It is with a heavy heart that I am writing this last blog message. My father Donald V. Jones passed away on Feb.19th 2013. He was a man with great passion for family, community, and people. He truly believed that one person could make a difference. It is this writers hope that I can be half the man he was. On behalf of my Mother and Brother may God bless each of you and be with you on your many journeys in life .As my father always would say "Give the gift of life be an Organ and Tissue donor".

SS# & MEDICARE RX. DRUGS

Alliance Endorses Deutch Plan to Make Social Security Solvent in the Long-Term
On Wednesday, the Alliance sent a letter to Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL), endorsing the “Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act” that he introduced along with Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK). The legislation ensures long-term solvency for Social Security by gradually lifting the cap on wages for high income earners. At the same time, the plan enhances benefits by applying a more accurate cost-of-living adjustment, guaranteeing that seniors’ benefits keep up with their daily needs. To see the letter, go to http://tinyurl.com/al9auet.

 

Medicare Prescription Drugs Costs are down due to the Affordable Care Act
Health care reform is paying off for seniors. According to a recent report issued by the Obama administration, the Affordable Care Act has saved 6.1 million people, largely seniors and people with disabilities, more than $5.7 billion in prescription drug costs. The law achieved this feat by starting to close the “doughnut hole” in the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit, which had forced many Medicare beneficiaries to pay all the costs of their prescriptions. Health care reform has helped with prescription expenses since 2010, and will close the “doughnut hole” entirely by 2020. To read the Huffington Post article on the report, go to http://tinyurl.com/bhv5a2v. “This is a clear illustration of the benefits that health care reform has provided to seniors,” said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. “Given the rate at which prescription drug costs are rising, many seniors would not be able to pay for them without the Affordable Care Act.”

"Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch"!
Liberty...is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.

Fiat Lux

TRUMKA ~ ON CONGRESS !

Bullies in Congress are threatening to tank the U.S. economy unless they get their way—again. They are threatening to let across-the-board budget cuts take effect in March unless Democrats agree to cut Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits and protect the lavish tax breaks enjoyed by Wall Street and the richest 2% of Americans.

We’re not going to let them bully the 98% until they get their way. We’re putting the pressure on them right now to make sure we’re able to protect every working family.

Sign the petition and tell Congress: Protect Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare from benefit cuts; close loopholes for Wall Street and the richest 2% of Americans; and repeal the across-the-board cuts that could tank the economy.

Republicans in Congress could close tax loopholes for Wall Street, drug companies and the richest 2% of Americans. Savings from closing those loopholes would save trillions of dollars—money that could be invested back into our economy.

These extreme legislators are holding the economy hostage because they want to push through a wildly unpopular economic agenda that voters overwhelmingly rejected in the last election—benefit cuts for Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare and tax breaks for Wall Street and the richest 2%.

Once again, they are ignoring the real problems Americans are facing—like unemployment, underemployment and flat wages—so the people getting the short end of the stick are working families. They’re throwing a temper tantrum to get their way, and apparently tanking the U.S. economy and putting us back to work isn’t a concern for them.

Some members of Congress have been a little hard of hearing lately, so we’re going to keep raising our voices.
We’re getting as many signatures from working families as we can—families who want to make clear our priorities are fixing the economy first and restoring economic security. Please sign the petition today:

go.aflcio.org/no-hostage-takers
In Solidarity,
Rich
-----
Richard Trumka
President, AFL-CIO

“We must close union offices, confiscate their money and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers salaries and take away their right to strike." !

 

Adolph Hitler - May 2,1933

 

 

"Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch"!
Liberty...is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.

NO CUTS IN MEDICARE or SOCIAL SECURITY

Nobody wants to take money out of the hands of senior citizens: except some Republicans of course.

House Republicans are doing what they do best -- fighting to prop up special interests and big corporations while pushing major cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security programs.
We can’t let Republicans cut the benefits our seniors have earned.

John Boehner and his buddies need Democratic votes in order to pass a budget deal. So, we can beat Boehner and take Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid off the chopping block so long as we rally Democrats to stand strong.

Reps. Alan Grayson and Mark Takano are leading the charge to protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security benefits. That’s why we’re joining our friends at Credo Action, MoveOn, and the PCCC to get other Democrats to join them.

Can you join Reps. Alan Grayson and Mark Takano as a citizen co-sponsor right now?

In just two days, we've already generated over 63,000 co-signers and 4,400 phone calls to Congress -- and 11 House Democrats signed on in the first day. That’s huge.

