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The Political Front
President Pierce: Proud to American, Proud to be Union
CLEVELAND, February 17 — BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce took a conservative Republican Senator from South Carolina to task earlier this week for his public anti-worker positions.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R–SC) is lead sponsor of S. 504, the “National Right-to-Work Act,” which would, among other things, remove federal legal protection for union shop and union security agreements in the railroad and aviation industries. The legislation would weaken the ability of the BLET and other unions to bargain collectively on behalf of their members and encourage “free riders” to enjoy the fruits of union efforts without having to bear any of the cost for those efforts.
The text of President Pierce’s February 13 letter to Senator Graham follows:
“Dear Senator Graham,
“My name is Dennis Pierce. I grew up in a conservative home in the Midwest and have been a hard working, taxpaying, patriotic American Union member for almost 35 years. You often attack unions, yet I am not sure that you even know what a union really is. A union is not like the corporate benefactors that you represent. Quite to the contrary, unions are not there to make a profit; unions exist to advance the cause of the hard working Americans that they represent. Our shareholders are our members, who unlike their corporate counterparts, work together to ensure that each and every union member gets a shot at the American Dream. That dream is to be paid a fair wage for a hard day’s work. That dream is to have affordable access to reliable health care when our families are ill. That dream is to provide an opportunity for our children to have a better life than we do, and we Union members make sacrifices daily to try and accomplish that.
“You should also know that as union members, we represent a cross section of America. We are proud Veterans; we are Boy Scout Leaders; we are active in our Churches; and we are community activists for good causes all across this great country. We are the educators that teach America’s children in their classrooms, we are the neighbors that Americans trust and depend on. We are also the police officers and the fire fighters that America relies on day in and day out. We are the bikers who do toy runs every Christmas for America’s most needy. We are the dock workers that load and unload goods for the American people. We provide the labor to build and maintain the nation’s railroads so those goods can get to market. And we are the engineers, trainmen and truck drivers who keep our economy strong by skillfully delivering those goods to the American people. Our children babysit America’s children, and because of the fair wages our Unions secure, our children are the students at any number of strong American universities. We are the proverbial guy or gal next door; we are the patriots who send their sons and daughters off to defend this great country whenever there is a need. You can count on one thing for sure: our united fight as union members for our piece of the American Dream is what makes us the patriots that we are. Our willingness to engage in struggles to advance the economic security of our members also appears to be why you fear unions and why you attack unions with misguided comments so regularly.
“When you attack unions — as you do on a regular basis — you are attacking each and every one of the American citizens noted above. You are attacking our right to participate in the American Dream; you are attacking the very middle class that made America the great nation that it is. Contrary to your union-bashing rhetoric, that middle class cannot survive and the American Dream cannot be achieved on minimum wage. That dream cannot be accomplished when working men and women are deprived of a fair day’s pay for an honest day’s work and are deprived of affordable health care. That dream cannot be accomplished under your party’s imaginary solution called “Right to Work” either. This legislative scam against all working Americans is really “Right to Work for Less,” as countless economic studies have proved. Along with corporate America’s out-sourcing of middle class jobs, “Right to Work for Less” is in large part why our economy still flounders. Fewer working Americans — all the while distributing more wealth to the corporate benefactors that control your party’s agenda — will not restore the middle class. Nor will it repair our consumer-driven economy.
“It is past time for the tone of our debate about the future of this country and its middle class to change. You may be comfortable attacking unions, and in doing so demonizing the hard working Americans that belong to Unions. I, for one, intend to do everything in my power to ensure that the American people that you claim to represent know the truth about who Union America is and what our goals are. There is too much at stake for America, and most importantly for the backbone of America — the middle class — to allow this one-sided anti-union narrative to continue uncorrected.
“Sincerely,
“Dennis R. Pierce
“President, Teamsters Rail Conference
“National President, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen”
The following Senators also have co-sponsored S. 504: John Barrasso (WY); Richard Burr (NC); Saxby Chambliss (GA); Tom Coburn (OK); John Cornyn (TX); Jim DeMint (SC); Chuck Grassley (IA); Orrin G. Hatch (UT); Dean Heller (NV); James M. Inhofe (OK); Jon Kyl (AZ); Mike Lee (UT); John McCain (AZ); Jerry Moran (KS); Rand Paul (KY); James E. Risch (ID); Marco Rubio (FL); Jeff Sessions (AL); Pat Toomey (PA); David Vitter (LA); and Roger F. Wicker (MS).
