Fund for Campus Democratic Activism

A few quotes from the aforementioned Wal-Mart article jumped to my attention, because we'll probably be hearing them here soon. Ford is already using them.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/13/AR2006011300191.html

"Critics of the legislation called it a dangerous precedent that ultimately would cost Maryland jobs."

Wal-Mart's job is selling stuff to Marylanders. If they don't, somebody else will employ people who will. I am tired of Republicans and corporations trying to blackmail states by saying, ' oh yeah, well if you do that we're just going to leave.'

"This does nothing to accomplish this goal of providing everyone access to affordable health care insurance,"

...except for Wal-Mart's own exployees. For them that is exactly what it does. Do these guys really think they can get away with using Orwell's writings as a textbook?

"We believe everyone should have access to affordable health insurance, although this legislation does nothing to accomplish that," said Masten, who said the retailing giant may partially pull out of the state if the bill becomes law.

A. Obviously they don't

B. It's simple - legislation that gives people access to health care by definition gives people access to affordable health care
C. Buh Bye. I would be ecstatic if Wal-Mart leaves Downstate communities and Costco, who pays workers substantially more and does provide good insurance, replaces them. It would be a boon to us and not corporate HQ

I am tired of right-wing rhetoric about progressive legislation. Making Corporations pay living wages and follow environmental regulations does not move jobs overseas. Greedy Corporations do. How exactly does Wal-Mart intend to operate the Champaign Wal-Mart from China???

example II

Ford Motor Company is cutting 30,000 jobs, a quarter of its workforce. Why?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/23/AR2006012300604.html

Ford desperately needs to stop the bleeding.

"Ford said the plan will restore profitability by 2008."


Wait, what's that a couple of paragraphs later?

Earlier Monday, Ford reported earnings of $2 billion in 2005... It was the third straight year the automaker has reported a profit

hmm, I wish I had a need to stop bleeding like that

Incidentally, the first plant idled will be the St. Louis plant. The St. Louis metro area desperately needs that plant and doubtless there are soon-to-be unemployed workers who live on the Illinois side in Metro East.

About ten days ago, Maryland's legislature overrode their Governor and enacted the Fair Share Health Care Fund Act, which forces Maryland's largest corporate citizens to provide their workers with quality health care (to be specific, to spend at least 8 percent of their payroll costs on health care). 32 other legislatures are considering such a measure this spring. Illinois should be in the forefront. Such a measure was introduced last session but didn't make it very far
The problem is that more than half of Wal-Mart's employees aren't on the company's health care, mainly because of high deductibles, and that means that thousands of them are on Medicaid, costing cash-strapped states, instead of the world's richest corporation, millions of dollars.

I intentionally used the term 'corporate citizen' above. Its about time America's largest corporations showed as much allegiance to ordinary Americans as they do the bottom line.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/13/AR2006011300191.html

Congratulations to the UFCW, SEIU and the Teamsters on this great victory for Maryland's working families. Because what it really comes down to is that thousands of Marylanders struggling to get by can sleep easier now about their health care.

(Cross-posted at www.djwinfo.blogspot.com)

Representative Kathy Ryg (D-Vernon Hills) has a bill backed by Illinois PIRG that implements state energy efficiency standards for appliances. The federal standards (remember those yellow cards on home furnaces) haven't been updated in 20 years or so, so if states want to ensure their citizens save money on energy costs, they've got to implement their own standards. If not, we'll be stuck with energy-guzzling appliances.

As I understand it, more efficient appliances cost more up front (either marginally or significantly, hard to tell) and save a ton of money over the life of the product (either 10 times the marginal cost of the product or, with $1.00/therm natural gas prices, maybe 100 times the cost). So to the extent there is a higher cost with state efficiency standards, that cost is one of the best investments a consumer can make based on saved energy costs.

It's in the state's interest to make Illinois residents richer. These appliance standard will do that, by ensuring that Illinois residents send less money to the for-profit energy companies (which means they are ultimately owned by non-Illinois people -- people that the Illinois General Assembly shouldn't really care about).

I'm sure corporate interests will fight HB 4455. You can track its status here. And you can send a letter to your legislators through Illinois PIRG's website here. (If you aren't a member of Illinois PIRG, they are the group that hires all the summer canvassers to knock on your door and ask for $45. They also consistently lobby for great bills in Illinois, and now the Chicago City Council as well, so I'd recommend that you join them, either in person or online. Strength through numbers....).

Come to Springfield and check out what a Democratic-government is all about: on Wednesday, February 8th, from 6 to 8 pm, young / college / campus Democrats from around the state will gather at Floyd's in Springfield for a (free, but cash bar) night. And any campus chapter with a bank account that shows up will get a $50 check from the Fund for Campus Democratic Party Organizing. So if you've got a campus chapter that you want to get started or are looking for an event to get organized around, how about a road trip to the General Assembly?

We expect some Democratic legislators to stop by, so you'll get to meet them, as well as lots of staffers so you can ask them what that's like.

Plus, you should try to spend some of the afternoon at the General Assembly to see the House and Senate in action.

Floyd's is at 210 South 5th Street in downtown Springfield. And both the House and Senate will be in session (calendars here).

Leave a comment if you're interested in coming or to RSVP, email Rocket or me. My email is dan@djw.info and I'll let Rocket leave his.....

Also, if you'd like to blog here, we're looking for students / young Dems to blog about politics, so email me or Rocket and we'll set you up.