Our momentum is building, and with your help, we can convince our Democratic leaders to stand strong and beat Boehner.

Join Alan Grayson and tell Democrats: Take Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid off the chopping block.

Thank you for all that you do.

Underdog = Don Jones

"Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch"!
Liberty...is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.

Social Security ~ Off The Table ! You Bet`Cha !

Rich Are Getting Richer and It's Hurting Social Security's Finances

More Sharing Service

Feb 12, 2013 Jackie Tortora | Economy

While media pundits raise faux concern every time the Social Security trustees release their annual report, falsely declaring the program is in dire trouble—even though the future modest funding shortfall can easily be fixed by scrapping the cap—it's important we take a look at a major factor in Social Security's finances: 

READ MORE AND COMMENT »

“We must close union offices, confiscate their money and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers salaries and take away their right to strike." ! Adolph Hitler - May 2,1933

 "Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch"!

Liberty...is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.

Fiat Lux

DRUGS~DRUGS~DRUGS

RECOVERY ~ NOT JAIL !

Values and Virtues
Values and virtues are things we do not often speak of, but they are of utmost importance to the recovering addict and alcoholic. Values are the things we hold dear. They define what is important and where we invest our time and energy. If I value my recovery I will invest time and energy into it. The same is true with family, a spiritual life, work, self-care and our relationships with others. Virtues on the other hand determine how we go about living our lives. The program teaches us many virtues such as honesty, courage, wisdom and many others. We discover that we do not need to live in a manner of self-deceit, dishonesty, fear and stupidity. We find that we can develop healthy values and virtues. Recovery and the steps and traditions teach us how to live. Am I developing a healthy set of values and virtues?

 Brought to you by OneHealth™ Solutions, Inc. and their OneHealth Meeting Finder. OneHealth products are uniquely built by people dedicated to helping people change behavior and lead healthier lives. OneHealth offers a supportive space for members to connect with people who understand, share stories and support one another as they set and achieve their personal health goals. For more information check our site.

Get a Union, Get a Ticket to the Middle Class !

Get a Union, Get a Ticket to the Middle Class

Feb 1, 2013 Mike Hall | Economy

We’ve said it for years. Because of the “Union Difference”—fair wages and better benefits for workers who belong to a union—unions are the ticket to the middle class. Even if you don’t belong to a union, there is a spillover effect to the whole economy. In other words, when unions are strong, everyone benefits. But don’t take our word for it, here’s what Time magazine contributor Eric Liu says:

The fact is that when unions are stronger the economy as a whole does better.

READ MORE AND COMMENT »

“We must close union offices, confiscate their money and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers salaries and take away their right to strike." !    Adolph Hitler - May 2,1933 

TENNESSEE`S NEW STATE DEMOCRAT!C CRAIRMAN

Don -- When I go to bed tonight, I will finish my first week as your new chairman of our Tennessee Democratic Party. I've done real work before - hauling fertilizer and hay, tending cattle, doing construction. What I'm doing now is not real work; it's a real privilege. It's a privilege to work with our great staff of Tennessee Democrats. And they are all in here today working on a Saturday. Why would the staff be working so hard 640 days from the next General Election? Because we must take our state back from the radical and reactionary Republican politicians in the legislature and U.S. Congress. Tennesseans want common sense, not nonsense. We want leaders working for good-paying jobs, better schools and affordable health care, not radical laws that would force a rape victim to bear her attacker's child or a cancer-stricken woman to die, not giving away taxpayer dollars to huge out-of-state for-profit companies that condemn our children to a weak education and poor future, not callous laws that would punish poor families when children struggle at school. I grew up down the street from then-Speaker Ned McWherter. After the people kindly elected me to his House seat, I served 10 years in the House and 16 in the Senate, I have seen the legislature change, and not for the better. Since the service of Governor McWherter, and more recently, Governor Phil Bredesen, we've gone from common sense to nonsense. We've gone from being named the best managed state in the nation to being the most ridiculed state. We've gone from being praised in national publications to being lampooned by late night comedians. It doesn't help Tennesseans when people across the country and around the world -- including business leaders who could bring jobs here -- read about the never-ending nonsense in our legislature. Tennesseans deserve better. We've got real challenges in this state, but also real opportunities. I am filled with optimism and hope for our future. The Democratic Party always has led the way in Tennessee, and we will do it again! Tennessee needs Democrats to lead again. But first we have to win elections. And the three keys to electing Democrats are hard work, hard work and hard work. We have got to be committed to working hard at sharing our values, values that for many of us come straight from Scripture -- caring for the least of these, loving all our brothers and sisters, and being good stewards of our land and our children's future. Those are the values we lift up, those are Tennessee values. As your chairman, I will work with you to make sure the Tennessee Democratic Party serves and makes a difference in people's lives. Thank you so much for the privilege and the opportunity to work with you and for you. Working together, we will see that Democrats lead Tennessee again. Your friend, Roy Roy Herron Chairman Tennessee Democratic Party   ***

