Call Congress and Tell Lawmakers to Support the Budget
As President Obama nears the 100-day mark of his term (more on that tomorrow), the U.S. House and Senate are set for a final vote this week on Obama’s historic budget blueprint that sets the stage for rebuilding the economy, moves the nation toward comprehensive health care reform and makes major investments in education, clean energy and green jobs.
Both chambers passed budget resolutions in early April that closely mirrored Obama’s request. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) says the budget resolution
lays the groundwork for historic health care reform and clean energy legislation. We will make health care more affordable and accessible, improve quality and focus on prevention and wellness. By sparking a clean energy revolution, we will create good-paying jobs, for American workers and protect our planet from climate change.
Progressive Caucus Backs Public Health Insurance Plan
While one of the AFL-CIO’s key health care reform principles—a public health insurance option—has been vigorously attacked by the private insurance industry, it received important backing last week from the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC).
The CPC long has backed a single-payer approach for health care reform. But last week, the group said that is not a line in the sand that could not be crossed to win its backing of health care reform legislation.
In a letter to congressional leaders, the CPC said its 77 members could support a public insurance plan option within a reformed health care system that maintained private insurance. But, the group also stressed that it’s the “minimum” needed to win their support for reform legislation.
On the Hill, Fire Fighters Push for Bargaining Bill
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Vice President Joe Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other congressional leaders told more than 1,000 members of the Fire Fighters (IAFF) yesterday that legislation protecting the freedom of firefighters in all states to join unions and bargain for a better life will be approved and signed into law.
Today, IAFF members are on Capitol Hill shoring up support for that bill and other vital working family legislation as part of the union’s 2009 Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.
In his opening remarks, IAFF President Harold Schaitberger said that it has been 74 years since the National Labor Relations Act—which covers private-sector workers, but not firefighters and other first responders and public employees—became law.
We’re not going to allow our members to wait any longer. We’ve waited long enough. It’s time for passage of our collective bargaining bill. It’s been 74 years that we’ve been waiting on the outside looking in for that federally guaranteed right.
Employee Free Choice on the Move
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Thanks to a strong pro-worker majority in Congress, the support of President Obama and a unified movement of union members and grassroots allies, the Employee Free Choice Act is closer to becoming a reality than ever.
Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz is the latest to throw his support behind the bill. Stiglitz, a professor at Columbia University, was one of 38 leading American economists who endorsed the bill last week.
Annie Hill, CWA executive vice president, says:
If we want to turn around our economy, if we want to counteract some of the worst income inequality our nation has seen, Employee Free Choice is the way to do it. Despite unsourced rumors in the press, we are confident that Senate Democrats, led by Harry Reid, are going to pass the Employee Free Choice Act and make real bargaining rights a reality for millions of American workers.
House Passes Compromise Economic Recovery Bill
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UPDATE–Feb. 14–The Senate late last night, approved (60-38) the economic recovery package. Three moderate Republicans–Arlen Specter (Penn.), Susan Collins (Maine) and Olympia Snowe (Maine)–broke ranks with party leaders and voted for the bill. All other Senate Republicans followed the lead of House Republicans from earlier in the day and voted against the jobs-creating legislation.
All Democrats supported the recovery package. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), continuing his treatment for cancer, was unable to attend the session.
President Obama is expected to sign the bill next week.
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Some 3.5 million jobs will be created or saved, financially strapped states will receive fiscal relief to maintain vital services, jobless workers will get improved benefits and help in maintaining health coverage, and working families will have more money in their pockets from targeted tax cuts under a historic economic recovery package passed by the House this afternoon on a 246-183 vote.
Every Republican House member voted against the jobs bill, as did seven Democrats. Republicans had called for less spending and more Bush-style tax cuts for the wealthy.
The Senate is expected to approve the bill tonight or tomorrow with the support of a handful of moderate Republicans. President Obama is expected to sign it this weekend.
State Aid, School Construction Must Be Restored in Recovery Package
Reports today indicate that House and Senate negotiators are close to reaching agreement on an economic recovery package. The tentative deal, according to the Associated Press, is pegged at about $790 billion, and talks are continuing on how the money would be allocated.
The Senate yesterday passed its version of the bill that reduced or eliminated several job-creating provisions in the House-passed bill, including aid for fiscally strapped states, infrastructure projects and education. The conference to iron out the differences is under way.
In letters to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), AFL-CIO Government Affairs Director Bill Samuel urges that the state aid be restored, along with funds for school construction, among other provisions.
Obama Signs Health Insurance Bill for Low-Income Children
Four million low-income kids can now join another 7 million children with health coverage after President Obama this afternoon signed a bill renewing the state-based program for low-income children for another four and a half years.
The White House ceremony came just hours after the House gave final approval (290-135) to the bill and caps a nearly two-year struggle to extend health care coverage to children whose families cannot afford private insurance. With the program’s expansion, 11 million children are now covered.
In signing the bill, Obama said:
Since it was created more than 10 years ago, the Children’s Health Insurance Program has been a lifeline for millions of children whose parents work full-time and don’t qualify for Medicaid, but, through no fault of their own, don’t have and can’t afford private insurance.
House Passes Economic Recovery Bill
Hoping to put the brakes on an economy spiraling downhill and out of control, the House today passed (244-188) an $825 billion economic recovery package that could create or save as many as 4 million jobs. Said President Barack Obama, shortly before the vote:
When we it comes to rebuilding our economy, we don’t have a moment to spare.
With the jobless rate at 7.2 percent and expected to worsen for much of the year, and the loss of 2.6 million jobs last year—the biggest one-year job loss since 1945—AFL-CIO President John Sweeney says:
It would be impossible to overstate the trouble our economy is in. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is absolutely essential to turning around this downward economic spiral. This is no time for weak excuses—Congress must act decisively to create jobs and rescue the economy.
Infrastructure, State Aid Mark Obama Recovery Package
An $825 billion economic recovery program that creates and saves 3 million to 4 million jobs, extends vitally needed help to unemployed workers and provides to states—facing their severest budget shortfalls in decades—tax relief for working families and other measures is making its way through Congress. The plan, says AFSCME President Gerald McEntee
will protect and create jobs and help states and cities cope with the strain on their budgets. The bill sends a clear message of support for the vital public services—such as health care, education and law enforcement—Americans rely on during an economic crisis.
House Passes Children’s Health Insurance Extension
With President Bush’s veto pen just days away from running out of ink, the U.S. House of Representatives today passed (289-139) a four-and-a-half year extension of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The bill will provide health care coverage to an additional 4 million low-income children, along with preserving coverage for the nearly 7 million already enrolled.
In 2007, despite bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, Bush twice vetoed similar bills. But President-elect Barack Obama says providing health care coverage for the nation’s children is a top priority and will sign the bill.
