Labor & Employment Law

Pelosi, ?Tireless Champion of Working Families,? Seeks Leader Post

By Mike Hall

During her four years as speaker of the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) ?has been, and always will be, a tireless champion for working families,? says AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka.

Last week, Pelosi said she would seek the House minority leader?s post in the next Congress where Republicans will have the majority. Trumka pointed to the many victories she has shepherded through the House, especially in the area of jobs, the top concern of 62 percent of the people who voted Nov. 2. Says Trumka:

Under her leadership the House has fought for good jobs here in America by ending tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas, has invested in infrastructure and green jobs and saved the domestic auto industry.

He also pointed to the successful passage of Wall Street reform and ?the toughest laws to protect consumers in generations.?

[The House] passed historic health care legislation that ends denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions, closes the prescription drug ?donut hole? for seniors and allows children to stay on their parent?s insurance until the age of 26.

Without Pelosi?s consensus and coalition building?she achieved historic unity in floor votes, recruited candidates from around the country and across the ideological spectrum?none of those and other vital bills would have passed, says Trumka.

Pelosi, who in 2006 was the first woman elected as speaker of the House?some 90 years after the first woman was elected to the House of Representatives?spearheaded passage of 420 bills this sesssion, which received no Senate attention.

While Democrats in the 112th session of Congress will look for common ground in the House, major battles are expected over protecting Social Security, Medicare, health care reform and Wall Street reform. Says Trumka:

Whether union members or their Representatives are from a blue, red, or purple district, Pelosi has always listened to them and represented their interests.

Click here to send a note of thanks to Pelosi for her tireless efforts for working families and here to send a message to your friends to join in. Thanks to Americans United for Change for initiating the ?Thank You, Speaker Pelosi? campaign.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on November 08, 2010 (boomark / email).