Tennessee Democratic Party
1900 Church Street, Suite 203 Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 327-9779
www.tndp.org

Paid for by the Tennessee Democratic Party, Wade Munday, Treasurer. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. www.tndp.org

76

SOCIAL SECURITY & MEDICARE...STRENGTHEN IT !

Americans Willing to Pay More in Taxes if it means Keeping Social Security Benefits

Americans support Social Security and are willing to pay more to preserve and even improve benefits, according to a new survey released on Thursday by the nonpartisan National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI). The study, Strengthening Social Security: What Do Americans Want?, finds a sharp contrast between what Americans say they want and changes being discussed in Washington, such as cutting benefits by using a “chained” Consumer Price Index to determine Social Security’s cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). In fact, large majorities of Americans, both Republicans and Democrats, agree on ways to strengthen Social Security — without cutting benefits. Fully 74% of Republicans and 88% of Democrats agree that “it is critical to preserve Social Security even if it means increasing Social Security taxes paid by working Americans.” To see the full results of the survey, go to http://tinyurl.com/bkrckgy. For a Reuters article about the survey, go to http://tinyurl.com/a4w27b9.

58% of those Surveyed Don’t Want Medicare Cuts, Either
Americans do not want Medicare cuts, either. Fifty-eight percent of those surveyed oppose any spending cuts to Medicare and 46 percent oppose any cuts in Medicaid, according to a poll released by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health. To see Politico's write-up of the poll, go to http://tinyurl.com/bxstvmz.
Despite that, Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), the new Health Subcommittee chairman for the Ways and Means Committee, says he’ll return to some Medicare ideas that Democrats have rejected outright — including the voucher model that Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has advocated. Politico's story on Rep. Brady is at http://tinyurl.com/acqpzuz.

“We do not need to cut Medicare benefits. Savings can be achieved by allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices with pharmaceutical companies. We could also require drug companies to provide discounts for low-income Medicare beneficiaries, like they do under Medicaid,”

"Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch"!
Liberty...is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.

Fiat Lux

MAKE it in AMERICA...You BetCha !

Murphy Says, ‘Make It in America’

01/31/2013

Mike Hall

Freshman Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) says one of his top priorities in the Senate is advancing a “Make It in America” jobs agenda. Murphy, who founded the House “Buy American” Caucus, outlined that agenda in a conference call Wednesday sponsored by the Campaign for America’s Future (CAF) and the Alliance for American Manufacturing.  

Murphy calls for cracking down on China’s currency manipulation and violations of trade rules, tightening up “Buy America” federal contracting provisions and encouraging federal investments that would boost the manufacturing sector.

You can read more from CAF’s Isaiah J. Poole and from Matt Murray at the New Hampshire Labor News. You also can listen to audio of the call.

"Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch"!
Liberty...is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.

Fiat Lux

Never Give Up !

CONGRESS at it AGAIN ! Misguided Members of Congress are at it again.  They continue to press for cuts to Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid in order to preserve tax loopholes for Wall Street and wealthy Americans. Thats not right.  Join the Alliance and activists  around the country in a national day of action to tell Congress: "We need jobs not cuts!" Click here to take action! Today we are partnering with hundreds of labor and progressive organizations to send a loud and clear message. Social Security has not added one penny to the deficit.  Medicare and Medicaid have improved the lives of millions of Americans.  These vital programs have not caused our deficit.  Instead, reckless tax cuts and loopholes for the wealthiest and greedy Wall Street behavior have. We need to keep the pressure on and tell Congress hands off Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.  Make those who caused the deficit pay for it. Add your voice now! "Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch"! Liberty...is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote. Fiat Lux

HEALTH CARE & THE PUBLIC OPTION !

New Public Option Bill Lowers Families’ Health Costs and the Deficit

7COMMENTS

01/16/2013

Mike Hall

Health care experts have long said that a public health insurance option not only would provide lower-cost health insurance for those who choose it but would also force private insurers to lower their premiums. A public option was a key element of the 2009 House-passed version of health care reform, but it did not make it to the final bill.

