Jewish officials tell State of Union reactions

Compiled by Donald H. Harrison

SAN DIEGO — Jewish officeholders and organizations offered a diverse chorus of reactions to President Barack Obama’s “State of the Union” address on Tuesday, Jan. 20.   These included:

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colorado):  “Too many Colorado families still lack economic security despite the recent momentum in our recovery. There are bipartisan steps we can take to strengthen our economy and make the American dream more achievable. There is consensus in both parties that our roads, bridges, dams, and overall infrastructure need to be repaired and upgraded. We should get to work on that. We also need to work on making government more effective and efficient for Coloradans with ideas such as simplifying the FAFSA form.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut): ““I hope the nation is inspired by the President’s call for investing in America and expanding economic opportunity. Even as our economy shows signs of recovery, our infrastructure is decaying and decrepit, and too many Americans – especially the veterans who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan – are still left on the sidelines looking for jobs. By investing in America, we can sustain and build an America worthy of our children and grandchildren, and put people back to work. Infrastructure enhancement fuels job creation by businesses large and small and sustainable economic growth. Better roads, sturdier bridges, safer and more reliable railroads, and transportation innovation will not only provide short-term benefits for workers, but long-term growth opportunities across our economy.”

Matt Brooks, executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition: “Under President Obama Iran keeps getting more time to spin their centrifuges and get closer to a nuclear weapon.  Despite pleas from Congress and the international community the President, after exhaustive negotiations to halt their program, is rewarding Iran with yet more time.  Giving Iran more time puts our national security and our Middle Eastern allies security – especially Israel – at risk.  The Obama administration’s Iran policy is failing.  Congress needs to place enhanced sanctions on Iran to demonstrate that we are serious about halting their nuclear weapons program.  The President’s veto threat will only empower and embolden Iran to continue as a threat to the entire region and world.”

U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Maryland):  “President Obama is right to be concerned that our economic recovery is not reaching all working- and middle-income families. I agree with him that while America’s economy has been showing signs of strength, too many families across Maryland and our nation are still struggling to pay their bills. Working together, Congress and the President must make it our priority to make the investments and enact policies that help working- and middle-class Americans. The President’s specific proposals for paid sick and family leave, expanded overtime, as well as his contributions to the overall tax reform discussion, are all positive steps that will make a real difference in the paychecks of hard-working families. I support his efforts to have community colleges become a cornerstone of a more affordable, quality higher education, and I applaud his dedication to the health and well-being of our military veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much for our nation. Despite the divided government under which we now operate, we cannot allow partisanship to block us from fulfilling our responsibilities to the American people.”  On the issue of climate change, Cardin added: ““I agree, Mr. President, it does not take a scientist to know that something dangerous is happening to our climate when we’ve just experienced 14 or the 15 warmest years on record.  President Obama is absolutely correct that no challenge poses a greater threat to future generations than climate change, and that the time for action is now. If we do not act forcefully, we’ll continue to see rising oceans, longer, hotter heat waves, and dangerous droughts and floods. In our coastal state of Maryland and throughout the country, these impacts can be devastating to our lives and livelihoods. It is in our national interest to address climate change head-on. We must not cede international leadership on this issue, or stall domestic action.”

U.S. Rep. David Cicilline (D-Rhode Island): “The President’s vision embraced the truth that the success of our economy depends on the strength and vitality of the middle class. And, even as our economy continues to recover, many Americans, including many Rhode Islanders, are being left out, and we must advance policies that ensure everyone shares in our country’s growing prosperity, not just the wealthy few. The agenda the President outlined to help younger Americans afford community college, make childcare more affordable, help families buy homes, strengthen manufacturing, reform our broken tax code to put more money in the pockets of working Americans, and raise wages will help achieve this forward-thinking goal.”

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tennessee): “The President’s plan will give Americans struggling to make ends meet a tax cut and secure paid sick leave for working parents. I was also very pleased that President Obama announced a new medical research program and an effort to increase access to higher education and make college more affordable, goals that I have spent my career working to realize and have helped achieve with Tennessee’s HOPE Lottery Scholarship. I hope that the Republicans who now control Congress realize that the right path forward is supporting middle class families, not just protecting the wealthiest among us, and I look forward to working with them to pass the plan that President Obama highlighted tonight.”

