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Assemblymember Dodd adds to Dunbar civics lesson

Fourth and fifth grade Dunbar Elementary School students who had been studying government got a lesson Friday from an inside source — Assemblymember Bill Dodd.

Dodd joined the students to talk about democracy, what the government does and why it’s so important, even for kids. He also took questions from the students.

“I was blown away with how inquisitive and insightful these students were,” said Assemblymember Dodd. “It’s clear to me that the teachers and staff at Dunbar are doing a great job preparing our future leaders.”

One youngster asked “Have you ever met the President?” Dodd recounted meeting President Obama in the Oval Office to witness him sign the declaration establishing the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, which Dodd had urged the President to create.

The question of the day came from a discussion on how a bill becomes a law. A boy asked a simple but apparently difficult question to answer, “Why are they called bills?” Assemblymember Dodd pondered the question, “I actually don’t know why they’re called bills,” he admitted. “I’ll have to get back to you on that.”

Dodd said he plans to get the answer and write the young boy a letter answering his question and congratulating the boy on stumping his legislator.

Dodd represents the 4th Assembly District, which includes the Sonoma Valley. He is running for State Senate, against Marika Yamada, for the seat that includes the city of Sonoma.

 

4 Comments

  1. Anna Pier Anna Pier

    I wonder if he taught them how it is possible to switch from Republican to Democrat?

    • No Way No Way

      Or if he told them he is supporting Trump for president.

  2. No Way No Way

    “I actually don’t know why they’re called bills,” he admitted. “I’ll have to get back to you on that.”

    ~ DUH. And this is a candidate for State senate? Dumb as a post. It’s called a ‘bill’ for the same reason we call a tree a tree — because eons ago that’s what people decided to call it. When a ‘bill’ is passed or approved by the legislature, and signed by the governor or the president, it becomes a law. It is called ‘a law’ so no one mistakes it for a tree.

    • DJS319 DJS319

      Dear “No Way”,

      A Bill is actually called a Bill because the word stems from the Mideval Latin word “bulla” which meant “sealed; sealed document”.
      Next time, before you make uneducated remarks like that, you should educate yourself by knowing the etymology of the word.

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