MILITARY UNIVERSITY FACULTY RESPOND TO DADT SENATE HEARING

MILITARY UNIVERSITY FACULTY RESPOND TO DADT SENATE HEARING
Courtesy of Renna Communications

SANTA BARBARA, CA – December 2, 2010 – The Palm Center released a statement by 12 current and former faculty members at Service Academies and Military Universities, responding with factual evidence to claims made at today’s Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing on “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

STATEMENT BY CURRENT AND FORMER MILITARY PROFESSORS

Combat Effectiveness

(1) Concerns that repeal would undermine combat effectiveness are inconsistent with available evidence. While it is true that many combat troops say that they think repeal would undermine combat effectiveness, a smaller percentage say that if they were going into a combat situation, fighting alongside gay troops would be a factor. Many troops in foreign militaries said, prior to repeal, that gays would undermine combat effectiveness. Subsequent to repeal, however, foreign militaries reported no decline in combat effectiveness. Statistical analysis by Dr. Laura Miller of the RAND Corporation and a colleague found that even though many troops think that repeal would undermine effectiveness, there is no statistical relationship between whether someone knows a gay peer and the reported cohesion or effectiveness of the unit. If gays actually undermined combat effectiveness, it would be hard to understand why gay discharges always decline during wartime.

Process

(2) Concerns that the Working Group did not ask the troops whether they support repeal are disingenuous. The troops vocally expressed opinions about whether DADT should be repealed in an on-line inbox that received 72,384 comments, in 95 face-to-face forums at 51 bases that included more than 24,000 troops, and in 140 smaller focus groups. These data were not solicited in a scientifically valid way, but the Working Group certainly took them into account and even acknowledged that a majority of comments opposed repeal.

(3) Concerns that we do not know what the troops would say if asked whether they support repeal are not based on evidence. Three different polls, by Annenberg, Zogby, and Military Times, found roughly the same result: approximately 40% of the troops oppose repeal, 30% favor repeal, and 30% don’t know or don’t care. Surveys included combat troops. The Zogby respondent pool, for example, consisted of 545 combat and combat support troops who were serving or who had served recently in the Middle East.

Survey Validity

(4) Concerns about the Survey’s response rate, or that survey results are not reflective of the views of the overall force, are not correct: The 28% response rate is about average both for web-based surveys in general, and for military surveys in particular. The response rate to the military’s 2006 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey was 30% for Active Duty Members. Furthermore, response rates have nothing to do with the validity of a survey’s results, as long as the sample size is large enough and sampling is done properly. In this case, the Working Group survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 1%, much better than most surveys.

Timing

(5) Concerns that repeal is being rushed are not based on the historical track-record. The authors of “don’t ask, don’t tell” referred to it as a temporary compromise when the policy was enacted 17 years ago. Generals Colin Powell and John Shalikashvili have changed their views over this time, and military and public opinion shifted dramatically as well. The roughly year-long Pentagon review process has been one of the most comprehensive reviews ever undertaken on any military personnel policy in the history of the U.S. armed forces. More than 20 studies have been conducted on whether gays harm the military.

Recruitment and Retention

(6) Concerns that recruitment will suffer are not based on evidence. In the British and Canadian militaries, approximately 2/3 of male troops said that they would not work with gays if bans were lifted. After the lifting of bans in those countries, there were only a handful of resignations, and no reported problems with recruitment or retention. The percent of troops in the U.S. military who say that they will not work with gays and lesbians is much lower.

Effectiveness of DADT

(7) The claim that DADT has been effective is inconsistent with the evidence. A U.S. District Court found that, according to all available research, DADT has harmed the military in several ways including wasting valuable talent and undermining cohesion and morale. A GAO report found that the policy has led to the discharge of a significant number of mission-critical specialists. No evidence has ever been provided to show that DADT promotes cohesion or is working in any way.

(8) The claim that DADT does not involve situations in which people are hounded day in and day out is inconsistent with available evidence. While it is true that the military has suspended witch hunts and that most DADT discharges follow statements by service members, the District Court found that gay and lesbian troops do have a constant sword hanging over their heads which undermines their ability to focus on their jobs.

Executive Order

(9) The claim that only Congress can provide President Obama with the latitude to sign an executive order is incorrect. Congress already has provided such latitude in the “stop-loss” statute, which allows the President to suspend any law related to military separations during national security emergencies.

Professor John T. Ackerman, Air Command and Staff College*
Lt. Col. Allen Bishop, USA (ret.), former professor, U.S. Military Academy at West Point*
Dr. Kathleen M. Campbell, U.S. Military Academy at West Point*
Lt. Col. Edith A. Disler, USAF (ret.), former professor, U.S. Air Force Academy*
Professor Mark Eitelberg, Naval Postgraduate School*
Professor Barry Fagin, U.S. Air Force Academy*
Professor Craig A. Foster, United States Air Force Academy*
Professor Gregory D. Foster, National Defense University*
Professor Elizabeth L. Hillman University of California Hastings College of the Law, former instructor, United States Air Force Academy*
Professor Janice H. Laurence, Temple University, and former professor, Industrial College of the Armed Forces*
Professor George R. Mastroianni, United States Air Force Academy*
Professor Steven M. Samuels, United States Air Force Academy*

*The views expressed by faculty at US Government Agencies are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of their Service, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. Non-military institutional affiliations are listed for identification purposes only, and do not convey the institutions’ positions.

The Palm Center is a think tank at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Since 1998, the Center has been a leader in commissioning and disseminating research in the areas of gender, sexuality, and the military. For more information, visit www.palmcenter.org.

JOHN ENSIGN (R-NV) SUPPORTS REPEALING DON'T ASK DON'T TELL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

SENATOR JOHN ENSIGN SUPPORTS THE REPEAL OF DON'T ASK DON'T TELL


A coalition of Nevada's LGBTQ activists and veterans met with John Ensign's Las Vegas staff to discuss the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell



Las Vegas, NV -- This afternoon US Senator John Ensign's (R-NV) Regional Representative Margot Allen told a group of local LGBTQ activists and veterans Senator Ensign will vote to pass the National Defense Authorization Act with the repeal of the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, that bans gays from serving openly in the military.



Led by Nevada State Senator David Parks, a veteran and the state's first openly gay legislator, Ms. Allen was pointedly asked several times if Senator Ensign supported the repeal and she said under no uncertain terms: Senator John Ensign does not support the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy and will vote to repeal it. Ms. Allen explained that after the Pentagon releases the findings of its study on the effects of repealing the ban, he will vote "YES" to pass the National Defense Authorization Act with the repeal included. Ms. Allen also stated that any news reports citing Senator Ensign as against the repeal were false.



Prior to meeting with Senator Ensign's staff, Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada's chairman Derek Washington arranged for the group to meet with US Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid's Las Vegas office.



The group was assured that Senator Reid continues to work hard to get the Defense Authorization Act passed with Don't Ask Don't Tell repeal. Senator Reid wants the bill passed in a reasonable amount of time, but wants to also work with Republican leadership to have a fair and rational amendment process.



It is with great pride that we can now say both of our Senator's from Nevada support the repeal of one of the most blatant examples of institutionalized discrimination. We have watched with sickened hearts as people like Senator John McCain of Arizona act like petulant children and continue to defy and disrespect military generals, the Secretary of Defense, President Obama and worst, our troops.



In a press release issued last week Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Mark Udall (D-CO), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) stated:



“The Senate should act immediately to debate and pass a defense authorization bill and repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ during the lame duck session. The Senate has passed a defense bill for forty-eight consecutive years. We should not fail to meet that responsibility now, especially while our nation is at war. We must also act to put an end to the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy that not only discriminates against but also dishonors the service of gay and lesbian service members.



“The National Defense Authorization Act is essential to the safety and well-being of our service members and their families, as well as for the success of military operations around the world. The bill will increase the pay of all service members, authorize needed benefits for our veterans and wounded warriors, and launch military construction projects at bases throughout the country.



