Support the Jewish Labor Committee

by John O. Mason

The Jewish Labor Committee is the Jewish voice within the Labor movement, and the Labor voice within the Jewish community, serving as a liaison between the two causes, sharing each side’s values. It was founded in February 1934 by Yiddish-speaking trade unionists, plus members of the Workmen’s Circle, the United Hebrew Trades, and the Jewish Socialist Bund, in order to combat the rise of Fascism in Europe and America.

In recent years, JLC has been active in the fight for the rights of immigrant workers, and has protested the abusive labor practices found in the Agroprocessors meat processing plant in Iowa, supported the Republic Windows and Doors workers in Chicago, and has worked for dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian trade unionists. One of JLC’s programs is the Labor Seder, linking the freedom struggle of the ancient Israelites to current and past Labor struggles.

Recently, the Philadelphia JLC has lost its funding from the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, which jeopardizes its ability to conduct its programs. Other JLC chapters may be facing this plight. If you want to help JLC, contact the main JLC office:

Jewish Labor Committee
25 East 21st Street
New York, NY 10010
(212)477-0707
www.jewishlabor.org

July 12, 2010
REPUBLICANS JUST DON’T LIKE THE UNEMPLOYED, CONT’D….

I’ve been marveling in recent months at the ways in which Republican lawmakers and candidates seem to actively dislike — on a personal level — those who’ve lost their jobs in the recession. It’s kind of odd, given that the unemployed don’t seem to have done anything to offend the GOP and earn the party’s disdain.

In the latest example, we see Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett (R), the frontrunner in this year’s gubernatorial race, arguing publicly that jobless workers in his state are choosing not to work, preferring to live on meager unemployment aid.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett on Friday accused some jobless Pennsylvanians of choosing to collect unemployment checks rather than going back to work, prompting swift criticism from his Democratic opponent and one of the state’s top labor leaders.

“The jobs are there. But if we keep extending unemployment, people are just going to sit there,” Corbett told Harrisburg radio station WITF at a campaign stop in Elizabethtown. “I’ve literally had construction companies tell me, ‘I can’t get people to come back to work until . . . they say, “I’ll come back to work when unemployment runs out.” ‘ ”

I obviously can’t speak with confidence about what some guy told some other guy who in turn told Corbett. But the general argument is getting quite tiresome.

“The jobs are there”? No, they’re really not. Nationwide, there are five applicants for every one opening, which is a terribly painful ratio. Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate is currently at a 26-year high.

Corbett not only seems confused about economic conditions, but his animosity about the jobless’ attitudes is awful. Yes, I can appreciate the fact that an unemployed worker who’s exhausted his/her benefits will be more desperate to take any job than an unemployed worker who’s still receiving public aid. But this dynamic matters a whole lot more when there are plenty of job opportunities for those who want them. That’s just not the current reality.

To hear Corbett tell it, the unemployed prefer to be unemployed — turning down job opportunities that pay more, choosing to rely on aid that offers far less. Worse, Corbett doesn’t seem to realize that his approach makes the larger problem worse — cutting people off from unemployment benefits undercuts consumer spending, which in turn leads to less demand and fewer job opportunities……

Read the rest of this article at

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_07/024674.php

July 2010, Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton edition of The Union News

NALC Union members collect a record amount of food

BY PAUL LEESON
THEUNIONNEWSABE@AOL.COM

REGION, June 5th- Members of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Union collected a record amount of food during their national food drive held across the nation on May 8th.

Americans donated 77.1 million pounds of nonperishable food to help stamp out hunger in their communities this year in the annual Letter Carriers National Food Drive.

NALC President Fredric Rolando stated 77,132,180 pounds of food were collected in the drive and delivered to local food banks, pantries and shelter to help needy families. It is the nation’s largest one-day effort to combat hunger. “The results of the May 8 effort easily eclipsed the previous record, set last year of 73.4 million pounds,” said Mr. Rolando.

The 18th annual food drive boosted the total donations collected since the drive began in 1993 to more than 1 billion pounds.

“Despite the lingering effects of the recession, postal customers came through again this year in the continuing fight against hunger in America. Our members and the thousands of rural letter carriers and other volunteers were proud to deliver the generous donations from millions of caring citizens who wanted to help needy families in their communities,” added Mr. Rolando.NALC members in the Lehigh Valley are represented by Local Branch 389 in Easton, Local Branch 274 in Bethlehem and Local Branch 254 in Allentown.

The food drive is held in all fifty states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. It is the largest one-day food drive in the nation.

The effort by the union began in 1991 with a 10-city pilot program. The union members colllected 290 tons of food that year.

NALC members collect the food as they deliver mail along their postal routes. The NALC represents mail delivery employees of the United States Postal Service (USPS).

Tampa, Florida, NALC Branch 599 members collected 2,062,529 pounds, the most food in the nation. West Coast Florida, Branch 1477 was second and Buffalo/Western New York, Branch 3 was third.

NALC has 295,000 active and retired members throughout the nation.

Have you seen them?
By Ed Knox

I refer to beautiful stress balls that have been distributed throughout the United States of America, specifically at Veterans’ Administration Hospitals and similar locations.

These balls are beautifully imprinted with red, white & blue background and then with “DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS” imprinted along with a toll-free telephone number and a statement regarding the courage it takes for a Warrior to ask for help.

(I think that statement is in reference to those of us who served in the Military and might be experiencing difficulties coping with the effects of our service.)

So what? Guess where they’re made. Yep. That’s right; these balls are made in China!

It is an insult to those who fought and died for the Freedoms we enjoy here in the United States of America. You’ve heard the quote: “For those who fought for it, Freedom has a taste the protected will never know!”

We obviously cannot go backwards in time to correct the past. The best resolution moving forward is to let our Veterans know whether or not we as a Country care about them and their employment situation.

There are companies here in America that would be happy to manufacture these balls. I’m certain that these companies would hire Veterans. These companies - right here in the United States - would be proud to not only hire Veterans, but would be even more proud to know that they have helped Veterans who others might consider to be handicapped.