Now, as lawmakers focus on deficit reduction, with many Republicans calling for cuts in health care benefits and shifting even more costs to working families, the creation of a public option as a deficit-reducing tool—along with its other benefits—is back on the table.

On Tuesday, Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), along with 43 co-sponsors, introduced H.R. 26, the Public Option Deficit Reduction Act.  This bill would offer consumers the choice of a publicly run health insurance plan, an option they say would save more than $100 billion over 10 years. Schakowsky says:

American health consumers deserve a publicly accountable, transparent and lower-cost option. The bill would provide that choice and lower the federal deficit at the same time. We cannot let for-profit insurance companies continue to prevent American consumers and American taxpayers from benefiting from passage of the public option.

She says that a public health insurance option would offer premiums 5% to 7% lower than private health insurance companies (according to the CBO).

And, by providing a lower-cost alternative to private insurance, it would put pressure on all insurers to lower their premiums in order to compete.

According to Schakowsky, the Congressional Budget Office has estimated a public option could reduce the deficit by $104 billion over 10 years. If coupled with other measures such as allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies, the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) estimates a 10-year cost savings of $278 billion. That’s in addition to the health care cost savings the Affordable Care Act is already achieving.  

Says Waxman:

As Congress looks to reduce the deficit, it is important to remember the one policy that could save billions of dollars is the public option.

A public option is part of the AFL-CIO's Solutions Agenda to stabilize the national debt over the long-term. Find out more of what Congress should do.

“We must close union offices, confiscate their money and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers salaries and take away their right to strike." !   Adolph Hitler - May 2,1933

 

 "Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch"!

Liberty...is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.

Fiat Lux

The Senate Filibuster...2013

The Filibuster ?

In the past, our nation was able to move forward on landmark legislation that established workers’ rights, civil rights, retirement security, and much more. But today, the current rules that govern the U.S. Senate are halting progress, even when a solid majority supports legislation. Tactics like the “silent” filibuster – where a Senator can bring a bill to a halt by merely saying that he or she will filibuster – allow individual Senators to hold the nation’s work hostage.

So what is a filibuster ? Filibusters are long, exhaustive speeches by Senators to block all or parts of a bill. They were once reserved for rare occasions, such as when Sen. Strom Thurmond launched his record-setting 24 hour and 18 minute attempt to stop to the Civil Rights Act of 1957. Today, the “silent” filibuster happens all the time – 385 times since 2006. Sixty votes are needed to stop a filibuster, so the Senate now needs a super-majority to get anything done. The “silent” filibuster has derailed many USW priorities including the Employee Free Choice Act, the Bring Jobs Home Act and more. 

Senate rules on the filibuster need to be reformed.
Those decisions will be made next week!

Senate Resolution 4 (S. Res. 4) would replace the current “silent” filibuster with the traditional “talking” filibuster, encouraging accountability by making the filibuster a public exercise and discouraging frivolous misuse.  S. Res. 4 ensures that you cannot filibuster what’s called a “motion to proceed” which simply brings a bill up for debate.  It also modifies the amount of time that can be spent on nominations and prevents Senators from filibustering when a conference committee is needed to resolve differences in House and Senate bills.

Please make a quick call to each of your Senators! Decisions will be made early next week. Dial the Capitol Switchboard toll-free at 866-297-3817 and ask to be connected with your Senators. Ask each of your Senators to cosponsor Senate Resolution 4. Please note: Senators Udall (NM), Harkin (IA) and Merkley (OR) have led the charge on this issue and are already listed as cosponsors of the legislation.  Please thank them for their efforts! Not sure who your Senators are?  Check www.senate.gov for a listing. “We must close union offices, confiscate their money and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers salaries and take away their right to strike." !  Adolph Hitler - May 2,1933    "Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch"! Liberty...is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote. Fiat Lux

SAVING SOCIAL SECURITY by ?

Robert P. Stoker

Associate professor of political science, public policy and public administration, George Washington University

Saving Social Security by Cutting Middle-Class Taxes

Posted: 01/14/2013 12:08 am

Round 1 of the fiscal cliff negations is concluded.

Although round 1 indefinitely extended income tax reductions for most Americans, middle-income taxpayers will see their federal taxes increase as temporary FICA tax reductions end. The FICA tax (the tax that supports Social Security and Medicare) is the primary federal tax that middle-income workers must pay. To support the Social Security program, FICA taxes earned income up to $110,100 at a rate of 12.4 percent; the tax is divided equally between employers and employees.