“The process established by the defense bill would also allow ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ to be repealed in an orderly manner, and only after the President, Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have certified to Congress that repeal is ‘consistent with the standards of military readiness, military effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention of the Armed Forces.’ If Congress does not act to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ in an orderly manner that leaves control with our nation’s military leaders, a federal judge may do so unilaterally in a way that is disruptive to our troops and ongoing military efforts. It is important that ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ be dealt with this year, and it appears that the only way that can happen is if it is on the defense bill.



“We are pleased that Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has also called on Congress to repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ We must act upon our responsibility to our troops and their family members and to the thousands of gay and lesbian service members who serve their nation bravely and honorably by passing the National Defense Authorization Act before the end of the year.”



We call on all LGBTQ activists, allies and veterans to call on their Senators, especially those who live in Maine, Ohio and Arkansas, and tell them that they can not, with good conscious, end the year without passing this bill, with the inclusion of the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell



Organizations present:

Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada

Stonewall Democrats of Nevada

Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada

Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network of Southern Nevada

Equality Nevada

A VERY SINCERE THANK YOU

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Hi All,

Well, we did it. We won some and we lost some. Most importantly, Stonewall Democrats of Southern Nevada stepped up and helped out several campaigns in a way that has never been done before.

We should be especially proud of our efforts on behalf of Senator Reid and Congresswoman Titus. I’d also like to pat you all on the back for the work we’ve done getting to know our judicial candidates. I know quite a few Stonewall members became “go-to” people on sample ballots that people took to the polls and of that I am most proud.

I have to say thank you to Chandler Levrich for getting us through the rough patches in the beginning when we needed to know how the club actually operated “backstage”.

None of what we’ve accomplished this year could have been without our board, Sandy Eddy, Chris Miller, Laura Martin, Leo Murrietta and our newest board member, Nathaniel Phillips.

I have to heap special praise on two board members. Andrew “Nerdrock” Davey is not only our Secretary; he is our Political Director who guided us through so many issues so that Stonewall has always had a ready answer when needed for our membership and politicians who needed guidance on our issues. He has been a tireless and dedicated campaign helper for several candidates and I’m not only thankful to him, but, proud as well.

Karen “Tool Time Barbie” Grayson has been an amazing Director of Transgender Outreach and been an excellent volunteer on every event we have had. In addition, I feel safe in saying; we could not have built the Senator David Parks Lending Library at The Center without her. She also has empowered the Transgender community with her tireless personal outreach to our Nevada politicians and candidates. All of this led us to present her with the very first “Stonewall Member of the Year” award named in her honor.

Sandy, Chris and Laura have been exceptional in making Stonewall one of the top clubs in the party and helping Stonewall have a national presence through our activism and Laura’s press releases.

I expect great things from Nathaniel as well. Now that he is free from his two consecutive campaigns, we hope Leo will be able to expand on the work that we have been doing in the Latino / Immigrant rights movement.

I also wish to thank Alptamise Hailey and Kimberly Michelle who helped us raise quite a bit of our election war chest through their generosity.

There are no words to express the amazing support that the staff of Senator Reid has given Stonewall. I simply say thanks.

Wes, Debra, Gayle, Tina and Ryan at The Arts Factory and Bar Bistro helped us make our name as the best place to learn about politics in the entire state, thank you!

Thank you Genevieve Flores and Linsey Peckonis for your brief but vital stay here in our state helping to “Elect Equality”.

I would be remiss if I didn’t say thank you to Rob Schlegel, Kelly MacFarlane Smith, Qvegas Magazine and the LGBT Statewide Coalition for their support as we expanded our role into helping build the LGBT community into a political force and an agent of social change in Nevada with the respect of the local media and politicians.

This letter could not be complete without a heartfelt thank you to Clark County Democratic Chairwoman Roberta Lange. She has been our advisor, friend and our champion. She and her husband Ken have been extraordinary in their support of our club and its goals. Thank you so much Roberta.

Thank you all,

Derek Washington
Chairman Stonewall Democrats of Southern Nevada

IS SHARRON ANGLE'S WORLD ONE YOU WANT TO LIVE IN?

Imagine, if you will, a world with Sharron Angle as the US Senator representing Nevada.

That world would be one where Gays & Lesbians would not be allowed to provide children with a happy and loving home. She would rather please her hate filled financial puppet masters and deny children the one thing all kids crave, a loving family.

If you lost your job and had trouble finding another one to put food on your table or to have gas for your car to look for a job, Sharron Angle would consider you, “lazy”. As far as she’s concerned, you should be at the whims of fate with no help at all from your hard earned Unemployment Benefits even though you’ve done your duty and paid into the system your entire working life. How many people do you know who have lost their lives during the Bush Recession? Are they just a bunch of lazy bums? To Sharron Angle, they are.

Forget about ever retiring. If social extremist Sharron Angle has her way, your Social Security will go directly to Wall St to the bankers who gambled with our money and got us into this mess in the first place.

Is that the future you want to be your reality?

I don’t.

That’s why we HAVE TO ELECT HARRY REID so he can go back to DC and make sure the LGBT community is represented by someone who knows and understands what is not only best for us as a community, but for the United States of America as a country and an ideal.

There's only 12 hours left to cast your vote for the candidate you'd like the Forward Together PAC to support next.

That candidate is SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, HARRY REID.

Click here to cast your vote FOR HARRY REID, before midnight tonight.

http://action.forwardtogetherpac.com/o/5614/p/salsa/web/questionnaire/public/?questionnaire_KEY=419&key=138138

Thanks so much for your help. Together, we can make a difference in this year's elections.

It takes under a minute to help keep Nevada and our country safe from the extremist agenda of Sharron Angle.

VOTE HARRY REID!

JOBS NOW! With Dick Gephardt! RALLY THIS SUNDAY!

Rally!

This election is about one thing.Good Jobs Now!Let your voices be heard. Some candidates don’t think it’s their job to help create jobs. It’s time for us to fight back.Join AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, former House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt and the candidates who WILL create jobs in Nevada.

What: A good old fashioned JOBS NOW RALLY!

When: Sunday September 12th at 6:00 PM

Where: Clark County Government Center Amphitheater500 S Grand Central Parkway

Refreshments provided.

Sponsored by NV State AFL-CIO andIUPAT District Council 15

STONEWALL DEMOCRATS OF SOUTHERN NEVADA STRAW POLL RESULTS

STRAW POLL RESULTS: STONEWALL DEMOCRATS RELEASE RESULTS OF 2ND STRAW POLL ELECTION
 
Contact:
Laura Martin
Stonewall Democrats of Southern Nevada
Communications Director
laurakmmartin@gmail.com
702-292-1279
 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
 
Las Vegas, NV 04/06/10:  Nearly 70 people packed an upstairs gallery of Downtown Las Vegas’ Arts Factory for Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada’s April membership meeting. Two very special guests, Robin McGehee and Erin Neff inspired the crowd to fight back against bullying, harness the same type of energy the Tea Party and other seditious organizations have and use it for good and continue to call out the bias and lies printed daily in the conservative Las Vegas Review Journal. A new board was elected (results below) and we conducted our 2nd Straw Poll Election for the 2010 midterms
 
Candidates who do not have a primary opponent were not polled. If a candidate’s name is not listed on the results, it is because they received 0% or no votes.
 
In no way should these results be interpreted as an endorsement. The state Stonewall board is conducting a candidate interview process which will results in the endorsement of Democratic candidates. Southern Nevada members are free to organize and vote for any candidate of their choosing. These results serve as more of a guide for both candidates and members.
 
