From VP for Political Action: Michael Morrow  
                                                                Bond Issue, "Magic 36," Gordon Smith and more...

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The Magic 36

As most of us are aware, the rules in the Oregon legislature requires that 60% of both houses are needed to pass issues having to do with money—like the budget for community colleges.  That means 36 House members and 18 Senate members.  In the 2007 session there were 18+ pro-education members in the Senate, but only 31 in the House.  On November 4th it is vital that those of us who support adequate funding for schools, and adequate support for our students, work to elect that “magic 36” to the Oregon House.  And we have a unique opportunity to do that, with up to five seats in the Metro area up for grabs.  Two of them are in East Multnomah County, 49, Karen Minnis’ old seat (she retired), and 50, where John Lim has consistently voted against adequate funding for education.

 House 49:  Newcomer Nick Kahl has been endorsed by Oregon-AFT, and would be a good addition to the legislature.  You can find out more about him at http://www.nickkahl.com/

 House 50:  Greg Matthews is a lifelong Gresham resident, a firefighter and former police officer, paratrooper, MP, Grenada vet, and president of the fire fighters union.  His wife runs a child care facility.  He would be a great addition to the legislature, and you can find out more about him at

http://www.electgregmatthews.com/

 Smith Revealed

Oregon AFL-CIO has put up a new website, www.smithrevealed.com, designed to inform union members about the real Gordon Smith.  While working hard to paint himself as a “moderate,” Senator Smith has voted consistently against the interests of working people in Oregon.  Here is the website’s explanation of what they are doing, and why, and what the campaign hopes to accomplish in the next three months:

What is "Smith Revealed"

The Oregon AFL-CIO today launched a major new campaign to expose Sen. Gordon Smith’s failed record on issues critical to Oregon’s working families and his ongoing support for the anti-worker agenda of George W. Bush. The “Smith Revealed” campaign will reach nearly a quarter of a million Oregonians in 2008.

Our economy is in crisis after years of failed Bush Administration policies that Gordon Smith has supported and has adopted as his own. Senator Smith’s record shows he’s in lockstep with President Bush on economic issues. He’s voted repeatedly for trade deals that ship our jobs overseas, he’s voted against worker rights and the freedom to join a union, he’s voted against affordable, accessible health care for all and he supports the Bush Social Security privatization plan.

“Smith Revealed” aims to bust the myth of Smith’s “moderate” record on working family issues and call on Sen. Smith to support working families’ concerns through a variety of communications tactics, focused heavily on person-to-person contact. In the coming weeks the Oregon AFL-CIO will communicate with  at the workplace, doorstep, by phone, online and through direct mail to reveal the truth about Gordon Smith.

SmithRevealed.com conveys the Smith record to the public and working peoples’ urging that Sen. Smith turn the page and stand up for working families.

Working families know very little about where Gordon Smith stands on pocketbook concerns. That all changes today:

Elements of the campaign include:

  • Engaging the Oregon AFL-CIO’s 110,000 union members in one-on-one conversations on the worksite about Gordon Smith’s real record on working family issues.
  • Educating the public with ongoing news updates and fact sheets on SmithRevealed.com.     
  • The “Smith Revealed” Truth Squad who will be where Gordon Smith is to confront him on      economic issues, conduct rapid response events, and demand that he speak to working families’ concerns.
  • Distributing, more than 50,000 worksite leaflets on the Smith record to union members.
  • Holding statewide canvass days to knock on AFL-CIO member’s doors with information on Gordon Smith’s economic record.

1. PCC is unable to meet our region’s current demand for workforce training.

Each term PCC students are unable to enroll in programs due to lack of space, and in many programs, students are trained on outdated technology. The bond would expand the capacity of programs and allow PCC to update equipment for job training, so that more nurses, welders, educators and other skilled workers can join the labor force.

2. Enrollment at PCC is increasing.

Over the last nine years, collegewide enrollment has increased 18 percent. In the 2007 fall term, almost 10,000 students were put on a waiting list for classes, and more than 5,000 were turned away because classes were full. The bond would allow PCC to increase the number of classrooms and lab space throughout the district.

3. More people rely on PCC, the largest institution of higher learning in Oregon.

Serving a district that is 1,500 square miles – roughly the size of Rhode Island –  PCC has as many college freshman and sophomore credit students as the seven Oregon public universities combined. In fact, two-thirds of every household in the district includes a member who has taken a class at PCC. If passed, the bond would add education facilities in Newberg and Sherwood, as well as add classrooms and labs at every campus, the Washington County Workforce Training Center and the Southeast Center.

4. Taxpayers believe PCC is a good investment.

In a 2007 survey, the majority of those questioned believed PCC to be a good investment in tax dollars. For every dollar appropriated by state and local government, taxpayers will see a cumulative return of six times that amount over the course of the students’ working lives, in the form of higher tax receipts and avoided social costs.

5. The cost of the bond would be about $8 per month for the average homeowner.

The cost of the bond is $374 million. The maximum a property owner would have to pay is estimated at 32.9 cents per $1,000 assessed value. For the owner of a home assessed at $280,000, that’s less than $8 per month or about $92 per year.

