Republicans Walk Away From the Table - Again

On Sunday, President Obama sat down with Congressional leaders from both parties to discuss the nation’s debt. As the August 2nd default deadline approaches, there is increasing need for a final agreement between Democrats and Republicans, but the meeting ended after an only an hour and a half of discussion. Why? Because the Republicans walked out in the middle of the meeting.

Throughout the debt negotiation process, Republicans have proved unwilling to compromise on tax increases even on the brink of financial disaster. Republicans portrayed themselves as crusaders for large-scale debt reduction, but over the weekend, they abandoned Obama’s large-scale, bipartisan debt plan in favor of a smaller plan that protects their interests.

Obama’s proposal reduces United States debt by $4 trillion over the next ten years through $3 trillion in spending cuts and $1 trillion in tax revenues. This plan clearly favors spending cuts over tax increases three to one, but Speaker Boehner refuses to support any plan that increases taxes.

Boehner now advocates for a smaller plan of only $2.4 trillion in debt reduction originally proposed by Vice President Biden. This move is unwise as well as financially dangerous. During Sunday’s meeting, Biden himself warned Republicans the $2.4 trillion alternative is too rough to be adopted such short notice. Nothing was finalized during the Biden plan negotiations, because once again, Republicans abandoned the bargaining process once tax increases were mentioned.

Boehner’s actions make it perfectly clear that Republicans prioritize party interests before a debt crisis that impacts the entire nation. He views the Biden plan as an opportunity to minimize tax increases for the wealthiest Americans and multi-billion dollar corporations – oil companies will receive more than $4 billion in tax breaks this year alone. The United States cannot afford to default due to Republican unwillingness to compromise. In words of Harry Reid, ““If they don’t work to cooperate to get something done, the harm for this country and the world will be very significant. And that’s on their conscience.” Democrats must stand firm and tell Republicans that tax increases are an essential element of any debt negotiations.

Minnesota Government Shutdown: Day 6 and Counting

For the second time in a decade, the Minnesota government is shut down. Legislatures failed to come to an agreement over how to fix the $5 billion projected deficit and six days later, they’re still battling it out. Democrats, led by Governor Mark Dayton, propose a plan that would raise taxes on just the richest Minnesotans who make more than a million dollars a year. That translates to a mere 7,700 or 0.3% of taxpayers. In a move which surprised absolutely no one, the Republicans objected and instead preferred “very damaging cuts to health care, K-12 and higher education, state and local public safety, mass transit, and other essential services” because clearly protecting their own wealthy friends and campaign donors makes more sense than actually allowing money to reach those who need it.

The effects of the state shutdown have already been felt by many Minnesotans especially the 23,000 state workers who found themselves out of a job on Friday. State parks and highway rest stops have all been shut down and gaining licenses has suddenly started to come with an even longer wait than usual. The worst blow, perhaps, comes in the form of the shutdown of most of the social service agencies. However, Governor Dayton filed a request to allow a handful of social services to be considered essential so they can resume despite the shutdown.

Thus far, attempts to resolve this standoff have failed. Governor Dayton met with Republican leaders Senator Amy Koch and Representative Kurt Zellers on Tuesday but the meeting has yet to yield any positive results as both side seem unwilling to yield on their key points. Minnesota Republicans—like Republicans on the federal level—are trying to cram through spending cuts with no consideration for means to raise revenue. A one-sided plan will not be a successful one and we applaud Governor Dayton for standing ground.

Minimum Wage Cannot Be Up For Bargaining

If someone were to say eliminating the minimum wage “could potentially wipe out unemployment because we would be able to offer jobs at whatever level," would you vote for them? In this person’s defense, yes, we could have a nation filled with people working for one dollar an hour, because then everyone can have a job…that’s fair right? Of course not! Would it surprise you to hear that it was Michele Bachmann who suggested eliminating the minimum wage?