US Senate
Harry Reid 100%
 
US Congress CD02
46% None of the above
15% Kenneth McKenna
15% Nancy Price
15% Other
6% Denis “Sam” Denhe
 
US Congress CD03
97% Dina Titus
3% Other
 
Nevada Governor
100% Rory Reid
 
Nevada Lt. Governor
73% Paul Murad
15% Jessica Sferrazza
6% Robert Randazzo
6% None
 
Nevada Senate 7-B
55% Mark Menendo
21% Kathy McCalin
18% None
6% Other
 
Nevada Senate 8
Mark Brandon 52%
Tammy Peterson 33%
Republican challenger 12%
Other 3%
 
Nevada Senate 9
58% Benny Yerushalmi
21% None of the above
15% Steven Saxe
6% Other
 
Nevada Assembly 4
76% Gary Fisher
21% None
3% Other
 
Nevada Assembly 6
45% Harvey Mumford
40% None
15% Other
 
Nevada Assembly 7
73% Carolyn Essex
15% Dina Neal
9% None
3% Other
 
Nevada Assembly 8
58% Jason Frierson
18% None
12% Jesse Cantero
9% Other
3% Kevin Child
 
Nevada Assembly 11
Olivia Diaz 73%
None 24%
Other 3%
 
Nevada Assembly 13
64% Lou DiSalvio
21% None
9% Brian Boothe
6% Other
 
Nevada Assembly 14
48% Maggie Carlton
30% None
13% Karen Hayes King
9% Other
 
Nevada Assembly 15
37% Chernia Klevin
27% Lou Toomin
18% Elliott Anderson
15% None
3% Other
 
Nevada Assembly 18
58% Venicia Considine
21% Richard Carillo
18% None
3% Lou West Enwright
 
Nevada Assembly 19
33% None
28% Steven Brooks
18% Meghan Smith
9% Brandon Casutt
9% Scott Hafen
3% Piange B Jackson
 
Nevada Assembly 22
58% None
15% Randy Spoor
15% Other
9% Kevin Donavan
3% Zachary S. Campbell
 
Nevada Assembly 42
48% Irene Bustamente Adams
25% Sam Christos
21% None
3% Kyle Greenwood
3% Other
 
Nevada State Board of Education
64% Jose Solorio
24% None
6% Annie Yvette Wilson
6% Other
 
Nevada State University Regent 3
88% Ken Lange
9% None
3% Other
 
Nevada State University Regent 7
55% None
21% Lucille I Thaler
15% Other
9% Bob Hasegawa
 
Nevada State University Regent 12
70% Dwayne Chestnut
15% None
12% Mark Newburn
3% Other
 
Clark County Commission G
67% David Parks
33% Greg Esposito
 
District Court Department 26
75% Gloria Sturman
9% Other
9% None
6% Bruce L Gale
 
District Court Department 28
82% Ron Israel
9% None
6% John Hall Howard Jr
3% Other
 
District Court Department 30
52% Jerry Weise
27% Patricia “Trish” Palm
12% None
6% Michael Davidson
3% Other
 
District Court Department 31
64% Philip Dabney
15% Joanna Kishner
12% Joshua Kunis
6% Other
3% None
 
District Court Department 32
61% Rob Bare
27% None
6% Ellen Stoebling
6% Other
 
District Court Department S
85% Vincent Ochoa
6% Ethan Kotler
3% Greta Muirhead
3% Other
3% None
 
District Court Department T
58% Gayle Nathan
30% Carl F Piazza
6% None
3% Terrance Marren
3% Other
 
Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada election results:
Chair: Derek Washington
Vice Chair: Sandra Eddy
Treasurer: Christopher Miller
Secretary: Andrew Davey
 
###
Stonewall is America's only grassroots Democratic LGBT organization. We focus on creating change in three ways: educating the LGBT community about the differences between the political parties; mobilizing the LGBT community to get out to vote on Election Day for fair-minded Democrats; and standing up when Republicans attack our families and our civil rights while we lead the Democratic party to continue improving its record on issues important to our community. For more info: http://sdcsn.blogspot.com/

RORY REID VISITS STONEWALL by Laura Martin (reprinted from Stonewall Democrats)

Rory Reid address the Southern Nevada Stonewall Democrats
Press Release - March 4th, 2010

"I am here to recruit you."

Those words spoken by Clark County Commission Rory Reid were familiar to the crowd of one hundred, packed into the Gay and Lesbian Center of Las Vegas for the Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada meeting. A cynic would accuse the Nevada gubernatorial candidate of egregious pandering. But for anyone following Rory's campaign, they'd know he has used the late Harvey Milk's words for months; in front of crowds of varying sexuality, race, age, education and social status, in all corners of the state of Nevada. He does this not to pander, or to be provocative. As Rory said during Stonewall Dems' meeting, he understands that like Harvey, and more recently President Obama, he can't just win this election, he must build a movement.

Nevada's current governor, Jim Gibbons (who is running for reelection against Rory), made his Republican pontifications over small government and low taxes a reality. In doing so, he's nearly choked the life out of the state. We are experiencing a deep depression and instead of making bold decisions to increase revenue for the state, he's cut vital services, state employees salaries (not his own of course) and even tried to eliminate the Nevada Equal Rights Commission (NERC), the agency that oversees the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. It’s the only agency in the state that resolves LGBTQ-related discrimination, and the only agency that enforces, SB207, a bill to end discrimination against transgendered persons in Nevada. This is not the first time Governor Gibbons has tried to trample on LGBTQ rights, he also vetoed SB 286, the bill allowing Domestic Partnerships in NV; a veto that was, thankfully, overridden.

Which brings me back to Rory. While he admits he does not know every detail to SB207, he strongly supports the rights of transgendered persons and feels they should have the same rights and legal avenues as everyone else if they are discriminated against. And he was appalled at the governor’s attack on NERC. Stonewall members reacted strongly to his suggestion that a study be conducted before Clark County employees are given Domestic Partnership rights. Rory insisted that he is willing to meet with and talk to anyone to provide him with more insight and understanding on the subject. His bottom line: as governor of Nevada, everyone is welcome, everyone is equal, and he will work hard to make it that way, but he needs our help.

Equality Democrats like Rory Reid need us. He needs us not to just vote for him, but to engage him, our peers, our neighbors and our friends. Rory Reid has a plan to pull this state out of this depression. Stonewall Democrats of Southern Nevada have been attending and hosting dozens of events each month, working to keep our majorities in all houses in all levels of government, but most importantly, to remove anti-LGBTQ bigot, Jim Gibbons from the governor’s mansion in Carson City.

We have come closer than ever before to repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, making marriage legal for everyone and getting rid of the abhorrent Defense of Marriage Act. Our hard work can not be undone by our own midterm election apathy. Rory is here to recruit you, and so am I. Please help me, and the Stonewall Democrats of Southern Nevada elect Rory Reid the next governor of Nevada www.RoryReid.com



By Laura Martin

Communications Director

Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada

http://sdcsn.blogspot.com/

* Email this page

DON'T LET HIMBO "AMERICA'S WORST GOVERNOR" GIBBONS TAKE YOUR CIVIL RIGHTS AWAY FROM YOU!

I know what you're thinking.

Really.

I swear.

You're thinking that Nevada's adulterous dolt of a Governor, Jim "Hi, I'm, hiccup, the Governor. Need a walk to your car?" Gibbons couldn't go any lower.

Actually, no one would think that.

No.

One.

After doing all he can to make sure that our educational system makes the deep south look like Harvard.

And Yale.

Combined.

Himbo has decided that in addition to that pesky learnin', you also can do without your civil rights.

How's that back of the bus thingy going for you?

You're about to find out.

Soon.

UNLESS.

You demand your representatives stop Zirconia Jim from decimating yet another feature of our state, Civil Rights.

Check out the following and get on your "Internets" and demand that your rep stop ole frisky pants in his tracks.

Now.


One of many things on the chopping block at this week's special session is NERC, Nevada's Equal Rights Commission. Governor Gibbons has proposed that this agency - responsible for enforcement of Nevada's civil rights and anti-discrimination laws be eliminated entirely. This proposal is not acceptable. It would have dire consequences for civil rights across the board, especially for LGBT rights.

