NATIONAL POLITICAL CONFERENCE
By Jude McMullan, President of Local 7011

The difference was astonishing with the anti-labor politicians running the White House and both houses of Congress. Union work will be more important than ever if we don't want the workers we represent to suffer at the hands of the large corporate mongers.

Look at what has happened since the change---

It took 10 years for labor to get federal ergonomics standards that make corporations provide a work environment where the men and women who make them huge profits are safe from the injuries that can ruin their lives. Ten (10) years of studies and testimonies went into the legislation and ten (10) hours after the change the legislation was dead.

Think about the future with all three branches of Government -the White House, Congress and the Supreme Court, populated with representatives opposed to workers and their union. Since the new administration has already started with their anti-worker legislation, we will start to see the same thing in arbitrations and lawsuits.

• This administration is using the language of "tax cut" to make the working people think they are working for them. The truth of the Proposed Tax Cut Plan is as follows:
  · The first plan submitted by Congressman William Thomas (R-CA) would provide a $958 billion across the board income tax rate reduction. This measure, which CWA opposes, passed the House largely along party lines. The plan would gradually reduce the current five income tax rates of 15 percent, 28 percent, 31 percent, 36 percent and 39.6 percent. In effect this measure would:
• 
  1. eliminate the top 39.6 percent rate (this is for people with an income of over (297,000.00);
  2. drop the 36 percent rate to 33 percent (family making $166,000-297,000 or single $136,000-$297,000);
  3. drop the 31 percent rate to 25 percent (family making $109,000 - $166,000 or single $65,000 - $136,000);
  4. drop the 28 percent rate to 25 percent (family making $45,000 - $109,000 or single $27,000 - $65,000);
  5. leave the 15 percent rate the same for most in this group (family making under $45,000 or single under $27,000). It would also create a new 10 percent rate on the first $10,000 of income (singles) or $12,000 of income (couples); and
  6. immediately create a new 10 percent rate on the first $10,000 of income (singles) or $12,000 of income (couples).
• 
  As you can see, most of the 1.6 trillion ($775 billion of the tax cut) would go to the wealthy few.

The other issue that needs some thought is that there is no current surplus. The proposal is based on a projected surplus that may or may not surface. This is why CWA has proposed a "lock box" measure that would ensure the protection of Social Security and Medicare. Surpluses in Medicare should be used to preserve Medicare's solvency for the 77 million baby boomers who will soon retire and to create a much needed outpatient prescription drug benefit program.