Round 2 is coming up.

Politicians are contemplating "entitlement reform" in round 2. Social Security is the largest entitlement program. If reform follows the established bipartisan model, it will balance tax increases and benefit cuts. A leading proposal to reduce benefits would alter the cost-of-living adjustment using the "chained CPI." Social Security benefits are initially set on the basis of earnings history, marital status and retirement age and then are adjusted annually to reflect changes in living costs.

The chained CPI is expected to reduce Social Security benefits by 0.3 percent per year. This would be a 3.7-percent cumulative reduction by age 75, and a 6.5-percent cumulative reduction by age 85. (The longer one receives Social Security benefits, the greater the cumulative reduction.)

Progressives are concerned. Although the elderly are the least likely age cohort to be poor, this is largely a consequence of Social Security. At present, approximately 9 percent of elderly people are poor, but the near-poverty rate (the proportion of people within 125 percent of the poverty standard) is 5.7 percent. Beyond this, Social Security benefits are modest, providing only about$1,200 per month to the average retiree. Yet Social Security provides 100 percent of the income for more than one third of beneficiaries and half of the income (or more) for 65 percent of beneficiaries. Benefit reductions are likely to have more and more seniors facing poverty and privation.

Although President Obama has considered the chained CPI, he has also advocated raising the FICA tax cap to $250,000. President Obama's proposal does not go far enough. This is an opportunity for bold action to capture the high ground in bipartisan tax reform and channel former President Reagan. The classic Washington tax reform expands the tax base while reducing tax rates. One of President Reagan's praiseworthy achievements was the Tax Reform Act of 1986, a bipartisan reform that reduced marginal income tax rates while increasing the tax base. President Obama could propose a parallel reform for Social Security.

For too long progressives have focused on the income cap that limits FICA tax collections while overlooking the tax's larger problems. FICA is a regressive tax on earned income. In other words, it is a tax on work that has lower-income people paying higher tax rates. By increasing the FICA tax cap, the problems of the present system are perpetuated. Even if the cap is removed entirely, FICA remains a tax on work.

A better alternative is to expand the tax base, not merely by increasing the FICA tax cap but by taxing other income sources. By doing so, President Obama could preserve and protect Social Security while reducing tax rates. This reform is pro-labor, pro-employment and pro-growth; it will stimulate job creation by reducing the cost of employees for business.

If you think this proposal is a pipe dream, recall the evolution of the part of the FICA tax that finances Medicare. When the tax was initiated in the 1960s, it was a capped tax on earned income (structured exactly like the current tax that supports Social Security). In the 1990s the cap was removed, making this part of the FICA tax a flat tax on earned income. However, elements of the Affordable Care Act are making the rate structure somewhat more progressive and expanding the tax base by taxing income sources other than earned income.

It has been done before; it can be done again. The president can seize this moment to advance a combination of tax and entitlement reforms that preserve Social Security while providing a tax cut for middle-income Americans.

"Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch"!
Liberty...is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote

Fiat Lux

REPUBLICANS are OUT of Control ?

Republicans Say they are Willing to Shut Down the Government in March

White House officials are eyeing a return to elements of a “grand bargain” they tried to reach late last year with House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) in order to defuse a fresh threat to the U.S. economy in just two months, according to The Washington Post and sources familiar with the discussions. The Post article is at http://tinyurl.com/ahtfrb6.

President Obama and Boehner came close last month to a major deal aimed at stabilizing the federal debt. But the speaker abandoned the talks, saying that the White House offer was too heavy on taxes and too light on spending cuts. Instead, Democrats and Republicans reached a far more modest agreement to avoid the fiscal cliff. Republicans say they have a stronger hand in the new negotiations because of the federal government’s pressing need to increase its $16.4 trillion borrowing limit. The government hit the debt ceiling this week, and the Treasury Department warns it will be unable to pay its bills in about two months unless it can borrow more. Congressional Republicans say they will not vote to raise the debt ceiling unless there is a deal to make steep spending cuts. Republicans also say they are willing to shut down the federal government in March, when a resolution funding it expires. If Republicans do resist an increase in the debt ceiling, Obama Administration officials plan to attack them for risking an economic calamity in an effort to slice Medicare. One possible way to curb the debt is to adopt a less-generous measure of inflation in calculating Social Security payments, the “Chained CPI.”

