Volume 19, Issue 2
October, 2011
MCALLEN AFT NEWS
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
AMERICAN JOBS ACT—KEEP THE HEAT ON
On Tuesday October 11, 2011 the U.S. Senate faired to move on the American Jobs Act, which would give Texas schools more than $4 billion to save jobs and renovate school buildings. The Jobs Act, proposed by Obama would substantially offset the state education budget cuts of $5.4 billion passed earlier in the year by the Texas legislature.
The setback came as 48 senators used a procedural rule to prevent the Senate majority from even bringing the bill to the debate. Unfortunately, both U.S. senators from Texas—Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn—were part of this Republican-led filibuster.
The Jobs Act would put nearly 2 million Americans back to work; prevent 280,000 teacher layoffs; enable districts to hire childhood educators, etc.
TIDBITS
***The 99% are protesting here in McAllen regarding Wall Street’s and Congress’s bad behavior. They joined hands and circled Chase Bank protesting lack of money for loans.
***As has central administration been unprofessional with you so have they been to McAllen AFT. We will be awarding a hot mustard enema.
SOCIAL SECURITY FAIRNESS—IT’S UP TO US!
The 2011 edition of the Social Security Fairness Act is H.R. 1332, introduced on April 1 by Republican Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon and Democratic Rep. Howard Berman. So far they have attracted as cosponsors an additional 121 House members of both parties, including five Texans. The Texas cosponsors are Democrats De Silvestre Reyes of El Paso and Gene Green of Houston plus Republicans Ron Paul of Lake Jackson, Michael McCaul of Austin, and Michael Burgess of Flower Mound.
A U.S. Senate companion version of the bill has not been filed.
Under H.R. 1332, those already retired as well as future retirees no longer face
the harsh impact of these two offsets after December 2011.
Help Congress see the light right now by sending a letter to lawmakers.
Texas AFL-CIO Wildfire Relief
Texas Workforce
Special rules apply that expand eligibility of disaster victims for Unemployment benefits. Call 1-800-939-6631
American Red Cross
1-800-928-4271
FEMA
Workers Assistance
1-800-343-3822
Union Plus Program
Union Plus Credit Card
1-877-761-5028