Fla. Senate Candidate Tests Politics, Ethnicity

In this May 18, 2010 photo, Republican Senate candidate Marco Rubio speaks to members and guests at the Florida Federation of Republican Women, meeting in Coral Gables, Fla.

MIAMI — At a boutique hotel in Miami's upscale Coral Gables neighborhood, members of a Republican women's group smile and gush as Senate candidate Marco Rubio enters the room. A Spanish-language television reporter approaches with a microphone.

What is his stance on the Arizona immigration law? Does he favor amnesty for undocumented immigrants?

"I don't support amnesty," Rubio says. "I support a legal immigration system."

A Cuban-American lawyer and former state House speaker, the 39-year-old Rubio has captured the attention of national Republicans hoping to attract Hispanic voters, a majority of whom voted for President Barack Obama in 2008.

But it's among Hispanic voters that some of Rubio's conservative positions could prove divisive.

Chiles' Entry Into Race for Governor Stirs Up Fla. Politics

Lawton "Bud" Chiles III, the son of the late Gov. Lawton Chiles, walks to the Florida Press Center in Tallahassee, Fla. Thursday, June 3, 2010. Chiles, made a late entry into the governor's race as an independent candidate on Thursday, saying both major parties have been influenced too much by money.

By JEREMY WALLACE
Sarasota Herald-Tribune


Published: Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 10:36 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 10:36 p.m.

Late entries into the two hottest races in the state are shaking up Florida politics.
Political newcomers Jeff Greene, a Democrat running for Senate, and Rick Scott, a Republican challenger for governor, are running campaigns not seen before in Florida on this scale, spending millions of dollars of their own fortunes to bypass the traditional party routes and go straight to electorate with TV ads.

Thursday brought another twist: Bud Chiles, the son of one of the state's most beloved governors but who has no elected experience himself, announced he is running for governor. Even though Chiles said he will run as an independent, his candidacy is causing panic among Democrats that it will cost Democrats their best shot at winning the governor's mansion since 1994. The winner that year was Chiles' father, Lawton.

1,900 Texas RN’s Vote to Join NNU Affiliate

by Mike Hall, Jun 4, 2010

More than 1,900 registered nurses at five Texas hospitals have voted to join National Nurses Organizing Committee-Texas (NNOC-Texas), an affiliate of the 155,000-member National Nurses United (NNU).

The election wins by the nurses took place during the past two weeks, with the latest victory coming last night at the Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville. They join the registered nurses who voted for a voice at work at four other HCA hospitals: Corpus Christi Medical Center in Corpus Christi, Del Sol Medical Center and Las Palmas Medical Center in El Paso, Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen.

Alliance for Retired Americans - Friday Alert, June 4, 2010

Friday, June 4, 2010

(Alliance for Retired Americans)

Alliance Members Get the Chance to Ask President Obama Questions
At a special event on Tuesday, June 8, Alliance members are invited to ask the President health care questions by telephone. A few members of the Alliance will be attending the event - which will include information on benefits for seniors under the new health care law - live, in Wheaton, Maryland. Other members are invited to ask the President questions by phone. The special number Alliance members can call to talk to President Obama is: 800-837-1935, Passcode 80272058. This one-time, national "tele-town hall" can also be seen and heard on television by watching C-SPAN, or on-line at www.healthreform.gov.

Economy Adds 431,000 Jobs–Barely Enough to Stay in Place

by James Parks, Jun 4, 2010

Some 431,000 net new jobs were created in May. A whopping 411,000 of those new jobs were temporary U.S. Census jobs while private employers added only 41,000 new jobs in May. Overall, the unemployment rate dropped to 9.7 percent, down from 9.9 in April, according to a report released this morning by the U.S. Department of Labor.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said the low number of private-sector jobs is further evidence the recovery is still fragile.

The Economic Recovery Act saved us from a second Great Depression, but it was not sufficient to power strong and sustained job growth, and its effects are expected to wane in coming months.

Steelworkers Help Green Light New Energy-Efficient Bulbs

by Mike Hall, Jun 2, 2010

Here’s a way to reduce your carbon footprint and support good green union jobs. Check out the new Sylvania Super Saver halogen light bulbs made by the United Steelworkers (USW) in a Wellsboro, Pa., plant.

As more and more households turn to the energy-efficient bulbs over the familiar incandescent light bulb that sucks up much more energy, many manufacturers are shutting down their U.S. operations and producing the new bulbs overseas.

But Osram Sylvania has decided to manufacture its Sylvania Super Saver halogen bulbs at existing facilities in the United States. Wellsboro currently produces the outer glass portion of light bulbs that are assembled at Osram Sylvania’s plant in St. Marys, Pa.

Red Cross Workers Strike over Stalled Talks, Blood Safety Concerns

by Mike Hall, Jun 2, 2010

More than 1,000 Red Cross workers in seven cities launched a three-day unfair labor practice strike against the American Red Cross this morning. Contract negotiations between the Red Cross and the workers—members of several unions—have been stalled, in some cases, for more than a year.

One of the key issues, the unions say, is blood drive staffing practices that workers believe are key to protecting donor and blood safety. Workers say the Red Cross is putting donors and workers at risk by understaffing blood drives, replacing nurses with unlicensed supervisors, forcing employees to work unrealistic schedules and turning blood collection into an assembly line/fast-food process

Foreclosure and Bankruptcy in Favor of the Middleclass

Jun 01,2010

Amendment #534 authorizes bankruptcy courts to modify the terms of mortgages made on homeowners’ primary residences, a practice which is barred by current law. The amendment would permit bankruptcy courts to restructure the debt on home mortgages by reducing the principal owed, extending repayment periods, reducing interest rates, and prohibiting, reducing, or delaying future interest rate increases. Bankruptcy law currently permits such restructuring only for vacation homes, family farms, and yachts. Under this legislation, eligibility is limited to homeowners with mortgages originated before the enactment of the amendment who have received notice that a foreclosure may be commenced. The legislation restricts the situations in which bankruptcy judges can reduce – or “cramdown” – the principal owed.

Lincoln Parked on Wall Street, Working Families Drive Halter Bid

by Mike Hall, Jun 1, 2010

One week from today, Arkansas voters will have a choice between two-term incumbent Sen. Blanche Lincoln and her long record of corporate coziness or Lt. Gov. Bill Halter and his progressive agenda based on the interests of working families.

The June 8 U.S. Senate Democratic primary run-off is firing up working families and union voters across the state. These are the same voters who mobilized and turned what was supposed to a Lincoln slam-dunk in the Senate primary to a near dead heat race and ultimate run-off election.

Letter Carriers Deliver Another Record Food Drive: 77.1 Million Pounds

by Mike Hall, Jun 1, 2010

The nation’s postal customers responded with extraordinary generosity this year, donating a record 77.1 million pounds of food in the Letter Carriers’ 18th annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive. This year’s results topped last year’s record donation of 73.4 million pounds.

Members of the Letter Carriers (NALC) on May 8 picked up the donations left at mailboxes in more than 10,000 communities. The food was delivered to local food banks, pantries and shelters to help needy families in all 50 states and U.S. jurisdictions.

Since 1993, the NALC food drive has collected more than 1 billion pounds of food—1,059,800 pounds—to help feed hungry families.