Arcuri Pledges to Protect Social Security; Meier Silent

A lot of people in New York's 24th Congressional District depend on Social Security - almost 20% of the district. When you look at the number of people in New York who depend on Social Security, the 24th ranks third. And when you look at the number of children in the state who depend on Social Security, the 24th comes in first.

That's why D-WFP Congressional candidate Mike Arcuri is publicly signing a pledge to oppose the new Bush plan to privatize Social Security. Arcuri's opponent in the 24th District Congressional race, Dick Cheney-clone Ray Meier, won't sign the pledge to oppose Social Security privatization.

Here's George Bush back in June, talking about Social Security privatization:

"If I can't get it done this year, I'm going to try next year. And if we can't get it done next year, I'm going to try the year after that."

Social Security privatization isn't going away as long as Bush is in office. Bush's 2007 budget diverts $721 billion of Social Security funds away to private accounts. So why won't Ray Meier say where he stands on privatizing Social Security? Maybe Meier figures we already know he's pledged to rubber stamp what George Bush wants. Or maybe Ray Meier doesn't want to say anything because he knows he's not a good fit for the 24th District and he's trying to sneak his way into Congress.

Come out and hear Mike Arcuri pledge to protect Social Security. Central New York Citizens in Action, Inc. and Citizen Action of New York are organizing the pledge and the signing.

• WHEN: Friday, September 29, at 10am
• WHERE: East Side Senior Day Center at 675 Catherine St in Utica

And don't forget tonight's debate, sponsored by the League of Women Voters:

• WHEN: Thursday, September 28, at 6:30pm
• WHERE: Donovan Middle School in Utica
  

You can also phonebank with us in the 24th and in New York City or make a donation.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E | NY24

Too Much, Even for Bernie K.

From WNBC's reporting:

Sources told NewsChannel 4 that in one conversation, Pirro complained that one of Kerik's employees was reluctant to board Albert Pirro's boat [to plant the bug].

Jeanine Pirro suggests, "We can just simply say, if there is an issue, that I am redecorating it for our anniversary." She complains that Kerik's man is, "uncomfortable with that."

Kerik responded by saying, "But Jeanine, I'm having the same f------g problem with everybody. Everybody is panic stricken because it's you. I've gone out on a limb. I had two other people looking at this. It's a problem."

So let me get this straight. Pirro's surveillance request was too unsavory for Bernie Kerik?

Mike Arcuri - WFP street piece

If you're in New York's 24th Congressional District, here's our newest street piece for Mike Arcuri as a pdf - download it, print it out, and pass it around.

If you're in New York City or the 24th Congressional District then you should come phonebank with us. At right is a picture from last night's phonebank.

If you can't phonebank then you can help by donating to the cause.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E | NY24

Count on Me - 6 weeks until the election

Last week we started collecting online Count on Me pledges - and the response has been great!

The Count on Me campaign is a 7-week drive to identify 200,000 progressive voters who will give Eliot Spitzer a clear public mandate for progressive change by voting for him for Governor on Row E, the Working Families Party ballot line.

Here are four things that we want Eliot Spitzer to start working on when he officially takes office on January 1:

• Universal health care
• Living wage jobs
• Fair funding for every public school
• Real campaign finance reform

As people take the Count on Me pledge, they've been telling us why they're casting a progressive vote on Row E. Showing support for universal health care is the #1 answer, with living wage jobs close behind.

Here are some of the things people are saying:

"Working in the medical field, I see it to be very important for all to have health care. It will cost the economy less to prevent and treat health problems, as oppose[d] to when the problem gets out of control and may be too cumbersome to handle."

"Improvement on health care, wages, and affordable housing"

"We hear the phrase, 'our children are the future', well, we need to have fair funding of our public schools to help educate and teach our children using all resources needed."

"Build more affordable assisted living housing for seniors and the disabled."

"Support for clean energy technology and sustainable agriculture."

"Strengthening of rent stabilization laws; voting reform: no Diebold machines!"

What are you voting for this November? Take the Count on Me pledge and let us know.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Vote Row E | Count on Me

43 days until Election Day

Over the next 43 days from now until the election, we're going to call thousands of New York's swing voters. These voters will make the difference in close races where our D-WF challengers can win Republican-held Congressional seats and Take Back Congress.

Our phonebanks are already open in Ithaca and Auburn and we're expanding in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn, with more coming soon.

If you want to help then sign up to come join other WFP supporters for a night making the calls we need to win.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E

NY-24: Mike Arcuri late September update

The polls confirm what our on-the-ground experience shows: Mike Arcuri is winning his race for an open Congressional seat in New York's 24th Congressional District. But Arcuri's not taking anything for granted as he campaigns throughout the district. Here are some Arcuri quotes from a campaign event and subsequent interview:

"The thing I am most proud of as a DA is the Child Advocacy Center we established in Oneida County . . . Our role as public servants is to make it easier for people who have been abused, people who have been neglected to get the help they need from the government. That's what our Child Advocacy Center did."

"We need to change the course of our country . . . We need new leadership, and that's why I'm running for Congress."

"My major domestic focus would be to ensure that we get quality healthcare in this country"

"[Iraq] is not a popular war, and it is the wrong war."

"I think one of the problems for our nation right now is that we are so overextended in Iraq that it is very difficult for our military to get engaged in other parts of the world like Darfur, like Lebanon"

Next Thursday is another chance for you to hear Mike Arcuri speak. The League of Women Voters is hosting a debate between Mike Arcuri and his opponent, Dick Cheney-clone Ray Meier. The September 28th debate is at Donovan Middle School in Utica and starts at 6:30pm.

This debate will be a change for Meier - he'll have to take a break from spreading negative stories around to actually talk about the issues. We'll see if Meier decides to agree to drop his opposition to raising the minimum wage and to stop weakening Social Security, or if he just repeats George Bush's talking points that things are fine in Iraq.

Help us Take Back Congress - volunteer or donate today!

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E | NY24

WFP video shoot this Saturday

You're invited: We're shooting an anti-war ad in Prospect Park on Saturday morning, and the ad is going to feature WFP supporters singing and lip syncing in a group to a classic peace song by Pete Seeger. So we want you to come!

RSVP online or with your name and phone number to Betsy Nagler.

Here are the details:

• WHEN: Saturday, September 23, 9:30am - 12 noon (breakfast will be available)
• WHO: Anyone who wants to send a message against the war.
• WHERE: The Peninsula in Prospect Park.
• PRINTABLE MAP: http://www.workingfamiliesparty.org/takebackcongress/videoshootmap.html
  
• DIRECTIONS:
  

Entering on the Southwest/Prospect Park Southwest side of the park:

By Public Transportation:

• F Train to Ft Hamilton Parkway - Exit at Greenwood Ave end of train. Walk southeast on Greenwood toward the Park. Make a left on Prospect Park Southwest. Go two blocks to Vanderbilt.
• B-68 Bus along Coney Island Ave/Prospect Park Southwest.
  