Think about what a wonderful message we SHOULD be shouting: “Because the United States of America actually intends to keep its word to the Veterans of Military Service, we will insist that first hiring priorities will go to Companies within the United States of America. These companies will receive even more ‘priority’ when they hire Veterans. Still more ‘priority’ will be assigned to them if those Veterans happen to have a Service-Connected disability. Companies who do not manufacture within the USA will not be considered a resource for items that could have and should have been manufactured in the USA! This is without regard to whether or not the ‘bottom line’ seems to be cheaper. That ‘bottom line’ is NEVER cheaper when it creates an increase in unemployment of Americans.” That statement becomes even stronger when you consider the employment situation of our Nation’s Veterans!

As a Viet Nam Veteran, a Member of the DAV, NABVETS, the American Legion, a lifetime Member of the VFW, and a true American Patriot; I am appalled and sickened by the situation as it currently stands.

One of the items that you might want to consider is to ask your Senators and Congressmen to continue funding the wonderful program called HELMETS TO HARDHATS. ( www.helmetstohardhats.com ) This is a program that assists our Service Members in their transition from Military to Civilian life. It helps them find a career pathway. Another item to consider is to donate your time and/or some Dollars to help HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS. ( www.homesforourtroops.org ) This fine organization builds special-needs homes for some of our returning veterans who have been severely injured in combat.

Paying attention to the problems facing our Veterans, and helping to put America back to work in order to start repairing our economy are the two most important issues facing our Country today.

Be American, Buy American!!

Sincerely,

ED KNOX

Ed Knox is President of Local Union 68 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and is a Member of the Denver Musicians’ Association (DMA). There are photographs to accompany this article which were taken by Pete Vriesenga, President of the DMA; but I can’t figure out how to post them here. Any suggestions?

Published by AlterNet / Written By Mike Elk

Labor Unions May Have To Abandon Obama to Beat Corporate America

Labor unions need to start fighting their battles in the workplace, not on Capitol Hill.
May 13, 2010 |

As president of the AFL-CIO, Richard Trumka is emerging as the voice of an increasingly irrelevant labor movement. As unionized work sinks to only 7 percent of the private sector, the labor movement is losing its influence within the Democratic Party. To revitalize labor, Trumka must not only challenge Democratic leaders, but wage political battles outside the bounds of party politics by bringing labor back to its working-class activist roots.

The failure of President Barack Obama to make a major push on the Employee Free Choice Act — let alone give even a single speech dedicated to the topic — is a telling sign of organized labor’s declining momentum inside the Beltway. As Washington Post columnist Harold Meyerson noted in February, “For American labor, year one of Barack Obama’s presidency has been close to an unmitigated disaster.” Labor ranks so low on the president’s list of priorities that a new generation of Obama activists is now planning for a political environment altogether devoid of the labor movement….

Read more at:

AlterNet article link
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Mike Elk is a third-generation union organizer who writes for Campaign for America’s Future. He previously worked for the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers (UE).

The Philadelphia Area Project for Occupational Safety and Health (PHILAPOSH) will hold its annual awards reception on friday, November 20, 2009, at the headquarters of AFSCME Distirct Council 33, 3001 Walnut Street.
PHHILAPOSH is an organization dedicated to advocating for workers’ safety, with such activites as refering workers to atorneys specializing in workers’ compensation law, holding classes for workers in occupational safety tactics, and lobbying state legislators for stronger occupational safety laws.
For further information, contact PHILPAOSH at (215)386-7000, or e-mail bjlogue@yahoo.com.

Dear Friends;

Four months ago community organizations and health care advocates across the commonwealth stood side by side with the employees of ACME/Supervalu and their union, helping the parties to reach a fair agreement for both sides The agreement overwhelmingly supported by the 4,000 union members at ACME/ Supervalu gave the employer some economic relief and preserved health care benefits and pension rights for our union members.

Now ACME/Supervalu has reneged on their agreement and started to cut the hours of many part-time employees below the level required to earn benefits without regard to our long standing negotiated seniority provisions in our contract. Hundreds of workers would immediately lose their health care benefits if ACME has their way.

Local 1776 is fighting Acme on many fronts. However, we need your help and appreciate your efforts to tell Acme that you are not going to stand by while they deprive working Pennsylvanians’ of health insurance

At a time when we are so close to winning major health care reform for all Americans we cannot allow ACME/Supervalu to dump these hardworking women and men from our negotiated employer based health care plans.

You have helped these workers, your neighbors before, we are asking for your help again.

Please contact Judy Spires by email Judy.Spires@supervalu.com

by phone 610 889 4202, or write her; Judy Spires, President / Acme Markets Inc./ 75 valley Stream Parkway / Malvern PA 19355

We would also appreciate copies of your correspondence with Judy Spires or the staff at ACME Supervalu and if you could share this e-mail with your lists.

Thank you in advance for your help on behalf of the 4,000 members of UFCW 1776 working at ACME Markets and their President Wendell W. Young IV. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

John Meyerson

Director of Legislation & Political Action

United Food and Commercial Workers 1776

3031A Walton Rd

Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462

610 940 1811

jmeyerson@ufcw1776.org

P.S.- It is important though to understand that we are not asking the consumer not to shop, but we want them to express any outrage that they might be feeling.

Autoworkers Letter to Obama

To: President Barack Obama

From: Concerned Autoworkers, Retirees And Supporters

Re: Auto Industry Crisis & Global Climate Change

Date: July 14, 2009

Dear President Obama,

Your administration has reported that 400,000 jobs in the auto industry have been lost during the economic downturn. Though some jobs have been saved, many more will be lost through the bankruptcy restructuring implemented by the Auto Task Force at Chrysler and GM. Economists are predicting a slow recovery at best and, in any event, the market for autos and trucks will remain diminished for years to come. We in Detroit and in the automobile and manufacturing centers throughout the Midwest are faced with a major crisis for which a comprehensive solution is required.

We believe that the economic crisis is interwoven with an environmental one - that, in the words of NASA scientist Jim Hansen, we face an “irreversible tipping point” if we don’t act swiftly to reduce our carbon footprint and therefore positively impact global climate change. We believe this fact requires rethinking our country’s manufacturing priorities. Instead of laying off workers and devastating working- class communities, we believe the combination of crises demands a bold proposal that can put people back to work and address global climate change. We believe this can be done, and done creatively.

