Gearing Up for the Next Battle
AFSCME-led coalition continues to fight Bush's service cuts and tax breaks for the rich.
Battle-hardened from its fight against the Bush administration's proposed deep cuts in vital services in the 2006 federal budget, the AFSCME-led Emergency Campaign for America's Priorities (ECAP) is now preparing to challenge the next budget.
ECAP's 60-plus partners, including the Sierra Club, National Council of Churches and many labor unions, will try to block Bush's fiscal year 2007 agenda by targeting the states and congressional districts of key lawmakers. The message: With approval ratings for both Bush and Congress at historic lows, politicians running this year for re-election take a serious risk if they vote to cut popular programs such as veterans' benefits, education and Medicare.
Rapid-response ECAP teams will blanket GOP moderates - who were undecided on the 2006 budget issue — with rallies, constituent visits and town-hall events. The goal: to educate them — and the public — about the danger of a new round of Draconian cuts to vital services to fund tax cuts for the rich. Through a "Take Back America" pledge drive, targeted politicians will be asked to commit to opposing Bush's cuts. ECAP also will continue working with the progressive religious community to further spread its message.
ECAP last demonstrated its grassroots strength when thousands of activists in 35 states focused public attention on Bush's fiscal 2006 budget and tax cuts. In December, President McEntee kicked off a media offensive called the "National Week of Prayer and Action for Compassionate Priorities." Among the more than 100 events nationwide: a sit-in at the U.S. Capitol, prayer vigils, a television advertising campaign, one-on-one lobbying by AFSCME activists and a virtual online protest "march" at Act Now that generated more than 30,000 e-mails to specified congressional districts.
Despite intense pressure from the Bush White House to tow the line, four GOP members of Congress, persuaded by ECAP, switched their votes. As a result, opponents of the Bush scheme came within two votes of defeating the House budget reconciliation bill. Fortunately, ECAP and AFSCME were able to significantly reduce cuts to the Medicaid program for fiscal 2006 — reducing the hit from the initial $50-billion cut to $10 billion.
Among the many AFSCME members and retirees who volunteered to assist the ECAP campaign is Lillian Sewell, 70, president of Connecticut Council 4's retiree chapter. At an ECAP press conference in mid-January, the former office assistant at a state mental hospital observed: "As seniors, we may be living on a fixed income, but we're not sitting still. We're going to make our voices heard." She did — along with many others — and they were successful. Connecticut Rep. Rob Simmons, one of the targeted GOP lawmakers, changed his position and voted against the administration's budget plan. Sewell says her activism made her "feel real good, like I did something for our country."
The fight is becoming tougher. So we'll have to fight even harder than before.
To help prevent Bush from advancing his agenda, start by viewing ECAP's humorous, 30-second cartoon video, "King George's Flying Circus" at Act Now; then sign up and get involved with grassroots activities in your area.
