Weekly Update: Legislators - We Need Jobs!

Take Action

Next Wednesday, February 10th, tell the Oregon Legislature we need jobs! Union members, business owners, and Oregonians from all walks of life will meet in Salem at 11:30 to hear from legislators about good job legislation and call for action. For more details check out the flier here, or read more below!

Wednesday, February 10th, 11:30-1, Steps of the Capitol Building in Salem.

Oregon's Newly-Organized Auto Shop

That's right - for all you Portland metro area residents there is now a unionized auto shop. In and Out Auto Care in Gladstone is now unionized. Their mechanics, members of Woodworkers District Lodge W1, are ready to get to work on your car, and are even looking at offering a discount to union members! Make sure you let them know you heard about them because they formed a union, and next time you have car troubles don't forget to support your union brothers and sisters at In and Out Auto Care.

In Other News...

Legislative Session: Jobs, Jobs, and more Jobs?

Oregonians need one thing from our legislators this session: jobs. Jobs so that our friends and family can get back to work. Jobs so our businesses see more customers. Jobs so our economy picks back up. And help for those who are out of work until more jobs are created.

Democratic leadership in the Legislature is committed to passing legislation to help job growth in Oregon, but they need to hear from us. That's why we're heading to Salem next Wednesday, February 10th, to remind our legislators about the important jobs bills they'll get to vote on this month.

Among the list:

• BETC reform, to make sure the Business Energy tax Credit is creating good jobs and not wasting taxpayer money

• Prevailing Wage Rates for solar energy projects on public buildings, so that state-funded repairs pay a good wage

• Local preference and buy-American legislation, so that Oregon construction projects help grow Oregon manufacturing

• UI Extension, to make sure the unemployed can make it until they find a job

• Linear Construction changes, so that linear construction projects like light rail, pipelines and roads can be built when they're needed

Join us, and make sure your legislators know Oregon needs jobs!

The National Agenda: What's Up with Healthcare?

There was healthcare reform. And then there wasn't. What happened? Is it still on the table? Will we see reform this year?

A lot has happened over the past few months. When we left off, the United States Senate and House of Representatives had passed very different reform packages, and the two bills were going to a conference committee - a committee made up of members from both the House and Senate - to hammer out the differences.

But the Democrats no longer have the 60 votes they need to override a Republican filibuster. They may still be able to pass reform, though. While Senators can filibuster a regular bill to try to change it, you can't amend a conference committee bill. That means if Senators filibuster the conference bill they'll essentially be killing it. That's a lot more pressure than just stalling, delaying and hoping to change healthcare reform.

Meanwhile, healthcare premiums are expected to increase by 10-11% this year. Millions of Americans go without healthcare every day, and millions more are underinsured - often not realizing the limitations of their policy until they need it most.

The delay has definitely been a major setback, but our Congressmen know Oregonians can't wait - we need healthcare reform now more than ever. President Obama needs to take the lead and demand that a conference bill be passed. Our Congressmen need to step up and demand that a conference committee work quickly to create a reform package before rates shoot up again this year. And all of us need to hold them accountable and make sure healthcare reform really works for Oregon's middle class!