Franklin County Democrats

Looks like Republican candidate for Governor Dave Spence has officially joined the ranks of freeloadin’ Republicans as the difference between his tea baggin’ rhetoric and his real life actions come to light.  Per the GOP playbook, Mr. Spence like to talk about creating jobs out of thin air and personal responsibility.  Back in the real world where his family can’t eat thin air Mr. Spence was busy getting what federal money he could and voting to stick it to taxpayers according to Spence Credibility Buried in Avalanche of TARP Explanations, yesterday’s editorial in the Post-Dispatch.

As we approach the third year since an increase in the federal minimum wage and six years since Missiouri voted to increase the minimum wage The Center for Economic and Policy Research has released The Minimum Wage Is Too Damn Low .  Their conclusion is striking in that the current minimum wage is low in comparison to historical standards by a number of benchmarks.  Using a Cost-of- Living benechmark would have the wage at $10.52, as a percentage of wages $10.01, and if the wage had kept pace with productivity $21.72!

This three page report is a quick read and makes the case for a higher minimum wage, it is also food for thought on how all wages have lost their relationship to increased productivity.  So who is making the money generated by rising productivity?

The Alliance for American Manufacturing has released “Should be made in America”.  This video is short and to the point – American infrastructure needs should be met by American companies and workers.  Did you know that 3.5 million man hours of work were lost when California outsourced the Bay bridge to China? 

You can learn more at www.shouldbemadeinAmerica.com

Lambert airport reopened Concourse C today and you can see photos of the renovation and impressive new features of this project.  One thing not mentioned in either the print or televised stories of this successful project is that all of the workers were paid the Prevailing Wage.  The KSDK story did mention that this project was on-time and under budget. 

Let’s hope some Missori legislators notice this before continuing their assault on prevailing wages around the state.

With this weeks hearing of the Affordable Care Act before the Supreme Court and the hours of discussion about the individual mandate it became apparent once again that Republican rhetoric disguises their lack of resposibility.

The individual mandate is the mechanism that solves a major problem with the current health care system in which the actual health care costs of the uninsured are added to the premiums of every American that has health insurance.  These costs are making American business uncompetitive, fueling inequality, and putting increasing pressure on family budgets across the country.

It’s no wonder that a party that supports this situation also supports Right-to-Work for less which allows workers in a unionized facitlity to receive the benefits of representation while not paying their fair share but instead forcing their co-workers to cover the cost of representation in the workplace, much like the health care costs of the uninsured are covered by the insured and taxpayers.

So Republicans get your boots on and pull yourselves up by your freeloadin’ bootstraps while Democrats do the heavy lifting of crafting policies that actually promote responsibility.

Legislative Update – The Week in Review
By Otto Fajen, MNEA Legislative Director
Number 12 – March 29, 2012

ANTI-WORKER AMENDMENTS ADDED TO STATE BOARD INTERVENTION BILL
The Senate Education Committee approved an SCS version of HCS/HB 1174 (Mike Lair) on March 28. Sen. Jane Cunningham offered four amendments to the bill. An amendment responding to prior actions by DESE regarding school accreditation and pupil transfer was defeated by a 4-4 tie on a roll call vote. An amendment to maintain existing language, deleted by HB 1174, calling for an unaccredited district to create a plan to submit to the voters for dividing the district territory if the district can not regain accreditation within three years was also defeated by a 4-4 tie.

However, the committee adopted two anti-worker amendments offered by Sen. Cunningham by voice vote. The first would prevent a district from compensating a school employee on release as an employee union officer unless the employee works full-time for the district. The second amendment apparently purports to prohibit a Special Administrative Board from bargaining a contract with an employee union. Both amendments are unneeded attacks on public employee unions and potentially in conflict with the constitutional right of all Missouri employees to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing. Missouri NEA strongly opposes both amendments and will seek to have them removed from the bill as it continues through the process.

While the Association strongly opposes the amendments added in committee, MNEA supports the original bill. The House version of HB 1174 revises the timelines and options for State Board intervention when it classifies a district as unaccredited. The bill allows the State Board to consider possible changes in governance when classifying a district as unaccredited, rather than waiting two years and automatically lapsing the district. The bill also incorporates language to require that the State Board hold a hearing in the unaccredited district to help bring community resources and stakeholders together in support of a district improvement plan.

TENURE REPEAL BILL
The Senate did not debate SB 806 (Jane Cunningham) on March 27 when the bill was brought up in order on the calendar. The bill was placed on the Informal Calendar, but could be taken up for debate later this session. Stay tuned for a possible action alert concerning the bill later this session.

continue reading…

Talking Points Memo has audio of Mitt Romneyyukking it up while telling a story of how his dear old auto executive dad didn’t want to hear the music after closing a plant and laying off Michigan autoworkers.  I am sure all the former Chrysler, Integram, Ventra, small business owners, large business owners, realtors, teachers, public employees, and almost everyone else in Franklin County affected by the closing of the Fenton Assembly Complex will enjoy this “humorous” tale as well.  At the least they can hear by his laughter how much Mitt Romney enjoyed telling it.  He might even enjoy it more than the car elevator he’s having built in his new mansion.

Nobel economist Paul Krugman’s piece Lobbyists, Guns and Money makes the connection between ALEC and it’s corporate sponsors and the difference between their stated support for free markets and their actual pursuit of profits from taxpayers pockets.  Great read.

Many ALEC-drafted bills pursue standard conservative goals: union-busting, undermining environmental protection, tax breaks for corporations and the wealthy. ALEC seems, however, to have a special interest in privatization — that is, on turning the provision of public services, from schools to prisons, over to for-profit corporations. And some of the most prominent beneficiaries of privatization, such as the online education company K12 Inc. and the prison operator Corrections Corporation of America, are, not surprisingly, very much involved with the organization.

What this tells us, in turn, is that ALEC’s claim to stand for limited government and free markets is deeply misleading. To a large extent the organization seeks not limited government but privatized government, in which corporations get their profits from taxpayer dollars, dollars steered their way by friendly politicians. In short, ALEC isn’t so much about promoting free markets as it is about expanding crony capitalism.

A friend of mine recently purchased an American made “Little Giant” stepladder.  He found it by looking for the “Made in the USA” label.  A more efficient method would be to know if what you are looking for is American made and where you can buy it. Fortunately, Roger Simmermaker of www.howtobuyamerican.com has put together just such a list. Signing up for e-mail updates will get you this list for free!

The American-made Retail E-guide features over 2,500 American-made products from over a dozen popular retail stores like Dillard’s, Home Depot, TJ Maxx, and Costco.

Three days after Spring Break ends – Nixon vetoes Workplace Discrimination and Whistle-Blower bills. Thanks much for any contacts you made with Nixon to veto!

Both Houses continue their assaults on education – AND want to get their hands into our Retirement Fund, best in nation! (has been called ‘pension envy’). Much more below …

continue reading…