Welcome to Jefferson County Democrats!
Washington State
Dedicated to implementing Democratic Party platforms through candidates and legislation.
We are a living organization with platforms and policies that are shaped by members. Our membership meets once a month, typically early in the last week of the month. You can review meeting minutes here. In between, members are volunteering and working independently or in committees to accomplish our goals. If you haven’t already, we hope you will join us today!
PCOS: To identify/contact your Precinct Committee Officer (PCO) – click here!
CALENDAR: View our Google calendar, events list, and regular governmental meetings by clicking here!
JEFFCO DEMS WHAT’S HAPPENING BLOG
Wild Olympics Bill Rides Wave of Broad Local Support out of Key House Committee
QUILCENE, Wash. (December 5th, 2019) –The Wild Olympics Coalition today cheered the passage of the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (H.R. 2642) out of the U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee. The legislation was introduced by Senator Patty Murray and Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA-06) in May, and would permanently protect more than 126,500 acres of Olympic National Forest as wilderness and 19 rivers and their major tributaries – a total of 464 river miles – as Wild and Scenic Rivers. Designed through extensive community input to protect ancient forests and clean water and enhance outdoor recreation, the legislation would designate the first new wilderness in the Olympic National Forest in nearly three decades and the first-ever protected wild and scenic rivers on the Olympic Peninsula.
The Campaign released a stunning new video featuring some of their most prominent local champions to celebrate the milestone, including a local logger, conservationist, fishing guide, scientist, shellfish grower and a city councilmember who are all backing the legislation.
Video On Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/374404086
Video On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildolympics/videos/936210906778791/
Video On Twitter: https://twitter.com/WildOlympics/status/1202614173768679424
Senator Murray and Representative Kilmer spent years gathering extensive community input on the Olympic Peninsula to craft the carefully-balanced legislation. It would permanently protect ancient and mature forests, critical salmon habitat, and sources of clean drinking water for local communities, while also protecting and expanding world-class outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking, camping, boating, hunting, and fishing without closing any roads or affecting any trailhead access.
(more…)FYI: Dec. 19 Democratic Presidential Debate
The Dec. 19 debate, co-hosted by PBS NewsHour and Politico, will be held in Los Angeles. Stricter rules from the Democratic National Committee have kept the list of qualifiers shorter for this one. (Kamala Harris qualified to participate, but has since dropped out of the race.) Participants who are qualified so far based on these rules for this debate are:
Joe Biden
Pete Buttigieg
Amy Klobucha
Bernie Sanders
Tom Steyer
Elizabeth Warren
Watch parties, include:
All are welcome to join Jefferson County Progressives at the Uptown Pub & Grill in Port Townsend, starting at 4:30 pm. Event link: https://events.berniesanders.com/event/166829/
The Leader: Planning Commission: ‘No outdoor shooting ranges in Jefferson County’
Posted Wednesday, November 27, 2019 3:00 am
Lily Haight
lhaight@ptleader.com
Jefferson County’s volunteer planning commission has advised the County Commission to block all new outdoor shooting ranges.
The planners voted 7-0, with one abstention, on Nov. 20 to recommend the county’s ordinances be amended to require that all new shooting ranges be built indoors, grandfathering in the Jefferson County Sportsmen’s Association range, which leases country property.
“There is a lot of community support around this position,” said planning commissioner Lorna Smith, who worked with fellow commissioner Cynthia Koan to draft the new language. “The main factor behind that support is the many benefits of indoor shooting ranges.”
FYI: ACLU Lobby Day 2020 Registration
ACLU-WA 2020 Lobby Day
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO
8:30am – 4:00pm
Join the ACLU of Washington in Olympia to advocate for critical civil liberties bills! The event will include breakfast, legislative advocacy training, and an opportunity to meet with your legislators.
Registration will close on January 17, 2020.
Registrations require your full address so that we can schedule a meeting for you with your legislators. For questions about the event, please email activism@aclu-wa.org. Click here to register!
FYI: Jefferson County PUD Assistance Programs
Jefferson County PUD Assistance Programs
Senior Low Income Bill Credit
Qualifying low-income senior citizens, age 62 and older, who participate in this program can receive a $39.50 credit on their electric bill each month. A program for qualifying low-income senior citizens 62 years of age or older whose total household income after allowable deductions does not exceed the limits prescribed by RCW 84.36.381(5)(b)(ii). Combined disposable income for members of the household must currently be $30,000 or less.
Standard Low Income Bill Credit
Qualifying low-income customers, regardless of age, who meet this criteria receive a $39.50 credit on their electric bill each month. This program is available for all qualifying low-income customers whose gross household income does not exceed 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) as published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (Various deductions and exclusions are allowed for different types of income.)
Questions? Contact their Customer Service Representatives at 360-385-5800 Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
You can apply for these and other PUD assistance programs at: https://www.jeffpud.org/assistance/