According to the Social Security Actuary, moving to a chained CPI would mean an immediate benefit cut. “An average earner retiring in 2011 at age 65 would lose over $6,000 over 15 years if the chained CPI were adopted,” said Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance. “The losses would be greater for those living longer.” The Alliance is planning a broad lobbying effort between now and the end of February. More on the chained CPI is at http://tinyurl.com/b49dhhc.

"Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch"!
Liberty...is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.

Fiat Lux

The Talking Filibuster...Yes !

THE TALKING FILIBUSTER

If you’re like me, you’re fed up with what's been happening in Congress lately.

Most of the time, important legislation addressing the tough issues we face never reaches the Senate floor.

The reason? Misuse and abuse of the filibuster—a tactic originally used to empower opponents of a bill to extend debate on the measure.

Today senators regularly hold “silent” filibusters that have stopped important legislation—measures to create good jobs, protect workers’ rights, shape a commonsense immigration process and more—without ever having to stand on the floor of the Senate to explain why.
Send a message urging Sen. Lamar Alexander and Sen. Bob Corker to support rules reform to restore the talking filibuster and keep corporate politicians from blocking important legislation.

Many senators are as frustrated as we are with this lack of progress. Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Tom Udall (D-N.M.) have introduced Senate Resolution 4 to fix the problem. S. Res. 4 replaces the silent filibuster with the “talking” filibuster to ensure senators who oppose a bill have to speak on the Senate floor to explain their objections.

Believe me, this filibuster abuse is a real problem. Bills that would have stopped rewarding corporations for outsourcing jobs, made it easier for workers to organize for a voice on the job, required corporations to disclose contributions to politicians, ended subsidies to big oil companies and other critical initiatives all passed the House and had majority support in the Senate. But they didn’t become law because of the silent filibuster.

It’s pretty ridiculous that one senator can hold any bill hostage and not have to at least explain to colleagues or voters why.

We must fix the filibuster if we’re going to create jobs, stop cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits and end tax loopholes for Wall Street and the richest 2%.

E-mail Sen. Lamar Alexander and Sen. Bob Corker right now to make sure they don’t stay silent on supporting rules reform:
go.aflcio.org/fix-the-filibuster

In Solidarity,

Underdog = Don Jones

"Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch"!
Liberty...is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.

Fiat Lux

UNIONS in 2013

On Tuesday, Congress approved compromise legislation that generates much-needed revenue by requiring the wealthiest to pay more in taxes, while offering an economic lifeline to the vast majority of working and unemployed Americans and their families. The deal will: Make tax cuts for the middle class permanent Continue unemployment assistance for the long-term unemployed Extend critical tax credits for working families Delay massive across-the-board spending cuts in military and domestic programs for two months, known as sequestration. The Upcoming Fight Over the Debt Ceiling Unfortunately, the legislation did not raise as much new revenue as we wanted and it also sets the stage for major battles over spending cuts in the months ahead. The legislation did not raise the federal debt ceiling, a limit set by Congress that determines how much money the federal government can borrow to pay its expenses. If Congress does not raise the debt ceiling soon, the federal government will not be able to pay back the money it has borrowed. It is like being unable to pay the minimum balance on your credit card bill, leading to grave consequences for the US economy. Protecting Working Families In the weeks ahead, we must remain vigilant. Tea Party Republicans have pledged to use the federal debt ceiling as leverage to extract further cuts to vital services that protect our communities – including funds for public schools, public safety, transportation, scientific research and college loans. They have made it clear that cuts in programs for veterans, seniors, students and low-income citizens will all be on the table. This also means that Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid remain at risk. As one of our best activists, we need your help this year to protect these crucial services. In 2012, AFSCME members were a strong and consistent voice for all working people. We sent thousands of e-mails and made scores of phone calls to Congress on issues like the fiscal cliff, the Paul Ryan budget, and the Affordable Care Act. Together, we do make a difference. Moving Forward in 2013 We need to continue working closely together during these challenging times and focus on real solutions in the budget debates ahead of us. There are alternatives to unnecessary, reckless cuts. We must press Congress and President Obama to focus on job creation, which is the best way to stimulate our economy. Working families need you, and all AFSCME members, to fight for a fairer economy that benefits all Americans. Click here if you're ready for the heavy lifting that needs to be done in 2013. In Solidarity,   Underdog = Don Jones “We must close union offices, confiscate their money and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers salaries and take away their right to strike." !  Adolph Hitler - May 2,1933     "Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch"! Liberty...is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote Fiat Lux

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