By Car:

• From Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges: Take Flatbush Ave to Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Park West exit, make left on Prospect Park Southwest at Bartel Pritchard Circle to Vanderbilt St.
• From BQE: Take BQE to Prospect Expressway, 10th Ave exit. Make left on 11th Ave. Make right on Prospect Park Southwest to Vanderbilt St.

Enter the park at Prospect Park Southwest and Vanderbilt St, walking through Vanderbilt St Playground. Continue roughly straight across West Drive on to Wellhouse Drive. Follow Wellhouse Drive for 5-10 minutes until you see the Peninsula on your right, looking out over the lake.

Entering on the Southeast/Ocean Ave side of the park:

By Car to Wollman Rink parking lot:

• From Manhattan via Manhattan Bridge: Go straight on Flatbush Avenue for about 2 miles until you reach Grand Army Plaza. Go halfway around the circle and continue on Flatbush Ave. (the Brooklyn Public Library will be on your left and the Park on your right). After you pass the Zoo and the Lefferts House on your right, make a right hand turn at the traffic light at Ocean Avenue. Follow Ocean Avenue to the next major intersection, which is Ocean and Parkside Avenues. Make a sharp right into the Park (diagonally across from McDonald's). Proceed slowly on the Park Drive to the flashing light where you make a left into the Wollman Rink Parking Lot.
• From BQE South: Exit at Tillary Street and turn onto Flatbush Avenue. Then follow the above directions: Manhattan via Manhattan Bridge.
• From Staten Island via BQE North: Exit at Atlantic Avenue, making right onto Flatbush Avenue. Then follow the above directions: Manhattan via Manhattan Bridge.
  

Walk north from parking lot, past the Rink, and continue around the lake (it will be on your left) until you reach the Peninsula. About a 10 minute walk.

By Public Transportation:

• Q, S or B Train to Prospect Park station - Exit at Lincoln Rd end of the train.
• B-41 bus to Flatbush Ave. and Ocean Ave.
• B-43 bus to Ocean Ave. and Lincoln Rd.
• B-48 bus to Lincoln Rd.

Walk north-west up Lincoln Rd, crossing Ocean Avenue to enter the park. Make a right on East Drive, then a left on Wellhouse Drive (the first semi-paved road on your left). After 10-15 minutes, the Peninsula will appear on your left, looking out over the lake.

NOTE: THERE IS NO DRIVING ALLOWED WITHIN THE PARK ON WEEKENDS EXCEPT TO ACCESS THE WOLLMAN RINK PARKING LOT

See you Saturday!

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E

Why New York City Needs Industry

[I presented the following testimony at the City Council on September 18 in support of Resolution 141, which would create a new zoning category, Industrial Employment Districts, to protect New York's remaining 230,000 industrial jobs. While the specific zoning changes are somewhat technical, the testimony focuses on the larger issue of why the City needs to do more to preserve industry. I'm posting it here to help explain why the WFP takes industrial retention throughout the state so seriously, and point out some of the specific problems facing industry in New York City.]

Chairman Avella, Councilmember Katz, other distinguished members of the Council. Thank you for allowing the Working Families Party to offer our testimony in support of Resolution 141.

I am the Policy Director of the Working Families Party, a community-labor political party that has been active in New York City for the past eight years. All of you know the WFP; most of you have run on our ballot line. And you know that our core commitment is to good jobs for New York’s working families.

In our opinion, Res. 141 is an important step forward in preserving and creating good industrial jobs here in New York City. It is supported by many of the unions and community groups affiliated with the WFP. We urge you to pass it promptly.

Industrial retention is a long-standing concern for us in the WFP. We were here in April 2005 to urge a vote against the proposed rezoning of industrial areas in Greenpoint-Williamsburg. Before that, we were here to testify in support of Intro. 242, which would create a Business Relocation Fund to discourage irresponsible conversion of industrial buildings to residential use and offset the costs of relocation for industrial businesses. We opposed the rezoning in Hunters Point, and supported giving the Council power to review decisions by the BSA to grant variances in industrial zones. Those of you who have sought the WFP endorsement may recall questions from us on many of these issues.

So preserving New York City’s industry has long been important to the Working Families Party, and it will continue to be a central issue for us in the future. There are several reasons for this.

• Industry is important to our affiliates. Several of our affiliated unions – most notably UNITE HERE – represent large numbers of industrial workers. We stand with them 100 percent in their fight to protect their members’ jobs. And for community groups, especially those representing immigrants, industrial jobs are often their members’ best chance to enter the middle class.
• Industry is a powerful engine of job creation. True, industry represents a relatively small fraction of the city’s employment today. But according to the New York State Department of Labor, manufacturing has an employment multiplier of 3.04, meaning that for every manufacturing job created, two additional jobs are created in other sectors.[1] Similarly, every manufacturing job lost costs us two additional jobs. By contrast, leisure and hospitality – to pick one example – has a multiplier of only 1.5, meaning that each job creates only half a job in other sectors. Clearly, an economic development strategy that focuses on tourism will deliver less bang for the buck than one that also addresses the needs of industry.
• Industry is important to a robust city economy. In recent years, New York has become highly dependent on a handful of sectors, especially finance, insurance and real estate, or FIRE. This has left us vulnerable to the ups and downs in the stock market. Just a few years ago, with the end of the dot-com bubble, we saw how easily an economic monoculture goes from boom to bust. A more diverse economic base will help us better weather the next financial downturn.

But without action to preserve our dwindling stock of industrial space, New York will continue losing industrial jobs. During the 1990s, the United States as a whole saw manufacturing employment decline by 3 percent, but New York City lost a full third – 33 percent – of its manufacturing jobs. Over the same period, national employment in wholesale trade, another key industrial sector, increased by 13 percent in the nation as a whole, but declined by 15 percent in New York City. These losses were not inevitable. Those industrial businesses that could easily relocate, or that had no compelling reason to be in New York City, have already left. Those who remain can succeed here, and want to be here. The problem is a lack of stable industrial space.

Rezoning of industrial areas for commercial and residential uses, with the accompanying increased rents and real-estate speculation, has been a, perhaps the, major contributor to the decline of industry in New York City. Yet to the extent the City has attempted to preserve industrial jobs, its tools of choice have been tax incentives and subsidies. Most manufacturers and industrial-retention advocates agree that these approaches cannot be effective in the face of an absolute shortage of suitable industrial space. If the City does not simultaneously take steps to preserve industrial zoning in areas of major industrial employment, subsidies to industrial employers simply contribute to the increase in rents and do nothing to preserve jobs.

Res. 141 will help resolve this dilemma by creating a new zoning category of Industrial Employment Districts. These districts will strengthen and clarify the rules for existing industrial-zoned areas where there are high concentrations of jobs, giving businesses the security they need to invest and expand. And they will reduce the temptation for property owners to jack up rents, sign short leases, or hold property vacant, in the hopes of converting to a non-industrial use. By encouraging investment by industrial businesses, it will help create good jobs for New York’s working families.

I am not going to go into the details of the bill, except on one point. We believe it should be amended to map those areas currently included in Industrial Business Zones. Other than that, I’ll leave the details to other speakers, who are better versed on the specifics. Suffice to say, we at the Working Families party have given Re. 141 careful consideration and support its prompt passage.

