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AFSCME
AFSCME's 1.4 million members provide the vital services that make America happen and advocate for prosperity and opportunity for all working families.
We are nurses, corrections officers, child care providers, EMTs and sanitation workers. For us, public service is not just a job, it's a calling. At times we are right out front, and at other times we are behind the scenes. Wherever we are, we're proud to take on the responsibility of helping to keep this country strong.
AFSCME is a union made up of a diverse group of people who share a common commitment to public service. We see the big picture and gladly accept the responsibility of guarding and nurturing it - not because we expect to be recognized for our sacrifice, but because we know the job needs to be done. That's why we're in the public service - to keep our families safe and make our communities strong.
While we work for justice in the workplace, we advocate for prosperity and opportunity for all of America's working families. We not only stand for fairness at the bargaining table - we fight for fairness at the ballot box and in the halls of government.
Blog Posts from AFSCME
Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the 2012 State Summit this week -- we hope you found the panels helpful. We look forward to an exciting 2012 and welcome any suggestions you might have to make the next State Summit even better!
Summit is Almost Here!
The America Votes 2012 State Summit is only days away. Don't miss your chance to be a part of one the most important gatherings of progressives in 2012. Check out the State Summit page here.
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UPDATED: Right-to-work fight in Indiana hits a roadblock
The fight over right-to-work legislation in Indiana has become increasingly complicated for unions and other supporters of labor as their attempts to protest the passing of this legislation is now more difficult in light of new capacity restrictions in the Statehouse. “The fire marshal determined the Statehouse could safely hold 3,000 people at one time. With about 1,700 state employees and lawmakers in the building every day, that leaves room for up to 1,300 more people,” according to the Indiana Economic Digest.
On top of those limitations, special groups are being allowed access to the Statehouse through e-mailed waivers, further limiting the amount of people allowed to have their voices heard while speaking up against the right-to-work legislation. A prayer group was granted special access to the Statehouse through an e-mail that instructs members of the group to avoid the crowds of protesters by coming in through a side entrance and showing security guards a print-out of the email. By actions such as this, the state now can pick and choose who to allow into a building that is supposed to be for the citizens of Indiana.
**UPDATE** On Wednesday, Governor Mitch Daniels rescinded the crowd limit for the Statehouse that critics say was aimed at protesters. Daniels said "Democrats and media coverage of the change influenced the decision to change the policy back." The Governor also said he is dedicated to keeping the crowd at safe levels, but is not looking to limit public access.
A Great Day in New Hampshire
Labor and progressive partners scored a huge victory in New Hampshire today, as the state House voted to uphold Governor Lynch's veto of the Right to Work bill. America Votes congratulates Labor, who worked so hard for months on this bill - and we thank the hundreds of volunteers who helped in this important effort.
The AV office in Concord became an impromptu campaign headquarters this morning, as volunteers streamed in once they got word that today might be the day the Speaker would call for a vote. More than 200 volunteers arrived at 7:00 am from labor unions and community allies. Volunteers created a strong, positive presence for legislators that are standing with us - lining the hallways, packing the gallery, greeting and thanking the Reps.
There was a whip team assigned to and track legislators to make sure they were there and in their seats. There was a boiler room used to run data for the whip team so we know where all of our legislators were and that the full whip team had all the info they needed. And there was a lobby team which was a group of lobbyist that have been working with the Reps since the beginning who were there for support if they are approached by the speaker and to answer questions.
Obviously, the fight continues, as Republicans in New Hampshire have vowed to bring the issue up again next year. But, for today at least, we congratulate you all and the folks in New Hampshire for a big win.
New Hampshire State Director Josiette White manning the First Aid station during today's day of action.
Voting to Repeal SB5 Begins in Ohio
Voting in Ohio began on October 4th, but this was the first weekend that voters were able to cast their vote in Issue 2; voting down Issue 2 would mean the repeal of SB5, a bill that severely limits collective bargaining rights for public employees in Ohio. To this point, Ohians are voting at a much higher than normal rate for an off-year election.