U.S. Rep. Susan Davis (D-California): “Our economy is growing stronger after the dark days of crisis. Unemployment is at its lowest in seven years, and our rate of job growth is the highest in fifteen. Our stock market has doubled, and healthcare inflation is the lowest it’s been in half a century. As the President said with a smile – ‘This is good news people.’   It is good news! And welcome news because in recent years so many Americans have struggled to forge ahead with their lives and their dreams.  But we know that progress must not end here.  Doing everything I can to expand and strengthen the middle class continues to be a driving force behind my public service.  I stand with the President on making affordable childcare a national priority, on extending access to community college, and raising the minimum wage. I believe that equal pay, and earned sick leave should be basic workers rights, and I know that moving forward on these issues will expand opportunities for hard working American families. “

U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel (D-New York): “As the hard data continues to show, our economy is growing once again. Unemployment is down, businesses are hiring, and the stock market is hitting record highs.  But even as the very wealthy make more and more, the vast majority of Americans have seen flat wages for more than a decade. Expanded credits for childcare, an increase in the minimum wage, and paid sick leave and maternity leave will strengthen our middle class and help the economy grow and flourish. These steps together will let working households carry their paychecks further. In terms of higher education, as costs continue to soar our students who choose to pursue an advanced degree are being saddled with crushing debt. I applaud President Obama for his forward-thinking proposal for free community college. In an increasingly competitive international economy, an investment in education is an investment in our country’s continued success globally. Additionally, on a more personal note, I grew up in a working class family and attended the City University of New York (CUNY) when it was tuition-free. I know how beneficial those savings were, and I do not know whether I could have achieved my professional goals without that cost-free opportunity to attend college. I would like today’s students to benefit from the same access to education which was
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California): ““I thought President Obama gave a forceful speech covering a broad range of areas where Washington must focus its attention. In addition to the key issues of the economy and education, he renewed his call for cybersecurity legislation and outlined a number of foreign policy priorities including battling ISIL and al-Qaeda, coming to terms with Cuba and supporting constructive nuclear talks with Iran.”  On Iran, she said further, “I strongly support the president’s call to Congress to refrain from imposing additional sanctions on Iran. New sanctions now would violate the interim agreement, collapse the negotiations and take us out of lockstep with the international community. We have a responsibility to support the diplomatic negotiations and see them through. If they fail to achieve a deal, then we should consider sanctions and next steps, but we shouldn’t prejudge that outcome.”

U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Florida): ““The President’s speech is a call to action to grow the middle class.  For us to be a secure, prosperous country our improving economy must work for everyone. Better infrastructure means bigger paychecks. A more family friendly workplace allows parents to work and still have quality time to raise their children.”

U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minnesota): “”I was glad to see that the President put such a focus on building a strong middle class. Our economy always does better when we build it from the middle out. He talked a lot about making higher education more affordable and preparing people for 21st century jobs, which have both been top priorities of mine. My guest was Joelle Stangler, the University of Minnesota Student Body President. I met her during a series of college affordability roundtables I held around Minnesota. Like so many other students, Joelle will be graduating with tens of thousands of dollars in debt. This is a fundamental problem for our economy. Young people in Minnesota and across the country are delaying big life decisions like opening a business, buying a car, starting a family, and purchasing a home. That’s why I’ve been pressing to address college affordability with efforts like my legislation to let more than 550,000 borrowers in Minnesota alone refinance their student debt at lower interest rates.”

U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Michigan): “The President confidently described the economic recovery and I fully support his focus on middle class economics. We must ensure the benefits of the improving economy flow to middle class families through higher wages and increased opportunity through improvements in child care, paid leave policies and educational opportunities. I agree with the President that we need to write the rules of trade and knock down the barriers to U.S. exports around the globe.  The Asia-Pacific region is an important one, with the nations engaged in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations representing 40 percent of the world’s GDP.  There are many vital outstanding issues in TPP whose resolution can affect the households of American families and the ability of American businesses to create jobs.  Congress must maintain its role and leverage in the resolution of these issues.”

