For a full list of articles and activities of regional committees and other affinity groups and resources, click the Committee News button above.
Upcoming Events
Zoom sessions on the next steps and mass meetings on the BCDCC Calendar
Washington 4th District Public Calendar
Upcoming Local Party Meetings and Affinity Group Activities
Benton County Democrats General Meeting January 23 at 6:30
Featured Items
Benton County Democrats General Meeting January 23 at 6:30
A new legislative session has begun. Follow the progress of bills of interest in the Legislation section of the Committee News page. You can add to the list of bills by contacting the Webmaster.
Indivisible: A Practical Guide to Democracy on the Brink.
BCDCC News and Views – Google document for news items and public comment
Newly Approved 2024 Platform
Good of the Order – What Can I Do?
Do you find it difficult to refute conspiracy theories from your family or friends? Try this AI-powered chatbot to construct well-reasoned counter-arguments. Or send them the link for them to try it themselves.
DebunkBot
New on the Website
Women’s March – People’s March Tri-Cities
Emerge – Emerge alums are breaking barriers!
Faith Action Network – Welcome to the 2025 Legislative Session! Week 1
Benton County Democrats General Meeting January 23 at 6:30
Alliance for Gun Responsibility – ACTION ALERT: Closer to Victory
State Committee – Message from the Chair
Indivisible – How you can fight Project 2025 right now
Women’s March – Tomorrow, we march.
8th LD – Legislative Session kicks off
Ag and Rural Caucus – January Schedule
Election Committee – Benton County Auditor
National Democratic Training Center – 1/16 – 1/23 Upcoming events with NDTC
Showing Up for Racial Justice – 1/16 – 1/23 Upcoming events with Showing Up for Racial Justice
WA Immigrant Solidarity Network – Reminder: WAISN General Meeting 3-5pm
March For Our Lives – The energy we’re bringing into 2024➡️2025
Invest in Washington Now – Don’t miss Thursday’s Insiders-Only Activist Briefing!
Red, Wine, and Blue – Keep Calm and Carry On with Heather Cox Richardson
Civic Action – The Tapback: TIME FOR A RAISE
Yakima Democrats – Resolve: be an ACTIVE Yakima Democrat in 2025
Michael Moore – Just F***in’ Do Your Bucket List, Joe
ACLU WA – Save the date: Showing up in Olympia for our rights
Whole Washington – The new Washington Health Trust introduced!
Democratic National Committee – The cost of a monthly streaming service:
B5 Learning Center – Meet Than Htike Aung
NW Immigration Rights Project – Thank You for Your support / Gracias por todo Tu Apoyo
Updates from the Legislation Committee
Tri-City Democrats – Friday, January 10 at 6 PM
Columbia Basin Badger Club – Who Speaks for Us Now?
Election Committee – Benton County Elections Center Ribbon Cutting
More classes from the National Democratic Training Center
LWVWA – Support the League = Defend Democracy
Relevant Articles
You can suggest additional riffs by contributing them to our Google Doc, You Might Be A Democrat
Visit our News and Views Google Doc
Emotions are running high as January 20th approaches but nobody keeps us calm like Heather Cox Richardson. She is joining us on Inauguration Eve to help put things into perspective and remind us that small groups of people can change history. Now is the time to find your people, connect locally and make a plan for the next few years – so let’s get started. We need togetherness right now, so spend Inauguration Eve with Heather and your friends at Red Wine & Blue.
See you there! https://redwine-blue.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mW5YkJ4eSSS940iuigCt4Q
The Washington Health Trust is back in the Senate
The 2025 legislative session has started, and it’s time to contact our elected officials! Once again, Senator Bob Hasegawa from Legislative District 11 has introduced the Washington Health Trust (WHT). We’re incredibly grateful for Senator Hasegawa’s advocacy on this critical issue, and now, it’s time for us to spring into action. We need co-sponsors to the bill ASAP. The deadline for co-sponsors is 5 PM today, so time is of the essence. See the Actions below.
We’re Spreading the Word!
Whole Washington volunteers, Board members, and our Executive Director were in Olympia on opening day, dropping off literature and making contact with office staff. It’s a bustling time in the capitol and a great opportunity for us to create some heat.
As Jim noted, we’re “taking our bill to our legislators before they’re even sworn in.” Thank you to all for your time, passion, and advocacy!
