Wisconsin Supreme Court Supports Anti-Union Legislation

Yesterday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the ruling of Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi, thereby reinstating the anti-union legislation passed illegally in March of 2011. The brave walk-out of 14 Democratic Wisconsin State Senators did not allow for a quorum to be present and no vote could be taken. Following weeks of the walk-out and protests in the State Capitol, the Republicans secretly redrafted the legislation to no longer include budgetary items, which would allow a vote without a quorum. However, Wisconsin laws requires a notice no less than a twenty-four hour prior to the convening of a government body. Even in extreme circumstances, a two hour notice must be provided. The Republican Senators of Wisconsin satisfied neither statute, and the law was deemed to have been illegally passed by Judge Sumi. It was created in blatant contempt of the law with the intent to strip unionized public worked of collective bargaining rights.

Tuesday's Wisconsin Supreme Court's overruling of this case represents a clear and partisan attack on worker’s rights. In a 4-3 vote along party lines, the Court ruled that the committee formed to draft revised legislation was not subject to any Open Meeting Laws, and therefore was not illegal...but the law clearly states otherwise. Any meeting of a government body, defined as,“state or local agency, board, commission, [or] committee...” must provide a notice of its meeting. These four Supreme Court Justices have backed the illegal Republican bill to disenfranchise workers. The people of Wisconsin deserve real justice, and it is the intention of 21st Century Democrats to keep fighting for the rights of every working person and family. A change must be made in Wisconsin and in any other state that looks to deny workers their rights.

He Said What? That's Crazy!

Sound bytes from a few of the Republican presidential hopefuls have been in ample supply lately. Fresh off of the campaign trail, quotes are flying around that leave GOP leadership with hand prints on their foreheads and a bitter aftertaste of feet. Former US Senator Rick Santorum announced Monday that he will be seeking the GOP nomination for president, and in this address he said this about the brave soldiers who fought on D-Day in 1944, "Those Americans risked everything so they could make that decision on their health care plan." This, of course, is coming in defense of Rep. Ryan’s budget which effectively ends Medicare. This strange statement by Santorum has brought about a great deal of conversation. Exactly what he meant to accomplish though this obscure linkage of two seemingly unrelated ideas is unclear, but he’s not alone. Herman Cain, a fellow Republican running for president also had a foot-in-mouth moment while discussing his own credentials for the nation’s highest office. While commenting on his apparent lack of foreign policy experience, he said, “Uh, does the current president have any? How’s that working out for you?” Are you scratching your head too now? We are. In this two part conundrum, Mr. Cain likened himself to the foreign policy experience of President Obama and then immediately accused him of being under qualified. Needless to say, Mr. Cain ought to reconsider his position and begin to more carefully craft his message. President Obama has been very successful in foreign relations, beginning in 2009, when he led the global response to the financial and economic crisis, and most recently with the ratification of New START Treaty between the US and Russia. Merely weeks into the official GOP campaign season, their candidates have begun stumbling over their own words and making all but the right kind of headlines.

Protect Workers Rights

Continual delays and excuses by New Hampshire Speaker of the House Bill O’Brien to schedule a veto override vote are weakening the power of labor unions in the state. The current state of the Right-to-Work legislation prevents unions from receiving funds that help enforce labor contracts and cover the cost of negotiation. These are rights essential for labor unions to protect workers’ rights.

The Speaker’s delays come despite continued pressure from his own party and resignations by party leaders, House Deputy Majority Leader Matt Quandt and Whip Tim Copeland. Both members support the ability of unions to organize and resigned in opposition to not only the legislation, but specifically in opposition to Speaker O’Brien’s anti-labor and anti-worker agenda.

By delaying the vote the Speaker is alienating members of the both the Democratic and Republican parties who want to ensure that labor unions are protected. If other Republicans, like Quandt and Copeland, are willing to stand up for labor unions, than Speaker O’Brien needs to stand up as well, and schedule a vote. Without a vote, workers in the state of New Hampshire will lose the voice that advocates for their rights.

Speaker O’Brien must stop delaying and stop making excuses and give labor unions a fighting chance.

