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
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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