http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/blog_rss/johne Per the secretary of state's website, Amendment 47 says: Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning participation in a labor organization as a condition of employment, and, in connection therewith, prohibiting an employer from requiring that a person be a member and pay any moneys to a labor organization or to any other third party in lieu of payment to a labor organization and creating a misdemeanor criminal penalty for a person who violates the provisions of the section? The tricky or sneaky part of that is that mandatory union membership is already illegal in every state according to the Taft Hartley Act of 1947. Before this bill, unions could have closed shop agreements where every employee had to be a member of the union. The next step down is simply called a union shop , where new employees usually have 30 days to become members of the union. Then there are agency shops where not everyone is required to join the union but they do have to pay some amount of fees or dues to the union for their representation. However, federal law allows non members to have money meant for political purposes to be refunded. That doesn't sound so bad does it? If you don't want representation then don't join the union. Isn't that what Amendment 47 would do? Nope. According to many documents and case files, unions are required to represent all employees of the company with which there is an agreement whether that employee is a member of the union or not. This is spelled out most clearly by this document from the Legal Aid Society of San Francisco . Considering that the language of Amendment 47 does not at all address changes to this provision, know as "duty of fair representation", we must assume this would remain intact. This, in effect, creates union free-loaders. If that's the case, why would anyone pay union dues if the union would continue to bargain for them and be forced to represent them in the case of a grievance? This is simply an effort to further weaken unions. When the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that 8.7% of Coloradans are members of unions why is this even important? Because Jon Caldara (who just called union members terrorists), Pete Coors, and Jake Jabs want no unions what so ever in Colorado. The backers of Amendment 47 talk about worker choice and freedom. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Colorado Labor Peace Act (pdf) sets up a unique second vote when establishing a union. If a super majority of 75% votes for it, then non-members must contribute some fees to support the bargaining process and filing grievances. If the vote fails, non-member don't have to pay a dime, but they do get that union support. Amendment 47 would do away with this vote. So, workers already have plenty of choices and freedom to decide what kind of union they want. Vote No on Amendment 47 . http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/CQkb http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/CQkb/commentary#comments Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:03:42 EDT http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/CQkb johne johne 3 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CQkb/ Finally, the i's are all dotted; the t's are all crossed.  The SquareState Small Donor Committee is here. We've done pontificating, pointed out the failed policies of the extreme right wing, mobilized voters, coordinated grassroots action, and even fundraised for federal races.  It's time to help those local candidates we want to see in office in our somewhat square state.  Let's show Dick Wadhams that this isn't the same state the last time he was here.  All the progress made in the last few years, we're just getting started. Here's how it works.  Any citizen can contribute up to $50 per calendar year to a small donor committee.  The committee may then make contributions to local and state candidates at higher contribution limits than may any one person.  For example, for this year we can give $2125 to a state senate or state house candidate. http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/Cq3Q http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/Cq3Q/commentary#comments Mon, 22 Oct 2007 18:54:00 EDT http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/Cq3Q johne johne 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cq3Q/ First up is Udall: Udall's Statement After President Bush Requests More Time In Iraq WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Mark Udall, D-Eldorado Springs, made the following statement after President Bush addressed the nation tonight concerning Iraq: "The fundamental question we face as a nation is whether our military presence in Iraq is making us safer. I do not believe that the President can credibly argue that we are safer. Not while our Army is stretched and the cost of the war in lives and treasure continues to mount. Tonight, the President wrapped himself tightly around General Petraeus' recommendations before the House Armed Services Committee earlier this week. As the lone Colorado Member of the committee, I heard the General deliver three messages: We are making military progress, but it will take more time to meet necessary political objectives in Iraq; meanwhile, our strategy won't change - we'll continue focusing on a counterinsurgency mission; and in the course of the next year, we'll cut troops back to the levels they were at the beginning of this year. "Despite the skill of General Patraeus and the bravery of our troops, I do not believe this represents strategic progress. While the General and our troops have done their best, the President has failed to match their bravery with a diplomatic or political strategy. Nor can I agree that leaving as many as 130,000 troops i n Iraq until the end of the Bush presidency is in our country's best interest, particularly when it means losing more American lives, maiming many thousands more brave soldiers, spending further billions of dollars, and diverting limited resources from