* Eliminating NERC would make the passage of SB207, the bill that provided protection against discrimination in places of public accommodation based on sexual orientation, meaningless. SB207 provided that NERC had authority to investigate and pursue these complaints - without NERC, there is no enforcement mechanism and no relief for victims of anti-gay discrimination.
* It would also be meaningless to try to pass the new state protections for Transgender people and women we'd all like to see, because there would be no state agency to enforce them. LGBT rights are not enshrined in federal law, so the parallel federal agency, the EEOC, cannot enforce employment and public accommodation protections.
* This is not just a severe danger for LGBT rights: NERC extends important resources that the EEOC is simply too overburdened to grant to Nevadans who have claims that include sex discrimination in employment, or racial discrimination in places of public accommodation. For example, the EEOC provides mediation services and factual investigation. In terms of mediation in particular, this is a critical informal method of resolving employment and public accommodation discrimination claims - frequently without going to state court. The elimination of NERC would undoubtedly lead to more filings in state court - which of course should be weighed in any serious cost savings analysis.

The ACLU believes that NERC serves a truly important place in our state, as an expression of our state's public policy against discrimination in employment and places of public acommodation. Getting NERC into place was the result of years of civil rights advocacy; we can't let things move backwards.

NERC sends the message to Nevadans -- and visitors to Nevada -- that this is a state that values all its citizens and vistors. Please join with us in calling on legislators to resist attempts to balance the budget at the expense of our civil rights. Call or email your legislators now!

Here is contact information for some of the Nevada Legislature's leaders:

Steven Horsford, Senate Majority Leader: shorsford@sen.state.nv.us
Bill Raggio, Senate Minority Leader: wraggio@sen.state.nv.us
Barbara Buckley, Speaker of the Nevada State Assembly: barbara@barbarabuckley.com
John Oceguera, Assembly Majority Floor Leader: joceguera@asm.state.nv.us
Heidi Gansert, Assembly Minority Leader: hgansert@asm.state.nv.us


And here's a link that you can use to figure out who your legisltors are: http://mapserve.leg.state.nv.us/website/lcb/viewer.htm

STONEWALL DEMOCRATS OF SOUTHERN NEVADA STRAW POLL RESULTS

Contact: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Laura Martin

Director of Communications

Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada

702-292-1279

laurakmmartin@gmail.com

STONEWALL DEMOCRATS OF SOUTHERN NEVADA HOLD FIRST DEMOCRATIC STRAW POLL OF 2010



Monday February 1st, the Stonewall Democratic Club of Southern Nevada held an informal straw poll during its general membership meeting in Las Vegas, at the Satay Malaysian Grille.



While this is the first straw poll of the 2010 midterm elections, it will not be the last. Several other Democratic clubs have planned their own straw polls for their membership meetings.



The straw poll was conducted by secret ballot. Ballots were counted by two Stonewall board members, and the count was observed by a member of the Clark County Democratic Party executive board.


RESULTS:


US Senate: Harry Reid 96.2% uncommitted 3.8%



Congressional District 1: Shelley Berkley 100%



Congressional District 2: Dean Heller 7.6% Democratic challenger 77% uncommitted 15.4%



Congressional District 3: Dina Titus 92% uncommitted 8%



Governor: Rory Reid 96.2% uncommitted 3.8%



Lt. Governor: Paul Murad 73.1% Robert Randazzo 7.9% uncommitted 19%



Commission District G: Greg Espisito 46% David Parks 42% uncommitted 12%


If a candidate is not listed, it is because they received 0% or no votes. In no way are these results to be construed as officially sanctioned or as an endorsement of any one candidate.


The straw poll is just one of the many ways Stonewall will engage its members and candidates as we move closer to primary and general elections this year. Stonewall continues to foster change by "educating the LGBT community about the differences between the political parties; mobilizing the LGBT community to get out to vote on Election Day for fair-minded Democrats; and standing up when Republicans attack our families and our civil rights while we lead the Democratic party to continue improving its record on issues important to our community." *



###



If you'd like more information about our straw poll and the results, please contact Laura Martin 702-292-1279 or email laurakmmartin@gmail.com


*http://www.stonewalldemocrats.org/about/who

REID LEADS PASSAGE OF BILL BRINGING NEARLY $100 MILLION TO NEVADA

I have to admit that it bothers me when the Republiban talks about how Nevada would be better off without Harry Reid.

Why?

You may ask?

Well. Duh.

Before Harry Reid, Nevada wasn't even on the radar screen of the pointy heads in D.C.. As far as they were concerned, we were that place they flew over on their way to L.A. to beg for moola.

Harry changed all that.

With the election of President Obama (which Harry plaid a HUGE role in), and it's moving up to the front of the pack in the primary system (wonder who had a hand in that?), Nevada finally is recognized as a power player. EVERYONE knows who Harry Reid is and where he comes from.

NEVADA!

Now.

Please explain to me why we would want to replace one of the most powerful men in the world with Snow White or her mental dwarfs?

I hate to be mean, but. a football coaches son? Not that there's anything wrong with that, but, that's his main qualification.

Really.

I swear.

Hut One!

Hut two!

With this bill, what am I supposed to do?

Please.

Occasionally, a Republiban will say, "what has Reid ever done for Nevada!?"

Idiot.

Well, this little list just came across my desk and while it doesn't probably register with those who get their info from Glenn "I don't believe any of this, I'm just making money" Beck, I think this partial list of what The Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has done for Nevada more than gives good reason why we should make sure he is reelected.

What do you think?

Eh?

Funding for projects will help put Nevadans back to work
Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid today secured nearly $100 million for projects in the Silver State that will create jobs and put Nevadans back to work. Reid, the Majority Leader of the Senate, secured these funds in the Transportation Omnibus Appropriations Act, which passed the Senate today. This bill is a combination of the following appropriations bills: Transportation, Housing and Urban Development; Commerce, Justice and Science; Financial Services; Military Construction; Labor, Health and Human Services; and Foreign Operations.

“This is an important bill for Nevada because it delivers much-needed funding to the state for projects that will strengthen our communities and create jobs,” Reid said. Every bill that is passed, every project that is funded and every job that is created helps Nevada take another step forward on the road of economic recovery.”

From funding for law enforcement equipment and military personnel to public health initiatives, this bill makes strong investments in Nevada communities. Senator Reid has views appropriations as a way to supplement state and local funding and bring home Nevadan’s hard earned tax dollars for deserving projects that create jobs, provide services, and improve the quality of life for all Nevadans.

Senator Reid delivered funds to nearly every area of the state – from Boulder City and Las Vegas to West Wendover, Reno, and Elko. The list of projects receiving funding in Nevada is included below.


Military Construction: $54,897,000

Project: NV Air National Guard Fire Station Replacement
Requestor: Air National Guard
Location: Reno, NV
Amount: $10,800,000
Description: This request funds the construction of a new Fire Station at the base located at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. The existing fire station, built in 1955, provides only 25% of the total authorized space of 17,575 square feet. This is already requested by the Department of Defense in the 2014 Future Year’s Defense Plan.

Project: Warrior Physical Training Facility
Requestor: Navy
Location: Fallon, NV
Amount: $10,670,000
Description: This request funds the construction of a combined gymnasium/fitness center facility consisting of 23,713 square feet. The facility includes an indoor fitness area; basketball/volleyball court; aerobics area; two racquetball courts; locker rooms; multipurpose activity room; combative/martial arts room, and administrative offices. This is already requested by the Department of Defense in the 2014 Future Year’s Defense Plan.

Project: NV National Guard Add/Alt for Clark County Armory
Requestor: Army National Guard
Location: Clark County, NV
Amount: $2,000,000
Description: This request funds the creation of new unit administration areas for Add/Alt of the Clark County Armory. The transformation of the 221st Cavalry into an ARS (Armored Reconnaissance Squadron) has increased the requirements of storage and administration space due to increased equipment and personnel.

Project: NV National Guard Renewable Energy Sustainable Projects
Requestor: Army National Guard
Location: NV National Guard, NV
Amount: $2,000,000
Description: This request funds the design and construction of renewable energy projects. Nevada Army National Guard Construction and Facilities Management Officer is planning wind, solar, and geothermal projects at six facilities and training sites by calendar end of 2010.

