspect of the march was the reaction from the hotel workers themselves. They came up to a number of Young Democrats thanking them for their support, letting them know how important it is that the hotel executives realize that the workers do not stand alone and that people around the country are united in support.

Special recognition goes out to the YDA Labor Caucus and CYD Labor Caucus for making this event possible and a success beyond the wildest expectations.

YDA will be monitoring the labor dispute between the hotel workers and hotel management in the future, and I will cover the situation on this blog as developments occur.

Thank you to all the Young Democrats who came out and marched in support of the Disney hotel workers. Feel free to comment on this post about your experience at the march.

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Building off the momentum of YDA’s huge rally in support of the Disney Hotel workers fighting for fair wages, health care and dignity,please help us grow the YDA Labor Caucus.

1) please join our YDA Labor Caucus email list

http://groups.google.com/group/yda-labor-caucus

2) Invite all of your friends to join the YDA Labor Caucus facebook group! Arrive with five!

See rally pics and YDA Labor Caucus leader Mike Corbett interviewed prior to rally at our facebook group.

Thank you for standing up for workers and building a stronger YDA.

Isaac Robinson
Chair
YDA Labor Caucus

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After a unanimous vote of the Young Democrats of America National Committee this past Sunday in Anaheim, the Veterans and Military Affairs Caucus has become an official YDA caucus.

Young Democrats of Arizona President and Iraq War veteran Cole Hickman led the effort this weekend and is serving as interim chair until official caucus elections can be held.

One of the changes made by the National Committee was changing the name from the Veterans Caucus to the Veterans and Military Affairs Caucus in order to make it clear that the caucus is for veterans, family and friends, and anyone interested in the issues that are important to our brothers and sisters that have served, are actively serving, or have made the ultimate sacrifice for the United States of America.

Due to the name change there is a new Facebook group for the caucus, so please join the Veterans and Military Affairs Caucus Facebook group.

Thank you to everyone that supported the creation of the caucus and those who tried to establish the caucus last year. If you are a state president with a veterans caucus in your state please connect your members to the new group, and if your state does not yet have a caucus see how the national caucus can help you create one.

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Click here to join the YDA Minority Caucus Facebook group

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