by Chris Nava

The latest from Washington and Sacramento on legislation of interest to EDC members.

Update on the Employee Free Choice Act

In last week’s update on the Employee Free Choice Act, it was reported that unless proponents of the bill waged an all-out effort to gain support and create the political will to bring about passage of the bill it would fail. This week, the ACLU has taken on the task of doing just that by reaching out in a national campaign to garner support of the bill at every level. Strategies include an impressive grassroots take action effort that calls for a concentrated lobbying of key Senators. In California, Senator Feinstein is one of these. The Senator has been holding back in support of the bill, and now the ACLU is taking their fight to Senator Feinstein’s doorstep by enlisting the grassroots to lobby the Senator in a phone calling and letter writing campaign. Protests outside her California offices are planned to further the impact of the message. As of this writing, San Diego is not one of the designated cities for protests.

EDC members have an opportunity to be a personal stand in support of workers. Leveling the playing field for the American worker is a social justice issue. Join the effort and Take Action by contacting Senator Feinstein and asking her to take leadership by co-sponsoring the Employee Free Choice Act.

Call today at (619) 231-9712 in San Diego, or (202) 224-3814 in Washington, DC. You may also fax your message to (202) 228-3954.

Update on the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES)

In what is a huge victory for environmentalists, the House Energy & Commerce Committee just passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. The bill now moves from committee to the House floor and on to the Senate where later this summer a global warming bill is expected to come up for a vote.

The successful work of the committee was a result of a massive grassroots support (lobbying members of Congress and providing financial support), but that was just the first step in setting us on the path to a clean energy future. The bill as it stands needs to be strengthened to increase the provisions for renewable energy and energy efficiency. Strong opposition is expected, but conservationists are optimistic that this is the best chance we have of passing a meaningful clean energy bill this year.

EDC members can play an active role in helping achieve successful passage of ACES by calling or writing Brian Bilbray, our Representative in Congress, and our Senators, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer in support of a strong bill. We want to assure that global warming is front and center of the bill, that the bill provides for the creation of clean energy jobs, and that specific provisions are included for U.S energy independence. The House vote could happen very soon. Rapid response is requested.

HR 676 – The Fight Has Begun

Republican opponents of ‘public option’ in the President’s proposed Health Care package have launched a proposal they call ‘the trigger’. Essentially, it is an attempt to maintain the status quo. They want to give the insurance industry the chance of fixing their own industry! If they fail, say after 7 years, public option would ‘trigger’ in as part of a national plan. Unbelievable, this proposal is picking up steam among moderates in the Senate.

HR 676 Supporters need to act now by calling our Senators and asking them to stand up against the insurance industry and their insidious attempt to continue to control a broken system. We do not want the fox guarding the Hen house! Public Option has to be a part of Health Care Reform.

This is a red alert. Activists wanted to trigger opposition.

Health Care News

A recent publication, “Pulling it together: The Experts vs. the Public” by Drew Altman, President and CEO of Henry J. Kaiser Foundation (not to be confused with Kaiser Permanente) draws attention to the differences that separate the perception of the experts vs. the public about some very key issues in health reform. Altman’s article is important to an understanding of the divide that exists, and important to bridging that gap before meaningful reform can be achieved. Read more here.

Employee Free choice Act Update

The news is not good. This proposed piece of legislation is languishing in Congress. Labor groups have been outmaneuvered by opponents of the bill. In the words of a disillusioned union advisor who was not authorized to speak by name, “we were out-spent, out hustled and out organized”. Unless proponents of the bill make an all outeffort to infuse the campaign with the political will to fight for its passage, the bill will simply go out with a whimper.