Thursday, August 28, 2008

HCAN in Iowa

On August 16, members of the Health Care for America Now (HCAN) Coalition met with Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, sharing their concerns and stories about uninsured Iowans. They also talked about the struggles faced by both direct-care workers and the people they serve as a result of inadequate or no insurance. That’s me in the back row of the photo right behind the senator, along with other members of the coalition, as he signs HCAN’s Which Side Are You On? pledge. Senator Harkin supports the establishment of a comprehensive national health care plan. He mentioned two ways that goal might be achieved: Give all Americans the option to enroll in the Federal Employee Benefit Pool (the same insurance he has), with the rationale that enrolling more would lower the cost to individual members; or Expand Medicare to cover all Americans. It would be much more difficult to get Congress to pass the second, he noted. The senator explained that Congress has the authority to set up a board, much like the federal reserve board, to set up and regulate the new health care system. He believes that kind of non-partisan process will be required to get past some of the hurdles a comprehensive health care plan would have to cross in Washington. You can join Senator Harkin in signing your support for the HCAN pledge. HCAN Iowa is comprised of the following organizations: ACORNAFSCME Council 61 Alliance for Global Justice American Medical Student Association Des Moines University Chapter American Medical Student Association University of Iowa Chapter Child and Family Policy Center Communication Workers of America Iowa CareGivers Association Every Child Matters Iowa Iowa Citizen Action Network Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Iowa Community Action Association Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church Iowa for Health Care Iowa Federation of Labor AFL-CIO Iowa Planned Parenthood Affiliate League Progressive Action for the Common Good Progressive Coalition of Central Iowa MoveOn.org Service Employees International Union Visiting Nurse Services Polk County Working Families Win Di FindleyDirector, Iowa CareGivers Association

Area I Caucus

There will be an Area I Caucus from 10 am on Saturday, October 4, 2008 at the Blue DOT Building on the Hogan Road in Bangor. Agenda: MSEA Budget This is an important meeting for those attending Convention. I encourage all 771 Delegates to attend.

ATTENTION CANDIDATES for MSEA Board, Other Offices

If you're an MSEA-SEIU member running for Area Director or othe related elected positions to be voted on by Delegates at the 2008 MSEA-SEIU Convention this fall, you can submit a statement and photo for publication in the next edition of the Maine Stater. All candidates statements and photos are due at MSEA-SEIU headquarters by 5 pm on Friday, September 5. If you would like to have your photo taken for this purpose, please call Tom Farkas at 1-800-452-8794 at your earliest convenience. E-mail statemetns and photos to tom.farkas@mseaseiu.org or mail them to: Maine Stater, MSEA-SEIU Local 1989, P.O. Box 1072, Augusta, Maine 04332-1072.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

A Note from Congressman Mike Michaud

Dear Helen -- This is a big week for Mainers who are working hard for change. When Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination in Denver on Thursday, the grassroots movement you've helped build will be in the spotlight. We need to build our momentum in Maine as we get to the final stretch of this campaign. This Labor Day weekend, I'm asking you to join me and the Maine Campaign for Change during our Weekend of Action. We'll honor Mainers' rich tradition of hard work by reaching out in our communities and introducing Barack's message of change. Sign up for a Weekend of Action event in your community and turn your enthusiasm into action. Throughout my tenure as Representative of the 2nd district, I've fought for the issues that are important to middle class Maine families, like raising the minimum wage, ensuring equal pay for all workers, and fighting for fair trade deals. And as a lifetime union member, I know firsthand the pride that working Mainers take in their jobs. Labor Day is a special holiday for me and my family. It's also a great opportunity to reflect on the generations of Americans who, by their dedication and sacrifice, have helped build the backbone of our nation. Right now, these traditions are in danger. More than ever, working families are feeling the crunch of high energy, gas, and home heating oil prices -- we need change, and we need it now. During our Weekend of Action, we'll be reaching out to voters across Maine and talking face-to-face with our friends and neighbors about the work we can do to create the changes we need. Celebrate this holiday with other hard working Mainers and help grow our movement: http://me.barackobama.com/WOAevents We've come this far by working together. I hope you'll join me for a Weekend of Action event to celebrate the holiday and continue building this movement. Thanks, Rep. Mike Michaud P.S. -- This Thursday, supporters are opening up their homes to friends, family, and undecided voters for Convention Watch Parties to see Barack accept the Democratic nomination in Denver. Find a Convention Watch Party in your area and join fellow supporters to learn about our campaign for change: http://me.barackobama.com/convparty

