House Approves Modified SCHIP Bill

October 26, 2007 – By a vote of 265-142, the U.S. House passed modified legislation yesterday expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) by $35 billion over the next five years.

2007 Photo Contest Winners Announced

October 25, 2007 - The results of the 2007 IAM Photo Contest are in and the winners are: Thomas Costea, Local Lodge 1639, won First Place for his entry entitled, “Makin’ It Right,” which depicts fellow member Bill Africa removing cracked welds with a carbon arc at Norfolk Southern Juniato Locomotive Shops in Altoona, PA.

Kennedy Space Center Negotiations to Resume

October 26, 2007 - IAM negotiators announced today that mediated negotiations with United Space Alliance (USA) will resume next week in a bid to resolve the 134-day strike by nearly 500 members of Local 2061 over pensions and health care costs.

Report Examines Adverse Impact of Rising Health Care Costs

October 24, 2007 – A recent survey found that 63 percent of Americans were paying more for health care than last year.

House Democrats Poised to Bring New SCHIP Bill to the Floor

October 24, 2007 – House Democrats announced yesterday that they will bring the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) back to the floor this week.

37 Killed in Fire at Chinese Factory

October 21, 2007 – Thirty-seven Chinese workers were killed when a fire broke out at an unlicensed Chinese shoe factory recently.

Dems Continue Push to Get Children Health Insurance

October 23, 2007 – Congressional Democrats continue to make the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) a top priority, inviting the head of March of Dimes to deliver the party’s radio address this past Saturday.

Info on United Space Alliance

Links and Other information:

International President Tom Buffenbarger’s Letter to Lawmakers

House Lawmakers’ Letter toUSA

IAM 2061 Blogspot

Congress Turns Up Heat on United Space Alliance

October 19, 2007 - Members of the United States Congress are turning up the heat on NASA and the United Space Alliance (USA) to stop their push to gut the economic security of America’s space program workforce. Last June, USA forced IAM members of Local 2061 at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center out on strike by demanding cuts in pension and other key benefits. NASA and USA are now making similar demands in other negotiations at the Houston Space Center.

Congressman Bart Gordon Meets with CEO Covey

October 18, 2007 - Congressman Bart Gordon, the Chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee, NASA's oversight committee, met Wednesday with USA CEO Richard Covey in the Congressman’s office. Congressman Gordon expressed his deep concerns for the welfare of the striking Machinists at KSC. Included in the discussions were matters of economic security for our IAM working families at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral.

Dems Vow to Press Forward on SCHIP Bill

October 19, 2007 – After falling just 13 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to override President Bush’s veto of increased funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), House lawmakers are pledging to move forward with a new version of the bill.

Other

Link:

2008 Health Care for America Survey (AFL-CIO / Working America)
http://www.aflcio.org/issues/healthcare/upload/healthcaresurvey_report.pdf

Health Care (AFL-CIO)
http://www.aflcio.org/issues/healthcare/

Health Care Hustle (Working America)
http://www.workingamerica.org/healthcarehustle/

Health Care in the States (AFL-CIO)
http://www.aflcio.org/issues/legislativealert/stateissues/affordablehealthcare.cfm

Navigating American Health Care
http://www.americanprogress.org/pressroom/releases/2007/06/healthcare_it.html

National Coalition on Health Care
www.nchc.org

2008 Presidential Candidates on Health Care (A Factbox from Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN20300429

Americans Want Health Care Reform (Poll)
http://www.aflcio.org/issues/healthcare/reform.cfm

Alliance Report Examines Effect of High Drug Prices

October 16, 2007 - Millions of Americans are finding high drug prices to be a major barrier to maintaining an acceptable quality of life, according to a new report from the Alliance for Retired Americans.

Do Insurance Companies Make You Sick?

September 26, 2007 - As the House and Senate debate whether to end large taxpayer subsidies to private insurance companies who run Medicare Advantage plans, a recent article in the Washington Post underscores the tremendous power of the health insurance lobby on Capitol Hill.

Issue Updates

Other

Links:

Large Urban-Suburban Gap Seen in Graduation Rates

American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President addresses No Child Left Behind
http://www.aft.org/presscenter/releases/2009/010809b.htm

National Education Association (NEA) Policys and Actions on No Child Left Behind
http://www.nea.org/home/1213.htm

Department of Education, Elementary and Secondary Education Policy Letters to States
http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/stateletters/index.html 

Democrats Divided on NCLB Reauthorization

October 16, 2007 – Congressional Democrats remain split on the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind. Following the release of a discussion draft circulated by House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller, some lawmakers are concerned changes to the law will not be drastic enough.

Issue Updates

Congressional Leaders Look to Override Bush SCHIP Veto

October 15, 2007 - House lawmakers will vote Thursday on whether or not to override President Bush’s veto of legislation that would have increased funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) by $35 billion over five years.

Bush Vetoes Children's Health Insurance

With total disregard to what the majority of Americans want, including members of his own party, President Bush vetoed legislation last week that would have provided new funding to cover an additional 4 million of the nation’s neediest children under the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

Senate Passes Children's Health Insurance Bill

The Senate yesterday voted by a 67-29 margin to renew and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) by $35 billion over the next five years.

SCHIP Information

SCHIP Fact Sheet
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/home/schip.asp

Children’s Health (AFL-CIO)
http://www.aflcio.org/issues/healthcare/schip.cfm

Sign the SCHIP Petition
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/schip_petition

Showdown Looms on Bush SCHIP Veto

October 16, 2007 - House lawmakers will vote October 18 on whether or not to override President Bush’s veto of legislation to increase funding for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) by $35 billion over five years.

Edwards On Right To Work For Less

October 13, 2007 - National Public Radio (NPR) is spotlighting the presidential campaign season with The '08 Candidates' First Campaign - Their early runs for office.

Former Senator John Edwards was featured recently marking the 10th anniversary of his quest for a U.S. Senate seat in North Carolina. The report notes the shifting positions on issues Edwards has taken since then.

Help Pass Bankruptcy Reform Bill

October 2, 2007 - Two similar bills, one in the U.S. Senate and another in the House of Representatives are aimed at protecting the interests of workers and retirees in corporate bankruptcies.