From the Columbus Dispatch story:
"With more than two weeks to Election Day, 65,046 Franklin County voters have requested absentee
ballots, and 2,057 have voted early in person, according to the board.
Those numbers already surpass early voting in the last two off-year elections. In 2009, more
than 47,000 people voted early, either in person or by absentee ballot, and nearly 29,000 did in
2007.
In last year’s gubernatorial election, nearly 170,000 voted early.
“This is more like a gubernatorial election,” said William A. Anthony Jr. director of the Board
of Elections
“It’s clearly the issues. They’ve created a lot of excitement.”
Anthony said many Downtown workers have come to vote during their lunch hours. On Friday, 192
voted, slightly more than the same day in last year’s gubernatorial election and more than three
times as many as in the last off-year election in 2009.
“I tell people if they want to avoid lines, vote early,” Anthony said."
State Unions Lose Certification in Wisconsin
Thursday, the major state employee unions in Wisconsin effectively lost their official status. Top leaders for the unions have said that the hurdle for keeping official status as laid out in Gov. Scott Walker's union bargaining law is too high. "We looked at the law and we find the law at best an exercise in wasted resources. We've chosen to use our resources to organize our members and advocate for our members," said Marty Bei, the executive director of the 23,000-member Wisconsin State Employees Union.
Under the new rules, unions would have to get 51% of all the members of the organization, not just 51% of those voting, in order to recertify. Even with certification, unions would have almost no bargaining rights. In March, Walker signed legislation ending all union bargaining for public employees except for limited negotiations over wages. Union employees can't bargain for raises larger than the rate of inflation unless approved by voters in a referendum.
"You go through all that and all you get to do is bargain (for limited raises)," said Bryan Kennedy, president of the American Federation of Teachers-Wisconsin.
The legislation requires that unions go through yearly recertification votes to keep their official status. Unions can exist without the official status, but government employers don't have to recognize or bargain with them over anything.
Only four state unions have filed petitions for recertification elections, mostly extremely small unions like the 58-member Professional Employees in Research, Statistics and Analysis. The president of the union, Jeff Richter, acknowledged that the small size makes it possible to win a recertification election.
Governor Walker declined to comment on the decertification.
SB5 Heats Up In Ohio
Today, We Are Ohio announced the campaign will begin airing its first television advertisement today in major media markets and cable all across Ohio. The announcement was made in Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Toledo, Youngstown, Dayton and Marietta by local first responders who will vote NO on Issue 2 to reject Senate Bill 5, the unfair and unsafe bill that will hurt their local communities.
Watch the add below:
Also, check out this great video from We Are Ohio of their parade from the the day they delivered the signatures to repeal SB5:
Success in the process to repeal Ohio's SB 5
Yesterday, opponents of Ohio Governor John Kasich’s anti-union bill, SB 5, that was signed into law this past march, achieved another victory in their attempts to repeal the law on the November ballot. This victory came by way of the state Ballot Board voting for a clear “yes” to support the law, and “no” to vote against it verbiage for the ballot this November.
Supporters of the law were trying to make the repeal efforts more confusing by submitting wording that would mean a “yes” vote translated into voting for the repeal of the law. It has been proven that voters who are skeptical or confused by an issue tend to vote no, therefore supporting the opponents of the law. With 13.7% of the population of Ohio as union members, higher than the U.S. average rate of 11.9%, this law is clearly an important issue to the people, and this new ballot wording will help their efforts to repeal it come November.
Digging a little deeper into Labor Day
With the summer starting to wind down, that final weekend of parades and picnics celebrating Labor Day is around the corner. NPR posted an interesting interview with Jeff Cowie, an Associate Professor of Labor History at Cornell University, in which he discusses the history of the labor movement and what changes it has seen since the first time Labor Day was celebrated in 1882. Listen to the interview and view the transcript here.
