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ATU Action Weekly Update - 1/29/07
ATU Urges Congress to "Unfreeze" Transit Funding As reported in last week's ATU Action Weekly Update, Congressional leaders are currently planning to freeze governmental spending at current levels for the remainder of the Fiscal Year. If this happens, investment in the federal transit program would fall $470 million short of levels authorized and guaranteed under SAFETEA-LU, the five-year transit bill passed in 2005. Democratic leaders were left with few options when the past Republican-controlled Congress failed to pass 11 of the 13 governmental spending bills needed to keep the government running for the year. According to the new leadership, a freeze is necessary for the Democrats to start fresh on their ambitious legislative agenda and begin consideration of FY 2008 appropriations bills. In a letter being sent to all Senators and Representatives this week, the ATU urges members to increase funding for public transit - stressing the role that transit plays in reducing our dependence on foreigh oil. "Current public transportation usage reduces U.S. gasoline consumption by 1.4 billion gallons each year. That is the equivalent of 108 million fewer cars filling up every year - almost 300,000 every day, 34 fewer supertankers leaving the Middle East, or 90% of oil imported from Kuwait," reads the letter signed by ATU International President Warren George. "If we are serious about energy independence in this country, public transit must be part of the solution." Please contact your representatives in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives immediately and urge them to support full funding of the transit program in the forthcoming full-year FY 2007 continuing resolution at the levels authorized and guaranteed under SAFETEA-LU. Ask them to fund the federal transit program at the $8.975 billion level. Make sure to explain how a freeze in funding would impact your transit system and your community.
Bush's State of the Union Ignores Reality President George W. Bush delivered a State of the Union address last week that painted a very different picture of our country than that experienced by the average American. Bush declared the economy is "on the move" and growing. Senator Jim Webb (D-VA), who gave the Democratic response following the State of the Union, presented another, more realistic view. "When one looks at the health of our economy, it's almost as if we are living in two different countries," Webb said. "Some say that things have never been better. The stock market is at an all-time high, and so are corporate profits. But these benefits are not being fairly shared. Wages and salaries for our workers are at all-time lows as a percentage of national wealth, even though the productivity of American workers is the highest in the world. Medical costs have skyrocketed. College tuition rates are off the charts. Our manufacturing base is being dismantled and sent overseas. Good American jobs are being sent along with them," Webb countered. Despite Bush's optimistic view of our country's economy, the real facts are that 37 million Americans live in poverty, 3 million good manufacturing jobs have disappeared since he took office, and 47 million Americans have no health insurance. While Bush acknowledged that millions of Americans have no health insurance, he failed to present a plan that would address this crisis. In fact, health care policy experts argue that the Bush proposal would actually increase the number of uninsured and underinsured by providing an incentive for employers to drop their employer-sponsored coverage. On other issues, including retirement security, Medicare, and education, Bush offered little in the way of solutions, only urging Congress to work together on these issues. He failed to even mention many of the issues of most importance to America's workers, including raising the minimum wage, lowering prescription drug costs, passing the Employer Free Choice Act, or addressing the soaring cost of higher education.
Senate Fails to Pass a Clean Minimum Wage Bill Despite the best efforts of those in the new Democratic majority, the Senate was unable to pass a clean minimum wage bill last week. A majority of Senators - 54 - voted to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $7.25 without handing out more business tax breaks. But the mostly Republican opponents of a clean minimum wage increase filibustered the measure, and it takes 60 votes to end debate on a filibustered bill. Now the Senate will take up a minimum wage bill that includes tax breaks and other giveaways President Bush wants - and it's expected to pass! Even more suprising is that 28 Senators voted last Wednesday to repeal the minimum wage! The repeal was included in an amendment offered by Republican Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO). Below is a list of Senators who voted yes on this amendment - if any of them represent you, let them know that they were wrong:
The final vote on the minimum wage increase will likely be this week. Act now, and send a message to your U.S. representative and Senators and ask them to pass a clean minimum wage increase with no more business handouts. Click here to send your message. |
