Vol. 07-3
January 24, 2007
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Political Action Update |
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Vol. 07-3 |
January 24, 2007 |
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US
House of Representatives |
The
Iowa Statehouse |
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More work was done for the American people in just a few hours in 2007 than the previous conservative Congress did in 13 years. Thanks to a strong new majority in the House-- and the pressure unions and voters have exerted -- look at what the House of Representatives did: · raised the minimum wage for the first time in 10 years, · required Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices, · cut student loan rates in half, · took back $14 billion in handouts to Big Oil to invest in renewable energy, · passed meaningful Congressional ethics reform, · removed restrictions on stem cell research, · pushed ahead with the recommendations of the 9-11 Commission. |
Not a single Republican in the House Labor Committee saw the need for this long overdue increase in the minimum wage. By a vote of 10-7 the Committee voted last week (1/18) to raise the minimum wage in two steps to $7.25 by January 2008. So what do Republicans want? · A longer phase in — to stretch the increase out to 2009. Not acceptable! · A business tax break—not needed! · A report to determine the possible impact on the state budget—a delaying tactic!
· Some
issues still under debate: |
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And now its time to push ahead on EFCA! House and Senate leaders say the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) is definitely on the agenda. The legislation would require employers to recognize a union after a majority of workers signs authorization cards, would help newly-organized workers negotiate a first contract in a timely manner, and would strengthen penalties to punish the employers who currently fire an estimated 96 workers a day for trying to form a union. (From American Rights at Work)
We have a very good chance to jump start union organizing with this
important bill! All
three Iowa Democrats in the House will be co-sponsors, but we aren’t
completely sure about Congressmen Latham and King. If you want to e-mail
your member of Congress, it’s easy. Go to:
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Car title loan sharks might lose their teeth A nice clean car title loan bill passed out of the House Commerce committee last week. Even Republicans voted for this bill (unlike the last 2 sessions when they refused to let an identical bill even come to a vote). Now folks who do need to borrow on their car can rest easier knowing the loan sharks will have their teeth filed way back!
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“It’s the first time in
42 years |
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HF 1 Minimum Wage. Raises wage to $6.20 April 1, 2007 and $7.25 Jan. 1, 2008. Raises minimum 90-day training wage to $5.30 April 2007 and $6.35 Jan. 2008. Does not include COLA. IFL supports. HF 4 Group Health Care Plans. Requires Insurance Commissioner to administer a five-year pilot project to allow three to five associations to offer group health care plans to employees of members and appropriates $65,000. IFL opposes. HF 5 Car Title Loans. Caps finance charge for car title loan at 21%. IFL supports. HF 8 Worker Freedom Act. Prohibits employer from requiring employees to attend meetings or participate in communications with employer on employer’s opinion concerning religious or political matters. IFL supports. HF 14 Cigarette Tax Increase. Increases the tax on a pack of cigarettes to $1 and requires additional revenue to be deposited in the Senior Living Trust Fund. IFL supports. HF 41 Capital Gains Deduction. Authorizes deduction of capital gains from sale of investments in businesses and sale of buildings, land or machinery if investment has been held for 3 years and no credit or other deduction for the capital gain is allowed. IFL opposes. HF 42 Recording Sales Tax Exemption. Exempts services for the production of master audio, video, film, or digital recordings or similar media from sales tax. IFL opposes. HF 71 Electronic Voting Machines. Requires that electronic voting machines be capable of producing a paper record. IFL supports. HJR 1 Tax Votes. Proposes a constitutional amendment that requires voters to approve of tax or fee increases that equal more than 1% of the total state general fund revenue received in the preceding fiscal year. IFL opposes. SF 1 Minimum Wage. Raises the minimum wage to $6.20 on April 1, 2007, and to $7.25 on January 1, 2008. Includes cost-of-living increases after 2008. IFL supports. SF 4 Casual Sales. Expands the sales tax exemption for casual sales to sales of aircraft, boats and vehicles subject to registration that were specifically excluded in the 2005 legislation. IFL opposes. SF 15 Poll Closing Time. Closes the polls at 7 pm. IFL opposes. SF 26 Arts Sales Tax Exemption. Exempts the sale of materials and services used in operating a non-profit private performing arts center from the sales tax. IFL opposes. |
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December 9, 2006, 12:30