Over one million signatures turned in for Ohio SB 5 referendum
Today, one day from the deadline to file the paperwork necessary for a referendum of Ohio SB 5, which eliminates collective bargaining rights for public employees, the "We Are Ohio" campaign paraded up to the Secretary of State's Office with 1,298,301 signatures to overturn the bill. "We Are Ohio" only needed to collect 231,000 signatures to reverse the bill, but collected over a million over the requirement and celebrated today with the "Million Signature March." The people of Ohio were extremely energized by this attack on labor in a very similar manner to Wisconsin's effort to recall their legislatures who passed a similar law. John Nichols covers the referendum of SB 5 for The Nation, read more here.
Collective Bargaining Law enacted today in WI
Today is the day that Wisconsin's collective bargaining law goes into effect. Right before public employees lose their rights to negotiate benefits and other terms of their employment, Gov. Scott Walker commented in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel saying he should have prepared the public for this law sooner to help ease some of the tensions that have erupted over it.
Walker says, however, that people should have been aware this was coming based on his campaign for governor in 2010. He doesn't see the elimination of collective bargaining rights as a rights issue at all, instead it's just "an expensive entitlement." Walker also doesn't see haw he ever attacked teachers, a group that has come out strong to protest the collective bargaining law, blaming it on them receiving misinformation from union leaders. Now that the law is enacted, recall elections are in motion to replace some of the legislators who voted for it. Read more of Walker's comments in the Journal Sentinel's article.
Wisconsin Supreme Court signs off on Walker's Collective Bargaining Law
Despite numerous protests and 14 Democratic senators leaving the state for three weeks, the Wisconsin Supreme Court signed off on Gov. Scott Walker's law that eliminates collective bargaining rights for public employees. The law will now take effect on June 29, leaving public employees without any rights to collective bargaining.
Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne, a Democrat, sued to block the law from taking effect on the ground that the open meeting policy was not observed and the meeting in which the law was passed was not announced 24 hours in advance. A Circuit Court judge, Maryann Sumi, agreed and passed a permanent injunction on the law on May 27th, preventing it from taking effect. The Supreme Court decided that her action "usurped the legislative power which the Wisconsin Constitution grants exclusively to the legislature." Now it is only a matter of a few weeks and waiting for the ruling to be reviewed before public workers start to feel the effect of these restrictions on collective bargaining.
Collective Bargaining Rights Threatened Across the Country
It's not quite clear what makes this year different from all other years when it comes to worker's rights, but states across the country are making moves to "restrict or eliminate collective bargaining rights of public workers," with a force that has not been seen before. In an interview with NPR, Jeanne Mejeur of the National Conference of State Legislatures points out that there were around 820 bills introduced nationwide this year that dealt with reducing collective bargaining rights when there are usually no more than 100, if that.
The fight in Wisconsin has led to recall efforts of 6 GOP state senators, where the law has not been enacted yet, but similar laws have been passed in other states as well.
Legislation in regards to collective bargaining does not have to be an all or nothing issue. Nebraska could serve as a positive role model for other states battling with collective bargaining bills, as legislators and public employee unions were able to work together to draft legislation that truly was a compromise. While public employees still made quite a few concessions it protected the practice of collective bargaining and upheld the Commission of Industrial Relations as "an unbiased third party that, when asked, will review the facts and render a fair ruling." If more states could follow this cooperative model, perhaps it could eliminate some of the "bitterly partisan" tension that's surrounds the upcoming recall elections
Stand Up For Workers; Union Plus Will Donate On Your Behalf!
Union Plus has issued a challenge to the supporters of labor. They will give $25 for every new Facebook fan and $25 for every Tweet using the #UnionPlus hashtag up to $100,000 to help America Votes fight back against the recent attacks on the labor movement.
Please help us spread the word! There are a few different ways to help:
1. Promote this challenge on your Facebook page! Ask fans to join the Union Plus Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/UnionPlus: For every new Facebook fan, Union Plus will donate $25 to the fund.