A Note from John Sweeney, AFL-CIO, at the Democratic National Convention

this occurred last night at the DNC, I recieved this in an email from Working Families e-Activist Network Dear Friend, I’m backstage at the Democratic National Convention with fellow union members Dan Luevano from IBEW, Steve Skvara, a USW retiree, and Annette Lewis from AFSCME and her 11-year-old son, Marcus. I wanted to write you a quick note to share with you what we’re experiencing here on the ground in Denver. In a few minutes, we will take the stage together and address thousands of Democratic Party delegates from around the country, including more than 1,000 union members or union household members, not to mention a live national television audience. We’ve been invited to speak because Barack Obama has made a commitment to us, and more importantly to you, to help improve our economy, give workers a free choice to join a union and ensure that everyone has the quality health care they deserve. It has been a rough eight years for America’s workers, but thanks to your hard work and that of others, we have an opportunity to change that. Barack Obama and Joe Biden understand how important a strong labor movement is to the health and welfare of the middle class. Because of that, the Democratic Party platform is one of the most pro-worker platforms in recent memory. Due to his commitment to America’s workers, I’m proud of the effort the AFL-CIO is making to help elect Barack Obama the next president of the United States, and I’m even more proud of all the hard work that each and everyone of you has done and will do to make this a reality. Together, we can create the better America that Dan, Steve, Annette, Marcus—and all of us—deserve. A country whose heart is as big as the hearts of its people. A country that lifts up our families here at home and lights up the world with our vision and values. Thank you for everything you do. In Solidarity, John Sweeney P.S. As a study in contrasts, when the Republicans hold their convention in Minneapolis next week, there won’t be any labor leaders that I’m aware of addressing their delegates. And even more galling, their opening session is on Labor Day. If that’s not a slap in the face to America’s workers, I’m not sure what one is. P.P.S. We’re expected to be on stage around 7:30 p.m. EST this evening, so if you have a chance, please check it out. In case you can’t, here is the text of my speech as prepared for delivery.
John J. Sweeney President, AFL-CIO
Remarks to the Democratic National Convention
Denver, Colorado
August 26, 2008
All over America, children like Marcus Lewis are riding their bikes, starting sixth grade and dreaming of breaking Olympic records—or just finding a good job and raising a family. But unless we turn our country around, they’re not going to make it, not even into the middle class. Marcus’s mom, Annette, is a single mother who worked hard to get her children where they are today. She works full time and is struggling to send her 18-year-old daughter to college. But after the rent and the bills, there’s hardly enough left over for food. Dan Luevano is an electrician who worked for a construction company for 10 years, six of them without a raise. When he told his boss he’d be voting for a union so he could bargain for a better life, he was fired. Steve Skvara is a retired steelworker who learned about unfair trade the hard way—when the giant company where he’d worked went bankrupt, cut his pension by a third, and eliminated his family’s health care. These are good people, strong people. They work hard and believe in their country, their faith and the future. They can’t afford four more years like the last eight. They need change, and that’s why they all support Barack Obama for President of the United States. They deserve a better America—an America where every worker can count on a good job, where every family has health care, where every senior enjoys a decent retirement. They deserve an America that works for everyone, where all workers have a free choice to join unions, to collectively bargain, to lift up their communities and our economy and build a better life for their children. Whatever happened to the promise of a better America? What happened was that the Bush administration—with the support of Senator McCain—broke that promise, undermined our values and turned our economy into a threshing machine for big business. Brothers and sisters, this is our chance to create much-needed change for young people like Marcus and rebuild this country we love. We can create the better America that Annette, Steve and Dan—and all of us—deserve. A country whose heart is as big as the hearts of its people. A country that lifts up our families here at home and lights up the world with our vision and values. On behalf of America’s unions, with 28 million voters in union households, we will win for Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and we will create a better America. Thank you and God bless America.
Paid for by the AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education Political Contributions Committee, www.aflcio.org, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Monday, August 25, 2008

MSEA-SEIU at the Common Ground Fair

Once again MSEA will be having a booth at the Common Ground Fair this year on September 19, 20 and 21 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) in Unity, Maine. I’m looking for volunteers to help staff the booth for the three days. The shifts are as follows: Friday 9:00 AM – NOON; NOON – 3:00 PM; 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM Sat. 9:00 AM – NOON; NOON – 3:00 PM; 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM Sun 9:00 AM – NOON; NOON – 3:00 PM; 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM If you are interested please e-mail Steve Keaton at Steven.Keaten@maine.gov with 1st and 2nd choices. Free admission tickets will be provided. We need two people per shift. Members participating will be eligible for the Time Share Drawing awarded at Convention.

Labor Day Solidarity Events

This coming Monday September 1, 2008 is Labor Day. Following are three different activities around the State you may want to participate in. Southern Maine Labor Council Labor’s Day Breakfast at Verillo’s, 155 Riverside Street, Portland, Maine 04103 from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Tickets are $25 per person or $175 for a table of eight. MSEA usually purchases a few tickets so if you want to attend please call MSEA Headquarters to see if any are available. Western Maine Labor Council Labor Day BBQ at IBEW 567 Union Hall, 238 Goddard Road, Lewiston, Maine from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM. This is free Hot Dogs and Hamburgers. A Kids tent will be provided for kids-bring the whole family. Food and Medicine/Eastern Maine Labor Council at the Solidarity Center, 20 Ivers Street, Brewer from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. At 2:30 PM there will be speeches and media about Labor Day, Unions and the Private Ballot (The Employee Free Choice Act). Homemade delicious homemade food as well as some of the best union-made rock and blues bands in Maine. Admission is $5.00 so bring your whole family. Looking forward to seeing our MSEA Union brothers and Sisters to one of these events on Labor Day. This is a Solidarity Sponsored Event.

Governor Announces Short-Term Engergy Plan

Governor John Baldacci recently announced a short-term energy plan which will include $12.6 million in new spending. The Governor said his energy action plan would make a special session of the Legislature unnecessary. The plan will earmark $4.25 million of state funds to go to the LIHEAP program. This money will increase the average household benefit from $415 to $500. The plan also creates a $3.25 million emergency fund in January that will help LIHEAP recipients and those who are slightly above the income level to participate in LIHEAP. The state's weatherization program will receive an additional $2 million, which will add nearly 500 additional homes. Other expenditures will go towards expanding and promoting public transportation, investments in furnace maintenance for LIHEAP recipients and loans for businesses for energy conservation projects. A newly created legislative panel has also been established and tasked with discussing what else the state can do to help Maine citizens having trouble staying warm this winter. The Presiding Officers' Heat and Energy Emergency Task Force is comprised of thirteen members of the Legislature and is slated to hold five meetings. By late November they are required to present their recommendations for action. Though home heating oil prices have receded in recent weeks from a high of close to $5 a gallon, prices are still significantly higher than last year. In October of 2007 the statewide average price was at $2.69 per gallon. This week the statewide average was $4.00. E-Newsletter from Representative Cotta, 8/22/08