A PDF of this letter is available on the BLET website at:
www.ble-t.org/pr/pdf/Graham_Union_Pride.pdf
bentley@ble.org
02/15/12
House vote on transportation bill is postponed
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, postponed a vote on a key transportation package, saying it was "more important that we do it right than that we do it fast." The measure would pay for infrastructure projects over the next half-decade and allow the expansion of oil and natural gas drilling. "Given the volume of amendments and the need for a full, fair, open and transparent process, we may not finish energy/infrastructure this week," Boehner said. The Hill/Transportation blog (2/15)
02/14/12
House Republicans plan to split highway bill into 3 parts
Acknowledging the difficulty in getting the House's $260 billion surface transportation bill passed, Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, plans to separate it into three bills: a transportation bill, an energy bill and one that would make changes to the federal pension system to help pay for the new spending. The transportation and energy bills would be considered on the floor as separate pieces, "allowing each major component of the plan to be debated and amended more openly, rather than as a single 'comprehensive' bill with limited debate and limited opportunity for amendment," said Boehner and Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif. The Hill/Transportation Blog
Obama Wants to Hike Annual Transport Budget $30 Billion
02/11/12
Railroad, trucking industries agree to help move House bill ahead
The rail and trucking industries agreed to temporarily stop their debate over allowing bigger trucks with heavier loads on U.S. roads as the House's five-year, $260 billion surface transportation bill moves ahead. House members are urged to "oppose any floor amendments that would modify any of the truck size and weight provisions" in the legislation to give it a better chance of passing, said AAR CEO and President Edward Hamberger and Bill Graves, CEO of the American Trucking Association. Bloomberg (2/10), Omaha World-Herald (Neb.) (2/10)
Senate achieves cloture to advance $109B transportation bill: In a show of bipartisanship, the Senate voted 85-11 to allow the two-year, $109 billion surface transportation legislation to move ahead. Debate over the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century bill could begin next week. The White House has suggested it prefers the Senate version to the House Republicans' five-year, $260 billion plan. Reuters (2/9), Bloomberg (2/9), The Hill/Transportation blog (2/9), The Hill/Transportation blog (2/9)
01/30/12
5-year, $260B transportation bill to be discussed Thursday
A five-year, $260 billion surface transportation bill will be considered by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday, according to Chairman John Mica, R-Fla. The legislation will "reform and streamline programs, cut red tape in the project approval process, increase states’ flexibility in determining their most critical transportation needs, and encourage private sector participation in financing and rebuilding our infrastructure," said officials in Mica’s office. ProgressiveRailroading.com (1/30
01/24/12
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FACTS: The State of Our Union
NINETEEN Facts You Ought to Know Ahead of Tonight’s Speech
Tonight, President Obama will deliver his third State of the Union address. He will lay out a sweeping vision of what’s a stake for the middle class (more than ever) and two visions for the economy: an economy that works for everyone, not just a wealthy few or an economy where the game continues to be rigged for the rich and the middle class falls further behind.