2. Tweet using the hashtag: #UnionPlus and include @UnionPlus - Union Plus will donate $25 for every new tweet with this hashtag.eg. "Stand UP for Workers: @UnionPlus just donated $25 to the State Battles Fund on my behalf just by tweeting this hashtag: #UnionPlus |#1u"
Union Plus supports the rights of workers to organize and collectively bargain for fair wages, a safe work environment, and to have a strong voice in the workplace - and we're proud to back up our stance with a $100,000 donation to the America Votes State Battles Fund. The money will go toward opposing state legislation, ballot measures, and executive orders that attack the labor movement.
Please help us make this a success by kindly spreading this message to your supporters, family and friends on Facebook and Twitter!
ALERT: NH "Right to Work For Less" Up for Full State Senate Vote on April 20th
As expected, NH HB 474 - Right to Work for Less - passed the Senate committee on a party line vote (4 to 1). We expect the full senate will vote on Wed April 20th. We need your help to continue to oppose this extreme anti-worker agenda.
Continue reading to see how you can help in New Hampshire!
Here's how you can help:
CONTACT YOUR SENATOR: The senators are telling us that they need to hear from us! Take a minute between now and Tuesday to call and email your senator. You can find your senator's contact information here: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/senate/senatemembers.asp.
Key Message points:
• Include your name and address
• Ask the senator to vote NO on HB 474
• Tell them what type of work you do
• Include any of the following:
- Right to Work for Less is opposed by employers across the state. This isn't something employers are asking for and it isn't something employers want.
- Right to Work for Less doesn't create jobs - it isn't about rights and it's not about work.
- States with similar Right to Work for Less laws have higher rates of poverty, higher rates of unemployment and lower wages.
- Right to Work for Less is being pushed by out-of-state special interests. Right to Work for Less isn't right for New Hampshire
If you need help with your message, please contact us at protectnhfamilies@gmail.com.
JOIN A CANVASS: We are canvassing this weekend! We'll be out talking to voters about what is happening at the state house and asking them to contact their senator. These canvasses have been going great so far with a positive response from voters. Help us keep the momentum going!
Weekend Details
NASHUA: Join us on Saturday April 16th from 10 to 2pm or Sunday April 17th from 12:00 to 4:00 pm. We'll meet at the AFT hall at 7c Taggart Drive in Nashua. RSVP to john@nhforhealthcare.com.
CLAREMONT: Join us on Saturday April 16th from 10 to 2 pm. We'll meet at the Trinity Episcopal Church at 120 Broad Street in Claremont. RSVP to john@nhforhealthcare.com.
JOIN A PHONEBANK: Phone banks are up every day this week. RSVP to john@nhforhealthcare.com.
STATUS OF THE NH BILLS
HB 474 - Right to Work for Less legislation - passed out of the senate committee on a party line vote 4 to 1. The Senate committee stripped the damaging amendment added in the house. The full senate is expected to vote on a traditional Right to Work for Less bill on Wed. View the bill status report here.
HB 2 - part 2 of the state budget bill - was amended in committee to eliminate the right to collective bargaining. This budget bill as currently written is devastating for New Hampshire families, communities and tax payers and includes an underhanded assault on New Hampshire workers. The full house passed the budget (HB 1 and HB 2) Follow HB 1 here and HB 2 here. You can view a comparison of the Governor's budget and the house budget here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
APRIL 16th Nashua Canvass: Help us stop the reckless legislative attacks on New Hampshire families! The canvass will run for 10:00 - 2:00 and we'll meet at the AFT Hall at 7 C Taggart Drive, Nashua. RSVP to john@nhforhealthcare.com
APRIL 16th Claremont Canvass: Help us stop the reckless legislative attacks on New Hampshire families! The canvass will run for 10:00 - 2:00 and we'll meet at the Trinity Episcopal Church 120 Broad St Claremont. RSVP to john@nhforhealthcare.com
APRIL 17th Nashua Canvass: Help us stop the reckless legislative attacks on New Hampshire families! The canvass will run for 12:00 - 4:00 and we'll meet at the AFT Hall at 7 C Taggart Drive, Nashua. RSVP to john@nhforhealthcare.com
ON GOING: You can join the interfaith voices for a humane budget at the state house. Regular vigils are taking place at the State House. Learn more here.
