The Democratic Party of Virginia today submitted the final draft of its 2012 delegate selection plan (PDF file of the plan - same as link below) to the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee (RBC).  The RBC will meet this summer to review and approve the state plans.  DPVA, and the Affirmative Action Committee, will be providing information on how all Democrats can participate in this process, which will culminate in our 2012 National Convention in Charlotte, NC.

Important Links

• DNC
• Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz
• Kaine 2012
• DemRulz

Today marks the 5th Anniversary of the passage of the historic Healthcare Law that laid the groundwork for national healthcare reform.

Anniversary of Romney Health Care Law

• April 12th is a very important day for the people of Massachusetts and the people of our country.
• Five years ago on that day, as has often been the case throughout its history, Massachusetts became a trailblazer on an issue of national importance.
• Nationally, for more than 100 years, Americans, their President’s and their other elected leaders, had debated the importance of health care – affordable, quality health care in our lives – and how to reform a system that left too many people without care because of a lack of access, soaring costs or unfair and discriminatory insurance regulations.
• But, what President after President and Congress after Congress had tried and failed to address – health care reform that lowers costs and increases access and quality – Mitt Romney and other Bay State leaders brought to Massachusetts five years ago today when he signed that historic legislation into law surrounded by local, state and national leaders – including none other than the late Ted Kennedy – a national champion of the very kind of health reform that Mitt Romney brought to Massachusetts.
• The Romney health reform law in Massachusetts has been cited not just as the template for the Affordable Care Act which is curbing insurance company abuses, lowering costs and bringing health care to millions who lack it – the Romney health reform law in Massachusetts has been cited as providing the critical momentum necessary to get President Obama’s vision of health reform through Congress and signed into law.
• Much like those who brought their collective wisdom together to found our country and experiment with early forms of Democracy in the many colonies, Mitt Romney is nothing short of a founding father of modern reform – a person who has left an indelible mark on the Romney Care in Massachusetts as well as the national health reform law and its major element including the individual responsibility provision which is critical to making the law work and lowering costs for all that enter the system.
• It’s, as has been noted, the 5th Anniversary of Mitt Romney signing the historic Massachusetts health care plan that mandated every single Bay Stater purchase health care.
• It’s hard to believe that it was only five years ago that then Governor Romney stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Senator Kennedy at the signing of Romney’s health reform legislation.
• It was an awesome moment to see that he and Ted Kennedy put their partisan differences aside and turned the dream of so many into a reality.
• Romney’s health reform legislation literally laid the foundation for President Obama’s Affordable Care Act – a law which Senator Kennedy would be so proud – and which if he was with us today – he would certainly give Mitt Romney the credit he deserves.
• Simply put, without Mitt Romney, it’s hard to see how President Obama would have been able to provide quality, affordable health care for every American.
• A lot has happened since Mitt Romney signed his historic legislation five years ago- and we know that President Obama and Democrats across the country wouldn’t be where we are today without him.
• So we recognize this important day for the cornerstone it laid for national health reform – and we recognize those leaders, including Mitt Romney who made it possible.

Weekly report from the Democratic National Committee.

At George Washington University Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine unveiled a new web site, a new logo and a new slogan for the Democratic Party: “Change That Matters.”

The history of America is a history of change. The history of Democrats is the history of change that matters for America. See the video below or click here.

WHAT WE STAND FOR

Few will have the greatness to bend history; but each of us can work to change a small portion of the event, and in the total of all these acts will be written the history of this generation.
-Robert F. Kennedy

For over 200 years, Democrats have stood for the idea that wealth and status should not be an entitlement to rule. Democrats recognize that our country and our economy are strongest when they provide opportunity for all Americans—when we grow our country from the bottom up.

Democrats stand for an abiding faith in the judgment of hardworking American families, and a commitment to helping the excluded, the disenfranchised and the poor strengthen our nation by earning themselves a piece of the American Dream. We remember that our country was sculpted by immigrants and slaves, their children and grandchildren. Even today, it is our diversity above all else that provides us with our enduring strength.

Democrats believe that each of us has an obligation to each other, to our neighbors and our communities. Each of us has a role to play in creating our future—and while we have made great progress as a nation, we know that our work is never done.

See more information from Virginia DNC Member, Frank Leone (DemRulz.org):

• DNC General Meeting Report – Part 1
• DNC General Meeting – Part 2
• DNC Communications Report and Meeting Speeches

After a series of outrageous statements from Republicans—from apologizing to BP for being held accountable for the oil spill to saying we should ‘trust’ Wall Street—we released what quickly became our one of our most talked about videos.

http://accountabilityproject.com/

A grassroots, volunteer project to hold Republican candidates accountable for their claims, their public statements, and their campaign tactics.

For too long, our politics has been poisoned with misinformation, lies and double-speak. The most powerful way to combat these tactics is to drag them into the light of public scrutiny.

Sign up NOW!

Paid for by the Democratic National Committee — 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC, 20003.

The DNC RBC completed its meeting today.  Below are attached the draft rules discussed yesterday and today.  I [Frank Leone] will post some thoughts shortly.

DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee – Draft Report, click here.

The RBC continued to review the draft rules as follows:

Rule 12 – Presidential Preference – signing pledge of support to presidential candidate for delegates and alternates; candidate right of review process.  Delegates in good conscience should reflect the preferences of the people who elected them.  No change from 2008.  Adopted

Rule 13 – Fair Reflection of Presidential Preference – provides for proportional allocation, 15% threshold.  No changes, adopted.

Rule 14 – Petition requirements and Filing Deadlines – sets deadlines, requirements for filing fees and number of required signatures (5,000) for presidential candidates and delegates.  No changes from 2008.  May require waiver for pre-window states.  Adopted.

Rule 15 – Quorum Requirements – No change, adopted.

Rule 16 – Proxy Voting  – allows it in limited circumstances.  Amended to address directions in proxies.

Rule 17 – Unit Rule and Slate-Making – Allows formation of slates, can’t be favored.

Rule 18 – Alternates and Vacancies – terms may be changed if rules are changed to provide for more delegates, no alternates.  Adopted, except section E, to be considered in July.

Rule 19 – DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee – sets out RBC role in approving, implementing delegate selection plans.

Rule 20 – Challenges – to be considered in July.

Rule 21 – State Legislative Changes – to be considered in July

 Read the full article here …