Tag Archives: democrats

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Here is your AFSCME Federal Legislative Report

AFSCME e-Action Network

Welcome to the AFSCME Federal Legislative Report which is produced by the Legislation Department weekly when Congress is in session.  We hope you find this report as valuable as we do in keeping up to date on significant action by the U.S. Congress affecting AFSCME members.  We know when we work together as a team we accomplish more for AFSCME members across the country.

Gerald W. McEntee, President
Lee A. Saunders, Secretary-Treasurer

AFSCME LEGISLATIVE REPORT
SEPTEMBER 24, 2010

To view on the AFSCME website, click here

In this issue:

  • Republican House Members Release “Pledge” to Return to Failed Policies
  • Senate Takes Up Campaign Finance Legislation – Again
  • Democrats Vote to Protect Labor Elections Rules
  • Republicans Block Repeal to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
  • Congress Fails to Approve Multiyear FAA Bill

Republican House Members Release “Pledge” to Return to Failed Policies

On Thursday, House Republicans unveiled their pre-election campaign document, “A Pledge to America,” which is modeled after Newt Gingrich‘s 1994’s Contract with America. For the most part, it is set of warmed over, failed ideas aimed at voters for the midterm elections in November.

The document’s jobs and economy section calls for more tax cuts for millionaires and businesses by retaining all of the Bush tax cuts, rejecting President Obama’s plan to eliminate tax cuts for those earning above $250,000 to capture $830 billion in revenues. It calls for slashing spending by cutting the federal budget back to 2008 spending levels, which would mean a 21 percent reduction in yearly-appropriated programs including more than $8 billion in cuts in K-12 education and significant reductions for Head Start, child care, public safety, unemployment insurance and Employment Services, transportation, and other vital public services that AFSCME members provide. House Republicans also support canceling unspent Recovery Act funds, including the increased federal Medicaid match (FMAP) that now is available to states through June 30, 2011 and cannot be drawn down by states any faster than quarterly.

Not surprisingly, the document calls for a repeal of health care reform, putting insurance companies back in control. This would result in ending safeguards against skyrocketing premium increases, increasing the cost of prescription drugs for seniors, abandoning initiatives to improve health care, and ensuring that the ranks of the uninsured continue to grow. Instead, the House Republicans offer a litany of retread, failed ideas including expanding health savings accounts, allowing individuals to purchase health insurance across state lines, and medical malpractice reform.

The “Pledge” takes a swipe at the Employee Free Choice Act, stating: “We will fight for the rights of workers and oppose ‘card check’ schemes that put union bosses before individuals’ right to a secret ballot.” It requires that all federal legislation cite the constitutional authority upon which the bill is justified (another jab at health reform), makes it easier to strip spending out of appropriations bills, and proposes increased spending for national security, including fully funding missile defense.

The plan has been roundly criticized by the White House and congressional Democrats as “nothing more than a repackaging of the same failed special interest policies that caused this recession: cut taxes for millionaires and billionaires; cut rules for big corporations and special interests and leave the middle class to fend for itself” and “giv[ing] insurance companies control over Americans’ health care.

Rather than charting a new course, it is a continuation of the failed Bush economic policies. Interestingly, the plan says little about Social Security and Medicare, including Republicans’ privatization schemes, probably in recognition that this is a political third rail. 
(Fran Bernstein- fbernstein@afscme.org)

Senate Takes Up Campaign Finance Legislation – Again

Thursday, Senate Democrats took another shot at moving their flawed version of the DISCLOSE Act (S. 3628) campaign finance legislation aimed at addressing the U.S. Supreme Court‘s decision in the Citizen’s United case. Fortunately, the bill failed to garner the 60 votes needed to begin debate. The vote was 59 to 39, with all Republicans opposing the bill and all Democrats supporting it.
While AFSCME supports reasonable requirements for disclosures and disclaimers of the Union’s political and advocacy activities, we were forced to oppose the Senate bill due to extraordinarily burdensome requirements it would impose on AFSCME affiliates.
Unlike the House bill, the Senate bill creates substantial burdens for AFSCME affiliates for the mere act of transferring membership dues to AFSCME. While the bill does not require local unions and state affiliates to make reports to the Federal Election Commission, the bill does require AFSCME to report on revenues received by affiliates and to do so within a 24-hour deadline. In order for AFSCME to make these reports, it would be necessary for affiliates to provide information on its revenue sources during the previous year and to do so quickly enough for AFSCME to meet the 24-hour deadline. The bill includes civil and criminal penalties for violating the reporting requirements
The House previously approved its version of the DISCLOSE Act (H.R. 5175). It does not create burdensome requirements for AFSCME affiliates.
(Barbara Coufal- bcoufal@afscme.org)

Democrats Vote to Protect Labor Election Rules

Senate Democrats defeated a resolution of disapproval that proposed rejecting the National Mediation Board’s (NMB) amended election rules for airline and rail union elections.  The resolution would have overturned revised union election procedures recently issued by the NMB under the Railway Labor Act (RLA).  The new rule makes clear that representation elections under the RLA will be decided based on whether a majority of the votes cast are for or against the union.  Under the previous NMB rule, all workers who did not cast a ballot were counted as voting against the union.  The changes, which went into effect on July 1, advanced a simple democratic proposition: the majority opinion of workers who participate should decide the election.
The challenge to the National Mediation Board’s updated union election procedures was led by Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) in an attempt to undo reforms that are giving tens of thousands of airline and rail workers the hope of a union fighting for them for improved wages and retirement security.  Earlier in the day, President Obama issued a statement that he would veto the resolution if it passed.
(Cynthia Bradley- cbradley@afscme.org)