---

[1] New York State Department of Labor, “Understanding the Multiplier Effect,” Employment in New York State, April 2005

Count on Me kickoff

Big business interests have influence in Albany because they write big checks. Until we get real campaign finance reform, working families have to rely on another way to have our voices heard: with our votes.

Today, the Working Families Party is launching a 7-week drive to identify 200,000 progressive voters who want a more progressive New York. We're calling it our "Count on Me" campaign.

We can give Eliot Spitzer a clear public mandate for progressive change if 200,000 of us vote together for him for Governor on Row E, the Working Families Party ballot line.

Can we count on you to vote on Row E? Sign the Count on Me pledge at:

http://www.workingfamiliesparty.org/countonme/blog.html

Here are four things that we want Eliot Spitzer to start working on when he officially takes office on January 1:

• Universal health care
• Living wage jobs
• Fair funding for every public school
• Real campaign finance reform

And we want votes on Row E to send Congress a message to bring the troops home from Iraq.

Be part of something big. If we can count on you to give Eliot a mandate for progressive change and to send a message to Congress, then sign the Count on Me pledge here:

http://www.workingfamiliesparty.org/countonme/blog.html

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Vote Row E | Count on Me

Western New York kicks things off

The Western New York WFP chapter kicked off their election work over the Labor Day weekend with the Labor Day Parade float pictured on the right (click the picture to see a bigger version). Here's a report from the chapter:

"Congrats on a successful event! We went above and beyond to bring both celebration and solidarity to the labor movement! Roger Cook deserves some serious accolades for visioning the ballot box & hand that cast a ballot on Row E; Frank Hotchkiss and Bob Chadwick for engineering it; Micaela Shapiro, Eric Walker, and Rebecca Town for getting us started; Mike Mottern and Carol Alt for painting; Bill Ervin for the Flat bed truck connection; and Jim Duncan for pulling us all together for such a successful Labor Day Parade! We really stood out! Thanks to all the members who marched with us and wore hard hats and welder's masks supplied by Dawn and Frank. And a special shout out to Dave Chudy and his brother, Chuckles the Clown!"

Find the chapter nearest you and get involved today.

I'll finish it off with more Labor Day pictures from the Western New York chapter.


Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Vote Row E

Cheney and Bush campaign for Meier, Sweeney, Kuhl

Republicans Ray Meier (NY-24), John Sweeney (NY-20) and Randy Kuhl (NY-29) are calling in political favors from their friend George Bush. Bush has dispatched his wife to campaign for Ray Meier and John Sweeney and sent Dick Cheney to campaign with Randy Kuhl (Cheney has already been campaigning with Ray Meier).

None of this should come as a surprise: Ray Meier, John Sweeney and Randy Kuhl are tied to the hip with George Bush and Dick Cheney.

If Cheney and Bush are going to come to New York to campaign, I'd like to see them talk about the issues. But what do you think the chances are that they'll agree to drop their opposition to raising the minimum wage or agree to stop weakening Social Security?

Yeah, I don't think so either.

All this raises the question, does the country really need more George Bush yes-men in Congress? If we want real representation in D.C. then we need to elect new people to Congress. Help elect Mike Arcuri, Eric Massa and Kirsten Gillibrand: volunteer or donate.

And, in the comments, share your ideas for welcoming Bush and Cheney to New York.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E | NY24 | NY20 | NY29

DMI on making development subsidies effective

If development and urban planning interest you, the Drum Major Institute is hosting a panel discussion on making sure economic development subsidies are effective next Monday morning. It's a hot issue that plays out in a number of development issues in New York City and around the state. Here's more from DMI -

"It's time to ask and answer some important questions: How can our economic development policy also reduce poverty? How do we choose which businesses need to be supported with subsidies? How do we ensure that corporations fulfill their promises? How do we do all of this while spending New Yorkers' tax dollars fairly and wisely? And, ultimately, what kind of New York do we want for New Yorkers?"

The featured guest is Minnesota State Senator John Hottinger, who sponsored a groundbreaking Minnesota law instituting new standards of transparency and accountability for state and local economic development subsidies. Panelists include:

• Errol Louis, a New York Daily News columnist who writes about subsidy accountability.
• State Assemblyman Richard L. Brodsky (AD 92), Chairman of the Standing Committee on Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions, which oversees the state's public and private corporations.
• Adrianne Shropshire, a DMI Fellow and Executive Director of Jobs with Justice.

The panel is next Monday, September 18th, from 8am until 10am (a light breakfast will be served) at The Harvard Club (27 West 44th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues). RSVP by emailing dmi@drummajorinstitute.org or by calling 212-909-9663.

2006 primary election congratulations

The day after the primary, our congratulations go out to all our endorsed candidates. Here are some victories to enjoy, and a big thank you:

Congratulations to John Hall in NY-19 and Yvette Clarke in NY-11, who won contested Congressional primaries.

Congratulations to the winners of the closely contested primaries, including Alec Brook-Krasny (winner with 50.83% of the vote) and Antoine Thompson (winner with 53.36% of the vote).

Congratulations to the Suffolk County WFP chapter for their big night.

Congratulations to Ken Diamondstone, for running a close and competitive race.

And a big thank you to the chapter members and volunteers who got up early and came out to work the polls, knock on doors, make phone calls, and generally get out the vote. Sign up to join us in November when we do it again.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election

Vote in today's primary election

Today is the New York Primary Election. You can see the list of WFP endorsements online.

I'll be working the polls all day for Ken Diamondstone for State Senate, that's why the early morning post.

Be sure to take the time to vote today.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election

A moment of silence

A moment of silence

A moment of silence

A moment of silence

Connor endangered, Diamondstone nears win

Progressive Democrat Ken Diamondstone is moving closer to an upset in Tuesday's Democratic primary for State Senate. Diamondstone is running for State Senate in the 25th district, which includes parts of Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Tribeca, Chinatown, the Lower East Side, Soho and Greenwich Village.

Errol Louis has added Diamondstone's opponent, incumbent Marty Connor, to the short list of endangered incumbents. From the Daily News article:

"Diamondstone has begun sending out mailings that pound Connor for, among other things, his past alliances with the likes of Lenora Fulani of the Independence Party and his close ties to disgraced ex-Assemblyman Clarence Norman (for whom Connor presided over sham judicial conventions where preselected party favorites were named to the state Supreme Court bench).

The key outside factors that make an upset likely are an endorsement of Diamondstone by The New York Times and aggressive help from the Working Families Party, which has made the race a priority for Tuesday."

Be part of an upset in the making - email Patrick Van Keerbergen to volunteer at the polls on Tuesday.

Update: More on this upset in the making in the New York Times, the Politicker, and the Courier-Life.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election

NY-24: Mike Arcuri up by 8 in poll

A new Constituent Dynamics poll (pdf) (more here) shows D-WF candidate Mike Arcuri leading Dick Cheney-clone Ray Meier by 49% to 41% in New York's 24th Congressional District race.

