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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 2012)
...Citizens United, 2 years old (From Page 12) foster commerce,” declared U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) in a Jan. 20 press statement. Merkley is one of 22 co-sponsors of a resolution from U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) that would amend the Con- stitution to overturn Citizens United. U.S. Sen Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) added his name as a co-sponsor Jan. 26. On Jan. 10, U.S. Rep. Earl Blume- nauer (D-Ore.) became the 12th co- sponsor of a companion bill in the House; his fellow Oregon Democrat Peter DeFazio is also a co-sponsor. To amend the U.S. Constitution re- quires a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate and then ratification by three-fourths of the states. Janice Thompson, executive direc- tor of the Oregon chapter of Common Cause, sees a Constitutional amend- ment as one of three approaches to ad- dress Citizens United. The other two are public finance, and public disclo- sure. On public disclosure, there’s been some movement. Last October, Center for Political Accountability reported that some of America’s largest publicly traded companies are voluntarily mov- AFL-CIO launches new TV ad campaign The AFL-CIO has launched a multi- million dollar television advertising campaign telling the country that union workers are just like everyone else — and that they deserve their rights. The ads first aired in Austin, Texas, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and will soon be airing in Portland. The cost of the initial ad campaign is pegged at $1.5 million. AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler said the ads are meant to rise above the daily controversies of the po- litical world and show the connections of unions and unionists to the world of work — and how workers benefit from unionization. “This campaign showcases the val- ues that America’s unions share with all working people: Hard work, quality work, and how every one of us is con- nected,” she elaborated. The ads feature workers from a wide range of occupations. The ads are ac- companied by messages over social media, online advertising and an inter- active website, www.WorkConnect- sUsAll.org. The ad campaign also emphasizes the divide between the 99% and the richest 1 percent of the population and emphasizes the decline of the middle class — while laying that development at the feet of the rich. The ads also refer to the new activism in the labor move- ment in response to Big Business/Re- publican schemes to rob workers of their rights and their livelihoods. The ads’ punch line, in English and Spanish, is: “As work changes, we change with it. Work doesn’t separate. It’s what binds us together. I teach your kid, you fix my car, he builds my city, she keeps it safe…work.” ing to disclose their corporate expendi- tures on politics. Together with re- searchers at University of Pennsylvania Wharton School, the group reported that 57 of the largest 100 publicly traded corporations disclose direct cor- porate political spending on their web- sites, while 43 disclose some informa- tion about indirect spending through trade associations or other tax-exempt groups; and 24 have stated they will not make independent expenditures, even though Citizens United allows them to do so. Some elected leaders, like Oregon State Treasurer Ted Wheeler, would like to make those disclosures mandatory. In October, Wheeler came out in support of a petition calling on the Securities and Exchange Commission to require public companies to disclose to shareholders the use of corporate resources for polit- ical activities. More robust reporting would increase accountability of com- panies to their shareholders, Wheeler said, including the state funds he’s re- sponsible for managing. Last April, the Obama Administra- tion announced it was considering an executive order to require companies with federal contracts to disclose their electoral spending. But the Administra- tion backed off when the business lobby opposed it. Delk, at least, remains undaunted. “I try not to involve myself in things that are impossible,” he told the Labor Press. “Citizens United is becoming a tip- ping point,” adds Thompson. “Ameri- cans are really taking a look at amend- ing the U.S. Constitution.” EE R F BARGAIN COUNTER Free classified ads to subscribers DEADLINE: Friday prior to publication Published 1st and 3rd Fridays Now accepting e-mails Send to: Michael492@comcast.net Mail to: NWLP, PO Box 13150, Portland OR 97213 (Please include union affiliation) • 15-20 words • No commercial or business ads • 1 ad per issue • All lower case (NO CAPITAL LETTERS, PLEASE) • Ads MUST include area code or they will not be published A UTOMOTIVE ’77 Chev ¾ ton 4x4, new brakes, clutch kit, radiator, carb, more, 29,000 actual miles, no damage $4,500. 503-618-1701 ’70 Chevy impala, 350 v8, 4door, gold, power steering/brakes, air, runs great, good body, $1,500 obo 503-890-0089 H OUSING RoCKaWay ocean front 503-777-5076 http://home.comcast.net/~rockaway.beach 5 bdrm, 2 bath, call for winter special linColn City vacation rental, 3 bdrms, 2 bath, $100/night, slps 8, wi-fi, 2 blocks to beach, 4 blocks to casino. 503-804-7976 RoCKaWay BeaCh rental, 3 bed, 2 bath, sleeps 10, Jacuzzi, 5 min to beach/shops. vacationhomerentals.com/43026. yUma aRiZona, well maintained winter home, illness forces sale, make offer. 503 771-7891 (Craig’s list-150 W Catalina Dr. #87) 200 aCReS, Spray, oregon, will carry a contract, $750 per acre. 1-541-468-2961 FoR Rent: 2 bedroom, 1bath, 4plex, Se 92nd, portland, $650 mo. 503-637-5361 M ISCELLANEOUS Briggs & Stratton 3750 watt generator, nearly new $300. 971-221-8375 BeCKett maRathon electric oil burner model #3pB485173111hp, 1/8 hp, 60 hz, 1725 rpm, 115v, $150 obo. 503-236-8522 Stihl mS 390, 28” bar w/3 chains, runs great, $285 obo. 503-871-6722 poRteR CaBle air brad gun, used twice, 6 boxes of brads, $75 cash. lots of other tools. 503-654-7941 S PORTING G OODS BUlletS SieRRa 38 158 JhC 6mm 75 gn varmiter ammo Speer 125 grn Gold Dot, $11 box. 503-314-7001 (noon to 5) W ANTED olD WooDWoRKinG tools, planes, lev- els, chisels, handsaws, slicks, adzes, wrenches, folding rulers, leather tools, tool chests. 503-659-0009 motoRCyCleS, quads, jet skis, boats, Rvs, guitars, amps, tractors, old stereo equip, cash, will pick up. 503-880-8183 ColleCtoR payS cash for older toys, older oil paintings and older american art pottery. 503 703-5952 liFelonG ColleCtoR buying US and world coins to add to collection, paying fairly, any amount welcome. 503-939-8835 ham RaDio and short wave radio equip- ment, particularly older 1950s/60s equip- that uses tubes, 503-823-4577 US & militaRy items from vietnam War, clothing, medals, flags, rifles, pistols, etc. 503-852-6791 payinG top dollar for old cast iron cook- ware, skillets, Dutch ovens, griddles, muf- fin pans, unusual pieces. 541-746-9456 ‘American Made’ in the Northwest Mon-Fri 9:30-7:30 Sat 9:30-5:30 Sun 12-6 PAGE 10 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS FEBRUARY 3, 2012