Until the recent fall in vehicle sales, auto use was contributing 20% of all annual U.S.greenhouse gas emissions (more than four tons per person) and 40% of all U.S. oil consumption. Yet of the 90% of Americans who drove to work in 2007, 76% drove alone. Fewer than 5% used public transportation. Eighty percent of the total U.S. population lives in metropolitan areas, with 30% in the cities. Yet few cities outside New York City have an adequate system of public transportation.

Clearly we must turn from an energy-inefficient, auto-centered society to one that increasingly uses mass transit along with energy-efficient vehicles. That means prioritizing buses, light rail, high-speed trains and the tracks they run on. Manufacturing also needs to be geared toward building wind and water turbines as well as solar panels. Instead of attempting to resuscitate automobile companies, we should be building a Transportation and Energy Industry for the 21st century.

Your administration has taken a positive first step by creating two blue ribbon task forces; The White House Task Force on Middle Class Families, called “Promoting American Manufacturing in the 21st Century”, chaired by Vice-President Biden, and the “White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers”, under the leadership of Labor Secretary, Hilda Solis and Larry Summers, your Chief Economic Advisor. You have charged them with the tasks of preparing American industry for the future and supporting “manufacturing communities and workers.”

We welcome these initiatives and urge you to ensure that the size of the ideas being considered match the size of the problems we face. The problems confronting us must be addressed holistically, the leadership must be visionary in its approach and the solutions must be innovative and far-reaching rather than politically expedient crisis management. To that end, we offer the following ideas:

First, because, we the people are now major stockholders in GM and Chrysler, we believe that it would be in the national interest to assume direct ownership of the GM and Chrysler plants that are closed or closing (as interest on our investment) to expedite the retooling and conversion of these plants for the manufacture of the products that we have mentioned above.

We must start now, so that by 2010 we will be well on our way to creating the jobs of tomorrow. We have the facilities, the equipment, the skilled workers to be able to complete this in record time. All we need is the political will to do so.

We know this is not a pipe dream because it was at the start of U.S. involvement in World War II that a massive conversion of existing auto plants for war-time production was completed in just eight months. The obstacles that had to be overcome were not technical, but political. It behooves you and your administration to take on the threat of global climate change - and the dislocations in the automobile industry - with the same sense of urgency and gravity that President Franklin Roosevelt acted upon then.

Additionally, it is our understanding that Chrysler and GM own a large number of patents for green technology. We encourage a thorough review of these patents and believe that any technology that GM and Chrysler own that they have no plans on utilizing in the next three years, be appropriated (again, as interest on investment) and uses found for these technologies.

Your administration is in a position at this moment of great peril, to create a new paradigm - for addressing the US role in industrial manufacturing and taking the lead on combating global warming. We urge that - in this defining moment - you reiterate your pledge that “yes we can!”

Signed,

Bill Alford, former President, UAW Local 235 (AAM),
Detroit, MI

Theresa Barber, UAW Local 663, Anderson, IN

Al Benchich, former President, UAW Local 909 (GM),
Warren, MI

Edward Blakley, UAW Local 653, Pontiac, MI

Michael Bloom, UAW 549, Mansfield, OH

Tony Browning, UAW Local 1700, Sterling Heights, MI

Brenda Caldwell, retiree, UAW Local 977, Marion, IN.
Metal Fabricating Plant

Allen Cholger, Staff Rep., United Steelworkers,
District 2

M. Crosby, UAW Local 2209, Ft. Wayne, IN

Connie DeVol, retiree, UAW Local 2151,
Coopersville, MI(closed)

Dave Elsila,

Katie Elsila, UAW Local 1981

Dianne Feeley, UAW Local 235 (AAM), Detroit, MI

Bill FletcherJr., Center for Labor Renewal,
co-author - SolidarityDivided

Lydia Fischer Ghana Goodwin-Dye,
President, UAW Local 909, Warren, MI

David Green, Detroit Democratic Socialists of America,

Frank Hammer, UAW-GM International Representative,
retired

Julie Hurwitz, Attorney

Michael Heaton, C.A.W Local 1285 (Chrysler)

Robert Ingalls, UAW (retired)

Barbara Ingalls, ITU/CWA

Glenn Jackson, UAW Local 5960, Lake Orion, MI

Cheryl Jameson, UAW Local 292, Kokomo, IN

Michael S. Japowicz Sr., UAW Local 594, Pontiac, MI

Florence Katroscik, UAW Local 909 Retiree, Warren, MI

John Kavanaugh, UAW Local 235(AAM) Detroit (retired)

Jack Kiedel, UAW Local 686, Lockport, NY

Thomas Lacas, G.M. Unit, CAW Local 199, St. Catharines,
Ontario, Canada

Sharon McAlpine, UAW Local 235, AAM, Detroit MI,
Toolmaker

Lew Moye, UAW Local 110 Retiree, St Louis, MO

Elly Leary, UAW Local 422, Framingham, MA

Robert E. Niethe, UAW Local 686, Lockport, NY,
retired

Hiroko Niethe, UAW Local 686, Lockport, NY, retired

Glenn Brian Reday, GM UAW recently retired, Local 435
Wilmington, DE

Eric V. Reuther, son of UAW pioneers, Victor and Sophie
Reuther

John S. Reuther, son of UAW Pioneer, Victor G. Reuther

Alexander “Sasha” Reuther, grandson of UAW Pioneer
Victor G. Reuther

Michael Rynca, UAW Local 5960, Pontiac, MI

Joretta Rynca, UAW Local 651, Flint, MI

Paul Schrade, former UAW International Executive
Board Member

Clay Smith, UAW Local 2166, Shreveport, LA

Jeffrey Stallman, IUE798, GM Moraine (closed Dec.
23, 2008)

Sam Stark, UAW retiree

Thomas W. Stephens, Policy Analyst, City of DetroitCity
Council

James Theisen, UAW Local 212, Sterling Heights, MI

Wendy Thompson, former President UAW Local 235
(AAM) Detroit, MI

Carole Travis, former President,UAW Local 719,
LaGrange, IL (retired)

Jerry Tucker, former UAW International Executive
Board Member

Brett Ward, UAW Local 1700, Sterling Heights, MI

L. M. Wittek, UAW Local 2151, Retired, Coopersville, MI

Robert M. Woods, UAW Local 699, Saginaw, MI

Please send all correspondence to:

Autoworker Caravan
c/o Frank Hammer
20033 Renfrew
Detroit, MI 48221
————————————————-

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an interesting effort. I agree with some of the goals but have some serious issues with some elements of the proposal. Turning the GM and Chrysler facilities into Green manufacturing centers is exactly the right move.