A Post-Standard article on the race reinforces the challenge and opportunity before us:

"Republicans hold an enrollment advantage in the district, but they face an electorate that's been supportive of national Democrats in recent years. It also includes a large number of independent voters."

In the same article, a Republican official admits trying to sneak Meier into office because he's out of step with the district:

"Meier will appeal to the same grass-roots, conservative voters who gave Boehlert [the retiring Congressman in the district] more opposition than the Democrats during his last two re-election bids."

We can win this one if we work for it. Anyone around the state can volunteer online, and if you're in the district then email me to ask for a lawn sign.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E | NY24

Working Families Party endorses John Hall for Congress in NY-19

The Working Families Party endorses John Hall for Congress in New York's 19th Congressional District and urges a vote for John Hall in the upcoming Democratic Primary on Tuesday, September 12.

From Westchester-Putnam WFP Chapter Chair Pat Welsh:

"John Hall is the best choice for Congress to represent working families and the issues we care about. John is the strongest voice for change on health care, energy, jobs and the economy. We urge Democrats to vote for John Hall in the upcoming Democratic Primary on Tuesday, September 12."

Working and middle-class families recognize the WFP endorsement as a seal of approval for the
candidates that receive it - confirmation that they are the best choice to fight for them on issues like health care, energy, jobs and the economy. Vote for John Hall this Tuesday, September 12, and help Take Back Congress!

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E | NY19

Diamondstone's Got the Big Mo

One of the WFP's favorite candidates in this cycle is community activist and affordable housing maven Ken Diamondstone. He's running an insurgent campaign against incumbent Sen. Martin Connor in the 25th district (parts of Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, Williamburg, Greenpoint, Tribeca, Chinatown, the Lower East Side, Soho and Greenwich Village).

WFP members are gravitating towards Ken's message of change the same way the New York Times did (Dorothy Siegel, George Albro, I shouldn't list too many names), and doing what they do best -- mobilizing for election day.

I think I smell an upset.

One of the real issues in the campaign (on the Brooklyn side of the district) is the proposed construction of luxury housing in Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP). Connor's for it. Diamondstone's against -- and so is the community. It's not Atlantic Yards. Call this story "on the waterfront." But this primary election is shaping up as a referendum on an issue. And isn't that what they're supposed to be about.

So, if you're in the neighborhood, check out this BBP-related campaign event:

WHAT: Park Party for the Candidate Who Can Get Us a REAL PARK!
(party/rally/fundraiser/meet and greet the candidate)

WHEN: Thursday, September 7, 6:30-8:30pm

WHERE: 140 Pacific Street (between Henry and Clinton streets in Cobble Hill)

Question for everyone: When was the last time a New York State Senator was defeated in their own primary?

NY-24 Labor Day Highlights

This weekend, Take Back Congress volunteers were at the Central New York Labor Council Labor Day Picnic. Mike Arcuri talked to over 250 people at the picnic about how George Bush Republicans are taking the nation in the wrong direction, and how he wants to get us back on track. Then Rep. Maurice Hinchey (NY-22) told the crowd that he was doing everything he could to help elect Mike Arcuri to Congress, and he asked the audience to do the same.

Tompkins County Legislator Nathan Shinagawa received the Friends of Labor Award for his work passing a resolution in support of Fair Share for Health Care at the County level.

Tastiest part of the picnic? Jello molds!

Mark your calendars: on September 12 at 2 pm, Mike Arcuri will debate Dick Cheney-clone Ray Meier in a debate sponsored by the Herkimer County Farm Bureau. The debate will focus on "pressing national agricultural issues such as the 2007 Farm Bill, immigration reform, environmental regulations and dairy pricing." I'd expect ethanol and converting corn feed crops into energy crops will also be part of the debate.

If you want to come with us to the debate or can help let other people know about it beforehand - or if you want a lawn sign - then email me or volunteer online.

What points should Mike Arcuri be sure to make in the debate? What do you think the candidates need to talk about?

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E | NY24

NY-20: Gillibrand TV ad on Iraq

Kirsten Gillibrand has just come out with a TV ad calling for a new strategy in Iraq. It's worth reading more about what Gillibrand has to say about Iraq. Her opponent, incumbent John Sweeney, still supports George Bush's failed plan to "stay the course" - a strategy that is leading to civil war in Iraq.

You can see the Gillibrand ad online, here's the script:

"Chaos and civil war in Iraq. Congressman Sweeney's solution: Stay the course. Sweeney supports President Bush's Iraq policy. He voted with Bush 100 percent of the time on Iraq. Enough. Our brave troops deserve a strategy for success, but we won'’t be able to change what is happening there [in Iraq] until we change what is happening here [in Congress].

I'’m Kirsten Gillibrand, and I approve this message, because we need a new direction in Iraq."

What do you think of this ad?

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E | NY20

Charles Barkley for Governor!

... of Alabama, that is.

The former NBA great is talking about getting into politics in his home state. "My platform is very simple: I'm going to improve public school systems and make neighborhoods safe," Barkley told The Hartford Courant. "Politicians do a great job of making you argue about things that aren't important. They want you to argue about the war in Iraq, about gay marriage and immigration. I'm against the war, but I support the troops. If gay people want to get married, that's none of my business. Immigrants are great people, working their behinds off. Really, America is divided by economics. It's the rich against the poor. And the gap is widening. We've got to find a way to uplift poor people. It shouldn't be the haves vs. the have-nots."

Couldn't have said it better ourselves. Barkley also thinks that "the Republicans are terrible and the Democrats aren't much better." If you want to run on the WFP line, Charles, just give us a call.

Campaigns & Elections covers Take Back Congress

From Campaigns & Elections: Inside Politics: People and Organizations (no link):

"New York's Working Families Party, one of the state's third parties, has named Peter Hatch as Director of Congressional Repo Operations. Hatch will work with Democratic and WFP-supported candidates to help them win Republican Congressional seats in November. He worked for John Edward's presidential campaign in New Hampshire and New York, and for the Kerry-Edwards ticket in Florida."

Is the 2006 election in your Labor Day weekend plans? Volunteer or donate

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E

NY-24 Highlights for late August

The Working Families Party in New York's 24th Congressional District is working to Take Back Congress by electing District Attorney Mike Arcuri to an open Congressional seat. Here's an update from the field:

Take Back Congress volunteers campaigned at the Trumansburg Fair and got a good response. Phonebanks are starting up soon in Ithaca, Auburn and Utica and lawn signs are coming next week.

If you want a lawn sign or want to volunteer then email me or volunteer online.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E | NY24

Sweeney reelect below 50%

A Sienna Poll in New York's 20th District (crosstabs here) shows incumbent John Sweeney's reelect number down to 48%. An incumbent with a reelect number (that's the percentage of people polled who think he should be reelected) below 50% is in trouble.

The poll shows the race at Sweeney 53% to Gillibrand 34%. That's a marked improvement for Gillibrand over a June poll that had her at 27%, while Sweeney's standing still (he was at 51%).

Gillibrand leads among Democrats 67% to 23%. Sweeney leads among Republicans 73% to 13% and he currently leads among independents 49% to 37%.

