APRIL 1, 2011:NWLP
3/29/11
10:10 AM
Page 2
Rep. Wu meets with labor, says he’ll oppose Korea FTA
A teary-eyed U.S. Rep. David Wu
thanked organized labor for standing
with him as he fends off accusations
that he isn’t mentally fit to serve in of-
fice.
“It is absolutely wonderful to be
among friends,” said Wu, following a
rousing standing ovation from some 50
union leaders and retirees attending a
political breakfast March 22 hosted by
the Northwest Oregon Labor Council.
The seven-term labor-endorsed De-
mocrat from Oregon’s 1st District has
been under fire from the media for er-
ratic behavior prior to his re-election
last November that resulted in six long-
time high-level staffers leaving. Public
outbursts and bizarre e-mails to staff
raised questions about his mental
health, and reports of possible prescrip-
tion drug and/or alcohol abuse sur-
faced. Several newspapers say he is not
fit to hold office and have called for his
resignation.
Wu, 55, has told the media repeat-
edly that 2010 was a uniquely stressful
time for him as he dealt with a tough
re-election campaign, difficult divorce
proceedings, taking sole custody of his
two children, and caring for his elderly
mother. He emphatically denies a drug
or alcohol problem, but acknowledged
having a bad reaction to diazepam and
Ambien in the past. He said he regrets
things he said or the way he acted that
resulted in staff quitting, and admits to
seeking professional help, although he
won’t specify for what.
“It is appropriate, it’s very appropri-
ate for me to apologize for some of the
things that were said and done last Oc-
tober,” Wu told the labor audience.
“I’ve taken full responsibility for it, and
I still do. It was a loud wakeup call
when I had some staff departures.”
NOLC First Vice President Lynn
Lehrbach of the Teamsters Union
praised Wu for his perseverance.
“You’ve stood up to it well. You an-
swered to your constituency and the
public. And as you’ve stood with us,
we’re going to stand with you,” he said.
Wu said it is an important time —
“for all of us. You have seen labor un-
der assault. It is shocking that it should
happen in Wisconsin and Ohio, two
Oregon’s 1st District Congressman David Wu chats with Oregon AFL-CIO
President Tom Chamberlain during a breakfast meeting March 22 with
approximately 50 union leaders and retirees. The breakfast was hosted by the
Northwest Oregon Labor Council.
places where labor had some of their
most successful early battles. Let me
tell you, brothers and sisters, I know
what it’s like to be under assault. And
we fight back. And friends stand with
friends.”
Wu said contrary to media reports,
he continues to do the work of the peo-
ple — both in Oregon and in Washing-
ton, D.C. He has no intention of resign-
ing.
“I’m in fine fiddle,” he said. You all
have seen me before — and you see me
today, and rarely have I been feeling as
good as I do today.”
Wu said his main objective in Con-
gress is helping create jobs.
He announced for the first time his
opposition to the proposed Korean Free
Trade Agreement, calling it a “job de-
stroyer.” Wu said the pact endorsed by
the Obama Administration doesn’t
have a human rights component that
takes into account labor and environ-
mental rights.
Wu supports building the Columbia
River Crossing. He pointed out that he
was the only congressman from Ore-
gon to back a $25 million rebuild of Pi-
oneer Courthouse, which “generated
immediate high-wage jobs.” Wu sup-
ports a tsunami readiness bill that
would reset building codes nationwide,
resulting in thousands of jobs rebuild-
ing highways and buildings to with-
stand a major earthquake and tsunami.
He opposed HR 1, which eliminated
funding for the Workforce Investment
Act and other job training programs.
The zeroing out of funding was part of
the Republican leadership’s $60 billion
in spending cuts through the remainder
of the federal fiscal year.
Another program the GOP targeted
for defunding is National Public Radio.
“That is not going to happen,” Wu said.
Following an emergency session of
the House Rules Committee, the U.S.
House on March 17 voted mostly along
party lines to prevent NPR from re-
ceiving federal funds of any kind. Wu
said the bill will never make it out of
the U.S. Senate or past President
Obama’s veto pen.
Wu said he plans to hold a public fo-
rum during the next Congressional re-
cess later this month.
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APRIL 1, 2011