Sometimes, a single, simple issue turns out to be part of a much larger comprehensive complex
of issues. State Senator Bill Monning's sponsorship of a one-cent tax per ounce on sugary soda drinks is a good example.
The impetus for the Soda Bill is that diabetes has become a major, if not the major health crisis in California and the rest of the nation. Diabetes has become an epidemic among youth and particularly, youth of color. There is no question
that a significant contributor to that epidemic is the consumption of large volume soft drinks heavily fortified with corn sweeteners. Other diseases associated with excess weight
and related heart ailments are also affected by consumption of highly sweetened
soft drink… 
For those of you who missed the Chili Dinner Fundraiser, here's a rundown on what took place at PDC's Dinner Party/Fundraiser. It was, attended by about 80 enthusiastic progressive people, at the home of Nancy Elliot and Paul Johnston.
Thanks to the work of many PDC members before and during the event, the event raised $2500. It will be money well spent on our 2014 camapign efforts: phonebanking, voter outreach and education, campaign technology.
PDC President Nancy Abbey got the evening program going by introducing MC John Laird, a former PDC president and currently California's Secretary for Natural Resources. John introduced special guests County Supervisor John Leopold and Santa Cruz City Councilmember Micah Posner, and other elected officials and candidat…
By Soumya Karlamangla
L.A. Times: February 14, 2014
State Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) introduced legislation Friday that would allow immigrants without legal status to receive or buy health insurance through the state.
Such immigrants are the single-largest group of people who remain uninsured under the Affordable Care Act. The national law explicitly bars immigrants without legal status from receiving any kind of federal money, which means that in California, they can't buy insurance through the Covered California exchange, or qualify for the state's low-income health plan, Medi-Cal.
"Healthcare for everyone should mean everyone," Lara said at a news conference Friday in Los Angeles. "Only when we include everyone can we truly have a healthy California."
…Title: Health care coverage: immigration status
Status: Status: Introduced on February 13 2014 - 25% progress. Action: 2014-02-14 - From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 16.
Summary: An act to add Title 22.5 (commencing with Section 100530) to the Government Code, and to add Section 14102.1 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to health care coverage, and making an appropriation therefor.
Sponsors: Sen. Ricardo Lara, Sen. Marty Block, Sen. Ron Calderon, Sen. Kevin De Leon, Sen. Holly Mitchell, Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Norma Torres, Asm. Raul Bocanegra, Asm. Bob Bonta, Asm. Roger Dickinson, Asm. Paul Fong, Asm. Lorena Gonzalez, Asm. Roger Hernandez, Asm. Reginald Jones-Sawyer, Asm. Richard Pan, Asm. Anthony Rendon, Asm. Mariko Yama…