SAVE THE DATE: The full senate is expected to vote on HB 474 on Wednesday April 20th. More details coming soon.
SAVE THE DATE: The full senate is expected to hold a hearing on the budget on April 21st. More details coming soon.
MORE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Letters to the Editor: We are working to inform voters and influence legislators with letters to the editor. We need your help to get the word out! Contact kehrenberg@aflcio.org for more information, templates or to let us know you sent a letter.
Contact the Senate: We need your help letting the NH Senate know that HB 474 is bad policy and bad for New Hampshire. Please ask your members and supporters to contact their senators and ask them to stand up for the middle class and oppose HB 474. Then let us know how they respond! If you need an action alert template or more information, please contact us at protectnhfamilies@gmail.com
BUILDING THE CAMPAIGN
We need your help bringing more allies to the table! We are looking to engage small business and employers, community organizations, and religious organizations across the state. You can help by talking to the businesses and organizations in your area. Materials to help you get the conversation started are attached. Please contact Josiette with any questions or suggestions to help us build the campaign at 603-545-4772 or jwhite@americavotes.org.
We are also looking to take the message out to your organizations. Schedule a presentation or request presentation materials by contacting Josiette at jwhite@americavotes.org or call 603-545-4772.
SPOTLIGHT ON RECENT NEWS AND LETTERS
Over 11,000 people have joined the campaign to Protect New Hampshire Families! Sign-on today and invite your neighbors, families and friends! Sign-up today by joining our Protect New Hampshire Families facebook page!
As always, you can donate to the fight across all of the states here.
Joan Fitz-Gerald Speaks at State Battles Fund Event
Yesterday, working men and women across the country came together in solidarity with those fightings for their rights in places like Wisconsin, Ohio, New Hampshire and Indiana. Last night, progressives gathered for a State Battles event in Washington, D.C. to raise money to help fight the injustices taking place in these states and others. Below are some pictures of America Votes President Joan Fitz-Gerald speaking at the event. Thank you for all who helped make the event a success. For more information on the State Battles Fund, visit our State Battles 2011 page here.
"We Are One" Day of Solidarity
America Votes and its partners across the country will take part in a number of events today and continuing throughout the week to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s trip to Memphis, Tennessee, where he had gone to stand with sanitation workers demanding their dream: The right to bargain collectively for a voice at work and a better life. The workers were trying to form a union with AFSCME. On that trip, Dr. King was assassinated. The pictures below are from today's rally in Washington, D.C.:
New Hampshire Workers Fight for Their Rights
This week, the Finance Committee of the NH House of Representatives voted to repeal collective bargaining arrangements during a committee discussion on an unrelated bill, HB 2 dealing with the state budget. Today the committee held the final vote on HB 2 and were met by over 100 hard-working New Hampshirites. Thanks to our friends at Granite State Progress for the photos.
Ohio Rallies Against SB5
An estimated 25,000 folks in Columbus this week rallying against SB 5, which would end collective bargaining rights for public employees.
Philadelphia Solidarity Rally
Across the country, working Americans are rallying in solidarity with hard-working public workers in Wisconsin. Union workers, citizens, community activists and politicians gathered in solidarity with the workers of Wisconsin in Philadelphia at the Municipal Services Building last week. After the jump, see some of the pictures from the rally.
See all the pictures here.
PA America Votes Partners in the News
The latest news clips mentioning PA America Votes partners:
Philadelphia rally seeks to boost spirits of unions under siege
Philadelphia Inquirer
The huge union rally in the Municipal Services Building plaza Thursday was organized ostensibly in support of Wisconsin public workers fighting to retain their collective bargaining rights. But every full-throated labor leader who stepped to the microphone framed the battle in Wisconsin as part of an existential threat that unions face everywhere ... "We built this country, and we're not going to let you take it away from us," said AFL-CIO Philadelphia Council president Patrick J. Eiding. "They're not trying to balance the budget; they're trying to decimate collective bargaining." The Philadelphia Council organized the lunchtime rally, which included about 20 area unions and about 1,000 sign-waving members, who periodically chanted: "We are one!" ... Cathy Scott, president of District Council 47 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, which represents the city's professional, technical, and administrative employees, said the fight in Wisconsin was about "shifting power from working people and the poor to corporations" ... "The question isn't why do I have a pension and benefits and a good job? The question is, why don't you?" [UFCW 1776's John] Meyerson said. "If you want a pension, get a union. If you want benefits, get a union. If you want a good job, get a union" ...