I disagree that reviving American auto companies as auto companies is not a worthwhile goal. We still need private autos in large numbers for many reasons. Increased public transportation is badly needed but will never replace the roles private autos serve. Rural Americans will always need them as the primary means of transportation. More products will require them. Service vehicles and those used in private business will need them. We can revive the auto industry and promote public transport at the same time. We do need “green” autos! Electric and hybrid cars along with alternative fuel vehicles and higher mileage vehicles should be part of reviving the American auto companies for energy, environmental and economic reasons.

Green technology should not be kept from the marketplace by GM and Chrysler! However, it should be sold to American companies, not just appropriated. The terms of the sale should require the buyer to put the technology into productive use within 3 years unless good reason can be demonstrated for a longer time span extension. The proceeds of the green technology sales could help American car companies get back on their feet and eventually help them meet promises made to retirees in terms of healthcare and pensions that they currently are not meeting.

The National Association of Letter Carriers Union members collect more than 73 million pounds of food

BY PAUL TUCKER
THEUNIONNEWSSWB@AOL.COM
REGION, July 1st- The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Union in Washington, DC announced that despite the difficult economic times Americans donated a record 73.4 million pounds of non-perishable food in their annual Letter Carriers National Food Drive. The event is intended to restock community food banks and pantries throughout the nation.

The food was collected by letter carriers on May 9th as they delivered mail along their postal routes in over 10,000 cities and towns in all 50 states and United States jurisdictions. It is the nation’s largest one-day effort to “Stamp Out Hunger.”

NALC President William Young expressed profound appreciation to the millions of Americans who left food by their mailboxes and the thousands of his members, rural carriers, and other postal employees and volunteers, many who are members of other unions, who collected, processed and delivered the donations to local food banks and pantries.

“This is an amazing testimony to the generosity of the American people even as they themselves struggle to make ends meet in these hard times. Our members take pride in being able to serve their postal customers and help them assist millions of needy Americans, including many working families, children and the elderly,” said Mr. Young.

Final results showed 73,414,533 pounds of non-perishable food were collected in the traditional event on the second Saturday in May, a slight increase over the previous record of 73.1 million pounds set in 2008. It was the sixth consecutive year above 70 million pounds and brought the total for the drive’s 17 years to over 982 million pounds.

Members of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 17 in Scranton, Branch 115 in Wilkes-Barre and Branch 162 in Pittston, participated in the event.

Target corporate anti-worker video exposes campaign to compete with Wal-Mart in union-busting

by Ron Moore

http://www.examiner.com/x-5697-Grassroots-Politics-Examiner~y2009m7d7-Target-corporate-antiworker-video-exposes-campaign-to-compete-with-WalMart-in-unionbusting?cid=examiner-email

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Please click on link above and read this article. We seriously need to consider boycotting and picketing Target stores and Wal-Marts everywhere as a collective labor movement project.

Whose Country is it anyway? A political-economic oligarchy has taken over the United States of America

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=KOZ20090704&articleId=14226

by Prof. John Kozy

A political-economic oligarchy has taken over the United States of America. This oligarchy has institutionalized a body of law that protects businesses at the expense of not only the common people but the nation itself.

CNN interviewed a person recently who was seriously burned when his vehicle burst into flames because a plastic brake-fluid reservoir ruptured. Having sued Chrysler, he was now concerned that its bankruptcy filing would enable Chrysler to avoid paying any damages. A CNN legal expert called this highly likely, since the main goal of reorganization in bankruptcy is preserving the company’s viability and that those creditors who could contribute most to attaining that goal would be compensated first while those involved in civil suits against the company would be placed lowest on the creditor list since compensating them would lessen the chances of the company’s surviving. This rational clearly implies that the preservation of companies is more important than the preservation of people. Of course, similar cases have been reported before. The claims of workers for unpaid wages have often been dismissed as have their contracts for benefits.

But there is an essential difference between a business that lends money or delivers products or services to another company and the employees who work for it. Business is an activity that supposedly involves risk. Employment is not. Neither is unknowingly buying a defective product. Workers and consumers do not extend credit to the companies they work for or buy products from. They are not in any normal sense of the word “creditors.” Yet that distinction is erased in bankruptcy proceedings which preserve companies at the public’s expense.

Of course, bankruptcy is not the only American practice that makes use of this principle. The current bailout policies of both the Federal Reserve and the Treasury make use of it. Again companies are being saved at the expense of the American people. America’s civil courts are notorious for favoring corporate defendants when sued by injured plaintiffs. Corporate profiteering is not only tolerated, it is often encouraged. The sordid records of both Halliburton and KBR are proof enough. Neither has suffered any serious consequences for their abysmal activities in Iraq while supplying services to the troops deployed there. Even worse, these companies continue to get additional contracts from the Department of State. “A former Army chaplain who later worked for Halliburton’s KBR unit . . . told Congress . . . ‘KBR came first, the soldiers came second.’” [http://www.halliburtonwatch.org/news/deyoung.html] Again, it’s companies first, people last. But Major General Smedley Butler made this point in 1935. [See http://www.scuttlebuttsmallchow.com/racket.html] And everyone is familiar with the influence corporate America has over the Congress through campaign contributions and lobbying. For instance, “the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has earmarked $20 million over two years to kill [card check].” [http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-card-check4-2009jun04,0,7195326.story?track=rss] Companies expect returns on their money, and preventing workers from unionizing offers huge returns. And on Thursday June 4, 2009 USA Today reported that, “Republicans strongly oppose a government run [healthcare] plan saying it would put private companies insuring millions of Americans out of business. ‘A government run plan would set artificially low prices that private insurers would have no way of competing with,’ Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, said . . . .” (Kentucky ranks fifth highest in the number of people with incomes below poverty. Why is he worried about the survival of insurers?)

