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In a key detail, Walker reveals that he is, in effect, laying a trap for Wisconsin Dems. He says he is mulling inviting the Senate and Assembly Dem and GOP leaders to sit down and talk, but only if all the missing Senate Dems return to work.
Then, tellingly, he reveals that the real game plan here is that if they do return, Republicans might be able to use a procedural move to move forward with their proposal.
"If they're actually in session for that day and they take a recess, this 19 Senate Republicans could then go into action and they'd have a quorum because they started out that way," he says. "If you heard that I was going to talk to them that would be the only reason why."
Then the fake Koch says this: "Bring a baseball bat. That's what I'd do."
Walker doesn't bat an eye, and responds: "I have one in my office, you'd be happy with that. I've got a slugger with my name on it."
Another key exchange:
FAKE KOCH: What we were thinking about the crowds was, planting some troublemakers.
WALKER: We thought about that. My only gut reaction to that would be, right now, the lawmakers I talk to have just completely had it with them. The public is not really fond of this.The teachers union did some polling and focus groups...
It's unclear what Walker means when he says he "thought" about planting some troublemakers, but it seems fair to ask him for clarification.
The people united. Egyptian unions to Wisconsin protestors:
Now, as tens of thousands of union members and other Wisconsin residents are taking to the streets to protest against Gov. Scott Walker's (R) attempt to abolish collective bargaining rights for most public workers, a leader of Egypt's largest umbrella group of independent labor unions is praising the Wisconsin movement. In a videotaped statement, Kamal Abbas, the General Coordinator of the Centre for Trade Unions and Workers Services, tells the Wisconsin protesters, "We stand with you as you stood with us." He says "no one believed" that the revolution against the Mubarak regime would succeed, yet they were able to bring the dictator down within 18 days. He encourages demonstrators to stay strong, saying, "Don't give up on your rights. Victory always belongs to the people who stand firm and demand their just rights":
I am speaking to you from a place very close to Tahrir Square in Cairo, "Liberation Square", which was the heart of the Revolution in Egypt. This is the place were many of our youth paid with their lives and blood in the struggle for our just rights. From this place, I want you to know that we stand with you as you stood with us. [...]
No one believed that our revolution could succeed against the strongest dictatorship in the region. But in 18 days the revolution achieved the victory of the people. When the working class of Egypt joined the revolution on 9 and 10 February, the dictatorship was doomed and the victory of the people became inevitable. We want you to know that we stand on your side. Stand firm and don't waiver. Don't give up on your rights. Victory always belongs to the people who stand firm and demand their just rights.
In Wisconsin our brother and sisters, who are not the union thugs and tools that the right wing is making them out to be, are proving to the world that they are just like regular everyday Americans. Thanks to Nicole at Crooks and Liars for posting this inspiring video for us all to see.
I support and work for unions even though I am not a union member as I attend COPE Meetings and support what the Committee on Public Eduction stands for. COPE is an arm of the AFL-CIO and you can find them in your area. Go to their meetings and join them because our struggle is just starting. As progressives we need to march with these folks because they are the biggest hope we have of proving to our country that unions are still needed and are the front line protecting the American Middle Class.
Thanks to the members of AFSCME and their supporters for standing up for their rights in Wisconsin. Keep up the fight.
JOE MANCHIN IS ON OUR SIDE
Joe Manchin has been on the side of working families as governor and will continue
as U.S. senator. He respected and defended working West Virginians when a campaign
ad for John Raese was filmed out of state with actors told to look "hicky."
• With Manchin as governor, 23,000 new jobs have been created in West Virginia and
billions of dollars have been invested by business to keep our economy growing.
(Charleston Daily Mail, 1/20/09)
• Manchin signed legislation to increase the minimum wage, giving working families
a much-needed raise. (The State Journal, 4/4/06; H.B. 4023, 2006)
• Manchin believes in improving workplace safety. He says, "While our work to make
our mines safer continues, we must also carry those lessons to the rest of our
manufacturing industries, to help make all our industrial workplaces safer." (State
of the State address, 2/11/09)
WE CAN'T AFFORD JOHN RAESE
John Raese wants to put decisions about the minimum wage and workplace safety in the
hands of corporations. He has not apologized for the campaign ad that was shot out
of state with actors told to look "hicky."
• Raese opposed the Recovery Act that created 3,565 new jobs in our state and
helped avert layoffs of public employees. (www.recovery.gov, accessed 9/22/10;
Charleston Daily Mail, 9/20/10)
• Raese has called for ending the minimum wage, calling it "an archaic system that
frankly has not worked." (Charleston Daily Mail, 9/20/10)
• Raese says he wants to "unshackle" management at coal mines from safety
regulations. (Candidate website, accessed 9/22/10)
Check the facts on the candidates for U.S. Senate. Then you decide. And whatever you
decide, make solid plans to vote and forward this message to at least five friends
to make sure they vote, too.