Republicans Block Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

This week, Senate Republicans blocked an attempt to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy that prohibits gays and lesbians from openly serving in the U.S. military. By a vote of 56-43 Democrats lost an attempt to have a vote on the Defense Authorization Act, which contains language repealing DADT.  The Democrats fell below the 60 votes needed to proceed. The Arkansas Democrats, Sens. Blanche L. Lincoln and Mark Pryor, sided with all 40 Republicans present in opposing debate.  
(Cynthia Bradley- cbradley@afscme.org)

Congress Fails to Approve Multiyear FAA Bill

On September 23, the House and Senate both passed clean extensions for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through the end of the calendar year.  This action sends a clear signal that approving a multiyear reauthorization of the FAA bill will not happen before Congress adjourns in October.  
(Cynthia Bradley- cbradley@afscme.org)
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Hollering …


Back in Tennessee there’s an old saying: When you have the facts on your side, argue the facts. When you have the law on your side, argue the law. When you have neither, holler.

Remember, Republicans orchestrated a takeover of Congress in 1994 with the same strategy of obstructionism and nay-saying that they’re using now. They can only do it again if we let them. I’m totally dedicated to supporting President Obama and our Democrats in Congress at this critical time.

I hope I can count on you to do the same. Please let me hear from you before the September 30th deadline.

Sincerely,

Al Gore
Al Gore

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Can Saving bees save the World?
Union of Concerned Scientists - Scientists are curious for life.
Can curiosity save the world?

David Inouye Curious for Life Ad

Ecologist David Inouye and the Union of Concerned Scientists believe that curiosity can save the world—but we can’t do it without your help. Please support our work to spread the truth—and spread the curiosity—by becoming a member of UCS today.

Become a member--click here.

When a caterpillar grows up, it becomes a beautiful butterfly. When curious kid David Inouye grew up, he became an ecologist. It’s the kind of metamorphosis our world could use more of.

Now, David channels all of his curiosity into the study of bees, butterflies, and wildflowers in the Rocky Mountains. For the past 40 years, David has returned to the same piece of land, tracking its changes. And over time, David has found substantial and disturbing evidence that the world is warming like never before. That kind of curiosity deserves our support.

Yet, it seems like no one’s listening. Corporations that deny global warming for the sake of their own financial interests are taking over the airways, and convincing the public that nothing is wrong. They are killing the curiosity, and thus, squelching the truth.

We need your help to make David’s voice heard. Can you make a donation now to help us spread the truth about global warming?

It’s hard to believe that, with all of the progress science has made possible, people still doubt its truthfulness. But they do. According to a recent study, the wildflower meadows David loves so much will likely be entirely displaced by sagebrush in just 50 years if current rates of warming continue unchecked.

Please support the Union of Concerned Scientists in our efforts to bring sound science to the public and spread the curiosity and the truth about global warming. Your donation allows us to be an independent voice for policy change and to continue developing science-based solutions to crucial environmental, health, and security issues.

Together we can help save the bees and wildflowers and protect all of this planet’s wondrous curiosities.

Sincerely,
Kevin Knobloch
Kevin Knobloch
President

~ Recent Post

Sharing is Health Caring


National Women's Law Center

Sharing is Health Caring

hcradpap

LIKE your family and friends? Help spread the word about how the new health care improvements works for women.

Sign the Pledge

Do you hate pap smears, but LIKE the idea that they are now free?

Join the club.

Today is the six-month anniversary of the new health care law and the day when a number of important consumer protections go into effect. Insurance companies can no longer drop you when you become sick or deny health coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. Also, when you enroll in a new health plan, you no longer have co-pays for preventative health care services. And the law provides even more relief to women, like making it illegal to charge them more than men for insurance. These are some of the improvements that women and their families can enjoy because of the new health care law.

In honor of these new provisions coming into effect, the National Women’s Law Center is launching a campaign to help spread the word about how the new health care law works for women. Digital public education ads will appear on websites such as Huffington Post, Facebook and Politico, and based on Facebook’s “LIKE” function, the campaign allows you to “LIKE” the improvements the health care law makes in your life and the lives of those you love.

Join the campaign! Take the Sharing is Health Caring pledge to get informed about the new health care improvements, share the campaign with your friends and family, and make sure that you know where your candidates stand when you vote in the November 2nd election.

You’ve fought hard with us to pass this law and today we can celebrate — perhaps with a free mammogram or pap smear? Or how about just LIKING that it’s free and taking our pledge today?

You can also find out exactly what goes into effect today by checking out our new fact sheet.

Judy WaxmanSincerely,

Judy Waxman
Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights
National Women’s Law Center

P.S. Your generous donation allows us to continue to stand up for women and their families. Support our work today.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

H.R. 2267, Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act


CBO’s Web site:


  • H.R. 2267, Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act
    Cost estimate for the bill as ordered reported by the House Committee on Financial Services on July 29, 2010
    http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=11883