After Voting To Kill Recovery, 110 GOP Lawmakers Tout Its Success, Ask For More Money

Today marks the one year anniversary of President Obama signing into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, better known as the stimulus. As the economy continued to crater after President Bush left office, Obama’s stimulus sought to provide tax cuts for 95% of working Americans, funds to buoy cash-strapped state governments, new construction and infrastructure projects, and other programs to create jobs, retrain workers, and promote economic activity throughout the country. In December, the Congressional Budget Office reported that the stimulus had successfully created up to 1.6 million jobs, and today, a report shows the Recovery Act will ultimately create 2.5 million jobs. Even the conservative American Enterprise Institute found that the stimulus had boosted the U.S. economy by 4 percent….read the rest here

Where is the power of the people in the houses of the people?

I have attended several Days at the Legislature, for causes such as homeschool and coal mining. Further, I have stood in both chambers, given prayers, watched bills pass, shook the hands of my delegates and senators, and heard what I am sure the speakers thought were grand speeches given. And yet, even with the mass of people who attend such things, I am amazed even then that by the end of the Session, those Days are long forgotten, faces blurred, bills dropped, and the people unserved.

I was struck by something Sam Hickman, the lobbyist for the Social Workers, said during the meet and greet earlier in the morning. He made it appear that above the nurses and the teachers, the Social Workers had the most at stake. No doubt, this perception is real for many, and indeed, perhaps in many instances, this is the case, yet, it seemed that he thought that the Social Workers could go it alone. Indeed, many of the Days at the Legislature are singled around one group, or one interest.

Working in Labor for a few years, I learned that one group simply cannot go it alone. While the UMWA may have an issue which does not concern the CWA, or even SEIU, Labor has learned through coalitions to advance one another’s causes, proving the age old maxim of democracy, that there is indeed strength in numbers. With Mr. Hickman’s almost disparaging comments concerning other groups, especially teachers, I am led to believe that the reason which major actions need a piecemeal approach is that a coalition of the willing is often seen as detrimental to the core group’s resource allocation.

A cursory examination of the main issues for 2010 shows that cross-over could occur, not only among Social Workers, Nurses, and Teachers, but with other groups, such as Labor who represent contractual units of these workers. A powerful front would help in presenting these bills to the Legislature.

As with most Days at the Legislature, I was generally dismayed with the level of participation from our elected officials. To be sure, there are always stand outs – those legislatures we are somehow connected to the voice which is being raised on that Day, but overall, opinions are rarely swayed during these Days. More than that, is the loss of the voice once the session of the Day starts. I would have to wonder, what would be the case if those concerned, say, with Social Work causes crowded the chambers during the votes. Of course, it may be more of a matter of citizen participation, which at least on the local level is a core principle in making a democracy, even a representative one, work.

Social Policy is generally upheld by those who work in the field, and finding a problem, seek to provide some sort of solution. And this voice was well represented on that Day; however, it is not the voice of those who care for which provide the more powerful testimonies, but those who are cared for, or perhaps, who have been cared less for. I admire the Delegate for bringing to our attention Jacob’s Law(HB 4164), and while I understand the need to take steps to fully correct the problem, starting only with the 4 to 10 year old, where were those voices who have experienced a tremendously difficult life because of the lack of a law such as this? I wonder what a Day would be like if we crowded the hallways of the People’s Building with voices unheard mixing with the voices of those speaking the issue, confronting the voices who would have to say yay or nay to the measure.

There is also the matter of the corporate lobbyists and those who believe that the best government is the government which governs least.

As a conclusio, I say that as part of the university experience, and especially pertaining to a class involving social policy and legislation, the value of an experience in which students are introduced, even briefly and minutely, to the legislative process of the State is one, if used, immeasurable. Listening to the question concerning the directions to the Capitol, I was amazed that so many of my fellow classmates had not been to the campus before. Now, they know where the Capitol is, and have a more full knowledge of the political process in our State than before.