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Workgroup - BOI Meeting, August 11

At the Direct Care Worker Health Insurance Workgroup meeting with the Bureau of Insurance on August 11th, MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 presented a health insurance product that is available to SEIU members. This plan covers doctors' visits, some radiology exams and some lab tests. It does not cover hospitalization should a policy holder require it. There are no pre-existing exclusions. It also has dental coverage if the policy holder so chooses. It is a limited benefit plan, not comprehensive or catastrophic. This plan is basically for those who are relatively healthy and want a little help with those annual physicals and doctors' visits if something should come up. I'm not sure if a bone got broken, how this plan would work. Prescriptions are not covered. This plan is administered through SEIU, a third party trust that is part of the Union Trust. It is approved through Aetna, not SEIU. This plan comes in three tiers, A, B and C with a dental rider. I am not sure what the three tiers are or what they offer. I know that MSEA-SEIU is looking into to this for 771 and Childcare members. This plan may be offered as single, self-insured, it is not offered through contract negotiations yet. After the SEIU plan was presented, there was a lot of discussion as to affordability. The next phase of the meeting was identifying issues pertaining to Direct Care Workers and health insurance. These issues brought forward were: accessibility, eligibility; affordability; benefit design, education, marketing; wellness. The insurance codes that BOI presented at an earlier session were also presented again. One option that decidely is not for DCWs is the Multi-Employer Welfare Arrangement (MEWA) because employers pool risk making each responsible for liabilities. BOI also presented possible options for us to work with. DirigoChoice showed up in these options many times. I spoke up and said that Direct Care Workers lost their bid for DirigoChoice, through LD1687, because of funding problems for Dirigo. I said that was why we were all at the table, trying to come up with a different solution to gain health insurance for Direct Care Workers. Elise Scala from the Muskie School urged folks to remember that the Direct Care Worker Coalition focused their efforts on Dirigo because of the program's design. The sliding scale on premiums based on income would work well for Direct Care Workers. On this I agree. Dirigo's sliding scale would work great for us Direct Care workers. Again, the problem is funding. Elise also recommended that the report to the Insurance and Financial Services Committee make mention of Dirigo's design in an effort to make premiums affordable. Joanne Rawlings-Sekunda and Deputy Superintendent Judy Shaw urged us all to start thinking about what we want going into the report for IFS. The next meeting to start doing that work is Wednesday, August 20th, 10-12 at the Bureau of Insurance Office on Northern Avenue in Gardiner. The public is welcome. If you're interested in attending and want more information or directions, please send an email helen.hnsn@gmail.com. If your want more information on the SEIU plan, please use my email or call MSEA-SEIU Headquarters at 1-800-452-8794 and ask for Mike Sylvester.

Political ad criticized from both sides

BY KEITH EDWARDS Staff Writer Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel AUGUSTA -- A political advertisement featuring an actor who played a mobster on "The Sopranos" apparently portraying a labor union boss, which is critical of U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, is being denounced by both the Allen and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins campaigns. Allen, a Democrat, and Collins, a Republican, are running against each other for the U.S. Senate. The ads, paid for by the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, suggest Allen, because he was a co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act, wants to deny workers the right to vote by secret ballot when deciding whether to join a union. The coalition is not affiliated with either of the campaigns. The issue of the Employee Free Choice Act aside, both campaigns said third party, negative campaign ads don't belong in Maine. "You've got a bunch of big corporations targeting Democratic candidates running for Senate," said Carol Andrews, spokeswoman for Allen's campaign. "They've put a lot of money behind these ad campaigns. In our state they're spending upwards of $800,000 bashing Tom Allen, unions, and Maine working people. It's a total insult and a slap in the face." Andrews said the ad seeks to demonize Maine's union workers, who include firefighters and shipbuilders. "They are not organized crime," Andrews said. While Andrews said the Allen campaign has publicly asked Collins to denounce the ads, she said the Collins campaign has been silent about the ads. However, on Friday, Collins' campaign spokesman Kevin Kelley denounced the ads, too. "Senator Collins' campaign has nothing to do with these ads, which are apparently running in several cities around the country," Kelley said. "Senator Collins has always denounced third-party ads like these and continues to believe that they should have no place in Maine politics." Coalition leaders said their most recent ad, developed by nationally known media strategist Mike Murphy and featuring actor Vince Curatola, who played gangster John "Johnny Sac" Sacramoni on the former HBO television series "The Sopranos," was an effort to use a recognized character and humor to make their point. The organization describes itself as a coalition of workers, employers, associations and organizations. Its members, according to a list on the organization's Web site, appear to be primarily made up of business and industry associations. Rhonda Bentz, a spokeswoman for the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, said the organization has no ties to the Collins campaign. "They didn't even know we were running or creating," the ads, Bentz said. "We felt it is important in that there is an opportunity to educate Maine citizens there is a threat to private ballot election. Whoever gets elected to the Senate -- Allen or Collins -- it is likely, next year, they will be faced with how to vote on this issue." Regarding the Employee Free Choice Act issue, Kelley said Collins voted against the act because, "Just as every member of Congress is elected by secret ballot, she believes that employees should have the same right when it comes to determining union representation." However, Andrews noted the act would not take away workers' rights to vote by secret ballot. Instead, Andrews said, it would keep the option of a secret ballot vote, while also giving workers an additional option. She said the act adds the majority sign-up, or card check, process, in which workers seeking to form a union could sign cards indicating their desire to do so. Andrews said that process would be much quicker and make it easier for people to unionize. She said the current system allows the employer to direct when union elections would be held, and some employers can take advantage of the system to delay the process and "try to wear people down so they never do it." Bentz said the Employee Free Choice Act would leave the decision of whether to use secret ballots or the card check process in union elections up to union bosses and organizers. An almost identical ad, just featuring different candidates, has also run on television in Minnesota, where Democrat Al Franken is challenging incumbent Republican Sen. Norm Coleman. Keith Edwards -- 621-5647 kedwards@centralmaine.com

