AIS volunteer Bill Gimbel who works at the Government Printing Office in Washington D.C. is asking his fellow AIS volunteers to write their U.S. Representatives and Senators to support Tony Zagami for nomination as Public Printer of the United States.
The previous Bush appointee was nothing but trouble for the union members that work at the GPO, and Gimbel feels that Zagami would work favorably with the unions there.
He sent the following message:
In his bid to secure the nomination for Public Printer of the United States, the head of the U. S. Government Printing Office (GPO) in the Obama-Biden Administration, Anthony J. “Tony” Zagami has gained the support of the following Members of Congress, and International/National Labor Unions (as well as their local unions at the GPO).  All have written the White House with letters of support and recommendation on his behalf.  In addition to those listed above, many other private individuals, local labor unions, and organizations, some affiliated with or maintaining an interest in GPO, also have written letters to the Obama-Biden Administration on behalf of Tony Zagami.
 
1.  United States Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts
2.  United states Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia
3.  United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii
4.  United States Senator Barbara A. Mikulski of Maryland
5.  United States Senator Benjamin L. Cardin of Maryland
6.  United States Congresswoman Donna L. Edwards of Maryland
7.  United States Congressman Christopher Van Hollen of Maryland
8.  United States Congressman Gerald E. Connolly of Northern Virginia
9.  United States Congressman James P. Moran of Northern Virginia
10.  The International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT)
11.  The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
12.  The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM)
13.  The National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP)
14.  The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)
 

NOTE:  At the present time, other Members of Congress, individuals, and organizations are reviewing Tony Zagami’s information, thus the above list of supporters for his nomination is likely to increase in the future.   

Many of you probably know Gail Ross, who has been the busybee and official VP of America In Solidarity. Her 14-year-old son DK was in a kayak on American Lake when it was hit by a passing boat. The boat left DK unconscious and injured in the water.

He is now at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital. You can view his website at www.carepages.com . Search for "Dokker". You can leave Gail and DK a message. Gail is reading the messages every day. I know a lot of you know Gail and DK and David, so keep them in your thoughts.

A handful of America In Solidarity volunteers descending upon the capitol campus in Olympia to discuss what matters to working families. Below is the issues we talked about. Take a few moments to contact your legislators and send them an email, or call them, and talk about these issues:

•    Support the Worker Privacy Act (HB 1528/SB 5446). The Worker Privacy Act would allow workers in Washington state to choose whether or not to participate in employer communication on issues of individual conscience, including politics, religion, charitable giving, and unionization.
•    Support the Supreme Court Fair Elections Bill (HB 1738/SB 5912). This would establish publicly financed campaigns for the State Supreme Court and could possibly prevent the 2006 debacle when the BIAW attempted to purchase seats on the court.
•    Protect health care for kids. The State of Washington spends in excess of $25 billion to educate our kids, their future and ours depends on education. Their future also depends on being healthy. The Governor’s proposed cuts to Apple Health for Kids are unacceptable and Washington State still needs to make strides to give every child affordable health care. Any steps backward must be avoided and this should receive our highest priority.
•    Do not gut the Basic Health Plan. As unemployment rises and companies cut benefits, more people will need to be enrolled in the Basic Health Plan. When people are enrolled it will allow for preventive medicine and less emergency room visits, both of which reduce overall costs. The proposed 42% cut in the Basic Health Plan, if anything, should be a raise of 42%.
•    Support the Washington Health Security Trust. This is the best proposal set forth that would insure all Washingtonians with affordable, quality health care. We understand that there is not the funding in this biennium to pursue such legislation, however, America In Solidarity is asking each of their pledge signers to commit to covering everyone by 2012.
•    Protect the safety net. Thousands of workers will be laid off in 2009 on top of the thousands that have already been laid off. We support all measures that help working families recover from these difficult times. Understandably the budget crunch is forcing the legislature to cut millions from needed programs and the choices you face will be difficult. However, please find a way to keep as many Washington families afloat as possible.
•    Support union workers in the construction trade (HB1555/SB5614). This bill would address the underground economy as recommended by the legislative task force on this issue.
 

The following letter was sent to each of the America In Solidarity pledge signers in response to the proposed cuts by Governor Gregoire in her proposed budget. Currently, an estimated $5 billion must be cut in the next biennium.

America In Solidarity’s Statement on Proposed Washington State Budget for 2009-2011

As a deeper recession looms, unemployment is likely to rise and conditions grow harsher for workers, more and more families are going to need the social safety net that government can provide. Services like public health care, unemployment benefits and affordable housing will be crucial as our economy worsens. Yet, with a budget deficit nearing $6 billion, cuts will have to be made. How does one choose between education or health care? Needed transportation infrastructure or housing? Closing parks or keeping felons off the streets? Mandated raises or cutting positions?

