The lame duck session of Congress that opened Nov. 15 requires mass pressure: Will we stand and fight for the people’s needs or will we cave in to the Republican agenda of corporate profit-greed?
Labor, civil rights, immigrant, women’s equality and environmental organizations have given their answer. Undeterred by losses in the Nov. 2 elections, they are mobilizing to fight. We demand that the Senate and/or House:
- Extend unemployment compensation that expires Nov. 30. Approve the Surface Transportation Act to save or create millions of jobs. (The vote in the House failed on Nov 18, but Rep Dennis Kucinich initiated a call for another vote.)
- Let tax cuts for the rich expire; extend tax cuts for those earning $250,000 or less each year
- Reject Deficit Commission cuts in Social Security and Medicare.
- Urge the Senate to pass House-approved Paycheck Fairness Act. (Senate Republicans defeated this measure just yesterday.)
- Pass the “Dream Act” to allow immigrant youth to attend college.
- Senate ratification of START treaty, a step toward nuclear arms ban.
We urge everyone to join in this fightback and spread the word. Time is short. The House and Senate are in session for a week, will recess for Thanksgiving, and reconvene and work until just before Christmas. Click on links below to learn more and add you name to online petitions:
The AFL-CIO petition for jobless benefits: visit aflcio.org or call 1-877-662-2889.
Photo credit: People’s World/Marilyn Bechtel | CC BY-NC-ND
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Joelle Fishman chairs the Connecticut Communist Party USA. She is a Commissioner on the City of New Haven Peace Commission, serves on the executive board of the Alliance of Retired Americans in Connecticut and is an active member of many economic rights and social justice organizations. She was a candidate for Congress from 1973 to 1982, maintaining minor-party ballot status for the Communist Party in Connecticut's Third Congressional District. As chair of the CPUSA Political Action Commission, she has played an active role in the broad labor and people's alliance that defeated the ultra-right in the 2008 elections and continues to mobilize for health care, worker rights and peace.
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