Saturday, August 16, 2008

State’s Circuit Breaker Program Applications Available

The state has begun accepting applications for the 2007 tax year circuit breaker program, formally titled Maine’s Property Tax and Rent Refund Program. The program can provide up to a $2,000 refund for qualified homeowners and renters. Each year thousands of qualified homeowners and renters fail to apply for the program and do not receive the refunds to which they are entitled. A single person with no dependents who makes less than $60,000 qualifies for the program. Those with a spouse or dependents can make up to $80,000. The 2007 property taxes must exceed 4 percent of household income in either case. Renters qualify if their rent exceeds 20 percent of their income. The deadline for filing tax year 2007 refund applications is June 1, 2009.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

How The Democrats Can Blow It ...In Six Easy Steps

A blueprint for losing the most winnable presidential election in American history MICHAEL MOORE Posted Aug 21, 2008 For years now, nearly every poll has shown that the American people are right in sync with the platform of the Democratic Party. They are pro-environment, pro-women's rights and pro-choice. They don't like war. They want the minimum wage raised, and they want a single-payer universal health-care system. The American public agrees with the Republican Party on only one major issue: They support the death penalty. So you would think the Democrats would be cleaning up, election after election. Obviously not. The Democrats appear to be professional losers. They are so pathetic in their ability to win elections, they even lose when they win! So when you hear Democrats and liberals and supporters of Barack Obama say they are worried that John McCain has a good chance of winning, they ain't a-kidding. Who would know better than the very people who have handed the Republicans one election after another on a silver platter? Yes, be afraid, be very afraid. In an effort to help the party doofuses and pundits — and the candidate himself — spare all of us another suicide-inducing election night, as the results giving the election to the Republican pour in, here is the blueprint from the Democrats' past losing campaigns. Just follow each of these steps and you, the Democratic Party establishment, can help elect John Sidney McCain III to a four-year extension of the Bush Era. 1. Keep saying nice things about McCain. If you want to help elect McCain, keep blessing him as if he were the white knight who accidentally hopped on the wrong horse. Keep reminding a country at war that he, and he alone, is a war hero. That he's been "good on global warming" and campaign finance. Say that enough, and you know what happens? People start to believe it! You've sold them on the idea that McCain isn't a bad egg, and they do not hear the rest of what you have to say: "But John McCain is four more years of George W. Bush." Don't remind people that McCain wants to help the oil companies even more than Bush did. Don't bring up that he wants to outlaw abortion. Back away from painting him as the guy who thinks it's a good idea to stay in Iraq until pigs fly. That way, if you keep praising him, you can send a mixed message to the less informed, who are simply not going to figure it out. When they walk into a voting booth, they will see two names on the ballot: ☐ BARACK OBAMA ☐ WAR HERO Trust me, this ain't Sweden you're living in. War Hero wins every time. 2. Pick a running mate who is a conservative white guy or a general or a Republican. Yes, it will seem like smart politics at first. Shore up Obama's lack of military experience with a hawk. Be true to Obama's message that he'll be a president for everybody by having him run with a Republican. Make a pitch to the purple states of Virginia and Indiana by putting one of their own on the ticket. Or make the red state of Ohio happy by handing the vice presidential slot to its governor. Just so long as Obama's running mate screams "same old, same old," making it harder for him to attract the new voters he needs to win. There is nothing wrong with picking someone who can help him win a swing state or someone who has more experience than he does in certain areas. But when I hear pundits say things like, "He has to pick a Catholic," well, John Kerry was a total Catholic, and the Catholic vote went to Mr. W. I mean, here's one of the largest groups in the country — 66 million Catholics — and they/we have only allowed one Catholic to be president in 219 years. You would think they would have been flocking to Kerry in 2004. THAT IS NOT THE WAY PEOPLE THINK. IT IS THE WAY PUNDITS THINK. Keep listening to them and you can help elect John McCain the next President of the United States. 3. Keep writing speeches for Obama that make him sound like a hawk. Here's what Obama said in front of the American-Israeli lobbying group the day after the final primaries: "The danger from Iran is grave, it is real, and my goal will be to eliminate this threat." And: "Let there be no doubt — I will always keep the threat of military action on the table to defend our security and our ally Israel. Sometimes there are no alternatives to confrontation." Sounds like a speech McCain would give. Sounds like he's ready to invade Iran. Obama staked out an even worse position for the Palestinians vis-à-vis Jerusalem than the one held by George W. Bush. Keep that up, and more and more supporters will be less and less enthused. He also says he wants to send more troops to Afghanistan. The implied message of all of this is that the Republican plan is a good plan. So why would voters want to elect the candidate imitating the Republican when they can get the real thing? 