Breaking the Debt Ceiling

Congress is set to vote over the course of the next two days on a clean vote to raise the national debt ceiling. It is essential that this vote pass. By raising the debt ceiling Congress ensures that the country continues to have the resources necessary to maintain spending for programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Unfortunately Republicans say they will only vote in favor of increasing the debt ceiling if the vote is accompanied by an agreement to cut almost $2 trillion in spending. These same Republicans, however, admit the debt ceiling needs to be increased. Refusing to vote in favor of this raise unless they get their cuts is political blackmail, Republicans are playing politics with spending that will directly impact the financial security of the American people. If the debt ceiling is not raised soon, seniors could see a significant decrease, or even a disappearance, in their Social Security checks, military troops could go without pay, and the economy could fall back into recession.
Democrats cannot give-in to the Republican’s blackmail. They must do what is right and vote yes to protect important programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.
Click Here to find your Representative and Senators. Call them and tell them to raise the debt ceiling without making devastating cuts to vital programs, because it’s the right thing to do.

Draft D-Day

Today was “Debt D-day” as the United States reached its $14.3 trillion dollar debt ceiling, and now, the nation confronts the possibility of default unless political parties negotiate spending cuts or agree to raise the debt ceiling. With the looming threat of a double dip recession, Treasury Secretary Geithner strongly advises the latter, “I have written to Congress on previous occasions regarding the importance of timely action to increase the debt limit in order to protect the full faith and credit of the United States and avoid catastrophic economic consequences for citizens. I again urge Congress to act to increase the statutory debt limit as soon as possible”. Raising the debt ceiling is necessary to preserve national credit, maintain stability in the global market, and avoid default-induced high interest rates that would only lead the economy into a deeper hole. It is a measure that the Treasury advises, the Obama administration supports, and many House and Senate Democrats rally behind.

Unfortunately, Republicans view the possibility of full-blown economic crisis as an opportunity to advance their own agenda. They recognize the urgency of this situation and hope to pressure Democrats into extreme cuts in necessary social programs. As The Atlantic columnist David Indiviglio states, “Republicans will inevitably vote to raise it (the debt ceiling), but they're using the necessity of doing so as a bargaining chip for broader spending cuts in the name of deficit reform”. Representative Paul Ryan’s (WI-1) spending cuts are the driving force of these Republican efforts. His budget proposal transforms Medicare and Medicaid from a direct payment system into a combined voucher and state grant system, an overhaul that only hurts seniors and the nation’s poor. Although bipartisan budget cuts are absolutely necessary, extreme attacks on social programs are unacceptable when oil companies and the wealthy receive billion dollar tax breaks. Democrats must not sacrifice the progressive gains of the past fifty years in the heat of the moment, and they cannot concede to short term pressure that would yield long term consequences.

Draft Russ Feingold

Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin has announced his retirement and there’s one big question we need answered. Who’s the best person to run for this seat in 2012? The answer is simple, Russ Feingold.

We need Russ Feingold in the Senate. We’ve seen the disaster that has come from the Republican majority in the House. Medicare and Medicaid under attack and they’re threatening to privatize Social Security. They’ve attacked workers and the unemployed while protecting subsidies for big oil and tax breaks for the wealthy.

Russ Feingold is a true progressive leader. He’s worked hard to protect the middle-class by protecting workers rights. He’s fought for our seniors by protecting Medicare and Social Security. He’s fought for affordable health care by supporting single payer health insurance.

And there’s no one better on the issue of campaign finance reform then Russ Feingold. We’ve seen what happens when corporations and wealthy CEOs are able to pour tens of millions of dollars into campaigns. We need leaders like you who will fight to end Citizens United and corporate influence in our elections.

We need Russ Feingold. Sign our petition to draft Russ Feingold today. We’ll be sending him this petition to show him how important it is that he runs for Senate in 2012. Add your name today and show your support.

Click Here to sign our petition to Draft Russ Feingold for 2012.

Not So Fast

Despite overwhelming public opposition to Senate Bill 5, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed it into law. Not only does this bill outlaw the right to strike for over 360,000 Ohio state employees such as teachers, police officers, and firefighters, but it prohibits teachers from collectively bargaining and severely limits this right for many other public employees. This is not the end of the fight against this union-busting bill, it’s just the beginning.

Opponents of SB5 have vowed to put a referendum on the ballot in November to kill this bill. They have until June 30 to collect 231,149 signatures to add the referendum to the ballot in November.

We have a great chance to strike down this union-busting legislation that was passed against the voters’ wishes. This referendum is the only way the people of Ohio can make their voices heard. It is vital that enough signatures are gathered and this referendum is placed on the ballot on November 8.

21st Century Democrats supports the efforts of those in Ohio fighting to show Governor Kasich and Republicans across the country that if they try to force radical legislation against the will of the people, the people can and will fight back.

This Saturday, April 9 at 12:00pm, the Ohio Democratic Party is hosting an SB5 Repeal Kick-Off Party in Columbus. This is a great way to begin the repeal of this extreme law.

Click here to for more information or to sign up for the Party