Some Political Calls Can Be Close:
How Would YOU Vote on These?
The mission of the union's political program is to win for workers,
quality services, and economic fairness while navigating partisan
political terrain.
Through CAPE — Citizen Action for Political Education — we work
hard and well to elect pro-worker legislative leaders willing to put
themselves on the line for fair and progressive results.
House Speaker Dave Hunt and Senate President Peter Courtney did
a stellar job fighting for working families in 2009. Their colleagues,
Majority Leaders Richard Devlin in the Senate and Mary Nolan in the
House, also provided strong leadership on public policy fights that
affected our members.
On the flip side, Minority Leaders Senator Ted Ferrioli and Representative
Bruce Hanna fought tooth-and-nail agajnst workers' rights, contract
fairness, economic justice, affordable and Accessible health care, and a
budget that preserves quality services. Their attacks were systematic,
often seeking to vilify front-line workers. It has not always been so, but
in today's environment the pro-worker^eaders are all Democrats and the
anti-worker leaders are all Republicans,^nd endorsement decisions with
these six were obvious.
But what about Republicans and Democrats who are not in leadership
positions? A number of legislators who —as you will read in this SEIU
Legislative Accountability Report — vote for working families every
step of the way. They share our values and believe workers need a voice
on the job. They want big corporations and the wealthy to help pay
for quality services for those who are falling behind in the economic
downturn. They fight for affordable and accessible health care for
all Oregonians. The vast majority of this group, it turns out, are also
Democrats. Endorsement decisions involving these men and women
likewise tend to be straightforward.
But how should the rank-and-file leaders of our union who make
endorsement decisions view legislators who choose to buck their party
leadership on key issues? Voting against party leaders is a huge deal in
the Capitol. Being a team player there is valued as highly as solidarity
is in the union. Does it take political courage to risk your future and
stand up for principles and defy party leadership and political
supporters? Or are those votes more about political calculus and
snubbing allies, when it pays to side with interests that might help
you in the short term?
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