April 18, 2008

Federation Endorses Candidates for 2008

The Fourteenth Biennial Pre-Primary Committee on Political Education (C.O.P.E.) Convention was held at the United Steel Workers Local 310 Hall in Des Moines on Saturday, April 12.  Delegates representing 32,658 of the members of the Federation’s affiliates came together to vote on the IFL’s official endorsements for state legislators and Congress.

U.S. Senate and House: 

Delegates enthusiastically reaffirmed their August 2007 endorsement for Tom Harkin for U.S. Senate.  Since he was first elected to Congress in 1974, Harkin has been one of the strongest advocates for working families in Congress, and his 93% lifetime AFL-CIO voting record is proof.

Also endorsed on Saturday were U.S. House candidates:

Bruce Braley (D) 1^st District

Dave Loebsack (D) 2^nd District

Leonard Boswell (D) 3^rd District

Rob Hubler (D) 5^th District

There was no endorsement in the 4^th Congressional District.

IFL President Ken Sagar reminded the delegates that “...our members elect us to participate and be involved in the political process and give them guidance.  Many of them don’t believe that politics makes that big a difference.  We know different. … If we can reach out to other working people, union or not, and get them to vote, maybe we’ll be able to change the dynamic in the Legislature.  …  By 2010 and 2012 maybe we can start electing our own.” 

   Sagar encouraged delegates to attend the May 2nd-3rd Labor 2008 Kick-Off and Political Action Training in Des Moines to begin the important campaign work that lies ahead.
   A listing of all legislative candidates endorsed by the Federation appears below.

Legislative Primaries:

The following endorsed legislative candidates have opposition in the June 3 primary:

Deborah Berry (D) Waterloo, House
District 22

Francis Giunta (D) Dubuque, House
District 27

Nate Willems (D) Cedar Rapids, House
District 29

Jerry Sullivan (D) Windsor Heights,
House District 59

Wayne Ford (D) Des Moines, House
District 65

Jerry Kearns (D) Keokuk, House District 92

Tom Harkin: US Senate. 
  “In order to rebuild economic security for the middle class in America, we must rebuild strong and vibrant unions; and to rebuild strong unions, we must reduce the unfair barriers to union organizing.”

AFL-CIO voting record: 
Lifetime, 93%
2007, 100%

Bruce Braley: 1^st District.   
   “The flood of cheap imports flowing into our country is harmful to our consumers, they’re taking  away jobs from American workers.  It has to stop and we have to make that happen.”

  AFL-CIO  voting record: Lifetime, 96%

2007, 96%

Dave Loebsack: 2nd District. 
   “The balance of power has shifted in this country too far towards the employer, beginning with Reagan and the PATCO strike. The Employee Free Choice Act is the first step to right that balance of power.” 

AFL-CIO  voting record:
Lifetime, 96%
2007, 96%

Leonard Boswell:  3rd District. 

   “As a member of Congress, I believe it is the responsibility of those elected to represent the people at every level of government to ensure that our government works to ensure that every person who wants gainful employment has it.”  

AFL-CIO  voting record:
Lifetime, 85%
2007, 96%

Rob Hubler: 5th District.   
   Speaking of his opponent, Steve King:  "Is this the representation western Iowans want to be known for?  Will this rhetoric truly move our country forward?   Continuous fear and demagoguery, all for the sake of extremism and dividing this country, is the foundation for [King’s] re-election campaign.  [My campaign] serves our purpose of letting the people of the Fifth District know there is an alternative for real representation come Nov. 4."  (Iowa Independent 3/10/08)

Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Legislative Endorsements April 12th C.O.P.E. Convention

Black Hawk Union Council, AFL-CIO

House District 17        

• Cayla Baresel (D-Waverly)

House District 21        

• Kerry Burt (D-Waterloo)

House District 22        

• Deborah Berry (D-Waterloo)

House District 23        

• Gene Ficken (D-Independence)

House District 40        

• Chris Bearden (D-Tama)

House District 43        

• Mark Smith (D-Marshalltown)

Senate District 22       

• Steve Sodders (D-State Center)

Clinton Labor Congress, AFL-CIO

House District 26

• Polly Bukta (D-Clinton)

Des Moines/Henry Labor Council, AFL-CIO

House District 88

• Dennis Cohoon (D-Burlington)

Senate District 44

• Tom Courtney (D-Burlington)

Dubuque Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO

House District 27

• Francis Giunta  (D-Dubuque)

House District 28

• Pat Murphy (D-Dubuque)

House District 32

• Tom Avenarius (D-Asbury)

Senate District 8

• Mary Jo Wilhelm (D-Postville)

Senate District 14

• Pam Jochum (D-Dubuque)

Hawkeye Labor Council, AFL-CIO

House District 29 Nate Willems (D-Lisbon)

House District 31

• Ray Zirkelbach (D-Monticello)

House District 33

• Dick Taylor (D-Cedar Rapids)

House District 34

• Todd Taylor (D-Cedar Rapids)

House District 35

• Mike Robinson (D-Central City)

House District 37

• Art Staed (D-Cedar Rapids)

House District 39

Terry Hertle (D-Vinton)

Iowa City Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO

House District 77

• Mary Mascher (D-Iowa City)

Lee County Labor Council, AFL-CIO

House District 91

• Ron Fedler (D-West Point)

