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It's time to act!
On February 13th, you have a unique opportunity to make a difference in our community. Those of us who live in Walton County cherish its unbelievable beauty and pristine environment. Rare coastal lakes and waters of crystal purity are blessings that we enjoy daily. Seasonally, our economy is sustained by travelers who also come to enjoy the panhandle's beauty.
Now we are threatened by an out- of- state group who wants to drill for oil within three miles of our white sandy beaches. Last year, the Florida House passed a bill which would allow near shore drilling. The Senate has yet to address the bill. If you love this place, now is the time to show your opposition to this threat.
-- Mary Wolfe, President Walton County Democratic Women's Club
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What you can do
“Hands Across the Sand” is a NON-PARTISAN grassroots event designed to draw a human line in the sand against near shore drilling. At 12:00 noon (CST), protestors are assembling at beaches up and down the Gulf Coast, joining hands, and visually protesting drilling.
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You are invited to join the Walton County Democratic Women’s Club (men are welcome) at Grayton Corners, 30-A and Hwy 283, at 11:30 and then walk or take a shuttle to the beach at Grayton.
If the weather is good, bring a picnic and we’ll have lunch together on the beach. Wear black or your “Hands Across the Sands” tee shirt.
Support David Aronberg - Demo for Attorney General
"Dave Aronberg, Democratic candidate for Attorney General, will be in South Walton at Bud & Alley's, hosted by Dave Rauschkolb, on February 17th starting at 6:00 p.m.
He is an outstanding candidate and we, as active Democrats, should be as supportive as possible, both by our actions and contributions."
--Jeremy Solomon, Chair Walton County Democratic Party
Supreme Court Ruling removes limits
". . .recent Supreme Court ruling removing decades of campaign spending limits on corporations "opens the floodgates for the purchases and sale of the law.""
WASHINGTON -- Responding to the Supreme Court's ruling Thursday to overturn corporate spending limits in federal 
elections, progressive firebrand Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) immediately highlighted a series of moves to "avoid the terrible consequences of the decision."
"If we do nothing then I think you can kiss your country goodbye," Grayson told Raw Story in an interview just hours after the decision was announced.
"You won't have any more senators from Kansas or Oregon, you'll have senators from Cheekies and Exxon. Maybe we'll have to wear corporate logos like Nascar drivers."
Grayson said the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling -- which removes decades of campaign spending limits on corporations -- "opens the floodgates for the purchases and sale of the law."
"It allows corporations to spend all the money they want to buy and sell elected officials through the campaign process," he said. "It allows them to reward political sellouts, and it allows them to punish elected officials who actually try to do what's right for the people." Read all of the story►
Justice Kennedy was key to conservatives' win in campaign finance decision
by Robert Barnes - Washington Post Staff Writer 1/24/2010
If there was a new boldness from the Supreme Court's conservative majority in last week's landmark ruling on campaign finance laws, there was also an underlying and familiar truth:
When the Roberts court has broken with the past and shifted the court's jurisprudence, it has gone only so far as the place where Justice Anthony M. Kennedy already is comfortable.
On the high-profile issues that draw public attention -- abortion rights, race, campaign finance -- Kennedy's dissents from the past provide a blueprint for today's majority opinions.
Only 2% of Coley fundraising was from District 7
David Pleat was quoted in his latest press release..."My opponent, Marti Coley, has raised, according to a Northwest Florida Daily News article on January 24, 2010, $36,950.00 as of January 1, 2010. Only 2% of her $36,950.00 was raised within District 7. Accordingly, 98% of her financial contributions are from outside District 7. In addition, much of her campaign financing comes from political action committees and corporations outside of the District." Read all of the story►
Redistricting amendments on the ballot
January 22, 2010
Floridians took a giant step towards ending the incumbent and political party protection plan that masquerades as legislative and Congressional redistricting. The non-partisan group FairDistrictsFlorida.org gathered more than 1,650,000 petitions signed by Florida Republicans, Democrats and Independents from the Panhandle to the Keys. As a result, today the Secretary of State certified Constitutional Amendment 5 for the November 2, 2010 ballot, and is expected to soon certify its partner, Amendment 6. Florida voters now have a powerful opportunity to stop legislators from rigging and manipulating district boundaries in order to stifle competition while perpetuating their own political power.
“These critical reforms will finally end the legalized conflict of interest that allows legislators to design their districts and those of Congress for their own political purposes,” said Bob Milligan, who was elected State Comptroller during the Lawton Chiles and Jeb Bush administrations.
Under our present system, there are no rules that limit legislators from drawing districts to favor themselves or their parties. Districts in Florida are bizarrely shaped, often meandering for hundreds of miles or from coast to coast. Communities are carved up so that voters living in the same neighborhood are often represented by different members of Congress or state representatives.
As a result, incumbent legislators almost never lose their re-election bids. Only three (out of 140 up for election each cycle) were defeated in the last six years. How could this happen? Because legislators draw up their own districts for one purpose: to ensure that they stay in office! Read more►
David Pleat - Near Shore Drilling / Texas Oil News Alert
Texas oil, through its lead lobbyist firm, Southern Strategy Group in Tallahassee, has made a maximum allowable contribution to my opponent, Marti Coley’s, campaign. Marti Coley supports near shore oil drilling and voted in favor of House Bill 1219 last session. 
In addition, the Florida Republican Party has designated Representative Jimmy Patronis, District 6 Representative from Panama City, to spearhead the re-election campaign for Marti Coley in an attempt to ensure that she is re-elected. Patronis was named by the House Majority Task Force to focus on fundraising, supporting and mentoring Ms. Coley’s attempt to get re-elected.
Representative Patronis also voted in favor of House Bill 1219 and supports near shore oil drilling and the efforts of Texas oil and Florida energy associates to invade our State waters. Read more►
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