4. Forget that this was a historic year for women. Obama should be making a speech about gender like the brilliant one he gave on race back in March. Millions of people, especially women, had high hopes for the candidacy of Hillary Clinton. Attention must be paid. And you don't pay attention to it by having your advisers run your wife through the makeover machine, trying to soften her up and pipe her down. Michelle Obama has been one of the most refreshing things about this election year. But within weeks of the end of the primary season, the handlers stepped in to deal with the "Michelle problem." What problem? She speaks her mind? She wears what she wants? Her biggest sin, according to the punditocracy, was to say that, as a black woman, this may be the first time in her adult life she's been really proud of her country. Shock! Surprise! Outrage! But not from any of the black women I know. You have to be white and stupid to not know what she was really saying. If you don't understand, let me ask you this: Have you been proud of what this country has been doing in the past few years? Are you proud your neighbors had their house taken from them? Are you proud to be sending a good chunk of your paycheck to the oil companies so they can post record profits? Are you proud to know your vice president outed one of our spies and put her life and the lives of others at risk? That's all she was saying — what we are all feeling. Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton both lost the white-male vote but won the White House. They did so by winning the black, Hispanic and female vote. That HAS to be Obama's strategy to win. Otherwise, Cindy McCain will be our new First Lady. 5. Show up to a gunfight with a peashooter. Convince yourself that the Republicans are just going to roll over and play dead because there is simply no life left in their party. Convince yourself this one is in the bag! Convince yourself that if you play by the rules, the Republicans will too. And when McCain and his people roll out their nuclear arsenal on you, just go all sweet and sensitive and logical. Believe that the truth shall prevail, that good people will see what the Republicans are up to. As they smear you, your family, your religious beliefs — cower, back down, go on the defensive. If they say you should quit your church, quit your church! If they explode over your speaking the truth about the anger and despair of the white working class, take it all back! If they ask you to stand on your head and do the hokeypokey, snap to it and do it with a smile on your face — and don't forget to apologize for not doing the hokeypokey earlier; you meant no disrespect, and please don't take it as any indication that you do not love your country, your flag and your Christian God. Do all of that and then listen for that sound — the sound of your supporters shuffling away in silence. They'll stop showing up at campaign headquarters. They'll say they're too busy to go on another door-to-door literature drop. On Election Day, they'll do their duty and vote, but they will not be up at 6 a.m. driving around the city's neighborhoods, picking up strangers who need a ride to the polls. And on the way to the polls, some of them might just come to a stoplight, turn around and go home. Maybe they'll pick up a six-pack on the way. Maybe there's a new episode of Deal or No Deal on tonight. That would be nice. The girls are pretty, especially the blonde in the third row. Wait, they're all blond. No, not that one — THAT one! Oh yes, I see her. She is pretty. But the Man in the Booth has picked up the phone! He's calling down to you. Deal? Or no deal? No deal! No deal! Don't do it! Hey, I'm outta beer! Why didn't I pick up a case? Now I gotta spend eight bucks on gas to go buy more beer! Aaaaarrrggggghhhhhh!!!! HOWIE MANDEL ISN'T WEARING A FLAG PIN!! U-S-A! U-S-A! 6. Denounce me! Obama, at some point, might be asked this question: "Michael Moore has endorsed you. But he recently said (fill in the blank with some outrageously offensive line taken out of context). Will you still accept his endorsement, or do you denounce him?" And he better denounce me, or they will tear him to shreds. He had better back away not only from me but from anyone and everyone who veers a bit too far to the left of where his advisers have told him is the sweet spot for all those red-state voters. I won't take it personally. After all, I'm not the guy who married him or baptized his kids. I'm just the idiot who went to the same terrorist, Muslim school of flag-pin desecrators he went to. I remember poor John Kerry not even being able to admit, when asked by Larry King, if he had seen Fahrenheit 9/11. "No," he said, "I haven't. . . . I don't plan to, right now." But he had indeed seen it. I sat there watching him say this, and I just felt sorry for him and for the election he was about to lose. We can't take four more years of this madness, Barack. We need you to be a candidate who will fight back every time they attack you. Actually, don't even wait till you have to fight back. Fight first! Show some vision and courage and smoke them out. Keep asking why these lobbyists are McCain's best friends. Let's finally have a Democrat who's got the balls to fire first. So Barack, by denouncing me, you can help McCain get elected. Because when you denounce me, it's not really me you're distancing yourself from — it's the millions upon millions of people who feel the same way about things as I do. And many of them are the kind of crazy voters who have no problem voting for a Nader just to prove a point. Elections have been lost by just 537 votes. I don't want that to happen to you. From the forthcoming book "Mike's Election Guide," by Michael Moore. Copyright © 2008 by Michael Moore. Reprinted by permission of Grand Central Publishing, New York, NY. All rights reserved. Published in Rolling Stone August 21, 2008, Issue 1059