It’s coming, the Paradigm Shift – Evan Bayh Resigns

Originally found here.

Everyone is reporting this:

Sen. Evan Bayh, an Indiana Democrat prominently mentioned in connection with the White House in recent years, said Monday he won’t seek re-election, saying he’s fed up with Congress.

“To put it in the words most Hoosiers can understand: I love working for the people of Indiana, I love helping our citizens make the most of their lives, but I do not love Congress,” Bayh said in comments ahead of his official announcement in Indianapolis. His statement was obtained by The Associated Press from a Democratic official who declined to be named publicly.

Here’s the deal – Senator Bayh was 20 points ahead of his nearest Republican Rival. He was going to win, easily. But he resigned. Bayh was a moderate Democrat, more conservative actually. As I have stated earlier, I believe that the United States is experiencing a paradigm shift in politics. And frankly, I see a third-party erupting, perhaps with Bayh as a leader.

He made mention in his speech, that according to his church, public service was the highest call -

I was raised in a family that believes public service is the highest calling in the church, that what matters is not what you take from life, but what you give back. I believe that still.

He is, at last report, an Episcopalian.

I have noticed that more conservative Democrats are starting to speak up about religion in their lives. I have to wonder if a new party will erupt around conservative Democrats and moderate Republics – say the Religious Left and Middle – who generally represent Middle America.

Thoughts?

Calling all Union bloggers! I need your help

Do you want to blog, but don’t have to time to run one all by yourself? Well’s, here is your chance. Leave a comment below, and I will email you an invitation. You will be allowed to register and blog from here the latest news and opinions of the workering man. The will, at first, be moderated until it is assured that the blogger is pro-union, but after that, no censure will take place. Let’s build this thing together.

UMWA Praises Boucher Efforts to Protect Coal Miners’ Jobs and the Coal Industry

The UMWA released this today – Not just fighting for the rights of workers, but for the jobs of workers!

United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts today made the following statement regarding the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 and the efforts of Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.) to protect coal miners and the coal industry, and address the concerns of the UMWA:”Coal is America’s most abundant energy resource. We have more coal than any nation on earth. As the debate over climate change has evolved over the past two decades, we have not only insisted on the preservation of coal mining jobs, but argued as well for the essential part that coal plays in sustaining our national economy and ensuring our independence from foreign oil.

“While we still have concerns about this legislation, it contains many items that Rep. Boucher and others worked hard to attain and which we support, including over $100 billion to advance and deploy carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.

“The bill also includes our recommendation for allowances to be given to utilities to permit the continued burning of coal, which should ensure that coal’s market share will remain constant throughout the period required to develop and deploy CCS technology. With 2 billion in allowances for offsets per year, coal should remain a major part of the nation’s power generating mix. In addition, these allowances will protect consumers from large increases in their power bills.

“Although utilities are obviously the largest customer for coal, the steel industry ranks second. This bill allows steel to remain a major part of the economy, as well as the metallurgical coal mines that supply the nation’s furnaces.

“Rep. Boucher and others in Congress have fought hard to protect the interests of coal miners and all working families. We look forward to working closely with him as the legislation moves through the legislative process.”

Remembering the Pittson Strike

Go here: UMWJrlMarApr09FIN.pdf application/pdf Object.

UMWA Praises Obama’s MSHA Budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAY 7, 2009

UMWA Praises Obama’s MSHA Budget

United Mine Workers of America International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:

“We applaud President Obama’s budget for the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), especially with regard to the proposed $2.2 million increase in funding for coal mine safety and health. This proposal represents a good step in the right direction toward restoring MSHA’s oversight capabilities.

“Yet while we appreciate the President’s commitment to improving coal miners’ safety and health, we know that there is much more that must be done to change the culture of the agency away from one that coddles rogue operators to one that puts the welfare of coal miners first. We urge the appointment of an Undersecretary of Labor who shares that objective, and we look forward to working closely with the administration to ensure that it is achieved.”