AFSCME LEGISLATIVE REPORT January 25, 2008

Below are the top stories of the week from Capitol Hill.

AFSCME LEGISLATIVE REPORT
January 25, 2008

In this issue:

* Economic Stimulus Plan on the Move
* House Attempts to Override President's Last Veto of Children's Health Bill
* Senate Committee Holds Hearing in Response to U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Pay Discrimination

Economic Stimulus Plan on the Move
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and House Republican leader Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), announced a bipartisan agreement with the President on an emergency economic stimulus tax package aimed at middle-class families and business interests. But, the plan omits aid to fiscally strapped states or an extension of unemployment benefits, key priorities of AFSCME.

Under the proposed plan, tax rebates or "stipends" of at least $300 would be given to all workers who earned at least $3,000 last year, including low wage workers who did not earn enough to pay taxes. Families with children would receive an additional $300 per child, up to a cap of $1,200. The stipend would go to individuals earning up to $75,000 and couples earning up to $150,000. The $140 billion package would be split roughly two-thirds to individual taxpayers and one-third to businesses. Fiscally strapped states would lose $4 billion in state revenue because of the business tax cuts. The package has not been approved by Senate leaders, where stimulus consideration is scheduled for next week in the Senate Finance Committee.

AFSCME President Jerry McEntee said, "Congress will be making a big mistake if they pass an economic stimulus deal that ignores the needs of state and local governments. Rebate checks alone are not going to address the crisis facing families who rely on unemployment insurance, food stamps and Medicaid programs."

Senate leaders have said they will try to make improvements to the package, including the possibility of increased state aid in the form of an increase in Medicaid payments, extending unemployment benefits beyond the standard 26 weeks, larger food stamp payments, and money for ready-to-go infrastructure needs. Each of these items would provide a more immediate boost to the economy and help to resolve underlying concerns in the economy.

AFSCME has taken the lead in lobbying for more state aid and has reformed a large coalition which includes the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National Association of Counties, the American Hospital Association, many health care industry groups and others.

A copy of the coalition letter sent to the congressional leaders will be posted on the Legislation page on our website shortly.
(Ed Jayne- ejayne@afscme.org; Linda Bennett- lbennett@afscme.org)

House Attempts to Override President's Last Veto of Children's Health Bill
On Wednesday, the House came up 15 votes shy of overriding the President's pre-Christmas veto of a bipartisan compromise to renew the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). While an overwhelming majority of House members voted to override President Bush's veto (260 to 152), there was not quite enough to reach the two-thirds majority necessary. All but one Democrat voted to override, along with 42 Republicans. The opposition to expanding health coverage to more low-income children is even more callous in light of the downward turn in the economy. Millions of families face an uncertain economic future and will see health coverage disappear along with the pink slip that eliminates their job.
(Barbara Coufal- bcoufal@afscme.org)

Senate Committee Holds Hearing in Response to U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Pay Discrimination
On January 24, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing on a bill that would reverse the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear. That ruling made it more difficult for workers to pursue pay discrimination claims. Last year, the House passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007 (H.R. 2831), which clarifies that every paycheck that is a result of an earlier pay decision constitutes a new violation of the Civil Rights Act, giving a worker 180 days from the last discriminatory paycheck to file timely discrimination charges. HELP Committee Chairman Edward Kennedy (D-MA) plans to introduce similar legislation in the Senate. However, it is not clear if this legislation will make it to the Senate floor for a vote this year. And, President Bush has already threatened to veto the House-passed bill.
(Fran Bernstein- fbernstein@afscme.org)

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AFSCME Department of Legislation
Phone: 202/429-5020 or 800/732-8120
Fax: 202/223-3413
E-mail: legislation@afscme.org
Website: http://www.afscme.org/
Produced by Union Labor

Had to find out, just out of curiosity.