The profound question is how can any of it be justified?

President Calvin Coolidge did say that the business of America is business and the American political class seems to have adopted this view, but the Constitution cannot be used to justify it. The word “business” in the sense of “commercial firm” occurs nowhere in it. Nowhere does the Constitution direct the government to even promote commerce or even defend private property. The Constitution is clear. It was established to promote just six goals: (1) form a more perfect union, (2) establish justice, (3) insure domestic tranquility, (4) provide for the common defense, (5) promote the general welfare, and (6) secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity. Of course, the Constitution does not prohibit the government from promoting commerce or defending private property, but what happens when doing so conflicts with one or more of its six purposes? Shouldn’t any law that does that be unconstitutional? For instance, wouldn’t it be difficult the claim that a bankruptcy procedure that protects business and subordinates or dismisses the claims of workers and injured plaintiffs establishes justice? How can spending trillions of dollars to save financial institutions and other businesses whose very own actions brought down the global economy be construed as establishing justice or even promoting the general welfare when people are losing their incomes, their pensions, their health care, and even their homes? These actions clearly conflict with the Constitution’s stated goals. Shouldn’t they have been declared unconstitutional? Although the Constitution does provide people with the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances, it does not clearly provide that right to organizations or corporations and it certainly does not provide to anyone the right to petition the government for special advantages. Yet that is what the Congress, even after its members swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, allows special interest groups to do. Where in the Constitution is there a justification for putting the people last?

How this situation could have arisen is a puzzle? Haven’t our elected officials, our justices, our legal scholars, our professors of Constitutional Law, or even our political scientists read the Constitution? Have they merely misunderstood it? Or have they simply chosen to disregard the preamble as though it had no bearing on its subsequent articles? Why have no astute lawyers brought actions on behalf of the people? Why indeed?

The answer is that a political-economic oligarchy has taken over the nation. This oligarchy has institutionalized a body of law that protects businesses at the expense of not only the common people but the nation itself. Businessmen have no loyalties. The Bank of International Settlements insures it, since it is not accountable to any national government. (See my piece, A Banker’ Economy, http://www.jkozy.com/A_Bankers__Economy.htm.) Thomas Jefferson knew it when he wrote, “Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gain.” Mayer Amschel Rothschild knew it when he said, “Give me control of a nation’s money and I care not who makes the laws.” William Henry Vanderbilt knew it when he said, “The public be damned.” Businesses know it when they use every possible ruse to avoid paying taxes, they know it when they offshore jobs and production, they know it when the engage in war profiteering, and they know it when they take no sides in wars, caring not an iota who emerges victorious. IBM, GM, Ford, Alcoa, Du Pont, Standard Oil, Chase Bank, J.P. Morgan, National City Bank, Guaranty, Bankers Trust, and American Express all knew it when they did business as usual with Germany during World War II. Prescott Bush knew it when he aided and abetted the financial backers of Adolf Hitler.

Yet somehow or other the people in our government, including the judiciary, do not seem to know it, and they have allowed and even abetted businesses that have no allegiance to any country to subvert the Constitution. Unfortunately, the Constitution does not define such action as treason.

America’s youthful students are regularly taught Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and are familiar with its peroration, “we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government: of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” If that nation ever existed, it no longer does. And when Benjamin Franklin was asked, “Well, Doctor, what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy?” he answered, “A Republic, if you can keep it.” We haven’t. What we have ended up with is merely an Unpublic, an economic oligarchy that cares naught for either the nation or the public.

To argue that the United States of America is a failed state is not difficult. A nation that has the highest documented prison population in the world can hardly be described as domestically tranquil. A nation whose top one percent of the people have 46 percent of the wealth cannot by any stretch of the imagination be said to be enjoying general welfare (“generally true” means true for the most part with a few exceptions). A nation that spends as much on defense as the rest of the world combined and cannot control its borders, could not avert the attack on the World Trade Center, and can not win its recent major wars can not be described as providing for its common defense. How perfect the union is or whether justice usually prevails are matters of debate, and what blessings of liberty Americans enjoy that peoples in other advanced countries are denied is never stated. A nation that cannot fulfill its Constitution’s stated goals surely is a failed one. How else could failure be defined? By allowing people with no fastidious loyalty to the nation or its people to control it, by allowing them to disregard entirely the Constitution’s preamble, the nation could not avoid this failure. The prevailing economic system requires it.

Woody Guthrie sang, “This Land Is My Land, This Land Is Your Land,” but it isn’t. It was stolen a long time ago. Although it may have been “made for you and me,” people with absolutely no loyalty to this land now own it. It needs to be taken, not bought, back! America needs a new birth of freedom, it needs a government for the people, it needs a government that puts people first, but it won’t get one unless Americans come to realize just how immoral and vicious our economic system is.

John Kozy is a retired professor of philosophy and logic who blogs on social, political, and economic issues. After serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, he spent 20 years as a university professor and another 20 years working as a writer. He has published a textbook in formal logic commercially, in academic journals and a small number of commercial magazines, and has written a number of guest editorials for newspapers. His on-line pieces can be found on http://www.jkozy.com/ and he can be emailed from that site’s homepage.

http://www.examiner.com/x-2071-DC-Special-Interests-Examiner~y2009m6d25-DC-labor-family-mourns-the-loss-of-three-in-Metro-tragedy-ATU-decries-rush-to-blame-operator

by Ron Moore

It is at times like this when the term Family of Labor takes on a poignant meaning that cannot be defeated by the opponents of labor. While mourning the loss of three labor Sisters, ATU Local 689 member Jeanice McMillan, CWA member Mary Doolittle and SEIU 32BJ member Ana Fernandez, the responsibility to represent Metro union members must not be neglected.

