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Courage Campaign Applauds California Labor Federation’s Refusal to Endorse California Democrats Who Fail to Represent Their Constituents
Earlier this week, Coalition Launched Groundbreaking Campaign and Tool for Voters to See Where Their Elected Officials Stand on Key Issues
Yesterday, the California Labor Federation announced a full slate of legislative and congressional endorsements for 2016, opting not to endorse some State legislators that have chosen to prioritize the interests of corporations and wealthy special interests over the concerns of their constituents. Matt Dababneh (D-Encino), Tom Daly (D-Anaheim) and Cheryl Brown (D-San Bernardino) were among the Assemblymembers that did not receive the California Labor Federation’s endorsement.
Eddie Kurtz, executive director of the California-based Courage Campaign, issued the following statement reacting to the California Labor Federation’s endorsement slate, praising their refusal to endorse Assemblymembers that have consistently put the concerns of corporations and wealthy special interests over those of local constituents:
“Sacramento’s ongoing failure to adequately address the needs of Californians is a statewide emergency.
“We applaud the California Labor Federation for recognizing that the key reason for this failure is the growing influence of corporate power on a significant portion of our Democratic legislators, many representing the deepest blue districts in the state. Assemblymembers like Matt Dababneh, Tom Daly and Cheryl Brown have consistently failed to represent both the interests of their constituents and the values of the Democratic Party.
“By standing in the way of clean air for our children to breathe, by blocking reforms to address institutional racism that plagues California’s justice system, and by refusing to fight for the most vulnerable among us, these Democratic Assemblymembers shame themselves.”
Earlier this week, a coalition of California groups including the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment Action, Progressive Kick, Presente.org and ColorOfChange, and led by Courage Campaign, released the People’s Report Card of California, a progressive scorecard that provides California voters with a comprehensive tool to examine whether or not their elected officials prioritize the needs of their constituents over corporations or special interest groups that exploit Californians. Up to this point, no progressive organization has tracked and rated legislators across a broad range of issue areas: from economic opportunity, to healthcare, to the environment, to racial justice, and more.
According to the scorecard, found at CourageScore.org, the voting records of Dababneh, Daly and Brown, earned them a failing grade and a place in the Courage Score “Hall of Shame.” Other legislators in the “Hall of Shame” include: Jim Frazier (D-Oakley), Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove), Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach), Luis Alejo (D-Salinas), Mike Gipson (D-Carson), Bill Dodd (D-Napa), Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg), Sebastian Ridley-Thomas (D-Los Angeles), and Catharine Baker (R-San Ramon).
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