The Employee Free Choice Act: Restoring the Right to Organize

For months, corporate political action committees have been running television ads attacking the Employee Free Choice Act, a bill aimed at restoring the right to organize. The Act would do three principal things: 1. The Free Choice Act gives employees, not employers, control of the union election process. When a majority of workers sign union authorization cards, the employer must recognize the union of their choice. If 30 percent of the employees want an election, however, the decision is made by secret ballot, run by the National Labor Relations Board. Employers use the current NLRB election process to intimidate and coerce employees, using captive audience meetings to promise benefits or threaten retaliation if workers support the union. The elections are like political elections where only the incumbent can visit the district, and the incumbent controls every voter’s income. Majority sign up has worked well in Canada, where it has been the law for many years. 2. The Free Choice Act imposes meaningful penalties to deter labor law violations. Current law provides no real penalties on employers who interfere or coerce employees, discriminate against union supporters, or refuse to negotiate in good faith. As a result, employers routinely threaten employees who want a union, and fire active supporters. The Employee Free Choice Act would impose meaningful penalties that would deter labor law violations. 3. The Employee Free Choice Act provides binding arbitration of first contracts. If union supporters can get through a broken election process, and survive the employer’s campaign of illegal coercion and discrimination, the employer simply refuses to bargain for a first contract. Under current law, the only recourse is to strike. The Free Choice Act would require binding arbitration of the first contract, using the system that is in place for public sector workers in many states. Sign the petition supporting the Employee Free Choice Act. For more information, see: Bangor Daily News editorial supporting the Employee Free Choice Act New York Times editorial supporting the Employee Free Choice Act The (Brunswick) Times Record editorial supporting the Employee Free Choice Act The Employee Free Choice Act: Frequently Asked Questions (2 pages) Why We Need the Employee Free Choice Act (1 page) Radio ad in support of Employee Free Choice Act (this will take a few moments to load before playing)

Efforts on Health Care, Prescription Drugs and Public Good Earn Chellie Pingree the Backing of Over 10,000 Service Workers in Maine

AUGUSTA (August 12) - Citing her record of putting everyday people first, service workers represented by the over 10,000-member Maine State Employees Association, Local 1989 of the Service Employees International Union, today announced their endorsement of Chellie Pingree in Maine's First Congressional District. "Chellie Pingree has been a friend of working families, including MSEA-SEIU members, for many years," said Augusta resident Donna Doore, chairwoman of the MSEA-SEIU political action committee known as Political Action by Service Employees & Retirees. "Chellie stood by working families in the Maine Senate and as past president and CEO of Common Cause. She's advocating for working families in this campaign. "Chellie will provide leadership at the national level to help working families struggling with high gas prices, skyrocketing heating costs and rising health insurance premiums," Doore continued. "By electing Chellie to Congress, working families will have a strong voice in Washington. She'll look out for all of us." "As a state senator, Chellie Pingree took on the prescription drug companies to pass the first-in-the-nation Maine Rx legislation, making prescription drugs more affordable in Maine," said Bruce Hodsdon, president of MSEA-SEIU Local 1989. "She's not afraid to take on the prescription drug companies, the insurance industry and the oil companies. That's the kind of leadership we need at the national level." "Chellie knows exactly what it's like to work and raise a family in Maine," President Hodsdon added. "She understands that with the right leadership, government at the national level can help make life better for working families. Chellie will provide the leadership to find solutions to today's problems and tomorrow's." "MSEA is an important endorsement and I'm proud and honored to have their support," Pingree said in a statement. "We see eye to eye on the important issues that working men and women in Maine face. I was proud to work closely with them in the Maine Senate and I look forward to working together to win this election and get to work on creating and keeping high quality jobs here in Maine."

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Coverage Models Presented to Summer Working Group - July 30, 2008

Last Wednesday (Jul. 30), the summer working group heard presentations on four models for health care coverage, three for members of a specific workforce and one for employees of small businesses. It also heard an argument for tailoring a health care plan to address obstacles encountered by all low-wage workers, not just one particular workforce. Coverage models The first model concerned the Maine State Chamber Purchasing Alliance. As explained by Dana Connors, the president of Maine’s State Chamber of Commerce, the principal features of the model include: It is available to small businesses with 2-50 employees It creates seven different plans for employers to offer It received a Bureau of Insurance (BOI) waiver to reduce required employee participation rate from 75% to 60% A wellness discount of 2% of premiums is available to businesses whose employees participate in special health programs This set-up is apparently useful for some 480 Maine businesses insuring some 3200 folks, but its rates are similar to “community rating” rates available in the general market, so it doesn’t help much with affordability. Mollie Baldwin, the CEO of Home Care for Maine, also noted that this kind of system does nothing for larger employers and their workers. The second model presented was that of the Maine Bar Association. Here, a group of businesses has pulled themselves together to form a risk pool. Because these lawyers felt they were likely to be healthier than the general community, they sought to make use of BOI rules allowing them to be rated separately from the community rating system. For a while, this brought down premium costs. However, when several employees became severely ill and ran up high costs, insurers significantly boosted the association’s premium costs at time of renewal. With that, several large employers withdrew from the association, decreasing the size of the pool significantly, so premiums went up again. This option would not be particularly attractive in any event for long-term care employers, since direct-care workers tend to be older and more injury-prone than the general population. Both of these models fail to address the basic underlying issue: cost. A 2% wellness discount is good, but it won’t make up the difference between high premium costs and low wages for direct-care workers. Toward the end of the meeting, Elise Scala and I presented brief overviews of experiences from other states, both of which are highlighted in Coverage Models from the States (pdf). I went first and talked about Montana and Rhode Island. In Montana, recent legislation singled out direct-care workers for special attention. The state will increase Medicaid payments to home care agencies that make affordable coverage available to their employees. The details are still under discussion, but the plan is supposed to go online in January 2009. Several summer meeting participants voiced interest in this model, which transfers a very large portion of the subsidy costs to the federal government through the Medicaid matching dollar program (in Maine, the feds provide 66% of all funding for Medicaid expenditures). The group plans to discuss this further at the next meeting. In Rhode Island, the state singled out child care providers as eligible to join a state health insurance program. Depending on income, the state requires these workers to contribute between $61 and $130 a month. As in Montana, the program is subsidized through Medicaid, transferring a significant portion of the cost to the federal government. Elise spoke briefly about models that focus not on individual groups of workers but on the obstacles that prevent direct-care workers from acquiring coverage. Tailoring programs to these common obstacles and thus making them accessible to all low-income workers, she said, would probably reduce political opposition – and ultimately increase coverage for direct-care workers. Talking strategy After the general BOI meeting, a small group from the Direct Care Worker Coalition spent an hour in a wide-ranging talk with Mila Kofman and Judy Ward, the Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent of Insurance. Both Mila and Judy listened carefully to our concerns and seemed genuinely interested in helping us find ways to move our agenda forward. Mila, coming from a federal background, was focused on federal options we might explore, including possible increases to Medicaid’s SCHIP program, which she felt might be used to increase Medicaid funding and ultimately reimbursement rates. She also mentioned a new initiative co-sponsored by Sen. Durbin and Sen. Snowe, the SHOP Act, which would allow small businesses to band together in a larger risk pool in order to obtain lower premiums. The SHOP Act would provide employers with significant tax credits if they cover their employees. It probably isn’t an immediate or complete solution for direct-care workers, but it may help some employers overcome the financial barrier to providing affordable coverage. Mila and Judy both expressed an interest in scheduling a longer meeting to delve more deeply into the obstacles to coverage, the complicated interactions between reimbursements and coverage, unemployment insurance and injury rates. We expressed a desire to hear more about their thoughts on state-level policy and/or code-related options on which the Direct Care Worker Coalition might focus its future efforts. Though no immediate solutions emerged from this meeting, I think it is fair to say that it was quite productive and moved the Direct Care Worker Coalition very much into the thoughts of both of the BOI’s top administrators. At the next meeting, I believe the plan may be to have more open discussion of the solutions presented to date, and perhaps some discussion of Dirigo. Judy also hopes to begin discussing the kinds of recommendations the group will want to see included in the final report.