Shamelessly, the anti-union Drudge Report suggested that “texting” by the operator may be a contributing factor on its headline page while the actual story made no mention of texting. Attempts to determine causation and ensure the safety of workers and riders will take months of careful investigation and first reports indicate management not operator failure. But to reflexively blame management is unfair so early in the investigation.

In response to the tragedy Warren S. George, international president of the Amalgamated Transit Union, issued the following statement:

“On behalf of the entire International Union, I offer my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of our fallen member, Jeanise McMillan, and all of those who lost loved ones as a result of this tragedy.

“With regard to the accident, I think it is unfair and unacceptable to speculate that the ATU operator may have been in any way responsible for the incident. Until a fair and thorough investigation is completed there will be no basis for statements implying that anyone or anything is to blame for the accident.

“The International fully supports [Washington, DC’s Local 689] President Jackie Jeter’s call for honesty and a full disclosure of the facts during the investigation.”

It is at times like this when the rallying cry Don’t Mourn Organize motivates the Family of Labor as members who will march today for health care for all, in support of Iranian freedom fighters and union leaders and lobby for the Employee Free Choice Act. It is a poignant reminder that a strong labor movement is the most effective way to build a strong community.

For additional information about supporting the families of those lost go the Community Services Agency of the Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO donation site. http://partners.guidestar.org/controller/searchResults.gs?action_donateReport=1&partner=networkforgood&ein=52-1718506

Last night at a meeting at Philadelphia’s Spectrum, members of Philadelphia’s union community watched as ACME Markets employees represented by UFCW 1776 voted by an over whelming 95% to reject ACME’s so called last, best and final offer, which would have destroyed the employees chances to continue their health benefits or enjoy retirement security. Instead of listening to their employees, ACME is still threatening to impose their offer on July 10th and lock out almost 4,000 employees.

Help us keep that from happening Join the chorus and demand that ACME return to the bargaining committee. Please read the attached letter written to State representatives in SE PA for more details and information on how to contact ACME..

We won’t let ACME Markets turn good jobs into Wal-Mart jobs, our employees our families and our neighbors deserve better. We are starting a community support committee to bring ACME back to the bargaining table where this dispute must be resolved. If you are interested please let me know by return e-mail.

Thanks and sorry for any duplicate postings.

John Meyerson

Director of Legislation & Political Action

United Food and Commercial Workers 1776

3031A Walton Rd

Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
——————————–

Dear Representative;

Four thousand men and women at Acme in Philadelphia and the suburbs have worked under a contract extension since February 2008.

For many months their union – the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776 – and the company have been in negotiations. But on June 9, 2009, Acme issued a last, best and final offer. The company threatened to terminate the existing contract and implement its proposal unilaterally. On Wednesday June 24th, 2009 those workers voted by well over nine to one to reject their employer’s so-called last, best and final offer.

The union remains willing to continue negotiating and working under the terms of its existing contract. It never has threatened to strike or take a job action against the company. Acme pulled the trigger.

The company is trying to take advantage of a challenging economic environment to wring concessions from its workers. Its proposals would gut their health care benefits, decimate their pension benefits and lower the standard of living for workers who have labored for Acme for many years.

The members of UFCW Local 1776 know that the best interests of Acme’s customers, its employees and the company are served if the company returns to the bargaining table to reach a fair contract for all parties.

We are contacting you as leaders of our community to ask you to contact ACME/Supervalu and let them know that you want them to return to the bargaining table to resume contract negotiations. Please join your neighbors in sending Acme and the company that owns Acme – Supervalu, of Eden Prairie, MN – the following message:

I support the ACME workers who are willing to stay on the job under their current contract while negotiations take place on a new contract. But ACME has threaten to terminate it’s contract with its workers. I urge you not to take an action that’s against the best interests of our community, the employees and the company.

ACME/Super valu can be reached locally at;

Judy Spires, President
ACME Markets Inc.
75 Valley Stream Parkway
Malvern PA 19355
610 889 4202
Judy.Spires@supervalu.com

Or Supervalu can be reach nationally at

ACME Supervalu
PO BOX 990
Eden Prairie, MN 55440

Or on their web site
http://www.Supervalu.com
the contact button is on the lower right of the page, then you can scroll down to contact ACME.

Of course we would appreciate copies of any correspondence that you send to or receive from ACME Markets or Supervalu. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me or John Meyerson, UFCW 1776 Director of Legislation and Political Action at 610-940-1811 or jmeyerson@ufcw1776.org.

Sincerely;

Wendell w. Young IV
President
UFCW 1776

The AFL–CIO Delaware Chapter

Presents

1st Annual SATURDAY NITE LIVE

Featuring
Live Entertainment By: The Jump Street Band

Pipe Fitter Union Hall
(Executive Banquet & Conference Center)
205 Executive Drive - Newark, DE 19702

May 16, 2009
Time: 8 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Bring Can Goods to Support Food Drive:
Proceeds will go to the Delaware State AFL-CIO Food Bank

Cost: $25.00 each - Cash Bar and Continuous Hors oeuvres’

For More Information Contact: MEP2240@aol.com - (302) 545-0281

March 2009 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton edition of The Union News

Scranton Police Union official requesting labor support

BY PAUL TUCKER
THEUNIONNEWSSWB@AOL.COM

SCRANTON, February 26th- Bob Martin, President of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Union Lodge #2, which represents approximately 159 members of the Scranton Police Department, sent a letter to members of the labor community stating he would be more than happy to come to union meetings and explain that the labor contract Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty has proposed would destroy their union.

“I am writing to ask for your help and support in a long and hard fought labor dispute with Mayor Christopher Doherty and his administration. We have been without a cost of living adjustment since 2001 with the only relief being a possible court award of a 7.5 percent salary increase for the period of 2002 through 2007 (less than 1.5 percent a year). However, along with that increase state courts have given Scranton unbearable management rights, effectively allowing them to make unilateral changes that have destroyed our contract and devastated police families,” states the letter obtained by the newspaper from Mr. Martin, who is also a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Union (IBT) Local 229 with a withdrawal card. Mr. Martin was a IBT member while employed by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and later worked for Consolidated Freightways in Mount Pocono.

