Click here to learn who your legislators are!

There’s really no doubt that the Bush years set us on a course of widened political divisions in the country. We can only hope that Obama can mend the country while convincing conservatives that progressive plans are better in the long term. One of the ways Obama can do that is to invite his adversaries over to his new digs and drink liberally with them. So far, it looks like he’s doing a pretty good job.

Since Drinking Liberally came up with the Official Unofficial Drink of the Obama Administration, we have to wonder if he’s serving up Obama’s Hope Float to his guests.

In the spirit of Obama’s spirits, we’re hosting a drinks party of our own. Next Friday, February 6th, we’ll be mixing inauguration-themed drinks at Jeremiah and Heather’s house. Bring what you need to make & share your inauguration-themed – and cleverly named – drink. We’ll be making it a contest (with prizes) and voting on our favorite. If you don’t want to participate in the competition, just bring something to keep yourself from getting thirsty. We’ll provide the ice, lemons, limes, etc. as well as some finger foods to munch on. 214 W. 600 N. We’ll be starting at 7, but stop by at any time. Map

Just in cased you missed it, here is the link to listen to Heather and Jeremiah’s apperance on Radioactive last Tuesday.

Those crazy liberalls were all like “yo Drinking Liberally is cool!”

With the legislative session fully upon us, you will begin to hear terms such as “the bill was circled” or “the law passed committee” in the paper.  This kind of stuff is far beyond the School House Rock episode that explains the basics of lawmaking – no there is no cynical lines about a lobbyist paying a representative at step three – just the simple (though expanded) process.

We begin at the beginning. A legislator (either a Senator or Representative) must propose a law, no one else can. They can either have a bill fully written, have a bill that is written but does not have any way of paying for it, or they could have a bill title alone (this third type is called a “boxcar” as in an empty train boxcar).

Once a bill is written it is read for the first time on the floor of either the House or the Senate, depending on who actually wrote the bill – this consists of saying the bill number and title. This is considered the bills “first reading.” From there the Speaker of the House (for bills written by Representatives) or the President of the Senate (for bills written by Senators) sends every bill to a committee – usually (but not always) to a committee related to a bill. These committees focus on things such has transportation or health care, just to name a few.

The committee is the first place a bill is tested. The bill is heard by anywhere from eight to 18 legislators and they decide if the bill should continue to be heard. As you can imagine this is one of the most critical moments for a bill as four to nine legislators can kill a bill at this moment. These committees are generally stacked in the favor of the ruling party as the leaders of the chambers choose who sits on what committee.

This, my friends, is an indication of the change we’ve been hearing about. Lisa P. Jackson sounds like she’s going to do a great job as the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. I was starting to think that EPA stood for Environmental Pillaging Agency.

UPDATE: It will just be the back room that will be closed, so we WILL be meeting at the Piper Down, near the back stage. See you Friday night at 6:30!

The Piper Down where we usually meet is renovating (which means a new room just for us on Fridays after the renovation) and we just found out that we won’t be able to meet there this Friday, Jan. 23rd.

We’re looking for another place to meet, so check back before Friday to find out where it will be. Or, if you’re not already on our low-volume (generally once a week) e-mail list, you can sign up here: http://livingliberally.org/chapter/email_signup/5737

The Utah Democratic Party + the Young Dems will be hosting a big Inauguration night event at the Depot, and plenty of people we know will be attending that (more information here).

But if you’re looking for an alternative place to party, there’s a block party on Windsor Street that will also help support the Crossroads Urban Center. You can find details at the Facebook event page here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=46599182637

Obama Inauguration Block Party

I was just watching the House debate SCHIP on C-Span.  Although it sounds good upfront,  Michael Moore has pointed out a significant flaws in the legislation that was vaguely mentioned in the House debate.

Namely health insurance companies support the legislation because what it does is tax smokers and then pay the money to health insurance companies.

What Michael Moore has been advocating is John Conyers H.R. 676

Here’s a speech Michael Moore made where he presents a wish list for Barack Obama. Part of that wish list is for President Obama to support H.R. 676

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-676

Oddly enough, the corporate media has avoided covering this bill when it comes to health care stories.  Even NPR has avoided the topic.

As someone who worked for Regence BlueCross BlueShield for three years processing and denying insurance claims, I believe there is a great deal of wisdom to what Michael Moore has to say.

One issue I’m worried people aren’t addressing is what’s going to happen if we keep raising the taxes on tobacco until the people who use it can’t afford it?  Will they quit as everyone is hoping (cutting off the supply of funding for SCHIP) or will this create an incentive to traffic tobacco into the U.S., which is what happened when the Feds cracked down on meth labs.

NPR: Plunge in Meth Labs Paves Way for Potent Import

NPR: Mexico’s Drug Wars Leave Rising Death Toll

If anyone would be interested in telling their representatives to look into H.R. 676 they can use http://congress.org to obtain a list of who their representatives are, and their contact information.  You simply enter your zip code.

From DL’er Carla Hitz:

Hello all,

I write to you today on behalf of a person in need.  Please click on the link at the bottom of this page I have provided and read the SL Tribune story by Matthew D. LaPlante about Rabeh Morad. 

Rabeh is a 54 year old Iraqi immigrant who lives now in West Valley City, Utah.  He was a successful business man in southern Iraq when he made the fateful decision to work for the US Military as an interpreter.  He believed the Americans were going to help give the Iraqi people freedom, so when he was offered a position @ $242 per week, he didn’t hesitate.

In 2006 while on patrol with Lt. Emily Perez their Humvee hit a roadside bomb. Lt. Perez lost her life, Rabeh lost his legs.

Once he was exposed assisting the Americans he and his family were forced to flee their homeland in fear for their lives.

His story continues, and my hope is that you will take a moment to not only read the rest of his tale, but feel it as well.  So many have sacrificed so much, and Rabeh’s story provides us each with the opportunity to give back and help to make a tangible difference in the life of someone so very deserving.

A contribution account has been established @ Zions Bank in his name. Please help in any way, small or large that you can. Each and every donation makes a tremendous difference, and will be so appreciated by Rabeh and his family.  You may go to any Zion’s bank branch to make a donation, all you need to know is that the account is in this name: Rabeh Al Khafagi.

Please forward this message to those you know who would appreciate the opportunity to make a difference.

Minnesota elections board says Franken won
By Michael O’Brien
Posted: 01/05/09 03:43 PM [ET]
The Minnesota Board of Canvassers certified Democrat Al Franken as winner of the state’s Senate race…

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/minnesota-elections-board-says-franken-won-2009-01-05.html

And, may I say, ABOUT TIME!
Republicans: Ashcroft lost to a corpse, Conryn’s lost to a comedian, one will lose to Michael Moore’s ficus.