The challenge is to reach more people with Kirsten Gillibrand's positive message of change and increase her name recognition. As more people get to know Kirsten Gillibrand, the trend we're already seeing in the polling will increase and her support will grow. A recent MSNBC article lays out some of the opportunities and challenges in this race. The article also talks about Sweeney's worries in the race - particularly his fear that his blind loyalty to George Bush will be exposed. We need to take this chance and run with it.

I'm not going to kid anyone: there's a lot of work to do here. These races aren't going to fall into our laps, we're going to have to work to win them. But Sweeney's low reelect number shows that if we raise the money and do the hard work to get our message out then we can win.

Now is the time to get involved - volunteer or donate!

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E | NY20

Katrina Townhall Meeting update

Here's a report from Alexandra Tager on Monday night's Katrina Townhall Meeting.

It was apparent last night at the event commemorating Katrina that the level of need folks in New Orleans still face continues to go unaddressed. The lack of a coherent plan for helping people put their lives back together is a day to day insult to a population that has already endured endless trauma.

Survivors who have come to New York are struggling to keep it together, either emotionally or financially, sometimes both. The trauma sustained does not just melt away like a flesh wound, it festers and debilitates long after the fact.

WFP State Co-Chair Bertha Lewis (pictured at right), also executive director of New York ACORN, gave a detailed accounting of the dearth of a coherent government response, even to this day. The public school system in New Orleans has been decimated, a majority of the teachers fired, and most of the schools operating today are charters - read privately run. Funny, didn't the Bush administration want to do this with vouchers? People have lost their addresses and thus their ability to receive their Social Security checks, so they have been cut from the rolls. Funny, didn't the Bush administration want to do this too?

Jeffrey Volk (pictured left), a former Bush fundraiser, came to speak. He's on a rampage against the current administration, after having been caught in the eye of the chaos while depositing his daughter at Tulane and witnessing the horror. He told of his Jewish grandparents being rescued by the US Army at the end of World War II, and his incomprehension at the fact that the same US Army couldn't be marshalled to rescue it's own people.

He was not present last night to tell a personal sob story he said, he was there because he had vowed to go anywhere, to talk to any audience, to decry "the disgrace" that is the Bush administration. Talk about an epiphany.

There's a tremendous amount of disillusionment about government, a corrosive lack of faith in politicians, which illustrates the loss for all of us, whether we lived in New Orleans or not. People just don't believe that politicians can or will do anything for them.

One of the most consistent remarks among survivors however, and the most heartening, is that even though they don't believe in government, they believe in people, the goodness of nameless individuals who jumped at the chance to help, and have continued to do so. It's a solid lesson for all of us.

The Working Families Party has a big challenge ahead of it - as does any one of us who cares about having a collective conscience - to restore faith in government or, rather, restore government to an institution that deserves our faith. Maybe the way to start that process is by putting those same good people in government.

Maybe we need to look to ourselves, look to our neighbors, join proverbial hands, and work together to improve government. There has never been a more crucial time to come together with one of our most powerful weapons - the power of the multitude raising their voices in tandem - to hold politicians accountable to the concerns of poor and working people and change the politicians we have for the ones we want.

More pictures below:

Kevin Powell, one of the event's organizers, riffed on Fannie Lou Hamer's famous quote "I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired."

City Councilmembers Tish James and Charles Barron fired up the crowd with their take on Katrina, economic injustice and what we can do about it.

Thanks again to everyone who came.

Technorati tag: Working Families Party | Katrina

Images by Michael Scott Jones

Poverty is Up in NY. Does Anyone Care?

The WFP issued this press release earlier today.

THE WORKING FAMILIES PARTY

For Immediate Release: August 29, 2006

New Census Data: Poverty Up in NY

WFP Urges Candidates (including Our Own) to Focus on Issue

NEW YORK, NY -- Reacting to the release of new census data that shows poverty up in New York State in 2004-2005, the Working Families Party called on candidates for state office, including those that it has endorsed, to address the issue of poverty in New York.

According to the Census Bureau, the poverty rate increased again in New York State, rising from 14.6% in 2003-2004 to 14.8% in 2004-2005.

"It's a stinging reminder of the class divide here at home, on the first anniversary of Hurrican Katrina, to learn that poverty is rising here in New York. More than 2.5 million New Yorkers living at or under the official poverty level, and millions more struggle to make ends meet. Voters should be hearing more from the candidates, including those we've been endorsed, about their plans to ensure that every New Yorker has access to a living wage job," said Dan Cantor, executive director of the WFP.

The Working Families Party has endorsed Eliot Spitzer for Governor, David Paterson for Lieutenant Governor, Alan Hevesi for State Comptroller and Andrew Cuomo for State Attorney General.

###

Katrina Townhall Meeting tonight in NYC

The Working Families Party, ACORN and Kevin Powell are holding a Townhall Meeting on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and why we need to Take Back Congress. Admission is free and no RSVP is needed.

Monday, August 28th, Doors open at 6:30 PM

Hanson Place Central United Methodist Church
15 Hanson Place, between Ashland and St. Felix in downtown Brooklyn

Take the B, D, M, N, Q, R, 2, 3, 4, 5, or LIRR to Atlantic Avenue Station

Seating is on a first come first served basis

No one alive today will forget Katrina and what it revealed about our society. Nor should we.

What can we do in New York a year later?

Tonight, we'll gather together to grieve at the anniversary of our nation's loss and talk about taking back Congress - which is this year's battle in the long march for progress.

More here: http://www.workingfamiliesparty.org/katrina

Technorati tag: Working Families Party | Katrina

Gillibrand speaks out on Iraq

Kirsten Gillibrand is taking incumbent John Sweeney to task for his unwavering devotion to the Bush agenda. She's running a TV ad, called "Disagree", where she disagress with the idea that "we're making good progress in Iraq." Gillibrand says, "I'll stand up to this President when he's wrong."

Gillibrand, like a growing number of Americans, is calling for a real timeline for withdrawing American troops from Iraq. She's willing to debate Sweeney on the issue and let voters make up their minds.

But Sweeney keeps quoting Karl Rove's talking points and hiding from a debate. You've got to ask, if Sweeney actually believes what he's saying then why is he afraid to debate?

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E | NY20

New York 24 is #11

The Congressional race in CD24 is drawing national attention:

"National Journal, an online magazine that covers national political issues, rates this race the 11th most competitive in the nation.

'Most recent numbers we've seen have Arcuri up by a few points over Meier . . . where are the GOP [poll] numbers to respond?'
...
President Bush's sagging popularity has hurt Republican candidates, particularly in this region of the nation."

So how is campaigning going for both candidates?

While the most recent poll in the race shows Mike Arcuri leading by four points, his right-wing opponent Ray Meier has admitted he's having a hard time relating to voters. Here's Meier in his own words:

"People around here are anxious and concerned not just about the national state of affairs, but also their personal state of affairs. As a Republican candidate, the challenge is to show you have even a clue about what their lives are like."