When asked by George Stephanopoulos, on Good Morning America, Bachmann avoided going back on that 2005 quote and defending the minimum wage. She proposed to eliminate the minimum wage, all while she continues to make a pretty comfortable salary as a Member of Congress. Even after "opposing" a congressional pay raise, she has willingly accepted every one that passed, which she was not required to do.

This is a huge disconnect that the Republican presidential candidates have with the American people. While Democrats are working everyday on how to help lift American’s up, Republicans like Bachmann are looking on how to lift multi-billion dollar businesses up by increasing their profit margins. How can we ask Americans making minimum wage to accept less while we continue to give multi-millionaires tax breaks. Everyone deserves a living wage, and for our elected leaders willing to give them less is unacceptable. We live in the most prosperous nation in the world. We did not get here by the graces of millionaires and billionaires. It has been working people that built this country, and its time the Republicans stop attacking the American workers.

Michigan Citizens Fight Back Against "Emergency Managers"

There must be something in the Midwest Republican drinking water because the attacks on the middle class just keep coming. Back in March, the Minnesota State Senate passed a bill which allows for “emergency managers” to take the place of elected officials and also allows these officials broad powers including the ability to release local elected officials and terminate union contracts. In response to this ridiculous new law, a lawsuit was filed last week in the Ingham County Circuit Court by the Sugar Law Center of Detroit on behalf of 28 Michigan residents. The lawsuit seeks to have the bill be overturned on the grounds that it is unconstitutional and with good reason. Bill Goodman, the attorney arguing for the plaintiffs, called the legislation a “power grab” and also said that it essentially imposes a “dictator” on the people.

Goodman is absolutely right! This law is little more than a sad attempt by Governor Rick Snyder to try and grab more power and influence and to also impose his handpicked “emergency managers” on local areas who have already seen fit to elect otherwise. Such legislation stomps on the constitution and the principles upon which this country was founded. To allow it to stand would be a violation of the rights of the people. The Michigan courts must side with people and with democracy.

Another Twist Emerges in the Wisconsin Recall Elections

The Wisconsin recall elections are fast approaching with 6 of the 19 Republicans in the Wisconsin State Senate facing challenges for their seats. This is the first time that so many recalls have been issued to so many legislators over the same issue. The Republican recall elections will begin on July 12th with the primaries and the general election will take place several weeks later in August. The recall elections are but the latest chapter in the saga of the Wisconsin legislature since the 14 Democrats walked out of the Wisconsin State Senate in protest of a bill which stripped collective bargaining from public workers. Since then, recall election efforts have left 6 Republicans and 3 Democrats facing recall elections in a few short weeks.

While the Democrats announced that they would not be running any “fake Republicans” in the primaries, the Republicans have persisted with their election tricks in an attempt to confuse voters and to force Democrats to spend more money on their campaigns. The use of such a ridiculous method clearly shows that the Republicans are almost definitely more concerned about the recall elections than they’ve been letting on. Republicans are referring to their fake Democrats as “protest candidates” but they are actually costing Wisconsin tax payers over $400,000. So much for fiscal responsibility!

It’s time to stop the power struggle and start coming together to come up with real solutions to middle class problems. Wisconsin Republicans have made it clear that they’re not interested in doing that. The Republicans have the backing of corporate CEOs, but we have the backing of people like you. The people of Wisconsin are standing up and 21st Century Democrats is proud to support them.

2011 Youth Leadership Series: Richard Trumka

21st Century Democrats is happy to announce the start of our 2011 Youth Leadership Speaker Series next Thursday. Richard Trumka, President of the AFL-CIO, will be speaking Thursday, June 23rd at 6:00PM at the Capitol Visitor Center in the Orientation Theatre North. We are incredibly excited about this event and would like to invite all interns and any and all interested persons in the DC Metro area to attend. Admission is free, however, we ask that you be sure to register in advance at our website. Richard Trumka served three terms as UMWA president, served 15 years as Secretary-Treasurer at AFL-CIO before being elected President in September 2009. Learn more about President Trumka here.

Click Here to Register for President Trumka’s Speech

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.