a more effective war on terror. "In January, when President Bush last spoke to the nation to promote a 'surge' in U.S. troops, he vowed that 'America will hold the Iraqi government to the benchmarks it has announced.' Yet just last week, the General Accounting Office concluded that the Iraqi government has largely failed to meet Congressionally mandated benchmarks for political and military progress. "The President has taken our country down a dark path that was tragically avoidable. His remarks tonight suggest he is still in denial about the need for a dramatic shift in strategy. I believe that we must shift strategy - not just tactics. And I continue to believe we need a bipartisan approach focused on a phased withdrawal of American forces, a responsible redeployment plan, and a 'diplomatic surge' that will help contain a wider regional war." http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/Cqqd http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/Cqqd/commentary#comments Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:04:56 EDT http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/Cqqd johne johne 2 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cqqd/ Part 2 of a series on Denver talk show host "Gunny" Bob Newman.  For part 1, go here: I want Gunny Bob's head on a pike! To recap, these would be the headlines Gunny Bob would expect me to write were his rantings actually true.  Following in Bill O'Reilly's footsteps Gunny attacked attendees of the YearlyKos Convention weeks ago here and here comparing us to Nazis, the KKK, and Muslim terrorists.    "Gunny" Bob Newman on his August 2 broadcast called the 2007 YearlyKos Convention a "convention of hatred and intolerance," adding, "If you want to see hate, urged violence, bigotry, racism, and intolerance in general, and anti-American speech, this is the event." Newman then called the convention, organized by the Daily Kos blog, "bigger than any KKK, Nazi, or Muslim terrorist gathering ... that has ever occurred" Later in Gunny's August 6th show he claimed DailyKos founder Markos Moulistas "lamented" on the front page of his site about the hate speech there.  It's actually quite easy check that.  Here's everything Markos posted during that week and I found nothing of the sort.  In case Gunny got a little confused, I also looked through the diaries of the other front pagers and found no mention. http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/CqrY http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/CqrY/commentary#comments Sat, 01 Sep 2007 19:06:27 EDT http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/CqrY johne johne 1 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqrY/ That would be the headline 850KOA radio host "Gunny" Bob Newman would expect me to write were his rantings actually true.  Following in Bill O'Reilly 's footsteps (background here and here and here ), Gunny   attacked attendees of the YearlyKos Convention weeks ago here and here comparing us to Nazis, the KKK, and Muslim terrorists.  "Gunny" Bob Newman on his August 2 broadcast called the 2007 YearlyKos Convention a "convention of hatred and intolerance," adding, "If you want to see hate, urged violence, bigotry, racism, and intolerance in general, and anti-American speech, this is the event." Newman then called the convention, organized by the Daily Kos blog, "bigger than any KKK, Nazi, or Muslim terrorist gathering ... that has ever occurred" He further said If we ignore these growing, this growing radical segment of our society, they could and likely will become a force of hatred, intolerance, and bigotry that helps one of their supporters seize the White House in 2008. And may God have mercy upon us if that happens. http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/Cqrs http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/Cqrs/commentary#comments Sat, 01 Sep 2007 19:01:17 EDT http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/Cqrs johne johne 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/Cqrs/ Last night at the Mayan theater was a special sneak preview of Michael Moore's new health care documentary SiCKO .  This evening, a rally and press conference were held on the west capitol steps organized by Progress Now.  Those with interesting signs and or costumes were invited to an extra screening of the film held later in the evening.  The full film release is scheduled for next Friday, June 29th. I used to think there was no easy solution to fixing our broken health care system.  After seeing this film and meeting one of the folks in the film, Donna Smith (she and her husband had to file bankruptcy and move in with her daughter due to bills their health insurance wouldn't cover) it's clear to me the only solution is a national health care plan that covers all Americans.  Moore put it best during the press conference:  the police don't make decisions on who to help based upon bottom line.  They're not going to say, "I'm sorry, I don't think we can help you out as the risk to come to your neighborhood is too high."  The fire department isn't run as a for profit business either.  So, why is something so fundamental to society as healthcare coverage allowed to operate for profit?  I'm no pinko , commie, liberal.  I'm not saying folks shouldn't be able to make a buck or two (or a billion) but not on the graves of Americans.  Spoiler alert:  There was a point in the movie where a doctor was interviewed who analyzed claims for approval or rejection.  The doctor with the most rejections was given a bonus for the year.  She was told this was okay as they weren't denying care, they were simply denying payment.  Ahh, moral relativism. The attacks are already coming against Moore and this movie, often from those who haven't seen it and have no intention to do so.  I asked his opinion on that, the ad hominem attacks, never on the substance of his films.   He didn't really have an answer.  He said that 20% of this nation will never come around.  "However there is a big middle ground of voters who are simply misinformed."  