Kurt Wise

Financial Analyst

Maine Center for Economic Policy

kwise@mecep.org

Monday, August 11, 2008

Both sides misleading public on Beverage Tax-Dirigo Health issue

published in Kennebec Journal Thursday August 7, 2008 by Dan Billings In November, Maine voters will decide whether to veto a package of taxes passed to fund Dirigo Health, Maine's subsidized health insurance program. Veto proponents claim the vote is about high taxes. Veto opponents claim the vote is about affordable health care. Neither claim is true. Dirigo is available to Maine small businesses, the self-employed and individuals. Dirigo was intended to provide affordable coverage for Maine's approximately 140,000 uninsured. But after five years, Dirigo's actual enrollment is only only about 12,300 -- well short of the program's first-year goal of providing coverage to 31,000 Mainers. Since its passage, Dirigo has been funded through the so-called Savings Offset Payment. Through a complicated, expensive and contentious process, the Dirigo Health Agency estimates the savings to Maine's health care system resulting from Dirigo. The entire value of the savings, or as much as 4 percent of paid medical claims -- whichever is less -- must be paid by health insurance carriers and administrators. Four percent of paid claims for 2007 is estimated to be $80 million. The amount of the Savings Offset Payment is set each year by the insurance superintendent. Through Dirigo's history, the amount set by the superintendent has been less each year than the amount sought by the Dirigo Health Agency. The payment was $43.7 million in 2004; $34.3 million in 2005; and $38.2 million in 2006. The limited funding has capped Dirigo's growth and frustrated Dirigo supporters. Recently, the Dirigo Health board voted that the amount saved in Maine's health-care system in 2007 due to Dirigo was $149.8 million. If that figure is accepted by the insurance superintendent, the Savings Offset Payment for the coming year would be set at the maximum level of 4 percent of claims and bring in about $80 million. Since the level of the Savings Offset Payment was last set, Gov. John Baldacci appointed a new insurance superintendent, Mila Kofman. She testified in favor of Dirigo's passage and is expected to set the Savings Offset Payment at the maximum level. To eliminate the problems with the Savings Offset Payment and to provide stable funding for Dirigo, the Legislature passed a package of taxes this year to replace the controversial payment. The package includes a new wholesale tax on soda, flavored water, sports drinks, syrup and other beverages; a doubling of the tax on beer and wine; and a new fixed 1.8 percent tax on insurance claims. Dirigo supporters claim that this package will bring in $57 million per year while opponents of the new taxes claim the package will bring in $75 million per year. The businesses targeted by the taxes quickly organized a people's veto effort to bring the taxes to voters. An effort paid for primarily by beer and soda bottlers collected 75,000 signatures that are under review by the secretary of state. With a cushion of more than 20,000 verified signatures, the effort is almost certain to result in the veto being on the November ballot. Though the campaign is just beginning, the battle lines have already been drawn. Veto proponents focus their argument on taxes. They call their coalition "Fed Up With Taxes" and say that the issue is taxes and raising taxes during tough economic times. Veto proponents hope to attract voters frustrated with Maine's tax burden and those nervous about the economy. Veto opponents focus their argument on health care. They call their campaign "Health Coverage for Maine" and claim affordable health care for 50,000 Mainers is put at risk by the veto. They hope to attract voters concerned about the cost of health care and health insurance. Neither campaign is being honest with voters. The truth is that if the new taxes are vetoed, the Savings Offset Payment will remain in effect to fund Dirigo. The payment, which is a tax given another name, will bring in approximately the same amount as the taxes targeted for veto. As a result, neither the funding for Dirigo nor the amount of taxes Mainers pay is at issue. Dirigo will be funded and Mainers will pay the same in taxes no matter the result of the veto vote. In reality, the only thing at issue is how the taxes to fund Dirigo will be collected. So what should a voter do when both sides of a referendum campaign spread misinformation? My advice is ignore them. The people's veto is the least consequential contest on the ballot. Your time is better spent on the other choices to be made in November. Dan Billings is a Republican activist and commentator. He practices law in Waterville. He can be reached at dib9@aol.com.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