“This is not entirely about us. Mayor Doherty has allied with state officials to break every municipal union contract in the state. Their goal is to break these contracts under the guise of “Act 47,” Pennsylvania’s Financially Distressed Act, by imposing so-called “Management Rights” to eliminate many of our rights, including seniority and bidding rights. As we all know, once they have accomplished this, there is virtually no union left. Make no mistake: This is a statewide movement,” adds Mr. Martin.

Mr. Doherty is seeking a third four-year term as Mayor of Scranton in 2009. Four years ago, he defeated fellow Democrat Gary DiBileo in the Primary Election and again in the November General Election after Mr. DiBileo was successful in winning enough write-in votes of the Republican party members. Mr. DiBileo announced he will again challenge Mr. Doherty for the Democratic nomination in 2009.

Both the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Union Local 60, which represents around 143 members of the Scranton Fire Department and FOP Lodge #2 have been without labor contracts with the City of Scranton since December 2002. The union members have not received a wage increase since Janaury 2002.

According to David Schreiber, President of IAFF Local 60, under Mr. Doherty’s contract proposal, 38 firefighters would be eliminated. Currently under contract language, the fire department should have 150 members, a decrease of 50 from several contracts before.

Mr. Schreiber said Mr. Doherty has not shown how the fire department could be run with only 112 firefighters, but has indicated closing some of the neighborhood firehouses will be neccessary.

He believes cutting the department by 38 firefighters will put Scranton citizens in harms way. Scranton is the third largest municipality in Pennsylvania at 26 square miles, trailing only Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Also, most of the building construction of homes within the city is wood and built prior to World War 2.

“I ask for your help and support, because you know that this kind of anti-union descent can spread like wild fire during these hard economic times. Our opposition believes Pennsylvania should be a right to work state. In these hard economic times and the pressure on every union in the country to make concessions, we all need to stand together to protect our livelihoods and our families. We need to unite and remove these politicians from office.

If you would like, I would be more than happy to come to your union meeting and explain our plight in person and present our plan. My phone number is 570-499-3358. I hope to hear from you soon,” continues Mr. Martin’s letter.

Although the letter was intended to be read only by members of the labor community, when contacted by the newspaper Mr. Martin expressed he had no problem with a story being published about the correspondence.

http://www.skeeterbitesreport.com/2009/02/souths-dominance-of-gop-evident-in.html

“……BARBOUR: ACCEPTING FEDERAL $$ FOR JOBLESS BENEFITS WOULD RAISE TAXES

But South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford sharply disagreed, insisting that the GOP must stick to its conservative principles. “There’s a tug of war right now within the party as to where we go next,” Sanford acknowledged in an interview with The New York Times. “I am in the camp that says we go back to basics. There are other folks who say something a little different. The answer will be determined in this tug of war.”

Sanford, along with conservative GOP Governors Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Haley Barbour of Mississippi, Rick Perry of Texas and Palin served notice that they would not accept millions of federal stimulus dollars for expanded unemployment compensation because they object to federal requirements that their states provide relief for part-time workers who lost their jobs as well as to full-time workers.

Barbour also argues that the unemployment benefit requirements would force his state to raise taxes……..”

Sens. Carper and Kaufman Join Gov. Markell for Press Conference

Wilmington, DE - Sens. Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman (both D-Del.) and Gov. Jack Markell (D-Del.) will join together to give Delawareans a first overall view of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that the President signed into law on Tuesday, and how this legislation will impact our state.

With record job losses and deficits sending Delaware’s economy deeper into a downward spiral, the three top elected officials will talk about the overall economic recovery bill and what these new funds will mean for Delaware, including creating and protecting thousands of jobs in Delaware, starting long-overdue infrastructure projects and providing swift assistance to the thousands of Delawareans whose lives have been upended by this recession.

Carper, Kaufman, and Markell will be joined by labor, business and community leaders at the Department of Labor tomorrow for the announcement. Each will speak for 10-15 minutes and then field questions from media.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

11:30am - 1:00pm

Press Conference

Department of Labor

4425 North Market Street

Wilmington

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will create or save 66,000 Maryland jobs by the end of 2010. The jobs will come from smart investments in the future of Maryland including.

 Children
$29 million child support enforcement
$194 million child tax credit
$ 24 million childcare access and quality improvement

http://clasp.org/publications/aara_childcarestatealloc.pdf

 Education
$ 198 million for Pell grants
$ 7.9 million for Head Start
$ 216.4 million for students with disabilities

http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/ARRAConferenceStateTable.pdf

 Rebuilding and Repowering America
$ 179 million in transit
$ 115 million for energy conservation
$431 million in highway funding
$124 million for clean water

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/02/compromise_map.html


$367 million in unemployment insurance
$ 223 million in food stamps
$ 1.3 billion for health care for low-income families and seniors
$222 million in aid to seniors and disabled veterans

http://www.cbpp.org/1-22-09bud.htm

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will create or save 143,000 Pennsylvania jobs by the end of 2010. The jobs will come from smart investments in the future of Pennsylvania including.

 Children
$99.5 million Child support enforcement
$ 42 million child tax credit
$60 million childcare access and quality improvement

http://clasp.org/publications/aara_childcarestatealloc.pdf

Education
$565 for Pell grants
$22 million for Head Start
$460 million for students with disabilities

http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/ARRAConferenceStateTable.pdf

 Rebuilding and Repowering America
$343 million in transit
$460 for energy conservation
$1 billion in highway funding
$225 million for clean water

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/02/compromise_map.html


$536.1 million in unemployment insurance
$792 million in food stamps
$4 billion for health care for low-income families and seniors
$680 million in aid to seniors and disabled veterans

http://www.cbpp.org/1-22-09bud.htm

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll070.xml

FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 70

H R 1 YEA-AND-NAY 13-Feb-2009 2:24 PM
QUESTION: On Agreeing to the Conference Report
BILL TITLE: Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year ending 2009