Now the WV AFL-CIO is calling Gov. Joe Manchin out on his support for the Bush plan to cut taxes on the wealthiest Americans while denigrating President Obama's plan of tax cuts for the middle-class and lower income.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A top West Virginia union official says he was taken aback by Gov. Joe Manchin's support for extending tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.
snip
"When there's a tremendous outcry about deficit spending, to continue the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest in the belief that it's somehow going to stimulate our economy, it defies logic," Matheney said. "I think anyone supporting the extension of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest is disappointing, and it was surprising."
The tax cuts are set to expire at the end of the year. President Obama and many Democrats want to extend them for 98 percent of Americans - households earning less than $250,000. Under their proposal, Americans who earn more than that would see their taxes rise, though not to the level they were before the cuts.
The AFL-CIO is still backing him because if Republicans like Raese win, they'd seek to end workplace safety regulations. Afterall as his good friend Don Blankenship has said the deaths of workers is just the cost of doing business.
The Southwestern District Labor Council, AFL-CIO will be hosting its 3rd part in a series of three Town Hall Meetings. This meeting deals with the modification to the National Labor Relations Act, known as the Employee Free Choice Act.
We have assembled a panel to provide information, discuss and answer questions pertaining to this important piece of legislation. This is a public forum and in keeping with the two previous meetings we have taken the liberty to invite many of our state county and municipal leaders to attend and interact. We appreciate those who have attended the previous two Town Hall meetings.
Please forward this message to all you local unions and be there with your members to be a part of this important if not historic meeting.
Date of Event: Saturday, July 11, 2009
Place: Marshall University Student Center
Time: 10 a.m. to noon
Continental Breakfast provided so get there early between 9-9:30 to meet and greet friends.
Questions please feel free to contact Tim Millne, Secretary Treasurer.
Check out this barn burner of a speech from AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Richard Trumka blasting racism and explaining why workers should vote for Barack Obama.
The West Virginia AFL-CIO State COPE (Committee on Political Education) met Saturday, March 15, 2008 at the Charleston Marriott to finalize endorsements for the primary election.
The West Virginia AFL-CIO State COPE committee is comprised of representatives from every affiliated international union in West Virginia, as well as representatives from the trade and industrial councils, the Central Labor Councils and the West Virginia AFL-CIO Executive Board.
An endorsement by the West Virginia AFL-CIO is based on recommendations from Central Labor Councils who conduct candidate interviews following a review of the candidate's completed questionnaire concerning issues of vital importance to West Virginia's working women and men.
The endorsements made for the May 13, 2008 primary election are posted after the jump.
Exciting news for Democratic candidates. From an email:
WV AFL-CIO 2008 Primary Endorsements In October the West Virginia AFL-CIO celebrated its 50th Anniversary at their Twenty Sixth Constitutional Convention held at Wheeling Island Racetrack & Gaming Center, Wheeling, WV. During the course of the convention the WV AFL-CIO Committee On Political Education (COPE) and all delegates to the convention unanimously endorsed for the 2008 Primary Election, Joe Manchin lll for Governor, Jay Rockefeller for U.S. Senate, Alan Mollohan for the 1st Congressional District and Nick Rahall for the 3rd Congressional District.
On November 3, 2007 at the Charleston Civic Center, Charleston WV the WV AFL-CIO Committee On Political Education met again and endorsed for the 2008 Primary Election, John Unger for the 2nd Congressional District, Joe Delong for Secretary Of State, Glen Gainer for State Auditor, Darrell McGraw for Attorney General and John Perdue for State Treasurer. WV AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer, Larry Matheney, stated “It is our goal to support candidates that will strive to improve the lives of West Virginia working families.”
Statement by AFL-CIO President John Sweeney on Bush Veto of Children's Health Insurance
The President's decision to veto legislation that would provide health care to millions of children is nothing short of disgraceful. With the sweep of a pen, he has slammed the door on these children's best opportunity to grow up healthy and to reach their fullest potential. The veto also shattered the peace of mind of countless families who may now lose their coverage under the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
As if to add insult to injury, the president vetoed health insurance for children in the same week as he proclaimed an official "Child Health Day," which the Administration described in a press release as a time to "reaffirm our commitment to helping children develop good nutrition habits and active lifestyles, so that they can grow into healthy and productive adults."
Health insurance for children is not a political issue that can be brushed aside by proclamation. This is about helping children, period. A bipartisan majority in Congress recognize that in America, no child should go without health care. Most responsible leaders also know that if nothing is done, the situation is only going to get worse. The cost of health care is soaring out of control and wages for America's workers can't keep up.
Our children need a lot more than rhetoric to grow into healthy and productive adults. If President Bush really wants to show commitment to children's health, he should give them annual check-ups, vaccinations and regular contact with a pediatrician who knows and cares about them - he shouldn't just give them a press release.
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