SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
January 25, 2023
Sullivan’s Salvos 1/31/23
In this edition:
*Happy Groundhog Day!
*One Year Post Move
*Debt Ceiling
*Bowl For Kids Sake
*DVIP Souper Bowl
*Food Versus Private Schools
*How Did Democrats Do?
*Did You Know?
*Happy Groundhog Day!
Hey, we need to celebrate anything we can, right? By the way – the 1993 movie Groundhog Day really is a classic, isn’t it? OK. Enough small talk. I wish you six less weeks of winter!
*One Year Post Move
My family of four (wife Melissa, daughter Rachel, and granddaughter Zuri) moved one year ago this week. After 21+ years at 2326 E. Court Street on the east side of Iowa City, we moved to 514 N. Linn Street on the north side of town. And I have to say, we are very happy we did it!
We have a big porch, which I love. We are within a very quick walk of downtown, which I love. Zuri is only 3 blocks from her school. There is a lot to love!
The neighborhood is interesting, though. Whereas my neighbors at the old place were in their 90s, the neighbors now are barely 21. As someone who spends a lot of time considering quality of life issues, it has provided a very different perspective.
*Debt Ceiling
The fight over the Debt Ceiling is about to begin once again. Here are just a few things you should know:
1.) This is *NOT* about spending! That is done during the budget. This is about simply paying bills you have already accrued. If you feel spending is too great, address it at budget time.
2.) This is the fault of Republicans in the House of Representatives. No one else – just House Republicans. Democrats stand ready to pay our bills. Republicans are trying to tank the economy.
3.) What do these Republicans want? Cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
4.) There are two additional people you can be angry with – Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema. If they would have agreed to end the filibuster JUST FOR THIS MATTER, Democrats could have taken the issue off the table permanently. So whatever economic damage is done, they have blood on their hands.
Let’s hope the standoff ends quickly, with minimal damage. But please understand, this is *NOT* a political negotiation. It is akin to hostage taking.
*Bowl For Kids Sake
The Sullivan for Supervisor team is once again raising money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County by Bowling For Kids’ Sake.
BBBS is REALLY important! Statistics show that having a trusted adult mentor makes an unbelievable difference in the life of a child. Kids with BBBS matches do better academically, are less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, and are less likely to be involved in the criminal justice system. This simple idea WORKS.
Please contribute to the Sullivan for Supervisor team at:
https://bbbsjc.bbbsfundraise.org/bfks2023/myhq
*DVIP Souper Bowl
The Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP)’s 26th Annual Souper Bowl Fundraiser will be held on February 23rd, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Conference Center from 5:30-7:30 PM. The event will be back in person, with drive-through and delivery options available. “Soupporters” will be able to choose from several soups donated by local restaurants.
For over 40 years, DVIP has partnered with the community to support victim-survivors and provide safety solutions. As DVIP and other victim service programs face funding cuts, “this event is vital because it provides the financial support to ensure our advocates are there when victim-survivors need them,” said Alta Medea, director of community engagement. “In addition, the Souper Bowl demonstrates that we, as a community, support and believe victim-survivors. This event shows them that they are not alone.”
This community event raises funds for victims of intimate partner violence, human trafficking, stalking, and harassment in the counties that DVIP serves. The “Souper Bowl” was created by Executive Director Kristie Fortmann-Doser to challenge the myth that more violence occurs against women around the NFL Super Bowl.
To buy tickets see: https://dvipiowa.org/dvip-hosts-26th-annual-souper-bowl-february-23-2023/
*Food Versus Private Schools
Please read the following article by Gazette columnist Todd Dorman. It needs to be spread far and wide!
https://www.thegazette.com/staff-columnists/people-need-food-to-be-alive-iowa-gop-isnt-so-sure/
*How Did Democrats Do?
I wrote this for Salvos in mid-January of 2021. I thought it might be an interesting exercise to take a look back and see how Democrats did!
Lost in the tragic events of the past couple of weeks is the fact that Democrats have a trifecta, with the Presidency, Senate, and House. So what comes next? What do they take on first?
Before we get into that, let’s review the playing field. The Democrats have control, but by the slimmest possible margins. I talked last week about the way in which Mitch McConnell has broken the Senate, and therefore broken our democracy. God forbid something happens to one Democratic Senator – if so, McConnell stops EVERYTHING. So everything is urgent, and everything hangs by a thread.
Even if things get passed, they will run into a hostile Supreme Court. It does not matter what the law is, if it was passed by Democrats, Alieto and Thomas want it repealed. Kavanaugh and Gorsuch might be a bit better, but not much. Coney Barrett’s reputation precedes her. And Roberts is a longtime advocate of voter suppression, among other things. So it will not be easy getting ANYTHING done.
So what should get done first? Here are my suggestions, in the form of a top ten list. And yes, these are in order, as far as I am concerned:
1. Justice Steven Breyer needs to retire, and Biden needs to replace him.
Breyer is 82 years old. We have seen this before. One thing happens to Sherrod Brown, Jon Tester, Joe Manchin, etc. and this becomes yet another GOP appointment. This needs to be done within hours of Biden being sworn in, and I am not kidding!
2. Send $2000 COVID relief checks.
Democrats pushed for this; they should follow through.
3. Do all the other COVID relief that needs to be done.
There are many common sense COVID relief measures that McConnell refused to entertain. We should get them done.
4. Improve vaccine distribution; perhaps with Defense Production Act.
The best way to save lives and fix our economy is to improve vaccine distribution. The Biden Administration can do this.
5. Confirm Biden’s cabinet selections.
No need to worry about McConnell blocking anyone.
6. Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
The House will pass it. Some Republican will filibuster it. Democrats should make them do this as long as the law allows, then hold them to account. So while I don’t see this passing, at least Democrats will have given it a go.
7. Fill vacant judicial openings.
There are no longer filibusters on judicial nominations. So Biden should fill every single vacancy as fast as humanly possible. First up? Merrick Garland’s old seat on the DC Circuit.
8. Reverse the Trump tax cuts for the wealthy.
This should be brought to a vote in the Senate – again, make them filibuster it. Then pass it through budget reconciliation.
9. Reverse all Trump’s Executive Orders.
Trump has done tremendous damage to the environment, labor, civil rights, and other areas. Just as it was done by the stroke of a pen, it can be undone.
10. Forgive most student loan debt.
Like several previous issues, this should be brought to a vote in the Senate – again, make them filibuster it. Then pass it through budget reconciliation. This is TREMENDOUS economic stimulus, and good politics, too!
That is my top ten. What do you think?
So? What do you think? I would have to say Democrats fared pretty well.
*DID YOU KNOW? Groundhog Day has been celebrated in Punxsutawney, PA since 1886.
Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
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---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 2:50 PM
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