House District 92

• Jerry Kearns (D-Keokuk)

Senate District 46

• Gene Fraise (D-Fort Madison)

North Central Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO

House District 50

• Kristin Roberts (D-Jefferson)

Senate District 4

• Jack Kibbie (D-Emmetsburg)

Northwest Iowa Labor Council, AFL-CIO

House District 56

• Jan Creasman (D-Logan)

Quad City Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO

House District 84

• Elesha Gayman (D-Davenport)

House District 85

• Jim Lykam (D-Davenport)

Senate District 42

• Frank Wood (D-Eldridge)

South Central Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO

House District 46

• Lisa Heddens (D-Ames)

House District 47 Susan Temere (D-Dallas County)

House District 59

• Jerry Sullivan (D-Windsor Heights)

House District 62

• Bruce Hunter (D-Des Moines)

House District 65

• Wayne Ford (D-Des Moines)

House District 66

• Ako Abdul-Samad (D-Des Moines)

House District 68

• Rick Olson (D-Des Moines)

House District 71

• Pat Van Zante (D-Pella)

House District 73

• Maxine Bussanmas (D-Bevington)

Senate District 34

• Dick Dearden (D-Des Moines)

Southern Iowa Labor Council, AFL-CIO

House District 76

• Jim Van Scoyoc (D-Victor)

House District 90

• John Whitaker (D-Hillsboro)

House District 93

• Mary Gaskill (D-Ottumwa)

House District 94

• Kurt Swaim (D-Bloomfield)

Southwest Iowa Labor Council, AFL-CIO

House District 100

• Paul Shomshor (D-Council Bluffs)

Senate District 50

• Mike Gronstal (D-Council Bluffs)

Additional endorsements will be made.

Bills

to

Watch

HF 2671 ALTERNATE REVENUE SOURCES FOR CITIES    Sets out a pilot program for cities to authorize sales taxes and other revenue sources besides property tax to use for property tax credits and economic development.  IFL opposes

HF 2675 UNEMPLOYMENT QUALIFICATIONS AND BENEFITS    Provides for changes in Unemployment Insurance qualifications and benefits, including an alternate base period, extension of benefits while undergoing training and elimination of the 125% high quarter requirement.  IFL supports

SF 2407 WAGE TAX & RURAL OFFICES    Repeals the wage-benefits tax credit program; appropriates $4 million to the DWD to operate its rural field offices.  IFL supports

SF 2409 TAX INFORMATION    Requires the DHS to distribute

 information from state and federal sources about earned income tax credits to recipients of HAWK-I, FIP, Medicaid and similar programs.  IFL supports

SF 2416 EMPLOYEE CLASSIFICATIONS    Changes provisions on payment of employees, including that employee or independent contractor status is determined by FLSA; establishes a five-part test to determine employment status; increases penalties for failure to pay wages; defines classification of individuals as employees or independent contractors and provides for enforcement.  IFL supports

SF 2418 INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS    Requires notice to certain households about the availability of volunteer or free income tax assistance programs and the federal and state earned income tax credits.  IFL supports

Bill Status Report

Signed by Governor:

• SF 2221, Workers’ Comp burial expenses 
• HF 2542, Workers’ Comp claims for out-of-state injuries
• HF 2568, Workers’ Comp shift differential

Still in Committee:

• HF 810, Prevailing Wage
• HF 2608, Choice of Doctor

Waiting for Action:

Passed both houses, awaiting the Governor’s signature: 

• SF 2303, Second Injury Fund
• HF 2645, Public Sector bargaining

Passed the Senate and awaiting action in the House:

• SF 2344, Workers’ Comp benefit increase for unreasonable denial 
• SF 2424,  Public Employee Pensions
• HF 2539 Health Care Reform

Labor Center

in cooperation with the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO,  presents:
2007-08 Courses for Union Members

The 2008 Labor Short Course

  “Not only were the instructors very good, other people’s input made me feel like we are all in this together!”
—that’s how one participant summed up the 2007 Labor Short Course.  Since 1952, this week-long course sponsored by the Labor Center and  the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, has helped educate, update, and inspire union activists new and old.   This year’s Short Course is packed with interactive sessions on:

• Building Stronger Unions

• Economic & Policy Issues

• Leadership & Communication 

• Legal Tools for Union Leaders

· Labor 2008 Kick-Off and Political Action Training 
May 2-3, Des Moines

· 2008 Iowa Community
Services Conference   May 15 - 16, Waterloo

· IFL Annual Convention September 24-26, Des Moines

· District Democratic Convention  April 26

· Democratic and Republican Primaries  June 3

· State Democratic and Republican Conventions June 14, Des Moines

This has to change dramatically:

 ...the fact that most union members simply don't know where John McCain stands on our issues!

• McCain has taken every opportunity to advance a pro-
  corporate agenda while making it harder for workers to organize.
• McCain has voted for every free trade agreement he could and is
  perhaps the most ardent Congressional supporter of NAFTA.
• He has supported past privatization plans for social security, and has done little to address the nation's health care crisis.
• McCain has voted to block the Employee Free Choice Act and has supported a national “right to work” for less law.
•  ...all this while voting against an increase in the minimum wage.

McCain has supported George Bush's positions 89% of the time.

We just can't afford another Bush term.