Letters, Statements & More

• Mar 20 AFSCME Opposes Chairman Ryan's Budget Resolution
• Mar 13 AFSCME Letter of Concern Over Continuing Resolution Vote H.R. 933
• Mar 12 Ryan Budget Is Nothing More than a Time Machine Ride Back to Financial Instability Statement of AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders on Rep. Paul Ryan’s GOP Budget
• Feb 19 AFSCME’s Saunders on Bowles Simpson Plan Statement of AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders on the new Bowles Simpson plan
• Feb 12 AFSCME’s Saunders: “We Must Pull Together to Rebuild the Middle Class” Statement of AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders on President Obama’s State of the Union address
• Feb 06 AFSCME Letter to U.S. Representatives Opposing the Schrader Amendment to H.R. 444
• Jan 17 AFSCME letter supporting Superstorm Sandy Emergency Spending bill (H.R. 152) (1/15/13)
• Jan 02 AFSCME President Lee Saunders on Budget Agreement
• Dec 19 AFSCME’s Saunders: “Boehner Showed Us Today Just Which Side He Really Stands On” Statement of AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders on House Speaker John Boehner’s “Plan B”
• Dec 19 AFSCME, NEA, SEIU Launch Third Round of TV Ads Calling on Congress to Protect Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and Education In “Boehnerville,” with cuts to vital services, it’s a not so wonderful life
• Dec 04 AFSCME’s Saunders: “Congress Should Follow the Will of the Voters”
• Nov 20 AFSCME, SEIU and NEA Launch Ad Campaign to Protect Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and Education New poll shows major opposition to cuts to vital services
• Nov 09 Statement of AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders on President Obama’s Remarks
• Oct 23 Romnesia Can’t Change the Fact that President Obama Saved the Auto Industry
• Oct 01 Meet Richard Hayes. He Picks Up Mitt Romney’s Trash. AFSCME launches campaign featuring public workers who service Mitt Romney’s La Jolla, Calif., neighborhood
• Aug 30 Massachusetts Workers Blast Mitt Romney: “Romney and His Corporate-Backed Allies in Washington Would Only Make Matters Worse”
• Aug 11 AFSCME’s Saunders: Choice Between Obama-Biden and Romney-Ryan “Couldn’t Be Any Clearer” Statement of AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders following Romney's selection of Paul Ryan as his running mate
• Jul 31 AFSCME Letter to U.S. Representatives Opposing Extension of All Bush Tax Cuts (H.R. 8) & Expedited Process for Tax Reform (H.R. 6169) [July 31, 2012]
• Jul 24 Letter to U.S. Senate Urging Support of the Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2012 It is time to take a stand and start restoring basic fairness to our tax system.
• Jul 23 AFSCME Letter Supporting “Bring Jobs Home Act” (S. 3364) – July 17, 2012 AFSCME supports S. 3364 because it would close a harmful federal tax loophole that encourages businesses to send jobs overseas, and use the savings to help relocate businesses back to America.
• Jul 23 Union Sign-On Letter Supporting Internet Sales Tax Legislation & E-Fairness: H.R. 3179 (July 24, 2012) We advocate for closing tax loopholes that allow sellers to avoid collecting sales taxes on hundreds of millions of remote purchases made via internet, phone and mail.
• Jul 13 Unions Support Senate’s "Marketplace Fairness Act" (S. 1832) April 24, 2012
• Apr 27 AFSCME’s McEntee: Legislation Pits Women & Children’s Health Against Student Loans Statement of AFSCME Pres. Gerald W. McEntee in response to the passage of H.R. 4628, a bill capping student loan rates by siphoning funds from health prevention
• Apr 16 AFSCME Letter Supporting Buffett Rule Bill (S. 2230) Bill is key step to ensure America's highest earners pay their fair share of federal taxes.
• Mar 28 AFSCME Letter Opposing the Ryan Budget Plan
• Mar 20 “House Republican Leaders Have Broken Promises to America Yet Again” Statement of AFSCME Pres. Gerald W. McEntee on Rep. Paul Ryan’s Republican budget proposal
• Feb 13 AFSCME’s McEntee: Obama Budget Puts Middle Class First, Right-Wing Temper Tantrum Ensues Statement of AFSCME Pres. Gerald W. McEntee on President Obama’s 2013 Budget
• Feb 10 Letter to U.S. House Urging Extension of Unemployment Insurance and Payroll Tax Cut Both initiatives are essential to sustaining the economic recovery that appears to be gaining some momentum.
• Feb 06 AFSCME letter opposing Line-Item Veto Proposed budget changes would adversely impact jobs, education, health care, training and other vital services.