Project: North Las Vegas Readiness Center
Requestor: Nevada Army National Guard
Location: North Las Vegas
Amount: $26,000,000
Description: With the Guard experiencing rapid growth from several overseas mobilizations, many existing readiness centers are reaching capacity. The facility will serve the peace time missions of the assigned units and improve the units’ readiness posture. The Readiness Center will provide administrative, training, supply, classrooms and storage areas required to ensure units are prepared for mobilizations.

Project: Creech Air Force Base UAS AT/FP Security Upgrades
Requestor: United States Air Force
Location: Creech AFB
Amount: $2,700,000
Description: Unmanned Aircraft Systems are playing an invaluable role on the battlefield in Iraq and Afghanistan. The project will provide for improved anti-terrorism and force protection security measures for the headquarters for Predator and Reaper operations worldwide. Protecting UAS assets is a top priority to ensure support for our security efforts abroad.

Project: Las Vegas Civil Support Team Ready Building
Requestor: Nevada Army National Guard
Location: Las Vegas
Amount: $727,000
Description: The project will provide funding for the planning and design of the Ready Building. When completed, it will provide immediate response capability to support the State of Nevada first responders in the event of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attack. The facility will support 24 full time personnel and is critical to the greater Las Vegas area’s preparation for a possible terrorist attack.

Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development: $20,233,300

Project: Approach Surveillance Radar
Requestor: Reno-Tahoe International Airport
Location: Reno, NV
Amount: $263,000
Description: The Reno-Tahoe International Airport and five other airports in the region are all served by an existing ASR-8 that has been in place for 16 years and is two generations old in terms of technology. Funding would provide for an updated ASR-11 that will provide the most technologically advanced radar capabilities.

Project: Starr Road Interchange
Requestor: City of Henderson
Location: Henderson, NV
Amount: $2,922,000
Description: Constructing an interchange at I-15 and Starr Road will improve access to a growing part of Henderson and relieve congestion on Eastern Avenue and other approaches to McCarran International Airport. Funding will be used for construction, and will supplement the $1,187,500 Senator Reid secured for this project in FY2009.

Project: Meadowood Interchange
Requestor: Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT)
Location: Carson City, NV
Amount: $1,000,000
Description: The Meadowood Interchange is in one of the primary commercial retail districts in the Reno/Sparks Metropolitan area. Construction of a split diamond interchange will more effectively distribute traffic on surface arterial streets, and reduce overall levels of traffic congestion. Senator Reid secured $1,254,000 for this project last year. Funding will supplement more than $27 million in ARRA stimulus funding that local officials have decided to invest in the interchange.

Project: US 50 Stateline Realignment
Requestor: Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT)
Location: Carson City, NV
Amount: $1,000,000
Description: The Lake Tahoe basin is an area of regional and national significance, but congestion around the Nevada casinos reduces mobility in the area. Funding would pay to provide operational improvements and pedestrian and transit improvements in the heavily congested Stateline corridor.

Project: I-15 Corridor of the Future
Requestor: Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT)
Location: Carson City, NV
Amount: $974,000
Description: Because the US Department of Transportation designed I-15 as a "Corridor of the Future," this interstate is eligible to participate in new federal programs to reduce congestion. Federal funding would supplement these efforts. More than 9 million people drive from Southern California to Las Vegas on I-15, and making road improvements protects the main routes for tourists to enter Las Vegas.

Project: Expanding SR-160 Las Vegas to Pahrump
Requestor: Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT)
Location: Carson City, NV
Amount: $2,217,500
Description: This roadway is the major connection between the growing bedroom community of Pahrump and the metropolitan core of Las Vegas, NV. Unfortunately, this two-lane road is one of the most deadly in the state. Funding would pay for increased widening that would reduce congestion and improve safety. Senators Reid and Ensign secured $2,612,500 for this project last year.

Project: Boulder City Bypass
Requestor: City of Boulder City
Location: Boulder City, NV
Amount: $981,000
Description: According to published estimates, an additional 2000-2500 trucks will drive through Boulder City once the new Hoover Dam bridge is completed in 2010. A 17 mile bypass road will alleviate congestion and remove truck traffic from downtown Boulder City.

Project: Southern Nevada Beltway Interchanges
Requestor: Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $3,302,250
Description: Federal funding will supplement a 20 percent state match to construct additional interchanges to improve mobility on the Clark County Beltway. The Clark County Beltway is one of the busiest roads in Nevada, and funding will expand capacity. Last year, Senator Reid and Senator Ensign secured $2,850,000 for this project.

Project: Carson City Freeway Phase II
Requestor: Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT)
Location: Carson City, NV
Amount: $779,200
Description: The project will improve capacity by adding 3 miles of controlled access freeway from Fairview Drive to the southern connection at the existing US 50 West - Tahoe Juncture / Carson Street intersection. Expanding the freeway will relieve traffic congestion in addition to offering flood control protection. It is estimated that this project will create 150 jobs locally.

Project: Washoe County Bus and Bus Facility
Requestor: Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County
Location: Reno, NV
Amount: $615,250
Description: This project involves the construction of satellite transfer centers and additional Park and Ride facilities to expand the ridership of the RTC bus system. Additional funds will replace aging buses in the fleet with cleaner fuel technologies.

Project: ACE Boulder Highway Rapid Transit Project
Requestor: Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Location: Boulder City, NV
Amount: $750,000
Description: This transit project will be comprised of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system operating along a 17-mile corridor with exclusive transit lanes, vehicles, stations, and related infrastructure. The specific segment would travel Boulder Highway from the Central City Intermodal Transportation Terminal to Horizon Drive in Henderson, Nevada.

Project: Nevada Pacific Parkway
Requestor: City of Fernley
Location: Fernley, NV
Amount: $535,700
Description: Funding will pay for the construction of an additional four lane roadway connecting I-80 Exit 50 Interchange to US50A at Nevada Pacific Parkway in the eastern portion of Fernley. The expansion will be necessary for future growth in the Fernley region.

Project: Bonneville-Clark Couplet
Requestor: The City of Las Vegas
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $487,000
Description: This project will improve traffic flow and reduce congestion by converting Bonneville Ave. and Clark Ave. roadways to an east/west one-way couplet system between Main Street and Las Vegas Boulevard. This project is part of the City's master plans for land use and will make the corridor more pedestrian-friendly. It will create 71 jobs locally.

Project: US-395 from Moana to Stead
Requestor: Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT)
Location: Carson City, NV
Amount: $681,800
Description: This project would widen the Northbound lanes on US-395 and relieve heavy peak hour congestion and related crashes. Widening would substantially reduce Northbound travel time in peak hour from Moana to I-80 saving time for thousands of Nevadans each day. This project is estimated to create 150 jobs locally.

Project: Pyramid Highway Corridor
Requestor: Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County
Location: Reno, NV
Amount: $1,084,400
Description: Pyramid Highway (SR-445) is one of the most congested corridors in Northern Nevada, particularly at the intersection of SR-445 and McCarran Blvd. Funding would pay for environmental studies and project development improvements to increase capacity and reduce congestion within the corridor.

Project: Freeways and Arterial System of Transportation (FAST)
Requestor: Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT)
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $681,800
Description: To help facilitate traffic movement and relieve congestion on the Clark County Beltway, NDOT plans to install a fiber-optic cable vehicle detection system with video monitoring cameras, ramp meters and dynamic message signs.

Project: Silver Sky at Deer Springs Affordable Senior Assisted Living
Requester: Nevada HAND
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $681,800
Summary: Nevada HAND plans to build an affordable senior assisted living center with a focus on serving low-income seniors. This facility will allow low-income seniors who can no longer live independently to maintain their dignity at home, and avoid costly and premature nursing home placement.

Project: Foreclosure Prevention and Intervention Partnership Program
Requester: City of Las Vegas
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $200,000
Summary: The City of Las Vegas will continue their housing outreach and foreclosure prevention education efforts. The City will offer mortgage modification assistance to homeowners in addition to helping transition families who can no longer afford their mortgage into affordable rental housing.

