Pennsylvania Young Dem Chapters Give Me Hope on Health Care and EFCA

I am running for Young Dems of America Vice-President.

In my final days before heading to Chicago for the Young Democrats of America convention, I think about the power young voters have and the potential we have to make change.

In my recent visit to Pennsylvania, I met with the Delaware County Young Dems and the Philadelphia Young Dems. These two chapters along with others in PA and others across the country are laying the groundwork for something big.

Something more than what we did last year when we elected President Obama.

On a recent call with Massachusetts Young Dem leaders and in private conversations with Mike Corbett of New York of the YDA Labor Caucus, I keep bringing up PA. My friends in PA - Joe Johnson of Delaware county (a recent college grad) and the Young Dems organizing in the city of Philadelphia are getting young people engaged in a key battleground state. YDs like Rocco Giammaria and Will Anderson have been carrying a message of hope for workers and those without a voice in politics for years in Western PA. I appreciate the leaders in PA and they keep standing out in my mind. The geographically diverse and talented team their state leadership put together has left a lasting imprint.

While we might not realize it, but how we provide support and work with local chapters like the ones in PA could determine the future of our country - what is possible and what is not.

Key legislation on health care and EFCA will only get passed if we move young voters on the issues of day, in targeted states like Pennsylvania where new Democratic Senator Specter may be tough to persuade on certain issues.

Delaware County and the Philly Young Dems and their local grassroots work bringing young people into the process might change the future of this country.

We must support YD leaders like Chris Burks and Jonathan Spinks in Arkansas, another state on the legislative target list, as they are leading on the front-lines of the monumental campaign to get people in need health care.

We must do more to support these dynamic, creative smart, and thoughtful local young leaders.

We must follow the lead of young leaders like President Tim Brennan, Esq. in PA and Jake Weissmann of Maryland who are leading a charge for Democratic Values. We must coordinate national, state, and local chapter programs to bring the change we need.

We know how do it. We've done it to elect Democrats to every office, now let's do it to implement our agenda too.

In Michigan, the Young Dems of Michigan helped coordinate a peer to peer young voter program in 2004 that helped our House Dems pick up numerous seats and landed Michigan as one of the top states in the nation in youth turnout for John Kerry. According to Chairman Brewer our Young Voter program was number on in the nation in 04. YDM's 2002 program has been studied at Harvard and has been replicated across America. YDA gave Michigan program of the year in Buffalo.

Young Voter to Young Voter on Issues, Helping our President Deliver Health Care and EFCA

But now we must use our peer to peer model on the local level to deliver health care and the EFCA. We must talk to folks on campuses who can't find jobs when they graduate. We must educate the young 25 year old warehouse employees at work-sites who have no health insurance for their sick children. We must register every young person in every dorm in America and educate them on how to vote.

We will move votes on EFCA and health care if we take it to the street... take our message directly to young workers and students...to unemployed young people with master degrees.... It's time to get the attention of politicians in both parties who are afraid to stand up for workers and everyday citizens. It's time we bring health care to all Americans. It's time young workers have a voice at work.

We need all the new young people involved on facebook, all who got involved in 08 to stand up and take action.

Our time is now.

Many Young Dems join local chapters - not realizing the power they have to change the world - don't wait for permission, don't be afraid of making mistakes - don't wait. There is a health care fight going on right now, there is a fight to give workers a fair chance to have a voice at work. A rally will get the attention of your local US House Rep. A letter writing campaign, phone calls to targeted reps weak on health care, and door to door visits in neighborhoods will help bring some of our lost Democrats home.

One chapter in one targeted congressional district may decide the important issues of our time. One senate vote here, one senate vote there - is all it takes.

Let's get to work, let's work together and let's send a message to leaders in DC - that young Democratic leaders mean business.

Thank you Pennsylvania for making it more clear in my mind what is truly possible for our Young Dem movement nationally, by connecting with our local and state chapters (www.ydaworks.com).