U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey (D-New York): “Tonight, the President outlined economic priorities that will provide a strong foundation for the future. We need to ensure that recent progress benefits all Americans. Now is the time for Congress to: 1) Secure bigger paychecks by increasing the take-home pay for middle-class Americans through tax credits; 2) Provide responsible students access to higher education through tuition-free community college; and 3) Promote work-life balance for families – particularly women – with paid leave and paid sick leave. We’ve come too far to roll back the progress we’ve made, and it’s my sincere belief that bipartisan solutions on the issues outlined in the President’s speech are possible – and essential – to securing economic prosperity for generations to come. Together we can keep our Union strong.”

Rabbi Jonah Peskin, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and other leading rabbis of the Reform movement, wrote a letter to President Obama, stating: “As you know, we are just over five months away from the June 30, 2015 deadline for conclusion of negotiations with Iran concerning its nuclear program. We hold the position that Iran cannot be allowed to develop nuclear weapons capabilities. Like you, we believe that such weapons would be profoundly destabilizing to the Middle East, to vital American interests and to the entire world order. Sanctions have proven to be a successful tool in bringing Iran to the negotiating table. The threat of imposing additional sanctions is one of the most valuable means we have to keep Iran negotiating productively toward a positive result. For these reasons, we support legislation making clear the significant sanctions that will be imposed on Iran should negotiations fail to reach a positive result by June 30. At the same time, we seek to maximize the possibility that the ongoing negotiations are successful. We are mindful of the argument you and others have made that legislating new sanctions at this time may have a negative impact on the talks and provide Iran with justification for stepping away from the negotiating table. We also share the concern that new sanctions legislation at this time may undermine the crucial but fragile international consensus that has been so important to the negotiating process. In light of the significance of the issue at hand, we urge you to do your utmost to work with members of Congress, including Senators Kirk and Menendez, toward a compromise that will facilitate, without legislation, swift implementation of sanctions should negotiations with Iran fail.  These are complicated issues, and the stakes could not be higher. We commend you for your leadership and stand ready to work with you to achieve the goal we share.”

U.S. Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colorado): “Tonight the President left no doubt that he will not be a lame duck President these next two years. He laid out many bold and forward-looking plans that have the potential to improve the strength of our economy, the security of our country, and the lives of all Americans. I am particularly excited by the President’s renewed commitment to education and privacy issues, and his continued focus on fixing our broken immigration system. His dedication to creating new opportunity for middle class families remains a core focus of the administration and one that I will work to support in Congress. Over the past several weeks, culminating with tonight’s speech, the President has laid out new plans to make college more affordable for all Americans, including a historic push to expand access to community college, improve some of our nation’s poorest performing schools, and protect our children’s privacy as we continue to introduce innovative new methods of learning. These initiatives, coupled with new resources for pre-K programs, will give lower and middle class kids the tools to get ahead, no matter what their zip code.”

Greg Rosenbaum, chair, National Jewish Democratic Council: “Tonight, President Obama made clear that the policies proposed by his administration – progressive policies – are the best path forward for our country. Under the president’s leadership, our economy has seen 58 straight months of private sector employment growth, with 11.2 million private sector jobs created during that time. The tax reform proposals put forward tonight will only help to give all hard-working Americans a fair chance at success, and we look forward to working with the administration to make these plans a reality. Furthermore, we stand with the president on doing everything possible to give negotiations with Iran a fair opportunity. A nuclear-armed Iran would be a direct threat to the national security interests of the United States and would be an existential threat to Israel, but we have a responsibility to do everything possible to find a diplomatic solution before resorting to further sanctions and military action. We also applaud First Lady Michelle Obama for inviting Alan Gross and his wife Judy to join her as honored guests during tonight’s State of the Union. Alan’s journey home from his wrongful imprisonment in Cuba has been well-documented, and the First Lady’s honor is well-deserved.”