Project: Stabilizing Nevada Neighborhoods
Requester: Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Nevada
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $487,000
Summary: Hundreds of foreclosed homes throughout Southern Nevada sit empty and blight neighborhoods. Consumer Credit Counseling Service plans to turn many of these foreclosed properties into long-term affordable rental properties that will be sold to low and moderate income families.

Project: Storey County Youth and Community Resource Center
Requester: Community Chest of Storey County
Location: Virginia City, NV
Amount: $194,800
Summary: Storey County currently does not have a community center, childcare center, youth program facilities, or public gathering sites. With the support of the local government, Community Chest and other volunteer organizations have been working for 13 years to design and construct a community resource center. Local residents will supplement any federal support with additional donations and grants.

Project: Silver Stage Youth Community Center
Requester: Silver Stage Youth Organization
Location: Stagecoach, NV
Amount: $194,800
Summary: Like many rural counties, Silver Springs does not have a community center or public meeting space. Community residents have been working for several years to design a center, and have completed a feasibility study for a mixed-use community center. Federal, state and local funding will be used to construct the center.

Project: Acquisition of Equipment and Vehicles
Requestor: Three Square Food Bank
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $200,000
Description: With the economic downturn, Three Square is working to close Southern Nevada’s hunger gap by bringing all available food and financial resources into their regional food bank. Additions to their vehicle fleet will allow the agency to expand their food assistance to people in need in the Las Vegas Valley.

Labor-HHS: $13,095,000

Project: Youth Internet Safety Education Project
Requestor: Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows
Location: Reno, Nevada
Amount: $175,000
Description: Federal funds would be used to allow the Boys & Girls Clubs of Truckee-Meadows to implement Internet safety programs in schools serving students in grades 6 through 9 in order to protect children from online dangers including child predators.

Project: Charter School Development Foundation Early Childhood Education Center
Requestor: Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Amount: $400,000
Description: Early-childhood education has long been a federal priority because studies show that a child's success ultimately depends on what happens in their early years. In partnership with the United Way, the Agassi Academy plans to expand their comprehensive early childhood education services to more families in Southern Nevada. Funds will be used to develop an early childhood education program that would include family access to health care and immunizations and parent education.

Project: School for the Highly Gifted
Requestor: Clark County School District
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Amount: $600,000
Description: The Clark County School District, home to nearly three-quarters of the students in Nevada, will, in partnership with the Nevada System of Higher Education, create an academy for the highly gifted in grades 9-12. Nearly 200 students in the district have been identified as highly-gifted. Recognizing that gifted children learn differently, this project will be committed to providing an academically appropriate learning environment that is challenging and meaningful.

Project: Support for English-Language Learners
Requestor: Clark County School District
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Amount: $600,000
Description: Roughly 20 percent of the students in the Clark County School District are English-language learners. The district's ELL program provides professional development training for administrators and teachers to help improve instruction for English-language learners. Funding will use used to provide additional specialists for up to 50 schools with a high population of ELL students.

Project: Career and Technical Education Equipment
Requestor: Lyon County School District
Location: Yerington, Nevada
Amount: $350,000
Description: Because of the rural nature of the Lyon County School District, distance learning is an important educational component for both students and teachers. This distance learning technology will allow the district to offer educational programming at a greater number of schools and improve education in rural Nevada.

Project: Middle School Science Lab and Curriculum
Requestor: Nye County School District
Location: Pahrump, Nevada
Amount: $425,000
Description: Nye County is the largest, rural school district in Nevada, covering over 18,000 square miles. Funding will be used to purchase interactive science curriculum and equipment for several rural middle schools in the district. This funding would enhance the curriculum for several thousand middle school students.

Project: Nevada Rural Literacy Program
Requestor: Save the Children
Location: Washoe and Elko County, Nevada
Amount: $250,000
Description: Save the Children operates a highly-effective afterschool rural literacy program in five rural schools in Washoe and Elko counties. These programs provide supplemental educational services with a proven track record of improving children's reading skills. Federal funding will be used for curriculum and assessment materials, technological equipment, and ongoing training and technical assistance.

Project: New Teacher Induction and Mentoring Program
Requestor: Washoe County School District
Location: Reno, Nevada
Amount: $500,000
Description: The district's Induction and Mentoring Program provides mentors to guide and support the work of novice teachers by observing them in the classroom, offering feedback, assisting with lesson plans, and demonstrating effective teaching methods. Mentors meet with new teachers at least once a week. Federal funding will be used to expand this effective program.

Project: K-12 Instructional Coaches
Requestor: Washoe County School District
Location: Reno, Nevada
Amount: $500,000
Description: The district, Nevada's second largest, will use these funds for instructional coaches for K-12 teachers. These coaches will serve as on-site professional developers who will collaborate with teachers to help them use proven practices and strategies to align teaching with district and state standards and improve student achievement.

Project: Online Degree Program
Requestor: Truckee Meadows Community College
Location: Reno, Nevada
Amount: $600,000
Description: TMCC has established a highly successful distance learning program with eleven online degrees, more than 300 courses, and serving more than 6,500 students. To build on this success, TMCC will use these funds to establish a new fast-track online degree program targeting nontraditional (ages 25-62) students. Many of these students have previously attended college and earned credits and, for a variety of reasons, have dropped out and never returned. Others opted to go straight into the workforce after high school and now realize the value of earning a college degree.

Project: RSVP Home Companion Senior Respite Care Program
Requestor: Washoe County Senior Services
Location: Carson City, Nevada
Amount: $195,000
Description: The RSVP Home Companion Senior Respite Care Program addresses a critical need in the community -- that of free or affordable, non-medical in-home respite care for those suffering from dementia, Alzheimer's, and a host of other ailments and disorders. The senior population in Nevada is among the fastest growing in the nation, so the number of caregivers and the demand for this program continues to increase. This community service program supports caregivers, and in turn, helps to prevent the institutionalization of their loved ones.

Project: Cancer Education, Outreach and Support Services for Nevadans
Requestor: Nevada Cancer Institute
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Amount: $600,000
Description: Cancer is a leading cause of death in Nevada. Nevadans with cancer and their caregivers face a number of geographic and other challenges accessing care and other cancer-related resources, including education and prevention. The Nevada Cancer Institute, which has been recognized by the state Legislature as the official cancer institute for the State of Nevada, supports education and outreach services, including cancer navigation, to Nevadans. These funds would allow the Nevada Cancer Institute to expand these efforts to meet needs across the state of Nevada including rural frontier communities, Indian reservations and urban areas.

Project: University of Nevada School of Medicine- Nevada Diabetes Center
Requestor: University of Nevada, Reno
Location Reno, Nevada
Amount: $800,000
Description: In recent years, the prevalence of diabetes in Nevada has increased by 32 percent. This is a significant health problem for Nevadans, as diabetes is the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease, non-traumatic amputation and blindness. The Las Vegas area has a population of diabetes patients with complications that is more than 20 percent higher than the national average. A University of Nevada Diabetes Center will create a regional center of excellence where patients with uncontrolled diabetes can receive state-of-the-art management directed by a team of appropriately trained specialists. It will reduce diabetes related complication rates, helping to control costs associated with diabetes management and to improve quality of life for patients living with diabetes.

Project: Boulder City Hospital Construction
Requestor: Boulder City Hospital
Location: Boulder City, NV
Amount: $1,000,000
Description: The Boulder City Hospital serves as a community safety net for Boulder city and the surrounding rural areas. With the anticipated opening of the Hoover Dam Bypass, increased commuter, business and tourist traffic is expected to move in and around Boulder City. These funds will support construction that will expand the hospital's preparedness for handling this community's emergency medical cases.

Project: West Wendover Medical Clinic Equipment
Requestor: City of West Wendover
Location: West Wendover, Nevada
Amount: $310,000
Description: These funds would allow the City of West Wendover to purchase new equipment, including a digital x-ray machine for the West Wendover Medical Clinic. The new machine would replace old technology which uses x-ray film that must be sent out to radiology for review which results in a ten day waiting period. The new machine will increase efficiency and patient care through the use of digital x-rays which allow for more timely review by radiology and the diagnosis by attending physicians in this rural community.

