Update of EFCA from AFL-CIO

[Fire1]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2009/04/03/as-congress-recesses-campaign-for-employee-free-choice-goes-into-high-gear/

Grassroot efforts revved up for push to Congressional representatives in individual districts during recess. Going to contact my local on Monday to join in this effort.

[MadBadger]

1. Is there an issue with the house? Or is the problem just with the Senate?

[Fire1]

6. Senate. Arlen Spector is the problem right now. He voted

against cloture for EFCA. If dems are able to break the filibuster, it would only take 51 votes and no republican support would be needed.

[Kdillard]

2. Excellent. Thank you for the information. Perhaps we can keep this kicked

and I am going to find out if there is anything locally I can do. Everyone needs to be following this closely over the next two weeks. I am also more than thrilled to hear EFCA is not dead and hopefully the President will be joining in the action once he gets back from Europe.

[Kdillard]

3. kick and rec

[Kdillard]

4. kick again until I get more help to keep it up.

[Fire1]

5. Thanks guys. Thought this might help get the word out.

[Kdillard]

7. No thank you. There is finally some concrete information about what is going on with this and I am

shocked there are not more responses. Hopefully there will be coverage of this by Keith, Rachel and Ed. If not I am going to be writing them asking that they cover this fight. People need to stop posting articles blaming Obama and Dems and start supporting action that will actually help get this passed. Again thank you for this and I will keep this kicked even if I have to do it myself. It is times like these that I wish I could give threads more than one recs. Do you want to cross post this on the Labor section or should I?

[Fire1]

8. Agree totally. The OP was indeed a response to earlier

threads implying not enough was being done to lobby this cause. For those folks, here's your chance! If the bill dies, you have noone to blame but yourselves.

[Kdillard]

10. Exactly another big kick.

[Fire1]

9. Be my guest and cross post in the labor section.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

17. "shocked there are not more responses"

kickity... :kick:

Maybe you shold've used one of these headlines in your OP...

Update of EFCA from AFL-CIO, PLUS PHOTOS: Michelle and the Queen, KIND OF hug....

Update of EFCA from AFL-CIO, PLUS PHOTOS: Michelle in London is like when Jackie went to Paris

Update of EFCA from AFL-CIO, PLUS PHOTOS: The Obamas' Afternoon/Evening

Update of EFCA from AFL-CIO, PLUS PHOTOS: Achtung! It's the Obamas!

:shrug:

[namahage]

27. Those headlines only get the supporters.

If you REALLY want eyes on this thread, make the OP title something like:

Update of EFCA from AFL-CIO: Hey Cluebama: This is NOT a center-right nation
Update of EFCA from AFL-CIO: I don't want a fucking pony
Update of EFCA from AFL-CIO: Obama's new rallying cry: "No, we can't"
Update of EFCA from AFL-CIO: FUCK YOU, OBAMA

Then you'll get everyone. Of course, you run the risk of your original message getting lost, but hey--at least your post will be eternally kicked, rather than sinking and dying.

Seriously, though, contacting your reps is what needs to be done, instead of putting all hope into Obama or his administration doing the heavy lifting.

[Fire1]

40. Gotcha! LOL!!! You know how it is, 'if it doesn't affect you,'

no big deal.

[Kdillard]

11. Another kick for labor.

[Kdillard]

12. kickity, kick.

[Kdillard]

13. kick

[Earth Bound Misfit]

14. K & R Thank you for posting this...

Here's a press release containing some contact info:

Momentum Pours Into Cities and States Across the Country During Congressional Recess
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 3, 2009

CONTACT:

Josh Goldstein (American Rights at Work) 202-822-2127 x118

Alison Omens (AFL-CIO)

202-637-5083

Noreen Nielsen (Change to Win)

202-721-6047

WASHINGTON, DC— As Members of Congress depart Washington, DC this week to return to their home states and districts for the April recess, a new massive ad campaign, along with hundreds of grassroots actions await their arrival. A new television ad will run nationwide and over 300 events will be held across the country to remind elected officials that a majority of the public demands passage of the Employee Free Choice Act.

The grassroots activity planned for the recess includes rallies, leafleting, lobbying, town hall meetings, moving billboards, community forums, vigils, call-in days, and more. Workers, elected officials, students, civil rights leaders, and other advocates, will participate in an array of actions underscoring the broad and diverse support for the measure.