ThinkProgress’ Judd Legum rounds up 19 essential facts you should know before tonight’s speech:
• Since the last SOTU, the economy has created 1.9 million private sector jobs. [Source]
• The top 1 percent take home 24 percent of the nation’s income, up from about 9 percent in 1976. [Source]
• Private sector job creation under Obama in 2011 was larger than seven out of the eight years Bush was president. [Source]
• The top 1 percent of Americans own 40 percent of our country’s wealth while the bottom 80 percent owns only 7 percent. [Source]
• Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, 2.5 million young adults gained health insurance. [Source]
• For every one job opening, there are four people looking for work. [Source]
• Last year, China spent 9 percent of its GDP on infrastructure. The U.S. spent 2.5 percent. [Source]
• 2.65 million seniors saved an average of $569 on prescriptions last year thanks to the Affordable Care Act. [Source]
• “In 2011, the United States killed Al Qaeda’s most effective propagandist, Anwar al-Awlaki; its operating chief, Atiyah Abd al-Rahman; and of course its founder, chief executive and spiritual leader, Osama bin Laden.” [Source]
• Union membership is at a 70-year low. [Source]
• Unemployment benefits have lifted 3.2 million people out of poverty. [Source]
• The United States used to have the world’s largest percentage of college graduates. We’re now #14. [Source]
• One quarter of all contributions to federal campaigns come from 0.01 percent of Americans. [Source]
• 47.8 percent of households that receive food stamps are working, because having a job is not enough to keep them out of poverty. [Source]
• In the last three years, 30 major corporations spent more on lobbying than they paid in taxes. [Source]
• 50 percent of U.S. workers make less than $26,364 per year. [Source]
• More than one in 70 homes faced foreclosure last year. [Source]
• Oil and gas jobs increased by 75,000 under President Obama. [Source]
• Since 1985, the federal tax rate for the 400 wealthiest Americans dropped from 29 percent to 18 percent. [Source]
BONUS CHART: The Cost of the Iraq War v. Libya
Evening Brief: Important Stories You May Have Missed
We don’t need more foreign oil and gas, say John Podesta and Tom Steyer.
Newt Gingrich was wrong when he said the White House canceled a joint U.S.-Israeli military exercise.
Younger Americans are less likely to be uninsured as a result of health care reform.
According to a new study, women are 14 times more likely to die during childbirth than during an abortion.
AFL-CIO head Richard Trumka has joined calls for an investigation into big banks.
Mitt Romney makes more in one day than the average American makes in a year, all while paying a lower rate than millions of middle class Americans.
Gingrich claims entrepreneurship is understood “by most of the Asians, partially by Latinos,” and to a “small degree” by African Americans.
What the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has done for you already.
The Supreme Court lays a marker against police sticking GPS tracking devices on suspect’s cars.
Mitt Romney’s TOP FIVE Tax Giveaways to the Rich
The Loopholes & Giveaways Mitt Loves to Love
While much attention has focused on Mitt Romney’s own shockingly low tax rate — a 15 percent rate far lower than that paid by millions of middle class Americans, less attention has been paid to the details of his tax plan. It’s a plan that would slash taxes on the wealthiest Americans and corporations, while actually increasing taxes on the middle class. What’s more, as the Center for American Progress Action Fund’s Michael Linden and Seth Hanlon wrote last week:
Nowhere in Romney’s 59-point economic plan does he identify a single corporate loophole or tax break he’d eliminate.
Here’s a rundown of some of the most egregious tax loopholes and giveaways Mitt Romney preserves in his tax plan.
Mitt Romney’s TOP FIVE Tax Giveaways to the Wealthy
- 1. The ‘Carried Interest’ Handout to Hedge Fund & Private Equity Managers. Cost: $15 BILLION (Fiscal Years 2012-2012)
This is one of the unfair tax loopholes that Mitt Romney himself both supports and personally exploits in order lower his effective tax rate to 15 percent — an option ”not available to the ordinary taxpayer.” Check out ThinkProgress Economy Editor Pat Garofalo’s recent column in the Atlantic for a complete explanation of how this egregious loophole works — and why it’s completely indefensible.
- 2. Offshore Tax Havens. Cost: $100 BILLION Annually
Yesterday, it emerged that Mitt Romney has millions or even tens of millions of dollars parked in widely known offshore tax havens like the Cayman Islands. The use of offshore tax havens to boost Bain Capital’s profits and Romney’s returns is legal; however, the tax revenue lost as a result forces larger deficits or deeper cuts to programs that benefit the middle class each and every day. This is yet another example of a tax avoidance scheme available to a small number of privileged Americans who are able to rig the game in their favor while the rest of us are left holding the bag.
- 3. Taxing Capital Gains at a Lower Rate Than Ordinary Income. Cost: $256 BILLION (Fiscal Years 2012-2016)
In addition to the special “carried interest” loophole (#1 above) that Romney uses to lower his tax rate, he also takes advantage of the fact that capital gains are currently taxed at 15 percent instead of the top rate margin income tax rate of 35 percent. The Center for American Progress’ Seth Hanlon explains: “Because capital gains are concentrated at the highest levels of income and taxed at favorable rates, many of the most affluent taxpayers pay a lower effective tax rate than those beneath them on the income scale.”