Local Rally Held In Support Of Wisconsin’s Workers
KDKA
Perhaps 500 workers and supporters from most of Pittsburgh’s labor movement turned out on short notice for this afternoon’s rally. ”We need to fight to make sure that they don’t rob any worker of their rights to collective bargaining, or their rights to be in a union,” said Leo Girard, of the United Steelworkers of America ...
Locals rally for solidarity
Wilkes Barre Times-Leader
Close to 200 representatives from the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, United Food and Commercial Workers, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and others gathered for a noon rally Wednesday …
Pa. labor groups vow to fight `right-to-work' bill
Centre Daily Times
Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale said the bill would weaken unions and, in turn, drive down the wages that unions negotiate for workers. "We've got to kill it in the Legislature. We've got to drive a stake through its heart," Bloomingdale said. David R. Fillman, executive director of Council 13 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees - the largest state-employee union - shared Bloomingdale's dislike for the bill but was less worried about its prospects …
March protests looming Planned Parenthood funding end
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
If the amendment survives in the Senate, it would mean a nearly one-third budget cut for the seven Planned Parenthood centers in the region, said Kim Evert, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania …
Editorial: Ending Planned Parenthood funding will lead to more unwanted pregnancies
Philadelphia Inquirer
Last year, 49,000 people went to the South East Pennsylvania Planned Parenthood clinics for a total of 63,000 STD tests, more than 25,000 Pap tests, 13,000 screenings for cervical cancer, 14,000 breast exams, 17,000 doses of emergency contraception, and yes, 11,000 abortions …
Gas drilling in Pennsylvania state parks draws fire
Harrisburg Patriot-News
“The answer is not to turn our state parks and forests over to drillers and hope for the best,” said Jan Jarrett, president of PennFuture. “DEP should immediately open public comment on the previous administration’s policy, which was based on sound science.” Jeff Schmidt of the Pennsylvania chapter of the Sierra Club said, “This is where large numbers of people go for recreation and wild experiences” …
Protesters Locked Out of Statehouse in Ohio by Kasich Administration
CNN estimated 15,000 people were out in Columbus today rallying against Senate Bill 5. The protestors were locked out of the Statehouse by the Kasich Administration. A suit was filed to open the doors and allow the people inside their house.
See the video here.
Read about the protests in the New York Times and the Columbus Dispatch.
A Message from AV President Joan-Fitzgerald on the Struggle in Wisconsin
Dear America Votes Supporter,
As you watch events unfold in Wisconsin, please be aware that the very same scenario is ready to play out all across the Midwest. In many respects the Democratic members of the Wisconsin Senate that have fled the tyranny of their new governor are doing it for working people in Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Indiana. But America Votes and our partners aren't going to let this happen without a fight (link to video).
If the right to collective bargaining is eradicated with the stroke of Governor Walker's pen, the core of the middle class will be at the mercy of hostile legislatures who can change the terms of their contracts and working agreements for any reason.
Our state director in Wisconsin has been working non- stop, without sleep, to coordinate the efforts to stop this bill from going forward. Phone banks have been set up and manned to get calls out informing people of the effort at the Capitol. Sites have been chosen for marches and demonstrations and America Votes' partner organizations are supplying the volunteers. We are proud to be a part of this effort to stop the erosion of worker's rights in Wisconsin.