Moore continued that they're the same folks who believed their commander in chief when they were told Iraq had Weapons of Mass Destruction.  They believed what they were told as it was hard to fathom at the time a president would lie to take us into war. So, that's it, if we really do care about American's lives, if we're pro-life we really need to mean it.  A single payer plan simply allows one corporation to have a monopoly on health care coverage.  Let me remind you of the robber barons at the turn of the century in asking if that's what we really want.  Many are still going to swayed by scary words like socialized medicine.  Well, really what's so bad about it?  Would you rather have a system run by the government offering care to all, or the current system where many have no health care coverage and the many others that do find it's often completely inadequate when they actually have to use it.  Really, what price do we put on human life? As for the comparison to the health care systems in Canada, France, and Great Britain, would it really be such a bad thing if you had to wait a week to see a doctor for something minor if that means everyone and I mean everyone with life threatening injuries gets seen as needed?  Heck, I already have to wait at least a week for doctor appointments as it is.  http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/CqnD http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/CqnD/commentary#comments Mon, 25 Jun 2007 01:46:29 EDT http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/CqnD johne johne 1 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CqnD/ New DNC host chief looks to rally quickly There is the money. The Denver committee charged with raising $55 million in private donations to bring the 2008 Democratic National Convention to town needs a lot of money. But there are also the people. The newly installed top officer of Denver's host committee stressed Thursday that he wants to organize quickly enough to manage the thousands of volunteers asking to help. "It's a big task," said Mike Dino, who was formally announced as the host committee's chief executive at a news conference Thursday. "Everybody knows this is the biggest thing to come to town in a heck of a long time." The Denver native and longtime Democratic strategist said he wanted the expected 10,000 volunteers to find a place. Other news about the convention comes from chief of operations, Paul Lhevine at the recent Denver Young Dems meeting: -will be building a 220k foot media complex next to the Pepsi center. -only some of the volunteer position will actually get to work inside the event -still don't anticipate closing any streets, but the Secret Service may have it's own ideas. -the dirty, smelly hippies won't be fenced away like in NY.  Lhevine expects they will be given space to be heard and seen - hopefully not downwind. BTW, the Denver Young Dems just elected two people to act as the liaison between DYD and the host committee.  Signing up as a volunteer through them might get one a better job - if you're under 35. Bob Beauprez is back - the blogxygen is warranted in this case especially when you look at this on his events page: Thursday, January 18, 9:00 am - 850 KOA. His co-hosting with Craig Silverman must have gone well, because Clear Channel has invited Bob back to the studio, this time to fill in for Mike Rosen on 850 KOA... Notice they don't say it DID go well, but MUST have.  Did they forget how he sometimes sticks his foot in this mouth on the air?  Or is the difference that NPR listeners can sniff out when they're fed a load of bullcrap, but KOA listeners swallow with abandon?  http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/C2XN http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/C2XN/commentary#comments Fri, 16 Feb 2007 13:29:44 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/C2XN johne johne 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2XN/ Jeers to more dirty coal .  The Rocky reports of a new study that warns of the increased threat to climate change with new coal plants coming on line in Colorado.  More here , here ,  here , and here. Cheers to pending union legislation .  HB1072 just passed out of committee.  Despite all the belly aching from "business leaders" this just puts Colorado on equal footing with many other states.  What, you don't want a happy competitive workforce?  I'm shocked. Cheers to reusing our old slogans .  It seems Mark Paschall has a reputation for being mean to democrats .  It sounds like many won't really miss him. Cheers to fund-raisers .  They've got a lot of work to do to now raise the millions of dollars necessary to put on a kick-ass convention in '08.  Don't forget ProgressCon and evening festivities brought to you by DrinkingLiberally . http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/C2cj http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/C2cj/commentary#comments Wed, 31 Jan 2007 12:07:35 EST http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/C2cj johne johne 1 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2cj/ A recent article in the Post and previously blogged at Soapblox Colorado detailed that a petition of 150 signatures to demand a state of emergency and detain all illegal immigrants got the attention of Governor Owens. The Denver Post felt it necessary to write about this. While republicans want the new wedge issue to be about immigration, if they want to get the issue out there, it's quite sad that only 150 signatures could be gathered. Further, I believe that just because one can get 150 people to put their name to something does not mean that it should be taken seriously.  So, how about we ask for a strip club in the Governor's office? click on through for my petition: http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/CHBC http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/CHBC/commentary#comments Mon, 17 Oct 2005 21:30:48 EDT http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/post/johne/CHBC johne johne 0 http://www.progressnowcolorado.org/page/community/comment_rss/CHBC/