How concentrated are capital gains at the top end of the income scale, you ask? The wealthiest 0.1 Percent of Americans make an astounding HALF of all capital gains. As we’ve pointed out, Romney’s plan to cut capital gains tax for those making under $200,000 would offer exactly ZERO benefit to the 73.9 percent of the middle class who have no capital gains, a move the New York Times today likened to “tossing crumbs.”
As we explained yesterday, capital gains rates are due to increase next year with the expiration of the Bush tax cuts. Romney, however, would keep this unfairly low rate in place, which is a big part of why his tax plan would cut his own taxes by more than 40 percent.
- 4. Mortgage Interest Deduction on Second Homes & Yachts. Cost: $10 BILLION (Fiscal Years 2012-21)
While Mitt Romney doesn’t own a yacht, he and his wife do own multiple multi-million dollar homes. The mortgage interest tax deduction is meant to encourage home ownership, not enable the wealthiest Americans like Romney to lower their tax burden.
- 5. Failing to Limit ‘Upside Down’ Itemized Deductions That Favor the Wealthiest Americans. Cost: $114 BILLION (Fiscal Years 2012-2016)
Since we haven’t seen Mitt Romney’s tax returns, we don’t know what kind of deductions he takes. In any case, limiting itemized deductions for the wealthiest taxpayers to bring them in line with the tax benefits enjoyed by other taxpayers – as President Obama has proposed to do — would eliminate a source of considerable spending through the tax code (which is what these giveaways really are — spending by another name), freeing up resources that can be used much more effectively elsewhere.
As you can see, just these five giveaways to the wealthiest Americans that Mitt Romney supports add up to a considerable sum of money — money that could be much better spent on targeted tax cuts for the middle class or on programs and services that benefit a large number of Americans and help create an economy that works for everyone.
It’s important to remember that these wasteful giveaways don’t just enrich a small group of Americans at a rate wildly disproportionate to everyone else, the revenue lost as a result either adds to the deficit or puts Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and programs and services that benefit all Americans on the chopping block instead — or both, in the case of Mitt Romney’s economic plan.
Evening Brief: Important Stories That You May Have Missed
Newt Gingrich pledges to repeal the Affordable Care Act on “day one”, but has also publicly praised several of its provisions — including the requirement that insurers allow young adults to remain on their parents’ health care plans.
The 1 Percent and that 15 Percent.
Chart of the Day: Republicans Don’t Trust Anyone (Except Fox News)
Michigan’s unemployment rate in December declined another half-percentage point to 9.3 percent, the state’s lowest rate since the 8.9 percent rate recorded in September 2008. GM also reclaimed its spot as the world’s largest automaker.
Married gay couple petitions an Ohio city for a family membership to a fitness center.
Enough already. It’s time to talk to the Taliban.
Newt Gingrich pledged to “defend traditional marriage between one man and one woman,” but his second wife, Marianne Gingrich, claim that her then-husband wanted an open marriage.
Former South Carolina GOP Chair Katon Dawson is calling on Mitt Romney to “do the right thing” and make his tax returns public.
The transition of power to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il’s son, Kim Jon Un, may offer an opportunity for rapprochement and engagement.
New year brings new laws in California
Of 760 bills signed by California Gov. Jerry Brown in 2011, most take effect Jan. 1. Here are some highlights.
- Also
- Immigration laws pose a test of states' rights in Supreme Court
- New year will bring new laws and regulations for small business
- Five California traffic laws that drivers might be confused about
December 31, 2011, 3:28 p.m.
Other measures bar minors from tanning beds, allow students to be suspended for cyber-bullying and require booster seats for children in cars until they are 8 years old or at least 4 feet, 9 inches tall.
Presidential primary: moves the state's presidential primary election from February to June and consolidates it with the statewide primary election to save $100 million.
Prostitution: imposes a special court fine of $25,000 on defendants convicted of prostitution involving a minor.
Raves: requires any state agency that plans an event with more than 10,000 people on state property to conduct a threat assessment before the event.
Awaiting word
"San Jose's agency, until recently the state's second largest and the architect of the city's downtown renewal, said it could not afford the payment for schools and would close shop. But most others in the state -- including Oakland, San Francisco, Walnut Creek and Concord -- are hoping to pay the money and survive. Oakland, for instance, would like to use redevelopment money in its bid to retain the A's baseball team, which San Jose is trying to land."