p.m. North Central Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO |
Marvin Gardens 809 Central Avenue Fort Dodge |
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December 9, 2006, 5:00 p.m. North Iowa Nine Labor Council, AFL-CIO |
Hanford Inn 3041 - 4th St. SW Mason City |
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December 13, 2006, 5:30
p.m. Black Hawk Union Council, AFL-CIO |
Brown Bottle 209 West 5th Waterloo |
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December 15, 2006, 5:30
p.m. Hawkeye Labor Council, AFL-CIO Iowa City Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO |
RWDSU #110 Hall 526 F Ave. NW Cedar Rapids |
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December 16, 2006, 9:00
a.m. Dubuque Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO |
Labor Temple 1610 Garfield, Dubuque |
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December 16, 2006, 12:30
p.m. Clinton Labor Congress, AFL-CIO Quad City Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO |
Rusty Nail 2606 W. Locust Davenport |
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December 16, 2006, 12:30
p.m. Southwest Iowa Labor Council, AFL-CIO |
Tish’s 1115 S. 35th St. Council Bluffs |
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December 16, 2006, 5:00
p.m. Des Moines - Henry County Labor Council,
AFL-CIO Lee County Labor Council, AFL-CIO |
Parthenon Steakhouse 715 - 8th St. Ft. Madison |
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December 16, 2006, 5:00
p.m. Northwest Iowa Labor Council, AFL-CIO |
UFCW #222 3038 S. Lakeport, Sioux City |
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December 17, 2006, 12:30
p.m. Southern Iowa Labor Council, AFL-CIO |
UFCW #230 Hall 1305 E. Mary Ottumwa |
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December 18, 2006, 5:30
p.m. Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO |
Machinists Hall 2000 Walker St. Des Moines |
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Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Lobbyist Meetings 10:00 Monday Mornings During the Legislative Session 2000 Walker Street Des Moines, Iowa Union members welcome! |
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More is more, and less is still less There was a time in our country’s history that equality created more equality. In the first half of the 20th century, when US workers’ incomes nearly doubled, we also passed the most-far reaching anti-discrimination laws to protect women, minorities, people with disabilities and family care-givers. It appears that societies tend to make their greatest strides against gender and racial inequality at times when economic class equality is on the increase. In this 21st century we see inequality creating more inequality. Here’s what has happened under George W. Bush:
So? This suggests that efforts to help the working poor (higher minimum wage and health care) and to strengthen union organizing and bargaining rights can help usher in greater race and gender equality too. That’s “win/win” for our entire society! |
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Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Legislative Hospitality Monday Evenings 5:00 - 7:00 Machinists Hall 2000 Walker Street
You're Invited |
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Upcoming programs at the Labor Center
Combating Sexual Harassment
(Friday, Feb. 2)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (Friday, Feb. 16)
?All courses will be held in Iowa City. For more information, or to register, contact the Labor Center: by phone (319) 335-4146, by FAX (319) 335-4464 by e-mail at labor-center@uiowa.edu
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A Governor’s Wish Comes True After Iowa voters gave Democrats the majority in both the House and Senate, outgoing Governor Tom Vilsack joked that he felt like he’d won the lottery, but had only four days to live. Back before the 2004 election, Vilsack told a gathering of campaign activists : “You give me majorities in the Legislature and you’ll see the most progressive agenda this state has ever seen.” Incoming Governor Chet Culver has a chance to do what Governor Vilsack could only dream of. As the new governor recently told the delegates at the 54th convention of the Iowa State Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO: “We look forward to joining with you for some historic progressive legislation.” |
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9th Annual Legislative Conference Registration Form Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO February 26-27-28, 2007 Adventureland Inn, I-80 @ Highway 65 Altoona, Iowa Return this form to IFL, 2000 Walker St., Suite A, Des Moines, Iowa, 50317. or Fax 515-262-9573 or e-mail to ifl@iowaaflcio.org
Name(s)____________________________________________________________ Home Address________________________________________________________
Phone:________________________ Registration: $125 per person, includes materials, 3 lunches, Monday evening hospitality and Tuesday dinner. (Make checks payable to Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO.)
Both conference and hotel registration deadlines: February 15, 2007. |
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Bills
to Watch—