But Meier and the Republican Party hierarchy aren't worried; they're counting on their stealth candidate sneaking into office with help from other right-wingers in the district:

"Ray will bring a huge base of conservative voters"

We need to get the word out so Meier can't steal this race with his phony double-talk. Let's Take Back Congress - volunteer or donate

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E | NY24

1,000 Google ad ideas

Last week I put out a call for ideas for what Google ad keywords people searching for election information will use (Micah Sifry has more - thanks for the kind words!). The idea is to use those keywords to buy Google ads that support WFP-endorsed House candidates running for Republican-held seats here in New York.

The response from people emailing me ideas was overwhelming - I got over 1,000 ideas for election search terms!

So now we're moving to the next step: raising the money we need to start running Google ads. After Labor Day - the traditional start of the campaign season when more people start paying attention to the candidates - we'll start running Google ads to test the keywords everyone sent in and see what works best. As we move closer to the election, we'll focus on the most popular search terms.

If you want to help Take Back Congress than please make a donation to put these Google ads online today!

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E

Election roundup for mid-August

In the newest National Journal ranking of competitive House races, the Arcuri race in CD24 has moved up to #11 from #16, the Gillibrand race in CD20 has moved up to #24, and the Mejias race in CD3 has been added to the list. That means - once again - that New York is the swing state, with more competitive House races than any other state in the country. If we're going to take back the House, we need to win here in New York.

And we can win. Polling on a generic House ballot continues to show Republican candidates decidedly behind as George Bush's unpopularity drags his Congressional allies down with him. Larry Sabato is now predicting that House Republicans will lose 12-15 seats - and the momentum is on our side.

The fundraising numbers bear this out. This quote is from a Washington Post article on the success challengers are having in running for Republican-held seats:

"Of this year's 27 most vulnerable incumbents, 14 face challengers who have raised at least $1 million, according to FEC reports. At this point in 2004, no Democratic challenger had raised $1 million. What's more, all but one of the 27 Democratic challengers has raised at least $400,000 -- a figure that many election experts consider a minimum price of entry for candidates hoping to mount a credible campaign. Taking into account all House races, 36 Democratic challengers have cleared the $400,000 threshold.
...
For political finance experts, the data are striking because they show that the usual fundraising advantage of incumbents -- who tend to have more access to special-interest money -- is durable but not impervious to competing trends. This year, these include a highly motivated base of Democratic activists and low approval ratings for President Bush and the Republican leadership in Congress."

You can see more FEC numbers online.

But we haven't won yet. You can expect to see a lot of Karl Rove-style attacks as embattled Republican candidates open up a barrage of negative attacks and say anything to smear their opponents.

It's going to be a hard fight, but working together we can do it. Let's Take Back Congress - volunteer or donate

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E

Gillibrand gains ground in August

WFP-endorsed candidate Kirsten Gillibrand is gathering support and momentum as she campaigns across the 20th District.

Gillibrand has been endorsed by the state AFL-CIO and the New York State United Teachers. She's got a new ad out. And she's got a plan to cut our country's dependence on foreign oil.

As Gillibrand campaigns on the issues, her opponent, Republican incumbent John Sweeney, is resorting to more negative campaigning. Gillibrand's a fifth generation upstate New Yorker, while Sweeney didn't live in the district when he was first elected to Congress. But the Karl Rove playbook says attack your opponent's strengths, so Sweeney is smearing Gillibrand with a radio ad that pretends he doesn't know where she lives.

And a Republican firm is doing a round of push polling, so expect more negative attacks from Sweeney.

Sweeney's being investigated for violating House ethics rules and Sweeney's connection to GOP fixer Jack Abramoff is coming to light, so expect a dirty campaign as he tries to distract voters.

But Kirsten Gillibrand isn't sitting still while Sweeney smears her; she's defending herself - you can hear her online, here's the script:

"Have you heard Congressman John Sweeney trying to beat up on Kirsten Gillibrand? His attacks aren't true. The Albany Times Union calls Kirsten an Albany native and said, 'Ms. Gillibrand and her family live in Columbia County and nowhere else.' The Glens Falls Post-Star called Sweeney's claims false and disingenuous, and said, 'It's a non-issue. Get past it.'

So why is John Sweeney lying? Maybe because he doesn't want you to remember that he's been one of President Bush's biggest supporters in the Congress. He doesn't want you to know about his lockstep support for the Bush energy plan that rewards big oil companies instead of reducing the price of gas at the pump.

And maybe Sweeney doesn't want to talk about the fact that he supports the president's failed 'Stay the Course' strategy in Iraq. A rubberstamp for the failed Bush agenda on gas prices and Iraq. Now we know why John Sweeney would rather tell lies about Kirsten Gillibrand than tell the truth about his own record."

Let's Take Back Congress - volunteer or donate

Technorati tags: Working Families Party 2006 Election Take Back the House Vote Row E NY20

Sweeney plays dumb

John Sweeney is playing dumb, hoping that voters won't know any better:

"Sweeney has said he would have preferred legislation that dealt exclusively with the minimum wage issue, but Democrats as well as Republicans were not willing to support that."

John Sweeney knows that's a flat out lie - progressives in the House want to raise the minimum wage without any payoffs and introduced legislation to do just that.

What Sweeney's trying to hide is that he didn't support raising the minimum wage unless he got a political payoff.

Ray Meier is trying to pull the same trick - Meier, a right-winger in the mold of Dick Cheney, opposed raising the minimum wage as a State Senator, and now he thinks that before you raise the minimum wage you first need to give the 8,000 richest families in America a $260+ billion inheritance tax cut.

The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle deserves the last word:

"Voters shouldn't be fooled by Republicans on the congressional campaign trail who claim that they tried to raise the minimum wage this year. What they did was tie a wage increase to a doomed bill that included a controversial and unwise cut in the estate tax.
...
It has not escaped voters that, since the last federal minimum wage increase in 1997, members of Congress have raised their pay by more than $31,000 a year. Republicans, who have blocked Democratic efforts to raise the minimum wage, know that a vast majority of Americans favor an increase. A Wells Fargo-Gallup poll taken in March showed that even 84 percent of small business owners, whose struggles are often cited as a reason not to raise the minimum wage, said that the minimum wage would have no effect on them.
...
Americans want to see working people earn a fair wage. Republicans, who are fighting to retain control of Congress, should stop playing politics and provide one."

Let's Take Back Congress - volunteer or donate

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E | NY20

Peter King's Profile Must Go

Newsday reports today:

House Homeland Security Chairman Peter King has endorsed requiring people of "Middle Eastern and South Asian" descent to undergo additional security checks because of their ethnicity and religion.

NY NAACP president Hazel Dukes calls it right:

"We are all concerned about safety but to target any group for nationality or religion is unconstitutional. African-Americans understand racial profiling. We won't support any targeting of a group. The practice is just un-American."

It's time for Congressman King to go.

Long Islanders have a choice. His name is Dave Mejias.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E | NY3

What would you google?

If I asked you to look something up, how would do it? If you're like millions of Americans the answer is simple - you google it!

Finding out about candidates running for offices is no different. Thousands of people will be googling the election this fall before they vote.