"Although Brown is notoriously unpredictable, a longtime advisor said he would be "very surprised" if Brown did not grant clemency to Smith, who has spent 10 years in prison for a death she has maintained was a tragic case of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, not a crime against a beloved child."
"A federal appeals court found "no demonstrable support" for the prosecution's claim that Smith shook 7-week-old Etzel Glass to death in 1996 and granted her release from prison in 2006 after striking her conviction by a Van Nuys jury. But the U.S. Supreme Court in October reinstated the conviction on the grounds that courts should not second-guess verdicts "supported by the record."
From the DSCC, here’s their compilation of the 10 Worst Republican Actions of 2011.
- Bring Back “Pre-Existing Conditions”: Health care reform is one of President Obama’s signature achievements. No longer can children born with health conditions be denied insurance. No longer can insurance companies deny care for “pre-existing conditions.” About 2.5 million young adults who lacked health insurance now are covered by their families’ plans. So what did Republicans do? Try to repeal “Obamacare” and put control back in the hands of insurance companies.
- Kick Grandma Off Medicare & Give Her a Coupon: Republicans all lined up in favor of Republican Rep. Paul Ryan’s extreme budget plan earlier this year that would kill Medicare as we know it and turn it into a voucher program. Thank goodness the Democratic Senate was there to stop them and keep our promise to seniors.
- Hand Over Cash to Corporations and the Wealthy: Another part of Paul Ryan’s plan: Give huge tax cuts to corporations and the wealthy. While the middle class struggles to get ahead, Republicans tried to make things worse by reducing taxes on the wealthiest – and sticking everyone else with the bill.
- Rip Away Workers’ Rights: When Republicans won the governorships in Wisconsin and Ohio, among other states, one of the first things they did was go after public workers, including taking away the rights of teachers and prison guards to bargain for better pay and benefits. Bad move. They clearly overstepped their bounds, and voters will remember at the ballot box in 2012.
- Prevent You From Voting: Republicans this year decided that when it comes to elections, if you can’t beat, then cheat. From Florida to Wisconsin to Ohio, Republicans passed laws that will have the effect of suppressing Democratic turnout in these crucial swing states. The Brennan Center for Justice estimates that more than 5 million voters will be affected by these laws – a number higher than the margin of victory in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections. Senate Democrats are holding hearings on the Florida laws in January.
- Declare War on Women: It was bad enough that Republicans tried to eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood and other family planning programs. Then they tried to change federal law to redefine rape and to allow hospitals to deny lifesaving care for pregnant women. So much for the Republican promise to have a “laser focus” on jobs. The Republican War on Women is alive and well.
- Shove Gay Soldiers Back Into the Closet: It was a huge victory for civil rights and basic human dignity when President Obama signed the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell into law. Finally, all Americans could serve openly in the military. Or not. This year, Republicans tried to bring back the policy, and some Republican presidential candidates have said reinstituting discrimination is one of their top policy priorities.
- Launch Assaults on Sesame Street and Lake Wobegon: I don’t know what Republicans have against Big Bird and Garrison Keillor, but they will do almost anything to shut off their microphones. In fact, earlier this year, Republicans vowed to shut down the federal government if NPR and PBS weren’t defunded. Luckily, Senate Democrats were there to stop the nonsense, and “Sesame Street” and “A Prairie Home Companion” were given a reprieve – for now.
- Let Consumers Fend For Themselves: One of the most important reforms passed by Democrats in decades was the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to prevent big banks from ripping off their customers with dangerous financial products – some of the same products that contributed to the Great Recession. But Republicans hate anything that puts customers ahead of corporations. So they’ve fought the bureau – and people chosen to lead it – tooth and nail.
- Increase Taxes for Middle Class Families. And last but certainly not least, this week House Republicans refused to support tax relief for the middle class, even as they demand it for billionaires and huge corporations. If your taxes go up next year, you’ll have nobody but Republicans to blame.
The
Democratic Senate has been the firewall stopping most of these measures
dead in their tracks. With only a four seat majority, it’s never been
more important to protect the Senate.