I’m voting for the Bond, and working for it’s passage.  The Federation has endorsed it.  Hopefully Federation members will be willing to put energy into taking this major step to move PCC forward.

What’s up with the PCC Bond?

For less than $2 a week (the $92 annual levy on a home assessed at $280,000), the voters in PCC’s service district will decide on November 4th whether they want to support the $374 million tax levy that will take the college forward to 2020.

There’s a good website up in www.pcc.edu, and I’ve posted the five key talking points below (at http://www.pcc.edu/about/bond/5-things.html); which also includes “quickfacts” like registration up 14% this summer, and over 5,500 students not getting classes they wanted last Fall, and “common bond questions” like “is a bond measure necessary?”  While some Federation members wonder about this, what is undeniable—and the things that are important for me—are a few facts:

* The PCC service area will grow by 400,000 in just a dozen years, and given our quality of life will doubtless continue to grow for decades beyond that.

* Tens of thousands of “Boomers” will retire every year, and will be looking for ways to stay mentally active.  Taking classes, even pursuing degrees and certificates, can be an important aspect of this—and the community college is a natural place for this to happen.

* Oregon, and the Portland metro area, will seek to become a hub of “green technology” development for decades.  Much of the education/training necessary for this industry to boom can happen at PCC.

* Student Service needs (child care services, student unions/centers, health facilities) are overwhelming, and the Bond addresses these.  There’s a very useful page at http://www.pcc.edu/about/bond/waiting-lists.html, which lists how the Bond will be utilized, by campus).

 

* Expanding into geographically underserved areas is important; communities like Sherwood and Newberg, which are seeing population booms, yet are many miles from Sylvania or Rock Creek, Linn Benton CC and Chemeketa CC.

While we all do not want to see PCC build classrooms and offices that go unstaffed, or are staffed with part-timers, I welcome the opportunity, when the Bond passes, of working with administration and the Board (and the legislature!) to make sure that PCC offers the highest quality education possible.  Without the buildings to make that happen we lose a great opportunity.  That’s my reasons for supporting the Bond, here’s what is on website and in the publications:

 
Voter Registration Alert #1

On October 17th ballots for the November election will be mailed to registered voters homes?  This looks to be a historic election.  Of course you want to be a participant.

Between now and October 14th you can register to vote so that you can participate if you are not already registered.

Have you moved recently?  The elections division of the County must have your current address in order for you to receive a ballot.

Please register, or re-register if you have moved so that you will not be left out in November.  Check with family and friends to be sure they are registered

The Federation has voter registration cards.  We will be glad to send you one.  Send me an email and your campus address if you need a voter registration form.

mcannare@pcc.edu

Two interesting pieces of information from the new AFT Newsletter:

First, just-elected AFT President Randi Weingarten will speak at the Democratic National Convention in Denver on Aug. 25, the convention's opening night. With a theme of "One Nation," the first night will highlight Barack Obama's life story, his commitment to change, and some of his ideas for moving the country in a new direction.  Weingarten is just one of a large contingent of AFT members, 137 in all, from more than 30 states and territories (including Oregon),who will be attending the convention as delegates, alternates and members of standing committees.

Second, given the hot presidential candidate sniping about "who's rich?", wouldn't it be great if the presidential candidates actually discussed, seriously and in detail, the U.S. economy, where it is and where we want it to go--and how we can get it there?

The Center for American Progress has produced an informative 25-page booklet provocatively titled "Understanding Bushonomics: How We Got into the Mess in the First Place"  I'm not an economist, but the information--great graphs and charts--details what has happened to America's economy, and the people who work in it, over the last several decades, especially since 2000. 
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/08/pdf/bushonomics.pdf

Almost a counter-balance, the Economic Policy Institute has come out with a complimentary work, "A Plan to Revive the American Economy," with a focus on "shared prosperity" (http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/plan_to_revive_the_american_economy).  This is useful, as "Understanding Bushonomics" lays out how the growth of the past seven years (a 10% growth in the economy) has been almost entirely enjoyed by the top 10%--especially the top 1-2%, with the bottom 80% of us actually losing income. 

There's also a video on the site, "Toward Shared Prosperity," at http://www.sharedprosperity.org/av/toward.html that introduces Americans talking about the current situation--just three and a half minutes.  If you watch to the end you can see four other short videos that EPI has produced, including "Remaking manufacturing," "Investing in Infrastructure," "Health Care for America" and "Race, Ethnicity and the Subprime Mortgage Crisis." 

With most states facing serious economic issues, Oregon included, our legislature will have its hands full come January.  It will be important to send legislators who have a clear grasp on economics.  Hopefully these publications will contribute to members being able to good choices as we elect 60 house reps and 15 state senators on November 4.  Oh, and a U.S. senator and a president.  Increased "economic literacy" is something most of us--me included--can benefit from, especially if it makes us more informed voters.

I hope you find these publications/videos useful, and that you have a chance to hear President Weingarten on Monday.   Michael M. vp for Political Action (and still waiting for official word from our Congressmen on how HR 4137 addresses student loan forgiveness for college teachers)