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (Ind-Vermont): “As President Obama indicated, our economy today is much stronger than it was six years ago. The bad news, however, is that millions of middle-class families continue to struggle economically and we have an obscene level of income and wealth inequality. I support many of the initiatives the president outlined. His plan to make the wealthiest Americans pay more in taxes in order to reduce the rising cost of college and childcare moves us in the right direction. I look forward to working with the administration to adopt a tax system that eliminates unfair tax loopholes that only benefit the wealthiest people and largest corporations. We must also work to increase the take-home pay of working Americans. I agree with the president that we should invest in our crumbling infrastructure, raise the minimum wage, establish pay equity for women workers and end the absurdity of millions of Americans working 50- to 60-hours-a-week without any overtime pay.”

U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Illinois): “The President’s focus on the middle class and his proposals to address income inequality resonated with me and, according to immediate focus groups and polling, with the American people as well.  He set the tone from the start asking: ‘Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well? Or will we commit ourselves to an economy that generates rising incomes and chances for everyone who makes the effort?” The Republicans sat, as if superglued to their seats, as the President gave one example after another of the dramatic improvements in the economy.  He went off script to remind them, ‘This is good news, people.’”

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii): “For too long, the wealthiest Americans and big corporations have used unfair loopholes to avoid paying their fair share of taxes.  Tonight, the President proposed a simpler, fairer tax code that closes those loopholes and uses those savings to support tax credits for working parents.  These smart investments will help middle class families succeed and bolster our economy. The President’s proposal to expand access to higher education and make community college free for every responsible student is an important step forward.  We all know that a college education is the best way for people to move up the economic ladder. I am also glad that the President focused on home ownership and the need to make mortgages more affordable.  Helping families attain the dream of home ownership is even more important in Hawai‘i, where the high prices stress family budgets.”

U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-California): “The President … addressed the complex national security challenges facing the country more than a decade after 9/11 and years after the death of Osama Bin Laden. The President appealed to Congress to authorize the use of force against ISIS and this is vital – but make no mistake, this is a debate and vote that should have taken place five months ago when we first began strikes against ISIS in Syria and began deploying troops to Iraq. The Administration must resist the impulse to seek an authorization that is overly broad, without geographic limitation, a prohibition on the use of American troops in a combat mission, or a meaningful sunset date not subject to unilateral administrative extension. In light of the longevity and extraordinarily broad interpretation given the two existing AUMF’s, the Congress should not grant this or any future administration authority carte blanch. By addressing cybersecurity legislation in his highest profile speech of the year, the President acknowledged what many of us already know – that the vulnerability of our nation’s businesses and critical infrastructure must be addressed, and addressed soon.  For too long, our companies, families and government have been vulnerable to criminals, hackers, and a broad range of state and non-state actors  – and there is much more we need to do. I’m looking forward to working with the Administration to craft cyber-threat information sharing legislation that addresses these risks, while maintaining our privacy and civil liberties. The President must also continue to press for important reforms of the metadata program and FISA Court, both of which are essential to maintaining a proper balance between privacy and security, and which he alluded to in tonight’s speech. In addition to working with Congress, the President should take steps within his own authority to reform our surveillance programs, including ending the bulk collection of domestic phone records in favor of phone companies retaining their own data which could be queried on a case by case basis.”

U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-California): “I was generally pleased with the President’s remarks this evening. I support the President’s actions and proposals dealing with lowering mortgage insurance premiums, free community college tuition, cyber security for consumers, paid sick leave for workers and families, and limiting methane gas emissions. I have to disagree with the President on his approach to Iran sanctions.  Like the President, I believe that we should work towards a comprehensive negotiated solution.  I believe that enacting additional sanctions, that would not take effect unless Iran fails to agree to a reasonable deal by July, will increase the President’s leverage and make a good deal more likely.”  Additionally, said Sherman, ““I agree with the president that Congress should vote on a War Powers Resolution to clarify any authority the president may have to use military force in the fight against ISIS and other terrorist groups around the world. Congress should not authorize ground combat operations, except for raids to free American hostages.”