What are the chances for the WHT this year?
We’ve been advised Senate Bill 5233 will not receive a hearing this session. It’s our responsibility and obligation to not go silent. Our healthcare is much too important.
A hearing on comprehensive universal healthcare is more pressing than ever. Washington State has a massive budget shortfall (10 to 12 billion in the coming four years). Opportunites to save money need to be reviewed, and the WHT is just such an opportunity.
Both the Universal Health Care Commission Report and the 2021 Gerald Friedman analysis, show significant savings (anywhere from 738 million to 12 billion, depending on the model) while providing expanded benefits like vision, dental, and mental health services. We’d feel better and we’d save money. It’d be negligent to ignore a close review of the bill at this time.
What actions do we take right now?
There’s plenty we can do to press the WHT forward. Right now, these are the two big ones.
- Make Online Comments in support of the bill. Click on the top green button on the right that says Send a comment on this bill to your legislators. You’ll click the Support button and add your personal comments. Remember to send to your Senator plus both House Representative
- Contact your elected officials. This is the most vital action you can do today! Call or write them and let them know you support this Universal Healthcare bill. Ask your Senator to co-sponsor SB 5233 as soon as possible. Ask your Representatives to introduce a companion bill. Need help finding contact info? Use the District Finder here.
Reach out to Republicans and Independents too. Universal Healthcare is good for all of us!
Please reply back to this email if you make contact or leave a message. We’d love to hear what actions you’re taking and what you’re hearing from their offices.
Want to know more about the new WHT?
Join us tomorrow for the Virtual Town Hall! We’ll cover what’s different, share our stories, and plan together how to make the most of this moment!
Thank you so much for anything and everything you put in today to make some noise and increase the awareness for this legislation. This is not Whole Washington’s bill. It’s Washington’s bill. We can make our lives better. We just have to demand it.
In passionate and hopeful solidarity,
Whole Washington
Benton County Democrats General Meeting January 23 at 6:30
Here are some ways you can take action.
- Tue, Jan 14 @ 8pm · Working Families Party
Working Families Party Mass Calls › - Thu, Jan 16 @ 3pm
Abolition Action Hour › - Thu, Jan 16 @ 8pm
Our Work in the Days Ahead: a conversation for antiracist white people with Angela Davis › - Thu, Jan 23 @ 8pm
Rural Power: an online call for rural resistance › - Fri, Jan 31 @ 12pm
Gear Up Safety & Security Office Hours ›
All times PST
🗓️Here are some ways you can take action.
- Mon, Jan 13 @ 10am
Three Steps to Establishing Your Campaign › - Tue, Jan 14 @ 3pm
Calculating Your Vote Goal › - Wed, Jan 15 @ 10am
Using Power Mapping to Target Key Community Stakeholders › - Thu, Jan 16 @ 10am
Developing Your Campaign’s Core Message › - Mon, Jan 20 @ 12pm
So You Want To Run For Office – Special Edition with NDTC founder and CEO, Kelly Dietrich › - Mon, Jan 22 @ 3pm
Fundraising in Action: How to Ask for Money ›
All times PST
Connect with us on social media!
Paid for by the National Democratic Training Committee, TrainDemocrats.org, not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
This is just a reminder that the Washington State organization of the League of Women Voters has some excellent resources on becoming involved in your democracy.
Benton County
Meetings are the 4th Thursday of every month
- 6:30 pm – Benton County Democratic Central Committee
Meetings held in-person at various locations and on Zoom. Subscribe to Benton County Democrats to get on the email list for meeting links.
8th LD Meetings
::::::
Franklin County Democrats
Meetings every 3rd Thursday of the month at various locations. Subscribe to :::::: to get on the email list.
- Social time 5:30
- Business Meeting 6:00
Tri-Cities Young Democrats
Currently no meetings are being scheduled
Location changes so please check their Facebook Page for details
Tri-City Democrats Potluck
Meetings are every 2nd Friday of each month, 6 pm – 8 pm
Meetings held in-person and on Zoom. Subscribe to Benton County Democrats to get on the email list for meeting links.
Please check the Facebook Page for details.
Register to Vote Online
www.myvote.wa.gov
New voters may register online or by mail no later than the Monday four weeks before Election Day, or in person until the Monday one week before Election Day. For the General Election, ballots will be mailed October 14th. Have questions? 1-800-448-4881