Yeas
Nays
PRES
NV

Democratic
246
7
1
1

Republican

176

2

Independent

TOTALS
246
183
1
3

—- YEAS 246 —

Abercrombie
Ackerman
Adler (NJ)
Altmire
Andrews
Arcuri
Baca
Baird
Baldwin
Barrow
Bean
Becerra
Berkley
Berman
Berry
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Blumenauer
Boccieri
Boren
Boswell
Boucher
Boyd
Brady (PA)
Braley (IA)
Brown, Corrine
Butterfield
Capps
Capuano
Cardoza
Carnahan
Carney
Carson (IN)
Castor (FL)
Chandler
Childers
Clarke
Clay
Cleaver
Cohen
Connolly (VA)
Conyers
Cooper
Costa
Costello
Courtney
Crowley
Cuellar
Cummings
Dahlkemper
Davis (AL)
Davis (CA)
Davis (IL)
Davis (TN)
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
Dicks
Dingell
Doggett
Donnelly (IN)
Doyle
Driehaus
Edwards (MD)
Edwards (TX)
Ellison
Ellsworth
Engel
Eshoo
Etheridge
Farr
Fattah
Filner
Foster
Frank (MA)
Fudge
Giffords
Gonzalez
Gordon (TN)
Grayson
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Grijalva
Gutierrez
Hall (NY)
Halvorson
Hare
Harman
Hastings (FL)
Heinrich
Herseth Sandlin
Higgins
Hill
Himes
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Hirono
Hodes
Holden
Holt
Honda
Hoyer
Inslee
Israel
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Johnson (GA)
Johnson, E. B.
Kagen
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Kennedy
Kildee
Kilpatrick (MI)
Kilroy
Kind
Kirkpatrick (AZ)
Kissell
Klein (FL)
Kosmas
Kratovil
Kucinich
Langevin
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Levin
Lewis (GA)
Loebsack
Lofgren, Zoe
Lowey
Luján
Lynch
Maffei
Maloney
Markey (CO)
Markey (MA)
Marshall
Massa
Matheson
Matsui
McCarthy (NY)
McCollum
McDermott
McGovern
McIntyre
McMahon
McNerney
Meek (FL)
Meeks (NY)
Melancon
Michaud
Miller (NC)
Miller, George
Mitchell
Mollohan
Moore (KS)
Moore (WI)
Moran (VA)
Murphy (CT)
Murphy, Patrick
Murtha
Nadler (NY)
Napolitano
Neal (MA)
Nye
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Ortiz
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor (AZ)
Payne
Pelosi
Perlmutter
Perriello
Peters
Pingree (ME)
Polis (CO)
Pomeroy
Price (NC)
Rahall
Rangel
Reyes
Richardson
Rodriguez
Ross
Rothman (NJ)
Roybal-Allard
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Salazar
Sánchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Sarbanes
Schakowsky
Schauer
Schiff
Schrader
Schwartz
Scott (GA)
Scott (VA)
Serrano
Sestak
Shea-Porter
Sherman
Sires
Skelton
Slaughter
Smith (WA)
Snyder
Solis (CA)
Space
Speier
Spratt
Stark
Stupak
Sutton
Tanner
Tauscher
Teague
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Tierney
Titus
Tonko
Towns
Tsongas
Van Hollen
Velázquez
Visclosky
Walz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson
Watt
Waxman
Weiner
Welch
Wexler
Wilson (OH)
Woolsey
Wu
Yarmuth

—- NAYS 183 —

Aderholt
Akin
Alexander
Austria
Bachmann
Bachus
Barrett (SC)
Bartlett
Barton (TX)
Biggert
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Bishop (UT)
Blackburn
Blunt
Boehner
Bonner
Bono Mack
Boozman
Boustany
Brady (TX)
Bright
Broun (GA)
Brown (SC)
Brown-Waite, Ginny
Buchanan
Burgess
Burton (IN)
Buyer
Calvert
Camp
Cantor
Cao
Capito
Carter
Cassidy
Castle
Chaffetz
Coble
Coffman (CO)
Cole
Conaway
Crenshaw
Culberson
Davis (KY)
Deal (GA)
DeFazio
Dent
Diaz-Balart, L.
Diaz-Balart, M.
Dreier
Duncan
Ehlers
Emerson
Fallin
Flake
Fleming
Forbes
Fortenberry
Foxx
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Gallegly
Garrett (NJ)
Gerlach
Gingrey (GA)
Gohmert
Goodlatte
Granger
Graves
Griffith
Guthrie
Hall (TX)
Harper
Hastings (WA)
Heller
Hensarling
Herger
Hoekstra
Hunter
Inglis
Issa
Jenkins
Johnson (IL)
Johnson, Sam
Jones
Jordan (OH)
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kingston
Kirk
Kline (MN)
Lamborn
Lance
Latham
LaTourette
Latta
Lewis (CA)
Linder
LoBiondo
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lummis
Lungren, Daniel E.
Mack
Manzullo
Marchant
McCarthy (CA)
McCaul
McClintock
McCotter
McHenry
McHugh
McKeon
McMorris Rodgers
Mica
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Miller, Gary
Minnick
Moran (KS)
Murphy, Tim
Myrick
Neugebauer
Nunes
Olson
Paul
Paulsen
Pence
Peterson
Petri
Pitts
Platts
Poe (TX)
Posey
Price (GA)
Putnam
Radanovich
Rehberg
Reichert
Roe (TN)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Rooney
Ros-Lehtinen
Roskam
Royce
Ryan (WI)
Scalise
Schmidt
Schock
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Shadegg
Shimkus
Shuler
Shuster
Simpson
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Souder
Stearns
Sullivan
Taylor
Terry
Thompson (PA)
Thornberry
Tiahrt
Tiberi
Turner
Upton
Walden
Wamp
Westmoreland
Whitfield
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Wolf
Young (AK)
Young (FL)

—- ANSWERED “PRESENT” 1 —

Lipinski

—- NOT VOTING 3 —

Campbell
Clyburn
Lee (NY)

________________________________________
Information provided by Jeremy J. Funk

Communications Director, Americans United for Change

http://www.AmericansUnitedforChange.org