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon):  “This Congress will be measured by how much it increases wages for middle-class and all working families and expands opportunities in education and housing.   I’m glad the President spent so much of his speech walking us through his ideas for providing opportunity in pay, housing and education and providing help for middle-class and all working families in Oregon and across the country. On taxes and trade, education and energy, the proposals the President outlined tonight should be seen as good and serious starting points. My hope is these can be a catalyst for bipartisan, common-sense discussion that move us ahead in solving the country’s challenging problems. I look forward to seeing the details of his plans so Congress can get to work. “

U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Kentucky): “President Obama reminded the American people just how important a strong middle class is in continuing our economic recovery. Though our economy continues to grow, we still see so many of the benefits only going to millionaires and billionaires, not our working families. A fair tax code that rewards work rather than wealth is necessary, and I welcome the President’s tax proposal. Education is the foundation of building a strong workforce, and increasing access to community college and making student loans more affordable will help to further grow our middle class. When paired with responsible investment in manufacturing and our growing renewable energy industry, we can help create American jobs of the future that will lead the global economy. We’ve seen that first-hand in Louisville. Whether it’s reforming our flawed immigration system, fixing our unfair tax code, or protecting the guarantee of a secure retirement, there is no shortage of issues that Congress can begin tackling immediately. I hope to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to address these many important challenges we face.

U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-New York): “The President stood before Congress tonight asking for higher taxes on our hardworking job creators in order to pay for more spending and redistributed wealth. Success is something to celebrate, not penalize. The President’s plan to solve our government’s tax and spend problem is to continue to tax and spend. There must be a better way. We now have a national debt of over 18 trillion dollars and rising every day. We have a duty not just to assist our constituents today, but also to make good public policy that looks out for our children who aren’t old enough to vote, because it is terribly unfair that they are going to be saddled with mountains of fiscal obligations that they had no ability to avoid inheriting. Washington should be focusing on growing our economy from the bottom up, not the top down from DC, in a market free of more taxes and regulations. When is enough enough? At what tax rate does the President believe that there is a negative effect on behavior for businesses deciding whether to grow new jobs, stay in America, and invest in our communities?”

U.S. Senate

PROSTATE CANCER — U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-California) and Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama) on Wednesday, Jan. 21 introduced legislation to fight prostate cancer. The National Prostate Cancer Plan Act would establish a council of federal agencies, patients, and medical experts charged with drafting and implementing a national strategy to combat prostate cancer.  According to Boxer, the legislation “would direct the National Prostate Cancer Council to develop and implement a national strategic plan to accelerate the innovation of diagnostic tools to improve prostate cancer screening and early detection, while also helping to reduce unnecessary treatment. The Council would also be responsible for evaluating federal prostate cancer programs and coordinating prostate cancer research and services across all federal agencies.”
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TECHNOLOGY — U.S. Sen Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) has been appointed Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet.  This is “I am looking forward to serving as the lead Democrat on this subcommittee,”  of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, he said.  “Innovation and technology are some of the biggest drivers of our economy and can help solve some of today’s toughest challenges.  In my new role, one of my top priorities will be increasing access to broadband across the country and throughout Hawai‘i.  Open and fast internet access is critical for residents and businesses across the islands and will create high quality jobs and help Hawai‘i diversify its economy.”
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TORTURE—U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on “efforts to cover up the facts about torture by returning the Panetta Review to the CIA and pulling back all copies of the Senate Intelligence Committee’s torture report from the executive branch”:  “The President has said that he wants to make sure that torture never happens again, so I’m confident he is going to make sure that the full Senate torture report is read by policymakers and officials across the government.  It would be unprecedented and foolish to return the Executive Branch’s classified copies of the report. Doing so would aid defenders of torture who are seeking to cover up the facts and rewrite the historical record. The CIA’s leadership continues to double down on denials about the agency’s history on torture, but their claims are contradicted by their own internal review.  They were so concerned about the Intelligence Committee finding the Panetta Review that they even spied on Senate files to see if the committee had obtained it.  Senator {Dianne} Feinstein was smart to keep a copy of the Panetta Review, and I certainly don’t think the Senate should allow the Panetta Review to be covered up by letting Director Brennan stick it in the shredder.”
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CAMPAIGN FINANCE– Warning that “American democracy is under attack,” Sen. Bernie Sanders on Wednesday “introduced a constitutional amendment to undo a Supreme Court ruling that allowed unrestricted and secret campaign spending by corporations.”  He explained: “The 2010 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission – handed down five years ago today – undermined democracy by opening the floodgates on campaign funding. As a result, a record $7 billion was spent in the 2012 election cycle and $3.7 billion in the 2014 cycle. Five years ago today, the Supreme Court issued what I think is one of the most disastrous decisions in its history, Citizens United v. FEC, which led to the rise of super PACs and unlimited, supposedly independent, spending. Vermont and 15 other states along with voters and city councils in more than 600 cities and towns already have passed measures supporting a constitutional amendment. The Brennan Center for Justice recently reported that since the Citizens United decision super PACs have spent more than $1 billion and almost 60 percent of that money came from just 195 donors and their spouses.” A similar constitutional amendment was introduced by Sanders in the last session of Congress. An amendment originating in Congress must be approved by a two-thirds majority in the House and Senate in order to be submitted for consideration by the states. Ratification by three-fourths of the states is required to amend the Constitution. … …   In the House of Representatives, Democrats Susan Davis of California, Ted Deutch of Florida, Eliot Engel of New York, Jan Schakowsy of Illinois are among the cosponsors of companion legislation.