Project: Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health
Requestor: Lou Ruvo Brain Institute
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $1,300,000
Description: The Lou Ruvo Institute recently announced a new partnership with the world renowned Cleveland Clinic. These funds will support the purchase of equipment to help support the Institute's goal of becoming a national resource for the most current research and scientific information for the treatment of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases, as well as focusing on prevention, early detection, and education.

Project: Helping Kids Clinic: Health Access without Walls
Requestor: Helping Kids Clinic
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Amount: $200,000
Description: The Helping Kids Clinic provides free health care and immunizations to children without insurance or financial resources. This organization eliminates access barriers by working in a number of different environments in southern Nevada where children are at-risk. These funds would allow the Helping Kids Clinic to secure needed medical supplies and equipment and hire first-language Spanish translators. This would enable the clinic to expand its mission and provide health care and immunizations to a larger number of at-risk children in Southern Nevada.

Project: Nevada State College Nursing Program
Requestor: Nevada State College
Location: Henderson, Nevada
Amount: $900,000
Description: Nevada faces a tremendous nursing shortfall. If left unaddressed, the quality and availability of care could suffer. Nevada State College is developing a program that aims to increase expertise of new nurses while decreasing burnout of under-prepared nurses. Funding would help develop the educational program and purchase research equipment for the nursing program.

Project: Nursing Retention Support Program
Requestor: Renown Health
Location: Reno, Nevada
Amount: $390,000
Description: Studies show that nurses beginning their careers in the acute hospital setting often leave their first job, and sometimes the nursing profession entirely, during their first six to twelve months on the job. This situation has only exacerbated the nursing shortage in Nevada. These funds would support a formalized nursing retention and support program for nurses' first six months to a year on the job. This program would help to improve nursing retention and the quality of patient care in Nevada.

Project: Touro University Gerontology Center
Requestor: Touro University, Nevada
Location: Henderson, Nevada
Amount: $750,000
Description: Nevada has one of the fastest growing senior populations in the country but has few gerontologists and geriatricians. These funds would support the construction of a gerontology center that would conduct research into the aging process, educate health professionals in geriatric issues, and provide health care services to older adults. The Gerontology Center will provide medical and preventive health services to Nevada's older adult population, along with education for seniors and their families about nutrition, exercise and long-term health. The Center will also train and educate doctors, nurses and other allied health professionals on the multi-disciplinary aspects of gerontology and geriatrics.

Project: University Women's Care and Birth Center
Requestor: University Medical Center of Southern Nevada
Location Las Vegas, Nevada
Amount: $1,500,000
Description: The University Women's Care and Birth Center will help to address the current crisis of access to women's health and maternal-child care in Clark County. Specifically, the requested funds would support the renovation of a space that would house services for women's healthcare and maternal-child care (birthing center) at the University Medical Center in a separate freestanding facility. This would allow for the consolidation of women's health and maternal-child care services and with family resource services in a freestanding facility owned by UMC to be operated in collaboration with professional medical providers.

Project: The Center for Molecular Medicine
Requestor: The University of Nevada School of Medicine
Location: Reno, Nevada
Amount: $750,000
Description: Chronic neuro-immune diseases have been steadily on the rise in the U.S. in recent years, resulting in serious disability and enormous financial burdens to families, communities and to our health care system. These funds would support construction and the purchase of equipment so the Center for Molecular Medicine at the University of Nevada School of Medicine may pursue its goal of facilitating the immediate transfer of new knowledge to effective patient treatment and physician education, through the combined efforts of researchers, clinicians and educators at the University.

Commerce-Justice-Science: $8,525,000

Project: Heavy Duty Command Post and Patrol Safety System
Requestor: The Washoe County Sheriff's Office
Location: Reno, NV
Amount: $1,000,000
Description: As the largest law enforcement agency in Northern Nevada, the Washoe County Sheriff's office must patrol many rural areas of the state. Unfortunately, their patrol cruisers lack standard equipment such as In-Car Video Systems or a centralized Mobile Command Trailer. These technology upgrades will allow our law enforcement officers to better respond to threats and gather evidence.

Project: Justice Information Sharing Program
Requestor: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $1,000,000
Description: Nearly every law enforcement agency in the greater Las Vegas Valley uses the Shared Computer Operations for Protection and Enforcement (SCOPE) database. Unfortunately the current database is more than 40 years old and can no longer meet the requirements of a modern 21st century law enforcement operation. Federal funds would be used in conjunction with local funds to upgrade this project.

Project: Law Enforcement Technology
Requestor: The City of Henderson
Location: Henderson, NV
Amount: $600,000
Description: The City of Henderson is establishing a joint public safety training facility with the City of Boulder City. The training facility will host firearm training and certification courses at their shooting range and in their classrooms. The City has committed more than $1 million in local funding to this effort, and federal funds would help purchase equipment for the law enforcement facility.

Project: Tactical SWAT Vehicle
Requestor: City of North Las Vegas
Location: North Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $200,000
Description: The North Las Vegas SWAT Team deploys a team of tactical medical personnel that are specially trained in life-saving techniques. Unfortunately, the medics and SWAT personnel are currently riding in an outdated SWAT vehicle that lacks several essential capabilities, including a lack of secure storage for mission-critical life saving gear. Funds would be used to equip a new Tactical Vehicle for use by the tactical medics and the SWAT Team.

Project: Regional Law Enforcement Training Facility
Requestor: The City of Boulder City
Location: Boulder City, NV
Amount: $250,000
Description: Boulder City has partnered with the City of Henderson to equip a law enforcement training facility that will be jointly used by law enforcement agencies throughout Southern Nevada. Boulder City has donated 240 acres to the project, but they lack the funds to purchase equipment for a proposed gun range and other training facilities. Funds would provide equipment for the Regional Law Enforcement Training Facility.

Project: Security Upgrades at the Pahrump Government Building
Requestor: Nye County
Location: Pahrump, NV
Amount: $175,000
Description: Funds would be used to install additional metal detectors and cameras to secure the building from threats. After the court violence in Reno several years ago, securing our judicial buildings remains an important priority that the federal government can help address.

Project: Justice Education Efforts
Requestor: National Judicial College
Location: Reno, NV
Amount: $500,000
Description: The National Judicial College in Reno educates more than 3,000 judges annually from all 50 states. The NJC is vital resource for Nevada and the country as a whole. Funds will be used to continue the development or improvement of existing curriculum to be used by NJC or the states in the training of judges. (Reid, Ensign)

Project: Judicial Training, Research and Technical Assistance Project
Requestor: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
Location: Reno, NV
Amount: $600,000
Description: For over twenty years, the Technical Assistance to the Juvenile Court Project has provided the best available information and assistance to juvenile courts, probation, and justice professionals nationally. This information is particularly crucial to the over 3,000 juvenile court jurisdictions nationally that, typically, do not have research and development departments.

Project: Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program
Requestor: Chabad of Southern Nevada
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $250,000
Description: Recovering addicts and certified drug counselors will visit local area schools to discuss the dangers of substance abuse with youth. With one of the highest drop-out rates in the nation and possible links to substance abuse, Southern Nevada needs qualified drug education efforts.

Project: Immigrant Resource Project
Requestor: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $350,000
Description: With one of the highest immigrant growth rates in the nation, Nevada deals with many legal issues related to immigration. Nevada's communities struggle with the complexity of our immigration system. This funding would assist UNLV's Boyd School of Law in providing information concerning America's immigration laws.

Project: Community-based Re-Entry Program For Ex-Offenders
Requestor: The Ridge House
Location: Reno, NV
Amount: $200,000
Description: For more than 27 years, the Ridge House has been providing rehabilitation services to inmates and ex-offenders. Funds would be used to reintegrate more than 200 individuals who are leaving incarceration to productive, tax paying members of society.