• Feb 02 AFSCME letter opposing unbalanced budget reforms Bills would undermine Congress’ attempts to craft budgets that accurately reflect the economy and national needs.
• Feb 02 Unions Support Bipartisan “Marketplace Fairness Act,” S. 1832 Bill would enable state & local governments to collect sales and use tax from online and remote sellers
• Jan 24 AFSCME Calls for Congress to “Stop Their Games and Get to Work” Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee after Pres. Obama’s State of the Union address
• Dec 15 AFSCME’s McEntee to Congress: Stop Playing Political Games and Help the Middle Class Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee in response to the continued debate on unemployment and payroll tax extension
• Dec 02 All the 99% Wants for Christmas Are Jobs Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee in response to employment numbers released by the U.S. Department of Labor
• Nov 30 AFSCME Statement before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on the Balanced Budget Amendment Amending the U.S. Constitution for the purpose of requiring a balanced budget is unwise and impractical and would lead to economic disaster
• Nov 21 Congress Must Now Refocus Their Energy on the Jobs Crisis Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee after the Congressional Super Committee failed to reach an agreement
• Nov 18 McEntee: Congressional Republicans Are Partying with the Tea Crowd while Working People Get Stuck with the Hangover Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee after the House of Representatives vote on a proposed Balanced Budget Amendment
• Nov 15 AFSCME Letter to the U.S. House Opposing H.J. Res. 2
• Nov 04 McEntee: It’s Time for Republicans in Congress to “Occupy Reality” Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee in response to employment numbers released by the U.S. Department of Labor
• Oct 31 Union Sign-On Letter in Opposition to “Wireless Tax Fairness Act” (H.R. 1002) The Wireless Tax Fairness Act” (H.R. 1002) would restrict state and local government taxing authority and establish a harmful and financially costly precedent of federal preemption over state and local fiscal decision-making.
• Oct 13 AFSCME Launches New Ad Supporting American Jobs Act “Podium” to Ask Viewers to Call Congress and Tell Them to Pass American Jobs Act Now
• Oct 12 AFSCME Letter to U.S. House Judiciary Committee Opposing the REINS Act H.R. 10 is a backdoor effort to nullify legislation approved by previous Congresses, a sneak attack on the protections that Americans count on to keep them safe.
• Oct 07 AFSCME Letter to the U.S. Senate in Support of the American Jobs Act S. 1660 is a robust plan, a critical first step towards putting America back to work, and we urge Congress to pass it quickly.
• Oct 04 McEntee: Cantor “Just Doesn’t Get It” on Jobs Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee on Rep. Eric Cantor’s (R-Va.) comment that the American Jobs Act is dead on arrival
• Oct 04 Main Street Movement Goes from Madison to Manhattan AFSCME’s McEntee and Saunders: “From Wisconsin to New York, Working Families Say Rebuilding Main Street Should be Priority # 1”
• Oct 04 AFSCME Letter to Rep. Chris Van Hollen Regarding the Select Committee on Deficit Reduction Pres. McEntee urges the Super Committee to reduce the deficit by expanding our economy rather than forcing further austerity on working families.
• Sep 21 AFSCME Ad Greets Jobs Debate “More Jobs Equal Less Debt” to Air in Orlando, Nationally
• Sep 21 Letter to the U.S. House in Support of the American Jobs Act AFSCME joins the We Are One coalition and members of the American Dream Movement to express support for the American Jobs Act and President Obama’s proposals to ask the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share in taxes.
• Sep 19 AFSCME’s McEntee: Millionaires’ Tax “Welcome News,” But Congress Must Pass Jobs Bill Now Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee in regards to President Obama’s Plan for Economic Growth and Deficit Reduction
• Sep 19 AFSCME Letter to the Congressional Super Committee Joint Select Task Force on Deficit Reduction members urged to prioritize job creation, raise revenues and protect low income and vulnerable Americans.
• Sep 15 AFSCME’s McEntee to Congressional Republicans: Get Out of Jail Free Card Doesn’t Create Jobs
• Sep 08 President Obama Is Right: We Need Jobs Right Now Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee in response to the American Jobs Act outlined by President Obama
• Sep 02 Zero Gained, 15,000 Lost Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee on employment numbers issued by the U.S. Department of Labor
• Aug 04 Statement of AFSCME Pres. McEntee on the Congressional Deal Reached to Fund the FAA
• Aug 01 Debt Ceiling Deal Is “Economic Malpractice” Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee on the debt ceiling compromise
• Jul 29 Republican Leaders “Willfully Bring Us to Brink of Economic Turmoil” Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee in response to the U.S. House of Representatives vote on debt ceiling legislation
• Jul 29 TV Ads Launched in 8 States: “If the Social Security Checks, Veterans’ Benefits, Military Pay Americans Are Counting On Don’t Arrive After August 2, Thank Republicans in Congress” Sen. Dean Heller, 7 GOP U.S. Reps. Implored: Stop Threatening Default and Holding the Interests of Ordinary Americans Hostage to Protect Tax Breaks for Millionaires, Oil Companies and Corporate Jet Owners
• Jul 25 FAA Employees Urge Immediate Action on FAA Furloughs
• Jul 22 Newspaper Ad Opposing the “Gang of Six” Proposal Does this look like shared sacrifice to you? Sponsored by AFSCME, AFL-CIO, NEA, SEIU and UFCW.
