by The Bayne of Blog
Lt. Governor John Garamendi was in Amador County on Thursday night to address the Second Annual Amador Democratic Central Committee Dinner. About 150 people attended the dinner which was held at the Jackson Rancheria Hotel.
Lt. Governor John Garamendi poses with his mother Mary Ann, Sally Trestrail, Amador Co. DCC Chair, and Randy Bayne, Amador Co. Vice Chair
Garamendi was introduced by Amador Co. DCC Chair Sally Trestrail who reminded the audience of Garamendi’s rural roots and his dedication to issues important to rural Californians.
In his comments, Garamendi talked briefly about his time representing Amador, Calaveras and other rural counties in the State Assembly for two years and for fourteen years as a State Senator. He recalled that one of the first bills he introduced was about a water ditch in Amador Co. The local connection is “very important to those of us living in these rural areas” says Central Committee Vice Chair Randy Bayne. As evidence, he noted that every year hundreds of local residents take a trip out to the Touch the Earth Ranch in Mokelumne Hill for the Garamendi Basque Barbeque .
Garamendi also mentioned his service as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior during the Clinton Administration. He said they were “good years,” and that with the Democratic majority in Congress, “we’re getting our balance back.”
“That change,” Garamendi said, “wouldn’t have occurred if you people, in this room, had not said ‘enough already.’”
The rest of his comments were then spent talking about three things; energy policy, education, and health care and their relation to national security.
Our energy policy “commits us to dangerous places,” Garamendi said. It forces us to invest in countries that are not friendly toward the U.S., and our reliance on carbon based fuels puts us in a dangerous position when it comes to global climate change. He acknowledged Governor Schwarzenegger’s efforts on climate change, pointing out that Schwarzenegger has supported a few Democratic positions. He then quipped that he should “take a blank registration form to his office to complete the deal.”
Speaking about education, he mentioned a speech he would be giving today to students at Calaveras High School where he plans on telling them that test scores are important, that a good education is critical to national security. In order to compete in the global economy we need to be replacing retiring workers with well educated and well trained younger workers.
Calling the lack of health care in this country a national security issue, Garamendi says we already have a solution. One that was put together 40 years ago by the Democratic Party. “All you have to do,” he said, ” is live until you’re 65.” Of course, he is talking about Medicare. There is no reason why we should not have Medicare for all.
Lt. Governor John Garamendi thanks Sally Trestrail and the Amador Co. DCC
After speaking, Garamendi spent time greeting many of the 150 people who made the trip to Amador County, thanking them, and expressing his appreciation to Committee Chair Sally Trestrail and the Amador County Democratic Central Committee.
He also made sure that everyone was invited to the 30th Annual Garamendi Basque Barbeque, Saturday, May 19, 2007 from 4pm to 9pm at the Touch the Earth Ranch in Mokelumne Hill, California.