America In Solidarity has been actively pushing for progressive health care reform, worker’s rights and living wages for the working families of Washington. We recognize there will be some difficult choices that need to be made and we want to emphasize the importance of keeping as much as that safety net as possible, protect jobs and keep families healthy. Several of our pledge signers have asked for input on this budget and how we would prioritize in wake of the proposed cuts. Our Executive Board recently agreed upon the following:

• Protect health care for kids. The State of Washington spends in excess of $25 billion to educate our kids, their future and ours depends on education. Their future also depends on being healthy. The proposed cuts to Apple Health for Kids is unacceptable and Washington state still needs to make strides to give every child affordable health care by 2012. Any steps backward must be avoided and this should receive our highest priority.
• Do not gut the Basic Health Plan. As unemployment rises and companies cut benefits, more people will need to be enrolled in the Basic Health Plan. When people are enrolled it will allow for preventive medicine and less emergency room visits, both of which reduce overall costs. The proposed 42% cut in the Basic Health Plan, if anything, should be a raise of 42%.
• Jobs before raises. There may be a time to freeze wages, even if previous agreements mandate increases. America In Solidarity proposes that state employees and their unions accept a freeze, as long as agreed-upon increases will be factored into future budgets (ie. The 2011-2013 budget accounts for 3% increases instead of 2%) when our economy corrects itself. This means all state employees, including managers.
• Reexamine Transportation. While Health Care and Human Services is looking at a 12.2% cut, there are some glaring costly items in the transportation budget. For example, while purchasing 460 vans for carpooling will no doubt relieve congestion, the $70 million price tag could provide a lot of jobs, health care or services to working families in need. We also stress that money provided in the transportation budget be used in “shovel-ready” projects that provide jobs now, whereas projects like the Alaska Way Viaduct may take money, but not provide any jobs in this biennium.
• Jobs, jobs, jobs. Though a large-scale program that creates thousands of jobs will only come from the Federal government, the State of Washington and local governments can take measures to have projects ready for implementation. Grants and funding need to be available to have permits completed, plans drawn up and projects ready to go. This will help accelerate our recovery and ultimately boost our economy.

America In Solidarity recognizes the unfortunate dilemma the State of Washington faces. Perhaps, this letter should be about reexamining the way our state collects revenue and implementing the suggestions made by the Gates Commission in 2002. Until then, tough choices will be made and we hope that our elected officials keep focus on the needs of working families. Please contact our office at 253-471-1123 or email me at todd@americasolidarity.org with any questions.

In Solidarity,
Todd Iverson
America In Solidarity

A few nights before the election, I was making get-out-the-vote calls from my local Democratic headquarters. On one side of me was a teenage boy, on the other side was a retiree in his 60’s. The message with each call: change, change, change.
Without a doubt, an historic event happened on November 4th. Our nation rejected the doctrine of fear that the Bush propaganda machine so effectively marketed in 2004 for one of hope offered by Barack Obama. We elected a black man, and nearly allowed a woman to be a major party nominee, something that would not have been plausible a generation ago. The political landscape was forever changed, in that the Obama campaign used modern technology to communicate with and mobilize his supporters while raising millions through small online donations.
With record turnouts, millions of voices across this nation cried in unison for a change in the direction our country was going. But if this great change is going to happen, the days, weeks and months following November 4th are more important than those that preceded it.
Merely electing Obama will not end the American occupation of Iraq. It will not change the culture of profits before people or the greed of the corporations before the needs of the worker that dominates our business mentality and allowed for the economic mess we are in. A common sense, practical solution to our national health care crisis will not magically happen. A new face in the White House will not radically shift our need for imported oil toward a policy of clean, renewable energy sources.
There is an old adage that politicians don’t start the movement, but merely get in front of the parade. Whereas millions of volunteers and internet donors started the process, a President Obama alone will not create the change we need. The job is not done, the movement must continue to grow.
If the boy, retiree and I sit back and not follow through with the same fervor and passion that helped put Obama into the White House, this will all be for naught. If we want that change, however we envision it, we have to continue to be involved. Democracy requires endless vigilance, not just a rash of activity every four years.
If you spent even an hour this campaign working for that great change, then find the time to continue to be involved. Just think, by spending one hour a week you could:
•    Call, even to the point of harassment, your Congressional members demanding an exit strategy in Iraq
•    Email the governor and your state representatives every week and ask when are we going to get better health care in our state
•    Write a letter to the editor wondering aloud why corporations are bailed out of a financial crisis but not ordinary citizens
•    Attend a council meeting and ask why developers are fast tracked for building permits but not homeowners
•    Join a non-profit or advocacy group that pushes for reform in the areas like living wages, elections reform, renewable resources, support for veterans or addressing the holes in our education system

The change has started, but it has not happened and it will not be fulfilled if we just go back to our normal lives and think the job is finished.  Change cannot be just be a campaign slogan, but must be a conscious effort to fulfill the promise to make a difference, tomorrow and beyond.
 If America is going to take a different path, tomorrow is more important than Tuesday.

• Trade. Current trading practices are hurting American workers and our economy. AIS will advocate for fair trade policies, renegotiating the WTO, NAFTA and CAFTA to include stronger protections for worker’s and environmental rights. We will work closely with the Washington Fair Trade Coalition and Citizen Trade Council to convince Congress to put the worker's interest before the corporations' when it comes to trade.
  

Unbeknownst to them, tens of thousands of voters across the country have had their names purged from voter files. Most will not find this out until Election Day on November 4^th, when it will be too late to reregister to vote in the crucial 2008 election. Dozens of advocacy groups, organizations and elected officials are calling for voters across the country to check with their state auditors and local elections officials on October 1^st to insure that they are eligible to vote.

Unbeknownst to them, tens of thousands of voters across the country have had their names purged from voter files. Most will not find this out until Election Day on November 4^th, when it will be too late to reregister to vote in the crucial 2008 election. Dozens of advocacy groups, organizations and elected officials are calling for voters across the country to check with their state auditors and local elections officials on October 1^st to insure that they are eligible to vote.