America Votes' directors in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan are readying themselves and their partner organizations for this struggle as well. We have worked in these states for the past 7 years and can bring a broad coalition to stop this effort to undermine the middle class. Please help me today to bolster our work in these critical states. Your donation of will go a long way to support these people who are standing up for all of us. We are providing much needed water and food to volunteers.
As we are inspired by the resolve of the people of Wisconsin, we must be prepared in other states where these bills are ready to be introduced. Your help will strengthen our work, which allows greater coordination in this struggle.
In the words of Mother Jones who spent her entire life fighting for the dignity of the working man in the face of the murders of the Ludlow Massacre:
"Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living!"
In solidarity,
Joan Fitz-Gerald
President, America Votes
OHIO PUBLIC EMPLOYEES FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHTS
As we've seen in Wisconsin this week, Ohio Republicans are coming after the collective bargaining rights of hard-working public employees, we well. The scene in Columbus is evident that it won't happen without a fight there, either.
Per reporter Marc Kovac's blog, the statehouse is abuzz today:
And some pictures per Ohio Captitol Blog:
And former Gov. Ted Strickland lending his support:
AV Partners Sprinting to the Finish
We're only two weeks away from Election Day, and campaigns across the country are in their final sprint to the finish. Not only are candidates making their final pitches to voters, but so are many of our partners.
We've talked about how the path to victory for Democrats is through a strong ground game
this year, and unions are coming through. Kevin Bogardus at The Hill
is reporting that labor unions are making their final campaign pushes to get out the vote on November 2nd, if not before then. The SEIU has spent $200,000 in the last week on billboards, direct mail, and radio ads, upping their spending total to $1.3 million since mid-September. The spending was in support of several house candidates including Reps. John Boccieri, Mark Schauer, Betty Sutton, and Dina Titus.
"This election is a clear choice," said Teddy Davis, a SEIU spokesman. "One side wants to strengthen the middle class and put people back to work. The other side wants to turn Social Security over to Wall Street, end Medicare as we know it and abolish the minimum wage."
Bogardus also reports that AFSCME has spent $5.2 million in support of Democrats thus far. They've supported not only Boccieri, Schauer, and Titus, by Reps. Kathy Dahlkemper and Steve Kagen as well. The American Federation of Teachers has spent over $430,000 on canvassing for Democrats in New Hampshire, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Meanwhile the AFL-CIO and Working America have spent over half a million dollars on canvassing and report that over 5,000 canvassers have knocked on over 100,000 doors, distributed 17.5 million fliers and sent 14.5 millions pieces of direct mail.
What are the results of this late push? We won't know for sure until Election Day, but early polling seems promising. AFL-CIO Political Director Karen Ackerman told the Wall Street Journal that in Pennsylvania, Joe Sestak has increased his lead among union members from 45-39% on Labor Day to a current 55-29% edge. This comes on the heels of a PPP poll released this week that shows Sestak leading Pat Toomey 46-45%.
Finally, Darren Goode reports for The Hill that the League of Conservation purchased $250,000 in ad buys supporting House members who voted for the contentious "cap-and-trade" climate bill last year. Goode reports that the LCV's recent ad buys push its independent expenditures up to $3 million for the cycle, nearly eclipsing the $3.3 million it spent during the 2008 election. This cycle, the LCV has been especially supportive of several candidates including, Schauer, Boccieri, Titus, and Sen. Michael Bennet. Furthermore, the LCV partnered with Vote Vets to make a $250,000 ad buy in support of Sestak's Senate bid.
AV News Round-Up: Tuesday, September 7, 2010
56 Days Til Election Day
Not just jobs but good jobs and safe jobs
Richard Trumka for Oregon Statesman-Journal
AFSCME hits GOP over state aid
Ben Smith for Politico
'They talk about me like a dog'
Jonathan Martin for Politico
Governor's race: Rivals sharply divided on social issues
Steve Terrell for Santa Fe New Mexican
In an effort to get into the House, Ohio politicians are knocking on doors
Aaron Marshall for The Cleveland Plain-Dealer
Not just jobs but good jobs and safe jobs
Richard Trumka for Oregon Statesman-Journal
Americans are worried about finding and keeping jobs
Many are desperate for any job at all in the worst recession since the Great Depression. Fifteen million people who want to work are stuck in unemployment lines. Just about as many are working part-time when they want to be working full time or have given up looking. It can be tempting to overlook dangerous workplaces and say now is not the time to prioritize workers' safety.