U.S. House of Representatives

APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEES – In her capacity as ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey (D-New York) announced Democratic party assignments to that committee’s various subcommittees.   Lowey will chair the appropriations subcommittee on state and foreign relations while Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Florida) will head the subcommittee on the legislative branch.  Jewish members of Congress named to serve on other subcommittees included Rep. Steve Israel (D-New York), to Defense and Interior & Environment, and Wasserman-Schultz to State and Foreign Operations.
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HUMAN TRAFFICKING–U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-California), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel (D-New York) the Committee’s Ranking Member, introduced the Trafficking Prevention in Foreign Affairs Contracting Act (H.R. 400), an anti-trafficking measure to ensure U.S. tax dollars do not support human trafficking. Engel said: “Modern slavery is a horrific crime and an assault on freedom and justice.  As leader in fighting this scourge, the U.S. government needs to make sure that our procurement and contracting practices don’t lead to abuse or exploitation of workers.  The bill that Chairman Royce and I are offering will help ensure taxpayer dollars aren’t inadvertently making this problem worse.”
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TIRE CRUMB — U.S. Rep. Steve Israel (D-New York) has called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct a comprehensive analysis of health risks associated with turf fields and playgrounds that contain recycled tire material known as “tire crumb.” He said that “tire crumb is known to contain dangerous carcinogens and chemicals, but it is unclear if there are any harmful side effects that consumers may experience from exposure to this product.”

California Legislature

COMMUNITY COLLEGES — State Sen. Marty Block (D-San Diego) noted that two of the 15 California  community colleges authorized in a pilot program to offer 4-year degrees are in San Diego County. Mira Costa College will offer a “B.S. in Bio-manufacturing and Mesa College will offer a degree in Health Information Management.  Along with the degrees to be offered by 13 other community colleges up and down the state, said Block: This is a major step in keeping California’s higher education system affordable and accessible while also keeping our state economically competitive in the future.”

Local Governments

HUMAN TRAFFICKING — San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman joined District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and other law enforcement officials on Tuesday, Jan. 20,  to announce a task force to combat human trafficking.  For thgose assigned to the task force from the San Diego Police Department, stopping the exploitation of youth in the sex trade “will now be their primary duty.”

Political Parties

SAN DIEGO DEMOCRATS—Former Assemblyman Howard Wayne (D-San Diego) was elected on Tuesday night as vice chairman for the San Diego area of the San Diego County Democratic Central Committee.   Reelected as chair of the County Democrats was Francine Busby.

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Items dealing with Jewish women serving in Congress are sponsored by Laura Galinson in memory of her father, Murray Galinson.

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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World.  Your comment on any of these items may be placed in the space provided below or sent directly to the author at donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com