Attendance

Present

• ViAnn Beadle
• Charles Bennett
• Pia Gallegos
• Cheryl Harris (Chair)
• Jay Levine
• Roger McNew
• Joseph Maestas (for part of the meeting)
• Nicole Olonovich
• Scotti Romberg
• Greg Sonnenfeld
• Michael Sperberg-McQueen (Secretary)
• Jane Yee

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Agenda

1. Call to order, roll call, and quorum check

2. Guests, candidates, members, and Exec. Committee introductions

3. Reading and approval of minutes of 19 October

4. Reports of officers and committee chairs

   • Chair
   • VC
   • Secretary
   • Treasurer
   • Political director
   • At-large vice-chair
   • CD 1, 2, and 3 Vice Chairs
   • Pia Gallego, APC rep. on National Coalition of Progressive Caucuses
   • Web master

5. Unfinished Business

6. New Business

7. Adjourn

1 Call to order and quorum check

The chair called the meeting to order at 6:36 pm.

2 National network of progressive caucuses

Pia Gallegos reported on the work of the national network of progressive caucuses, which CH and PG started by calling state parties asking for contact information for progressive caucuses or other progressive groups in the state party. Five meetings hae been held so far, and a steering committee has been formed. All members of the caucus are encouraged to attend if interested.

She mentioned the work of DNC Members for Modernization of the Party, which she said is working to restore the practice under Howard Dean of providing funds to each state party to be used for infrastructure, which led to good grassroots results, and also to improve transparency with respect to the budget and expenditures of the national party. She recalled that not too long ago DPNM lacked transparency in budget matters; the state party has achieved much better budget transparency, and the national party can do so, too.

RESOLVED: to authorize the chair to write on behalf of the caucus to DPNM’s four representatives on the DNC (State Chair Jessica Velasquez, State Vice Chair Manny Crespin, elected DNC National Committeman Martin G Chavez, and elected National Committee Woman Trish Ruiz) to ask their understanding of the DNC proposed “modernization committee”, proposed by State Chair Jane Kleeb, Nebraska.

In some states only identity-based caucuses are recognized; progressives are working to gain the right to form position-based caucuses, so that a progressive caucus can be formed and recognized.

There was some discussion of the situation in DPNM. CH felt that all four party committees should be elected, not appointed; GS noted that a proposal to that effect had had a majority in the state central committee, a few years ago, but not the 2/3 majority needed. There was also discussion of the DCCC’s policy of blacklisting political operatives who work for Democrats who challenge incumbent members of Congress.

3 Possible bylaw changes

CH alerted the caucus to her intention to organize a revision of our bylaws. In particular, she would like to have both a chair and a vice-chair in each Congressional district; having two people should make it easier to get things done. She would like to make our liaison with the national network of progressive caucuses officially a member of the executive committee.

Some members expressed concern that growing the executive committee in that way will make it harder to field a full slate of candidates in elections, and also harder to reach a quorum in EC meetings. Others argued that when there are more people involved, more work gets done.

4 Endorsement process

CH reported that the executive committee had decided to endorse candidates in contested races for statewide positions and legislative seats, but not for judges, county officials, or municipal officers. Last year, feedback from candidates was that the form was too long, so this year there is just one question.

Some responses are already coming in; members of the caucus are urged to review them (a password will be sent to members who have paid their dues). The EC will consider members’ comments and the candidates’ statements and make decisions in a meeting on 19 April.

There was some discussion of individual races and individual legislators who are being challenged in the primary.

In addition to endorsing people, the caucus may donate small amounts to endorsed candidates. Some members observed that money, in the amounts APC can donate, will be less useful than volunteers; we should try to mobilize APC members to work for candidates we endorse as a caucus.

5 Other business and member comments

CH noted some recent legislative issues in Washington. Yvette Herrell voted against an insulin price cap. And the Senate is sitting on a bill to tax big oil’s windfall profits.

JL noted that the state central committee will meet Saturday, and after a comment period there will be online voting on 9 resolutions passed by the State Platform and Resolutions Committee.

JY noted that the Environmental Justice caucus had discussed the resolutions; some of them are good on environmental issues. Should the two caucuses collaborate on lobbying for them? CH said the EC should discuss that on the 19th.

6 Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 8:03 pm.