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I saw this link on Justin Williams' Facebook (WVYD President) and thought it was pertinent for these rough times of opposition towards healthcare.
I'll post the link at the end of this but here is a few examples of how healthcare will help us here in the mountain state. This list was compiled by the Democratic Policy Committee.
Provide tax credits for up to 20,000 West Virginia small businesses to help make coverage
more affordable.
Prohibit insurance companies from excluding coverage of pre-existing conditions for the
386,449 children in West Virginia, starting this year.
Close the donut hole and improve other Medicare benefits for 372,000 West Virginia
seniors.
Reduce Medicare premiums for the 300,400 West Virginia seniors who are not enrolled in
Medicare Advantage and will no longer subsidize these private insurance plans.
Ensure affordable coverage options for 256,000 West Virginians who are uninsured and
41,000 West Virginians who purchase health insurance through the individual market.
Ensure immediate access to affordable insurance options for as many as 35,466
uninsured West Virginians who have a pre-existing condition.
Provide tax credits for up to 204,000 West Virginians to help make health insurance
more affordable, bringing $3.3 billion in premium and cost-sharing tax credits into
West Virginia during the first five years of the health insurance Exchange.
Reduce family health insurance premiums by $1,750 - $2,510 for the same benefits, as
compared to what they would be without health reform by 2016.
Provide access to Medicaid for 161,355 newly-eligible West Virginians, and provide
$3.7 billion in federal funding for the cost of their coverage.
Create 1,700 - 2,700 jobs by reducing health care costs for employers.
I don't know where to start with this post and I'm not sure where I'm going to end up either...
I thought I had all I had to say on the topic earlier this week when Carnacki and I called out Justin Marcum, (then) West Virginia Young Democrats chairman of the Labor Caucus and (still) president of Mingo County Young Democrats for what we felt was a non-apology apology.
On Monday, I wrote in a comment:
There are multiple activist organizations with formal ties to the Democratic National Committee. The Young Democrats organization is one. Because of their formal ties, they get automatic seats at conventions and other party benefits like that.
I believe if you are an officer in an organization affiliated with the DNC, you have a responsibility to support the Democratic President, to support the major tenets of the Democratic Party Platform, and to support party-building efforts. That does not mean you need to personally agree on every issue, but it does mean you have a responsibility not to actively aid those seeking to undermine the Democratic party.
A strength of the Democratic Party is our openness to diversity--we try to build a big tent. I would never tell anyone to leave the party over disagreements with President Obama or the Democratic party platform (there's plenty of issues where my views differ!). We'll never all agree on every issue (nor should we).
But, if someone is in a leadership position in the party, and they don't feel personally comfortable supporting major Democratic legislative and presidential initiatives, they just might want to reconsider if party leadership is the right place for them.
On Tuesday, I learned that Justin Marcum had resigned as West Virginia Young Democrats chairman of the Labor Caucus and I thought the entire matter closed.
Mingo young Democrats primed for change in state
I was quite surprised yesterday when I got multiple emails informing me about a newspaper article in the Charleston Daily Maily, Mingo young Democrats primed for change in state. I'm still kind of stunned by the article and have sat on it for over a day trying to sort through what to say.
(Among other things, I can't point to a single change in West Virginia that Justin Marcum called for.)
What went wrong
The article reads like a press release for Justin Marcum. It's the kind of fawning coverage someone running for office begs for. (Unfortunately for Justin Marcum, at this point I think it would only help him run for office as a Republican, not as a Democrat.)
As an example, the photo text reads, "Justin Marcum, a second-year law student and president of the Mingo County Young Democrats, is working with other students to inject some fresh blood into the Democratic party in southern West Virginia."
Now, hardly a day goes by without a newspaper in West Virginia publishing something I find insipid or inane. Mostly I just ignore them. But, here's what makes this article so concerning. A frequent reader of this website noted via email:
I read your post the other day regarding the labor caucus emails advertising the conservative event in Southern West Virginia. It sure sounds as if this guy is making a declarative statement against our sitting president on behalf of all young Democrats in the state.
I didn't read his quotes quite that way--I don't think Justin Marcum speaks for anyone other than himself--but I can see how easy it would be to get that impression.
In the article Justin Marcum claims he "hopes that the younger generation of Democrats will win back the Mountain State when it comes to the national elections." If he wants to help Obama win W.Va. in 2012, debunking rumors is a lot more helpful than repeating them.