But disasters at the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia, the Tesoro refinery in Washington, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf and other workplaces tell us otherwise. There is never a right time for substandard and unsafe workplaces. Now, when economic conditions and our corporate culture give rise to corner-cutting, is exactly the time to safeguard working people on the job.
Every day, 14 workers die on the job, never to return home. Another 2700 workers are seriously injured every day. Additionally, in 2008, an estimated 137 workers died each day from occupational diseases like asbestosis, cancer and black lung.
These chilling statistics are a stark reminder that job creation alone is not enough. We cannot allow lowest-common-denominator jobs-unsafe, low-pay, no-benefit jobs-to be the norm.
AFSCME hits GOP over state aid
Ben Smith for Politico
At a moment when Republicans across the country are casting public workers and their unions as an increasingly dire threat to fiscal health, public labor giant AFSCME is set to announce a $1.5 million television, radio and Web campaign boosting Democrats and attacking Republicans in four battleground states: Michigan, Nevada, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
"We are going to do everything we can to make sure voters understand who worked to save our struggling economy and who chose to play politics with our lives and jobs," AFSCME President Gerald McEntee said in release announcing the ads. "We will support those who stood with us. The choice in this election is too important for anyone to sit on the sidelines."
The television spot aims most pointedly to reward Democrats - and punish Republicans - for their votes on an August jobs bill that included cash to help states avoid budget cuts that would have put teachers' jobs and Medicaid funding on the chopping block.
'They talk about me like a dog'
Jonathan Martin for Politico
Two years after appearing here on Labor Day to kick off the final stretch of his historic campaign, President Obama returned Monday to speak to union members, in a starkly different political environment.
The Democrats, on the ascent at Obama's 2008 "Laborfest" visit, are now unmistakably a party on defense.
The president touched on his historic accomplishments - healthcare reform and new financial regulations - but spent more time discussing a new infrastructure plan and warning what Republican victory would mean.
By rolling out a $50 billion transportation proposal two months before the mid-term elections and twice mentioning statements from "the Republican who thinks he's going to take over as Speaker," Obama testified to the straits Democrats now find themselves in: They urgently need to convince voters that they're working to bolster the still-wobbly economy - and find a reason to give the electorate pause about voting for the GOP to register their anger about the status quo.
Governor's race: Rivals sharply divided on social issues
Steve Terrell for Santa Fe New Mexican
Although the issues in the gubernatorial race mainly have centered on the economy, corruption, education, the environment and crime, there are a number of social issues that set Diane Denish and Susana Martinez apart.
These are issues such as abortion, gay rights and medical marijuana. Few would argue that these are anywhere near as important as problems like unemployment or failing schools. And yet, these are the issues that generate heat and inflame the passions.
In general, like the parties they represent, Republican Martinez, who is the district attorney of Doña Ana County, tends to fall on the socially conservative side, while Denish, the Democratic candidate, is more on the progressive side. In the three areas looked at here, the two find little, if any agreement.
In an effort to get into the House, Ohio politicians are knocking on doors
Aaron Marshall for The Cleveland Plain-Dealer
Forget the TV ads made by high-priced consultants. Skip the town hall meetings and the endless parades. Toss the mail pieces and stick the yard signs in the trash. And, please, log off of Facebook and Twitter.
For those who want to serve as one of the 99 members of the Ohio House of Representatives, the old ritual by which actual candidates meet actual voters at their doorsteps is still the best route to a November win.
Call it the last bastion of retail politics on the Statehouse level, but the door-to-door campaign is alive and knocking, particularly in pocket-sized House districts where 20,000 votes could put you in office. Both parties hope their candidates hit upwards of 1 million doors total across the state before Election Day.