We want to bring our advertising online with Google ads, and we want help shaping our strategy. We need to know what phrases people are likely to use when they search for election information.

So here's the question - if you wanted to know more about the Congressional race where you live, what would you type into Google?

Post your ideas in the comments section or email them to me.

What are Google ads? Google ads are the text advertisements that are displayed to the right of Google search results. To see what I mean, look at the "sponsored links" on the right side of the page for Google searches on "John Kerry" or "John McCain". Google sells those spots based on the phrase being searched on; so you purchase certain phrases, and when someone does a Google search on that phrase they see your ad.

As the election draws closer, people are going to go online to find more information.

They'll go to Google to search for information about the local candidates and who they want to support - and if we figure out the right search phrases they will see an ad telling them who the Working Families Party has endorsed. They'll find out more about the WFP and our endorsed candidate, and we're one step closer to winning the election.

This is the fastest-growing, and some say the most effective, form of online advertising. That's why Google ads are emerging as a key way to reach people looking for more information about the Congressional election.

This is an ad war we need to compete in.

The more people we have thinking about this, the more and better ideas we'll come up with. The comments section is open for your ideas, or you can email me.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E

Republican incumbents abandon sinking ship

It's not just Republican voters anymore, now Republican candidates are turning away from their party. Step 1 is to disown the Republican Party. Here are a few of the Republican incumbents in New York who are trying to recast themselves:

• Vito Fossella in CD13
• Sue Kelly in CD19
• James Walsh in CD25
• Tom Reynolds in CD26

And there's more: a quick search for the word "Republican" on John Sweeney's campaign web site comes up with 7 mentions. The same search of Kirsten Gillibrand's site finds 28 mentions of the word "Democrat."

That's one way to tell who's feeling confident.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E

Arcuri edges Meier in August poll

A new poll in New York's closest Congressional campaign for an open House seat in CD24 shows Working Families candidate Mike Arcuri edging Ray Meier. Arcuri holds a four point lead over Meier, with the poll also showing that 68% think the country is on the wrong track, compared to 21% who say the country is on the right track.

These poll results fit in squarely with nationwide polls showing that Republicans are going to lose seats this election, and are in danger of losing control of Congress.

But if that's going to happen we need to win the close races here in New York. This poll is good news, but winning a House seat from another party is never easy. The Arcuri race and the rest of New York's Congressional races will go down to the wire.

Make a donation or volunteer to help us Take Back Congress.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E | NY24

Congressman Sweeney's Fib Watch

I was thinking someone should do this, and who better the Capital District's premier blogger, DIA:

Not surprisingly we haven't heard many public comments from John Sweeney in the past few months. But his spokesperson Maureen O’Brien Donovan (known to friends and foes as Morod) has been hard at work "spokesing" for her man. Which is good. That is what she is paid to do. However, she has a problem of pretty much lying every time she opens her mouth. I may have some time on my hands (thanks to John Sweeney and George Bush's economy...things are a bit slow) so I'm thinking of counting up all the Lies of Morod. The latest installment.

Sweeney campaign spokeswoman Maureen O’Brien Donovan, who earlier this week insisted to me that the congressman’s campaign doesn’t use trackers and accused Gillibrand’s tracker/intern of stalking Sweeney, didn’t deny these two guys are connected to the campaign.

So we'll start the count at one Morodism. Feel free to join in the fun.

That's it: the counter is started. We'll watch it rise, and please go post at www.democracyinalbany.com if you catch the Congressman and his staff in a lie.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E | NY20

Cringe-worthy: Republicans debate

Ohmigod. Didn't watch but just read the wire story of the McCarland-Spencer (uh, that's John Spencer and K.T. McFarland, two New Yorkers who apparently want to become U.S. Senator) debate.

Holy cow. This must have been unpleasant. If anyone watched it (not expecting a lot of comments here) please confirm whether it was as awful to watch as it is to read:

Kathleen Troia "KT" McFarland, a former Ronald Reagan-era Pentagon official, immediately accused Spencer of engaging in adultery and nepotism and said it spoke to his lack of credibility to serve in office.

"That's something that, in 1998, the Republican Party impeached President Clinton for exactly the same behavior," McFarland said to gasps from the audience. "If you'd been in the military, you would have been court-martialed. If you worked in the federal government, you would have been subject to indictment."

Spencer angrily shot back, saying McFarland had unfairly insulted his children and lied about his record.

"You have no way of knowing my private life," he said. "I say to you, Mrs. McFarland, shame on you. Shame on you as a mother of children and a woman yourself for talking about my wife and my family that way."
...
So much time was spent discussing Spencer's private life that Carter finally turned the tables, asking McFarland whether disclosures about her own messy past _ she accused her father in 1992 of sexually abusing her as a child _ were relevant to her fitness to serve.
...
When asked to pose questions to each other, McFarland cited instances when Spencer had threatened to kill Gov. George Pataki and had used ethnic slurs against Italians and Chinese.

"Is this how you plan to conduct yourself?" McFarland asked.

Spencer said he'd apologized for using crude language and for making jokes that fell flat

Uh boy. Fortunately, it's their only debate.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Vote Row E

1199SEIU endorses Mike Arcuri

In CD24, 1199SEIU has endorsed Democratic/WFP candidate Mike Arcuri. 1199 is well respected for their active members who campaign hard for the candidates they endorse and turn out to vote on election day.

New York's closest Congressional race just got closer.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E | NY24

Election roundup for early August

Even over the last week, the chorus of pundits predicting that Democrats will take back Congress has grown.

From the Cook Report:

"The political climate will be extremely hostile to Republican candidates. . . . All of the traditional diagnostic indicators in major national polls taken in the past 10 days show numbers consistent with an electoral rout. . . . In a very large tidal-wave election, as this one appears to be, it would not be unusual to see all toss-ups go to one party, along with a few out of the leaning column as well. Republicans might lose their House majority just in the seats in which they are behind or in which their edge is within a poll's margin of error."

From Larry Sabato:

"Indicators are now suggesting that Republicans are headed for their most serious midterm losses in decades. . . . To be certain, the 2006 midterm election cycle promises to feature the most strongly anti-incumbent mood since 1994 . . . . At this stage, the Crystal Ball is shifting its outlook from a Democratic gain of 6-8 to a Democratic gain of 12-15 seats in the House."

From the Wall Street Journal:

"'It is likely that Republicans lose control of the House,' says Bernadette Budde of Business-Industry Political Action Committee. The biggest danger for Republicans: 'clumps' of defeats in states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York, submerging incumbents who don't now appear vulnerable."

From the Washington Post (poll results here):

"Most Americans describe themselves as being in an anti-incumbent mood heading into this fall's midterm congressional elections, and the percentage of people who approve of their own representative's performance is at the lowest level since 1994, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll."

New York is the swing state, with as many competitive House races as any other state in the nation. And Mike Arcuri's race in CD24 is shaping up to be the closest of the bunch.