“This recess, we will not allow our leaders to forget that workers across the country are counting on them to make the economy work for everyone again,” said American Rights at Work Executive Director Mary Beth Maxwell. “There is an unwavering commitment by a majority of lawmakers to restore our middle class and give workers back the freedom to bargain for a better life. Our ramped up efforts send a strong message to the rest of Congress that we can, we must, and we will pass the Employee Free Choice Act this year.”

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/04/03/18585778.php

[Kdillard]

15. Awesome thank you for the contact information and press release.

kick

[Fire1]

16. Thanks for the info, Earth Bound. I intend to use it.

[Thrill]

18. If they want this. They better get Pelosi to at least put it on the schedule

[biopowertoday]

19. It is the WH that needs the push. IT was a priority during the campaign

and now they are flat on this issue---corporate America got to them.

[Fire1]

21. Please contact your congressperson at their local office

while they're in recess through April to give a push to this bill. Thank you in advance.

[Political Heretic]

29. We ALL need to push. Yes, they should be doing more. No, that doesn't mean we can stop.

[biopowertoday]

38. Will do, I

made to call before I am off to work Monday.

[GrantDem]

20. Kicked for workers and fairness in the workplace.

K&R

[tritsofme]

22. With Specter coming out in opposition, card check seems to be DOA.

I hope they forge a strong compromise.

[Fire1]

23. Spector didn't vote to stop the filibuster. If the dems are able

to break the filibuster it would only take 51 votes to pass and would need no republican support. So, no, it's far from dead.

[tritsofme]

25. If Specter votes to invoke cloture on EFCA he will lose the Republican primary.

For whatever that is worth.

His answer that he voted for cloture but against passage will not be acceptable.

[Fire1]

26. Right but the point being, it won't matter and he can still save face,

if we can break the filibuster and keep all of the dem votes it will pass.

[tritsofme]

31. Specter can't vote to invoke cloture.

And he won't.

And even if he did, we couldn't get this thing passed until Franken is seated.

Cloture will likely only fail by one vote, so of course the votes would be there for passage. I'm just saying that if I was a betting man, I'd put it all on EFCA meeting its death in the Senate.

However a strong compromise without card check that still retains many of the tough regulations from EFCA will pass, I am sure of.

[JVS]

41. He's likely to lose anyway.

[Better Believe It]

36. Do you mean a fake "phantom" call-in Republican filibuster or a real one?

[Fire1]

37. The Hill, 3/24/09 issue, quoted him as saying an actual debate,

albeit, that was during the last session before he changed his mind.

[wmbrew0206]

42. This is the bill that Rethugs feel is a "win" for them if they have to actually do a real filibuster

This is the bill that they have been saving the real one for, so I expect Ried will roll over and not make them do it.

[Better Believe It]

43. Senators Feinstein and Spector DID NOT say they would vote against ending a filibuster (cloture)!

Did everyone notice that Senators Feinstein and Specter while saying they would not vote in favor of passing the EFCA, did not say they would vote against cloture to end any Republican filibuster?

That's interesting.

So let the Republicans filibuster from now until the snow flies next fall. They won't.

A real filibuster would probably last a day or two, longer if the Republicans really want to tie up the Senate for a great national debate on the right of working people to form or join a labor union.

Does any serious person think the Republicans want such a national debate on working peoples rights day after day while the public anger with corporations and Wall Street grows with each passing day?

I don't think so. Unless they are really stupid. Let's hope they are!

If the Democratic Party and President Obama truly support passage of the EFCA they will force a real Republican filibuster.

They can lean on Reid and force him to make the Republicans filibuster until they tire and 60 votes are achieved for cloture.

Unless I've been misinformed, I believe that President Obama is the leader of the Democratic Party, not Senator Reid. And I think Obama has a bully pulpit, a bigger following and more political muscle than the good Senator Reid.

Does anyone here really think that Obama and Rahm are afraid to use their power on Reid? They can make life very difficult for Senator Reid if they choose too. They know a lot about that conservative Mormon from Nevada.

[amborin]

24. K & R

[Political Heretic]

28. I wish I had the means to travel....

I so desperately want to travel to a district where it might matter and be part of the demonstrations. :( In the meantime I'll keep calling and writing and anything else I can do.

[Fire1]

30. We may not always agree but I certainly appreciate ANY

support. I sincerely thank you.:hi:

[Kdillard]

32. My morning kick

[Kdillard]

33. kick

[Kdillard]

34. kick

[Kdillard]

35. kick to get involved.

[Better Believe It]

39. Kick

[Kdillard]

44. kick