• Jul 20 Statement of AFSCME Pres. McEntee in response to “Gang of Six” proposal
• Jul 20 Letter to the U.S. Senate Opposing the “Gang of Six” Proposal
• Jul 20 Letter to the U.S. House Opposing H.R. 1315 H.R. 1315 would handcuff the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and give discredited banking regulators vast power to block needed protections
• Jul 19 “A Stealth Attack on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid” Statement of AFSCME Pres. McEntee in response to House Republicans passing their Cut, Cap and Kill Medicare bill
• Jul 18 AFSCME Letter to the U.S. House Opposing the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act H.R. 2560 would cut critical programs, cripple the economy, and lead to cuts to Medicare and Social Security.
• Jul 08 Statement of AFSCME Pres. McEntee on the June Jobs Report
• Jul 07 “A Healthy Economy Is the Best Deficit Reduction Strategy” Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee on debt ceiling negotiations
• Jun 01 AFSCME Letter to the U.S. House Opposing a Balanced Budget Amendment H.J. Res. 1 is an extremely draconian and unwise proposal that doesn't take into account the state of the economy.
• May 31 AFSCME Letter to the U.S. House in Support of a Clean Debt Limit Extension It is absolutely essential to the national economy and the continued economic recovery that an extension of the debt limit be approved and no longer held hostage to unreasonable demands to reduce spending.
• May 26 GOP Leadership Jobs Agenda “Out-of-Touch with Reality” Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee regarding the House Republican leadership’s release of a jobs agenda
• May 24 NY Vote a “Rebuke Against Schemes to Shred American Safety Net” Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee in response to Kathy Hochul's victory in the special election in New York's 26th Congressional District
• May 17 AFSCME Statement on Proposals that Attack Federal Employee Income and Retirement Benefits
• May 13 AFSCME Testimony to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee on the Balanced Budget Amendment AFSCME strongly opposes amending the U.S. Constitution for the purpose of requiring a balanced budget.
• May 12 AFSCME Letter to the U.S. Senate Opposing Tax Repatriation Holiday Congress should focus on job creation, not encouraging companies to move more jobs offshore.
• Apr 13 “Surefire Way to Balance the Budget is to Create Jobs” Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee in response to President Obama’s speech on fiscal responsibility
• Apr 12 AFSCME Letter to the U.S. House Opposing Ryan Budget The Ryan budget is a slap in the face to the American public's insistence that Washington reduce the federal deficit.
• Apr 05 “Priorities That Are Out of Touch with Basic American Values” Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee on the Ryan budget plan
• Mar 31 Balanced Budget Amendment "A Recipe for Economic Disaster" Statement of AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee on the Senate introduction of a balanced budget constitutional amendment
• Mar 07 AFSCME Letter to the U.S. Senate Opposing H.R. 1 On behalf of the 1.6 million members of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), I am writing to urge that you oppose the House-passed Fiscal Year 2011 Continuing Resolution (H.R. 1).
• Feb 15 AFSCME Letter to the U.S. House Opposing H.R. 1 On behalf of the 1.6 million members of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), I am writing to urge that you oppose the Fiscal Year 2011 Continuing Resolution (H.R. 1).
• Feb 11 “Pillars of a Civil Society” National Civil Rights, Labor Leaders Speak Out on Behalf of Public Service Workers
• Jan 24 AFSCME Letter to the U.S. House Opposing H.R. 38 The worst recession since the Great Depression has resulted in this next fiscal year shaping up to be the states' most difficult budget year on record with 44 states and the District of Columbia projecting budget shortfalls totaling $125 billion.
• Dec 02 AFSCME Letter Supporting Middle Class Tax Cuts On behalf of the 1.6 million members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), I urge you to vote for the Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010.
• Jun 30 AFSCME Testifies at Obama Fiscal Commission }AFSCME feels strongly that job growth is essential to controlling federal deficits. Reducing unemployment will reduce government transfer payments and lead to increased government revenues.