From Roll Call (no link):

"With Boehlert out of the picture, Democrats are upbeat about their chances, citing a strong nominee and a favorable environment, including likely November landslides for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and gubernatorial hopeful Eliot Spitzer . . . Arcuri, who will run on the Democratic, Working Families and Independence party lines, presents himself as a moderate who is 'similar to Boehlert.' Like the retiring Republican, he opposes Bush's position on federal funding of stem-cell research, is pro-choice, favors increasing the minimum wage and opposes a ban on gay marriage. . . . If the national political environment were completely neutral, the GOP almost certainly would retain the seat. And Arcuri would have an almost impossible task against Boehlert, if he were seeking another term. But the open seat and the possible Democratic surge in the state and nationally make this a very competitive race. Meier still has an edge, so a Democratic win there definitely would mean GOP control of the House is in deep trouble."

I'll wrap it up with another blurb about our work to Take Back Congress, this one from Crain's Insider (no link):

"Paris Hilton has entered New York politics. A Working Families Party radio ad supporting Democratic congressional hopeful Mike Arcuri blasts a Republican bill in the House that ties a minimum wage hike to a cut in the estate tax, saying the provision is for 'heiresses like Paris Hilton.' Arcuri's opponent, state Sen. Ray Meier, has said he supports the bill. The two are battling to succeed Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, R-New Hartford, who is retiring. The Cook Political Report calls it the state's most competitive House race but rates Meier a slight favorite."

It's going to be a tough fight, but this is our year. Together, we'll win. You can get involved by making calls to support Mike Arcuri (email me to volunteer), making a donation so we have the money we need, and making sure you're on our email list.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E

WFP radio ads in the news

From Hotline (no link):

Hotline: AD WATCH: First Ad Tying Paris Hilton To A Minimum Wage Hike?

The Working Familes Party launched a radio ad 8/3 attacking GOPers for "playing more political games" on behalf of Oneida Co. DA Michael Arcuri (D).

Full Script, "Raise": There they go again. Instead of just raising the minimum wage, the Republicans in Congress are playing more political games. Last week they said they'd raise the minimum wage but here's the catch: it has to be coupled with a big inheritance tax cut for the very rich. Make that the very, very, very rich. Because only the 8,000 wealthiest families in America qualify. While Congressional salaries keep going up and up, it's been nine years since Washington increased the minimum wage. And the Republicans still refuse to raise it unless heiresses like Paris Hilton get a tax cut. That's just not right. This November, vote your values. Vote for Democrat Mike Arcuri on the Working Families Party line. Arcuri supports raising the minimum wage. Health care we can afford. And Social Security we can count on.

Listen to the ad here.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E

Radio ads air this weekend

If you're in CD20 or CD24 be sure to listen to our radio ads (or follow the link to listen online). The ads have started airing and will continue through the weekend.

A big thanks to everyone who donated money to air the ads.

Read more over at Capitol Confidential.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E

Launching minimum wage radio ads

Instead of simply raising the minimum wage, Rep. John Sweeney and the rest of the Republicans in Congress chose to play political games. They want to tie a big estate tax cut for the 8,000 wealthiest families in America to any increase in the minimum wage. That's just not right.

We're rushing radio ads on the air to expose the truth about this travesty. We'll run the ads in the highly competitive 20th and 24th Congressional districts on country and talk radio to support our candidates, Kirsten Gillibrand and Mike Arcuri, who support raising the minimum wage.

We think these ads are important. This wasn't in our original plan, but we need to be in this fight and so we're asking for help to pay for these pro-minimum wage ads. To air an ad once will cost $50 on average. If we raise $500 then we can run an ad 10 times - and the more money we raise, the more often the ads will run.

Listen to the ads and then make a donation to put them on the air today!

The ads will run in two of the districts where Democratic-Working Families candidates are waging strong campaigns to win Republican-held seats. In the 20th Congressional district, WFP-endorsed Kirsten Gillibrand is running a strong challenge to Republican incumbent John Sweeney. While Sweeney's salary keeps going up and up and up, it's been nine years since Congress boosted the minimum wage from $5.15 an hour. And the Republicans still refuse to raise it unless a bunch of a multi-millionaires get an $800 billion tax cut. They ought to be ashamed. When we send Kirsten Gillibrand to Congress, she'll vote to raise the minimum wage.

We also want to run an ad in the 24th Congressional district. In the 24th, longtime Congressman Sherwood Boehlert is retiring, meaning this is an open House seat. Open House seats can be the political equivalent of Halley's Comet, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. WFP-endorsed Mike Arcuri, Oneida County District Attorney, has already announced that he'll vote to raise the minimum wage when he's elected to Congress, while the Republican in the race, Ray Meier, is a longtime opponent of raising the minimum wage.

These ads will run on country and talk radio stations and target unaffiliated voters (those not registered in any party) and independent-minded Republican voters. Research and experience has demonstrated that the WFP is able to persuade these voters to vote on the WFP line. These ads are a first step in that effort.

Listen to the ads and donate now

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E

Pass a real minimum wage increase

Plenty's been said about the latest effort by House Republicans to use a minimum wage increase as a Trojan Horse to pass a $260+ billion inheritance tax cut for the 8,000 wealthiest families in America. (But if you're interested in reading more, check out this post by Rep. George Miller exposing the Republican strategy and this post by Nathan Newman explaining how the Republican bill will actually cut the minimum wage for workers who work for tips).

If Republicans like John Sweeney and Randy Kuhl think this transparent ploy gives them political cover, they're wrong. The American public is smarter than minimum wage opponents give them credit for, and they see through this travesty. One thing that is plain to see: if we want a real minimum wage increase (without paying an extortion to the wealthiest 0.3% Americans in the form of a further rollback of the inheritance tax), we first need to take back Congress.

More on this tomorrow.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party | 2006 Election | Take Back the House | Vote Row E

Why We Fight: Day Care Workers

This year's legislative session didn't end completely the way we hoped, but, of our five legislative priorities, the legislature:

• gave home day care workers the right to organize (requiring an override of Gov. Pataki's veto),
• amended Healthy New York so that more working families can access affordable health care, and
• required disclosure of state spending to subsidize health care for large companies like Wal-Mart.

We just received this kind letter from Gladys Jones about the day care workers bill and wanted to share it:

To All parties that have helped Childcare Providers,

The following is titled "Why I want a Union!"

The reason I want a union is quite simple (WE) need it. We are professionals without the tag that usually comes with work done of the highest value. The beginning of the future of our children.

Our forefathers fought for the rights we have today. Using any measures necessary to accomplish equality and humane conditions. The fight continues with organizations like THE WORKING FAMILY PARTY, to insure that people like myself are able to utilize the right to organize. The people that have made social and economic justice their goal in life deserve and should have all RESOURCES, that are available to help people to achieve the DEMOCRATIC DREAM. That is and should be available to ALL in America.

I have to thank WFP for the support that has been given to legislation override.

The struggles still exist hence making organizations like WFP one of the most important means to pave justice for today and tomorrow in my world of CHILDCARE.

Sincerely and passionately submitted,

GLADYS JONES
PROUD SUPPORTER OF ANYONE IN MY CORNER

Thanks Gladys, we're proud to be in your corner.

Technorati tags: Working Families Party