If "the Mingo chapter ... is focused on what is best for the county" he should be using time in front of reporters to speak to the urgency of action on climate change legislation and health care reform, not undermining the agenda of the Democratic President and the Democratic Congress.
Standing up for workers
More than anything else, there's one more thing that really gets me angry about this article.
The West Virginia Young Democrats worked diligently this past year to (successfully) enact an official West Virginia Coal Miner's Appreciation Day. This action had the potential to build a broad coalition of interests to find common ground to honor coal miners, improve their working conditions, and to live up to our obligations to pensioners (widowers and survivors).
Instead, by introducing a discussion of climate change policy into the mix, Justin Marcum has overtly politicized the honoring of coal miners. Coal miners are real human beings--your neighbors and mine--not political pawns. For too many decades coal miners have fought--often with their lives--to be treated with dignity. They deserve better.
On August 14th, 2009 Governor Joe Manchin along with numerous State and Local officials and the West Virginia Young Democrats will officially announce "West Virginia Coal Miner Appreciation Day." This great event will take place on the grounds of the West Virginia Capitol, outside of the Cultural Center, in front of the coal miner statue. To officially declare this day, the Governor will sign a proclamation, which the Secretary of State will also need to sign in order to make the day official. Governor Manchin and Secretary of State Natalie Tennant are scheduled to sign the resolution and dedicate the day at 2:30 p.m. Other State and Local officials have also been invited and many will be on hand. Many of the House of Delegates members who initially, jointly-introduced the resolution will be there to celebrate the event which will honor all of West Virginia's Coal Miners. Governor Manchin will formally name the Sunday before Labor Day as "West Virginia Coal Miner Appreciation Day." This event is to celebrate and dedicate a day in honor of all West Virginia Coal Miners, their families, and their occupation.
For those of you that don't know the Labor Caucus of West Virginia Young Democrats worked with the Legislature to introduce and pass a resolution supporting West Virginia Coal Miners and the resolution asked for the Governor to declare a day. WVYD Labor Caucus Chairman Justin Marcum alongside WVYD Secretary Matt Sowards and WVYD 3rd Congressional District Director Chris Hatton wrote the resolution which was forwarded via Delegate Steve Kominar who led the charge on getting the resolution introduced. Numerous other Delegates joined Delegate Kominar in introducing the "West Virginia Coal Miner Appreciation Day" resolution. Those delegates are; Speaker Thompson, Caputo, Boggs, Butcher, Campbell, Eldridge, Fragale, Hall, Klempa, Kominar, Lawrence, Mahan, Miley, Morgan, Paxton, Perry, Phillips, D. Poling, Ross, Shaver, Skaff, Stephens, Stowers, Swartzmiller and Varner. The West Virginia Senate passed the resolution by a voice vote.
If you can make it, please join us to celebrate this day and our West Virginia Coal Miners. The ceremony should last about 30 to 45 minutes. Parking is on your own, but many public spaces are available across the State Capitol grounds.
WHO: West Virginia Young Democrats, Governor Joe Manchin, and others
WHAT: West Virginia Coal Miner Appreciation Day
WHEN: Friday, August 14th, 2009 at 2:30 p.m.
WHERE: West Virginia State Capitol grounds in front of Coal Miner Statue
WHY: Signing and celebration of the West Virginia Coal Miner Appreciation Day
Young Democrats held convention - New Officers Elected
The West Virginia Young Democrats gathered at Wheeling Jesuit University this weekend for their annual state convention. Justin Williams, a WVU graduate from Buckhannon, was unanimously elected as their new President.
In addition to Williams, the following Young Democrats were elected to office: Noah Barnes of Monongalia County, Vice President; Matt Sowards of Cabell County, Secretary; Scott Elson of Wood County, Treasurer; Allison Speaker of Jefferson County, National Committeewoman; and Daniel Tompkins of Kanawha County, National Committeeman.
Outgoing President Rod Snyder is running for the national Young Democrats Executive Vice President position. Congratulations to all of the Young Democrats new officers and good luck to Rod.
If you're coming to the State Convention, drop by the Marriott Saturday morning for some java and sugary goodness with the WV Young Dems!
pdawv butts in: I didn't think I needed to add a whole new post and was afraid I would get lost in the comments, but who is planning on being at the convention? Progressive Democrats of America WV (PDAWV) will have a table. Anyone is welcome to stop by and say hello. I'd love the opportunity to meet you. And sorry for butting in on your post. -dave
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