Project: CARE Law Program
Requestor: Nevada Rural Counties RSVP Program
Location: Carson City, NV
Amount: $75,000
Description: RSVP's CARE Law program provides pro-bono legal assistance for low-income and homebound seniors throughout Nevada's 15 rural counties. Attorneys make house-call legal services to seniors in order to provide them with a variety of services including wills, guardianships, and assistance with estate and probate issues.

Project: Safe House Project
Requestor: Protecting Sexually Exploited Children – Nevada
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $125,000
Description: Since Las Vegas law enforcement began tracking arrest numbers in 1994, 150-200 children have been arrested annually for prostitution. Unfortunately, many untreated children are returning immediately to their commercial sexual exploitation upon release. Funding would provide for the planning and development of the Safe House to treat and care for sexually exploited children.

Project: Gravity Insensitive Climate Control Research and Design
Requestor: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $750,000
Description: Equipment and facilities destined for use at a proposed NASA lunar base or in low-earth orbit (LEO) require heat dissipation for safe and reliable operation of equipment and the life support of astronauts. This funding will help develop and manufacture a prototype system that NASA can test and utilize in zero-gravity environments.

Project: Child Assault Prevention Education Program
Requestor: The Rape Crisis Center
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $125,000
Description: With more than 35 years of experience in Southern Nevada, the Rape Crisis Center's outreach and education programs have been very successful. The Center has partnered with the Clark County School District to educate children about ways to prevent and identify sexual assault.

Project: Model Courts Program
Requestor: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
Location: Reno, NV
Amount: $1,875,000
Description: Through judicial education, strategic planning, evaluation and technical assistance, this project has resulted in reducing the time in the system for children in foster care and the numbers of children in care in jurisdictions across the country, and has improved the quality of care children receive while under the court's jurisdiction. This project has been federally funded since 1992 and has a national scope.

Project: Parole and Probation Technology Advancement/Improvement
Requester: Nevada Department of Public Safety
Location: Carson City, NV
Amount: $150,000
Description: Tracking sex offenders is an important priority to keep our communities safe. This funding will provide technical upgrades to the State’s hardware and software databases that are currently used for tracking and monitoring sex offenders.

Project: Information Sharing and Analysis Tools
Requester: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $300,000
Description: LVMPD currently does not have the ability to incorporate external data into their databases. Funding will pay for a technology enhancement to allow LVMPD officers to access real-time data from law enforcement agencies throughout Nevada and the nation.

Financial Services - $704,575

Project: Hispanic Leadership Nevada Program
Requestor: Latin Chamber of Commerce
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Amount: $234,858
Description: The Latin Chamber of Commerce will conduct a comprehensive 8-month program that is dedicated to developing community leaders who are adapted to serve the Hispanic community's needs effectively. Hispanic Leadership Nevada will provide participants with an intensive experience that prepares participants to become leaders by interacting with leaders across various sectors of the community.

Project: Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development
Requestor: Nevada Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (NCET)
Location: Reno, NV
Amount: $234,858
Description: NCET helps Nevadans start and grow businesses and to connect them to the resources they need to succeed. Since its inception, NCET has worked with state and local development officials to attract small businesses and high tech industry to Nevada. Funding would connect entrepreneurs with resources necessary for growth and success through workshops and technology education events. Funding would also continue programs to engage Nevada college students in entrepreneurial activities.

Project: Hispanic Business Development Initiative
Requestor: Nevada Small Business Development Center
Location: Reno, NV
Amount: $234,859
Description: The NSBDC is working to establish the Imagine 2012: Hispanic Development Initiative which is designed to enhance Hispanic entrepreneurial activities and provide stronger educational opportunities in Nevada. The Initiative will offer five annual training courses and other business related programming to encourage the growth of Hispanic businesses with a focus on Northern and rural Nevada.

Grand Total: $97,454,875

PLAN ON IT! BRING SOME MONEY HOME FOR GOOD!

Sometimes in my quest to change the world, I get so frustrated at all the different progressive organizations that really just seem to be places for "Donate Now" buttons to have a home on the "internets".

In fact, if I get one more request from another DC based organization asking me for my measly cash, you might just see me on the 6pm news:

"This is Veronica Maria Candi Marie Shawntelle Jackson Chong Cardenal for the Eyewitness on The Street Eye In The Sky Action News Team in a rather shady, yet , will be hip in 5 years, neighborhood, downtown. A chubby ,but, fabulously dressed Negro seems to be standing on a 2nd floor ledge threatening to throw a laptop at Metro officers. The 28 year old political activist (hey, it's my blog, I'll be whatever age I damn well please.) says he can't take one more email from progressive rights organizations asking him to 'DONATE NOW'"

Really.

I swear.

Well, The Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, or PLAN, has a novel way of raising funds to do good progressive work all on CHASE Banks dime. It seems that CHASE is holding a contest on Face Book that will actually let people decide who should receive grants ranging from $25,000 to over a million Dollarroonies.

I shall explain.

Of course.

PLAN is a coalition of about 30 groups dedicated to social, economic and environmental justice in the Silver State.


PLAN uses research, public education, leadership development and grassroots organizing to build power and create more humane solutions to Nevada’s problems

Moiself keeps up to date on all the very latest news and reports on the social, political and environmental issues facing the state by checking in at the PLAN website or watching vids at YouTube.

You will to.

Of course.

Oh yes, back to the money.

It's tres simple.

That's French for even you can do this.

Simply copy and paste : apps.facebook.com into your browser and within a few short clicks, you will have voted for PLAN. Hopefully you will have told your friends to do the same and PLAN will have a little something extra to do good work with right here LOCALLY.

BUT!

And this is VERY IMPORTANT!

You MUST vote no later than Friday 11 December 2009!

One more time.

YOU MUST VOTE BY FRIDAY DECEMBER 11 2009!

And your little friends too.

CHECK OUT THE PROGRESSIVE LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE OF NEVADA:

www.planevada.org

OR

www.youtube.com/user/planevada

And of course PLAN is on Facebook.

Isn't everyone?

STATE TREASURER TO SPEAK AT TONIGHTS CLARK COUNTY DEMOCRATIC BLACK CAUCUS MEMBERS MEETING

Gentle Reminder

November CCDBC Member Meeting
Monday, November 16th
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
NLV Library
1755 W. Alexander Rd. (at MLK Blvd.)

Guest Speaker - State Treasurer Kate Marshall
Labor Union 872 Representative - Weatherization Program
NEW! Healthcare House Bill Passage Celebration
Enjoy a slice of cake for good luck in the Senate and celebration of the hard work to pass in the House.

HealthCare for America Now has sent us 100 yard signs as a community partner and will be available for you to pick up at the meeting in hopes you'll continue the good fight.

NOTE: Don't forget to pick up your Kwanzaa tickets. A raffle will be available to win a free ticket at the conclusion of our meeting.

RORY REID TO ANNOUNCE HIS RUN FOR GOVERNOR!

Tomorrow at 5:30pm (pst) Rory Reid will announce his campaign for Governor of The State of Nevada in the 2010 election.

Reid faces a hard battle against a slew of aggressive Republican opponents. He also will face the question of whether or not Nevada is ready for two Reid's in the top two slots of the state.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is Rory's father and will be facing his own hard battles this election season as well.

With Barbara Buckley out of the way in the Governors race, Rory will probably sail through the primaries , but, the general is going to make Iwo Jima look like the Great Luv-Its Rebellion of 2009.

Ice cream, as it were.

Buckley,now, is said to be eyeing the Senate seat of serial liar/adulterer/Hair Club for Men President and Rethuglican Senator, John "C Street" Ensign like a Pimp watching white girls get off the 3pm Greyhound from Provo. Expect an announcement regarding her eating that carcass, uh, running against Senator Cialis any day now.

Well, the big to-doo for Rory will be at the Doris Hancock Elementary School at the Corner of Lindell & Oakey at 5:30pm Wednesday 14 October.

Be there.

I'm sure there will be cookies & milk.

I'm sure.

rsvp@roryreid.com