Issues

February 2006

Watch out, working women — more budget cuts on the way!

Last year, working women across the U.S. spoke out against the 2006 federal budget, which cut millions of dollars from Medicaid and other programs critical for working families. This year, the President is attacking working families once again.

On February 6, President Bush delivered his 2007 budget to Congress, which pays for his top priority — tax cuts for the wealthy — on the backs of hardworking women and their families. Many critical programs for working women and their families will see severe reductions in funding. It is certainly hard to justify these cuts when the President is calling upon Congress to continue giving tax cuts to millionaires!

The 2007 budget cuts target several women-specific programs, making it increasingly difficult for working women to build economic security for their futures. With the skyrocketing cost of health care, many working women can no longer afford health care. Over two million women and girls have lost health insurance since 2000, yet the President is seeking even more cuts to the Medicaid program. Women are 71% of all adults who rely on Medicaid. Reductions to this program will force even more women into the ranks of the uninsured.

The budget also proposes funding cuts to child care services and early education programs that help working women raise families and improve their economic well-being. Federal funding for educational and training opportunities for women is essential to increasing women's economic security. As the primary caretakers of children and the elderly, women are more likely to take time off from work and to have fewer opportunities to build valuable skills for succeeding in the labor force. Despite this, the President plans to eliminate many of the programs focused on helping women overcome barriers to entering and advancing in the workplace.

This is only a snapshot of the brutal cuts contained with the President's 2007 budget proposal. We encourage you to take a closer look and spread the news to your family, friends, and AFSCME sisters. We need to maintain and strengthen programs that support working families, and ensure that women have the opportunities they need to succeed! For more information visit the Act Now website.

Single women voting for change

Single women continue to be one of the fastest-growing demographics in the country, representing 46 percent of all voting age women, according to a new survey commissioned by Women's Voices Women Vote Action Fund. With more women waiting longer to marry and remaining unmarried longer after divorce, this demographic is on the rise and beginning to take a political stance. In 2004, more single women voted than ever before with many voting for the first time and for progressive candidates.

Continued participation in the voting process is critical for single women as their concerns are often not met in today's society. Single women are much less likely to have benefited from the policies of the Bush administration and more likely to have been negatively impacted by recent budget cuts. According to the survey, single women want change in the direction of the country and support progressive policies. They are concerned about jobs, access to health care, and education.

With the 2006 congressional races fast approaching, single women are a key demographic for any progressive candidate. Single women were 19% of all new voters in 2004. According to the survey, single women "drop-off" voters (those that voted in 2004, but not in 2002) are poised to vote in this year's congressional and gubernatorial races, and are leaning towards democratic candidates. They also span across age ranges and incomes, and are found in every race/ethnicity group as well as geographic location in this country.

The key to reaching these women is through trusted sources, such as unions and women's groups. In the survey, single women identified the lack of information on candidates and their stances as well as on the political process, such as location of polling places, as barriers to voting. However, they also stated that they saw voting as their civic duty and, once informed, were eager to make their voices heard.

To read more about the survey and what single women want, visit the Women's Voices. Women Vote homepage or the Women's Voices Women Vote Action Fund.

AFSCME women unite for a special training event

Last month, the Women's Rights Department, in conjunction with AFSCME Council 75 in Oregon, hosted a leadership training program for Oregon's Spanish-speaking child care providers. The program was an integral part of the Council's efforts to forward their organizing and collective bargaining goals. For the Women's Rights Department, the program highlighted continued efforts to build leadership skills of women members and increase capacity of councils and locals to meet the needs of their members.

The program marked the first time that AFSCME Latinas in Oregon were able to come together to discuss their work experiences and build leadership skills in their own language. Forty-eight women participated in the program, representing cities all across the state.

During the program, the participants were involved in activities to build skills to take on active roles in contract negotiations, local politics, and organizing other child care providers. Participants also discussed challenges affecting them as Latina childcare providers and developed strategies and actions to overcome these challenges. With support from the council, they developed a strategic plan to reach other Spanish-speaking providers, support the contract campaign and build the union.

Celbrate Women's History Month — Help the National Women's History Museum

In 1987, Congress declared March "Women's History Month." Almost two decades later, little exists to permanently acknowledge women's contributions and achievements. It's time to honor women's extraordinary legacy with a prestigious site for the National Women's History Museum.

The National Women's History Museum (NWHM) is working to secure a permanent home in Washington, DC. In July 2005, the US Senate passed, by unanimous consent, The National Women's History Museum Act (S. 501), which directs the General Services Administration to enter into a long-term lease with NWHM for a Federal Property that has been vacant since 1992. However, the bill is stalled in the US House of Representatives. The Museum is reaching out to women activists to generate support for the museum and to write letters to Congress urging members to put this building to good use by honoring women's remarkable contributions to our nation.

The NWHM is a non-partisan, non-profit, educational institution dedicated to fostering a greater appreciation of how women have shaped our culture. Founded in 1996, NWHM has already generated unparalleled support and has presented rich and inspiring programs. Now they need a permanent home.

Take Action!

We encourage you to take action and write your Congressional representatives. Tell them to support bill S. 501 that was passed by unanimous consent in the US Senate. Demand that Congress give women and their history a home! For more information and sample letters visit the NWHM website.

It's tax time!

Are you working full-time or part-time? Do you want to owe less in taxes, or get cash back? The Earned Income Credit (EIC) is a special tax benefit for working women and men who earn less than a specified amount each year. Even if you don't owe income tax, you can still qualify for this credit! In fact, there are a host of tax credits for working families including the Child Credit and the Child and Dependent Care Credit. The credits are especially important for women who are primary caregivers for children and the elderly, and typically earn less then men. The Child and Dependent Care Credit helps families pay for child or elder care while they are at work or are looking for work. Learn more about these valuable credits from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Don't forget about AFSCME's discount tax preparation service! The AFSCME Advantage Online Tax Preparation Service is available to AFSCME members and their families at half the cost of similar services like H&R Block. For more information visit the Union Plus website.

WomENews is produced by the Women's Rights Department and written by Amy Vance.

 

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