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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 2012)
Unions and their allies mount filibuster reform push in U.S. Senate Communications Workers of Amer- ica (CWA) and the United Auto Work- ers (UAW) are reuniting with some pro- gressive allies in a coalition to build public support for reforming the Senate filibuster rules when the 113th Con- gress convenes next year. The Fix the Senate coalition, com- prised of CWA, UAW, the Alliance for Justice, the Brennan Center for Justice, Common Cause, and the Sierra Club, tried unsuccessfully in 2010 to make the change. They had help from Demo- cratic Sens. Tom Udall (NM), Tom Harkin (IA) and Jeff Merkley (OR). “The current Senate rules enable ob- struction and block progress on a range of issues key to America’s future,” the coalition said, pointing to Republican- led filibusters that halted the DREAM Act, which passed the House while re- ceiving 55 votes in the Senate; blocked any debate on the Employee Free Broadway Floral for the BEST flowers call 503-288-5537 1638 NE Broadway, Portland Choice Act, which passed the House with an overwhelming majority and garnered 59 supporters in the Senate; derailed the DISCLOSE Act — which would have increased transparency over independent groups’ campaign spend- ing, despite receiving support from 51 senators; and blocked the Bring Jobs Home Act, which would have encour- aged in-sourcing by providing tax in- centives to companies that bring jobs back to the United States from overseas. In the 1960s, threatened or actual fil- ibusters affected only 8 percent of major legislation. By the 1980s, that had risen to 27 percent. But after Democrats re- took control of Congress in 2006 and Republicans found themselves in the minority, filibusters soared to 70 per- cent. Over the last three sessions of Congress 386 motions to filibuster have been filed. And senators don’t even have to give Mr-Smith-Goes-to-Wash- ington-type-speeches to do it. They can simply raise the threat and that brings the discussion to an end. It takes 60 votes to kill a filibuster. In January 2013, at the beginning of the next session of the Senate, Democ- rats can reduce filibuster abuse with a simple-majority vote. Democrats will hold 53 seats to the Republicans 45. Two senators are independents who typically caucus with the Democrats. “To the average American, these re- forms are just common sense,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.). “Americans believe Congress is broken. The only ones who disagree are Mitch McConnell and Republicans in Congress.” One of the changes being proposed is to require a senator to hold the floor and actually debate the legislation. Carpenters Food Bank low on cash Cash donations to the Carpenters Food Bank are at an all-time low, while distribution is reaching record levels. Cash donations to help buy food can be sent to: Food Bank, P.O. Box 17358, Portland, OR 97217. For more information about the Car- penters Food Bank, call Mike Fahey at 503-970-2482. Lock-down at Constructing Hope Bob Calwhite of the Pacific Northwest Carpenters Institute spent several hours in “jail” Nov. 13 as part of a fundraiser for Constructing Hope, a non- profit pre-apprenticeship program that prepares minorities, people coming from incarceration, and low-income individuals for careers in the construction industry. Students get hands-on training, required certifications, and real-life work experiences that equip them to enter the trades ready to work. The organization is supported by Laborers Local 296, IBEW Local 48, Carpenters Local 146, and the Carpenters training center. The fundraiser involved construction industry partners being held in lock-down until they could raise “bail” by securing donations. “We had a great response, raising approximately $18,000 from over 100 donors in just a few hours,” said Executive Director Patricia Daniels. “There are a few more donations pending and we’re still encouraging others to help us meet our $25,000 goal.” Constructing Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on community support to achieve its mission. Donations can be made online at www.constructinghope. org or by mail at 405 NE Church Street, Portland, OR 97211. For more information, contact Daniels at 503-281-1234. ...Avakian’s term is 2 years (From Page 5) years at BOLI, including six years as deputy commissioner. Hammond is a 36-year veteran of the agency, beginning as a clerical spe- cialist with the Apprenticeship and Training Division. As administrator of the Wage and Hour Division, she has been the state’s top enforcement official for ensuring that fair wages are paid to workers. Avakian is interviewing candidates for all the open positions at BOLI and will announce his new hires as soon as possible. Avakian also reminded union offi- cials that this term as labor commis- sioner is only for two years. In 2009 the Oregon Legislature passed a bill estab- lishing procedures for filling mid-term vacancies in certain state offices — specifically labor commissioner. Law- PAGE 8 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS makers did that to put the labor com- missioner’s race back on its original cy- cle in years when the governor is elected. It got off track in April 2008 when then-labor commissioner Dan Gardner, a member of IBEW Local 48, resigned mid-term to take a job with his international union in Washington, D.C. Avakian was a state senator at that time and in the middle of a four-way race for the Democratic nomination for secretary of state when Gov. Ted Ku- longoski appointed him to succeed Gardner. The office was then put on the ballot in the 2008 general election in November — two years before it would normally be up, but with the under- standing that it would be for a full four- year term, and not to finish Gardner’s term. Avakian ran and defeated two un- known candidates. DECEMBER 7, 2012
