Labor & Employment Law

Maine State Rep.: ?WI War is About Every Worker?

By Tula Connell

Wow. Amazing support for Wisconsin workers under siege. This in from Maine State Rep. Diane Russell.

I grew up quite poor in Western Maine. The only reason I have the chance to serve the people of this great state is because of public financing. The great thing about public financing is that I am entirely beholden to the best interests of my people, not to the Corporatocracy that has taken over our democratic Republic.

I am leaving today to drive to Madison. I am not coming to challenge lawmakers in WI or tell folks how to run their state. I am coming because if the levee breaks in Madison, we are all going to be flooded.

[Maine] Gov. LePage introduced Phase I of his “regulatory reforms” which included things like putting BPA back into baby bottles and sippy cups, rolling back three decades of clean air, water and environmental regulations and opening up 30% of the North Woods to development. Most people think this is his proposal – that this is it. In fact, this is just his “environmental regulations.” There are two more phases coming: Labor and Health Care.

If Gov. Walker’s proposal stands, and that of the proposal in OH, Maine is next. Some of my constituents are questioning the connection between Maine and Madison; it’s the last stop. It’s the trench in the sand.

We are buying coffee and hot chocolate and hand warmers for cold, hungry and tired protesters. I am tweeting at @MissWrite and posting updates on FB facebook.com/MissWrite. Thus far, we’ve raised over $500 to go toward gas and food for the protesters.

I have never done anything like this before; I am not even remotely spontaneous by nature. But this is important. This war isn’t about the unions: it’s a class war. This affects every worker and every member of the Middle Class – what’s left of it.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on February 21, 2011 (boomark / email).