HCAN Action Thursday Aug. 7, 2008

AUGUSTA (NEWS CENTER) -- A national health insurance reform group is slamming Maine's biggest health insurance company, saying Anthem Blue Cross Clue Shield is making exorbitant profits at the expense of Maine people. It's part of an effort to force politicians in Washington to dramatically change the country's health insurance system. The group calls itself Health Care for America Now, and they were marching on the Augusta office of Anthem Blue Cross to publicize their claim that private, for-profit insurance companies are the real problem. The group slammed Anthem Blue Cross-Blue Shield, accusing the company of making too much profit off its Maine customers, citing numbers from a report on insurance company profits nationwide. Ali Vander Zanden, a member, said, "The report shows that in Maine between 2004 and 2007, Anthem's profits increased by almost 90 percent while its membership increased just 2.4 percent." Anthem spokesman Mark Ishkanian admits the company did have a good year last year, but has also had poor years. He says they normally average 3 to 4 percent profit. Ishkanian said, "Reality is that 85 percent of every dollar a person pays us in premiums goes to pay for health care of those members. The rest pays for administrative expenses of operating a plan like ours and a small part goes to profit." Health Care for America Now is a coalition of activist groups, labor unions and others that want to create some kind of nationwide, tax-supported health insurance program. The group says it is not coordinating its work with any particular political party, but that it hopes to influence who Mainers elect to House of Representatives and the Senate in November. Health Care for America says this is the first of several steps in the Maine campaign. They say the group has similar efforts in 40 states.
NEWS CENTER

Can't get no Health Care Satisfaction

Pat LaMarche Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - Bangor Daily News A Fox News anchor said Saturday that if Mick Jagger was from the United States he’d finally qualify for Medicare. She’s kidding — right? The anchor made a pretty lame attempt at highlighting the rock star’s advancing age. She did, however, do a good job of pointing out how backward the U.S. health care system is. See, Mick Jagger’s from the United Kingdom and he’s had universal government medical benefits since he was five. That’s because 60 years ago the United Kingdom instituted their National Health Service. George Bernard Shaw once said that "England and America are two countries separated by a common language." And that distinctive terminology doesn’t just lend itself to cute little linguistic differences like how they say "lorry" when we say "truck." There is also the language used in the U.S. that doesn’t have corresponding lingo in the UK. One example of jargon unique to the U.S. is the term "redlining." In the U.S., redlining is when an insurance company denies you health care coverage because of a pre-existing condition. In the UK, redlining doesn’t exist. In fact, according to Health Affairs, "the number one cited health policy journal devoted to publishing original, peer-reviewed research and commentary," medical redlining is quantified as the "denial rate among applicants for non-group coverage." Health Affairs lists conditions frequently redlined and the rates at which people are denied access to further coverage. Two of the patient subsets most commonly redlined are breast cancer survivors, 43 percent of the time and HIV patients 100 percent of the time. There’s a neat organization in the world. It’s called the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD. The group consists of 30 member countries that embrace the notion of "democracy" and support a "free market" economy. It used to be called the Organization for European Economic Cooperation and it began as a result of the Marshall Plan — America’s effort to rebuild Europe after World War II. The OECD compiles statistics: Statistics that illuminate the economic conditions and comparatives among their representative democracies. OECD statistics state that in 2003, the per capita out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare in the U.S. were $722; while in the UK they were only $208. The Brits aren’t just saving money, they’re living longer. Again, according to OECD, folks in the UK live about 11 months longer than folks in the U.S. This means that in Mick Jagger’s lifetime, with numbers extrapolated for inflation, the average resident of the UK would have saved somewhere around $30,000 over their U.S. counterpart. Think of it as money they could use to live on during that extra year of life. But that’s just the difference in out-of-pocket expenses. Out-of-pocket costs are nothing compared with a nation’s overall medical expenses. Here the numbers get really staggering. Again, according to the same smart data-gathering agency that we created under the Marshall Plan, the 2005 per capita cost for health care in the U.S. was $5,290 while in the UK it was only $2,230. That’s $3,060 per person per year. Over the course of a lifetime that sort of money adds up. In simple terms it means that Mick Jagger’s lifetime health needs will cost his society about $180,000 less then our own John Mellencamp will cost us. All together, between out-of-pocket and regular health expenditures, some London rocker’s health care is almost a quarter of a million dollars cheaper — again adjusted for inflation — than our rock star from Seymour, Ind. But those expenses are national averages. Ordinary people aren’t as capable of making up the difference as rock stars are. Statistics show that middle income folks still chip in their share of health care costs but go without needed services. According to a 2002 survey of U.S. taxpayers earning between $25,000 and $50,000 per year conducted by National Public Radio, the Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, 22 percent of middle class Americans postponed receiving care. Twenty-three percent had problems paying for the care they did receive and 13 percent did not get necessary drug prescriptions filled. Remember Mick Jagger singing, "Mother’s little helper?" In the U.S. it isn’t just a "drag" getting old — it’s also a little less likely and enormously more expensive. Pat LaMarche of Yarmouth is the spokesperson for the Evergreen Mountain Resort & Casino referendum campaign. She’s the author of "Left Out in America" and may be reached at PatLaMarche@hotmail.com.

Bulletin Board Posting

double click the image to make it bigger

Bulletin Board Posting

double click on the image to make it bigger
The Employee Free Choice Act will give workers of all kinds a right to form a union to make their working conditions better. To get a postcard to fill out and turn in or for more information, please contact helen.hnsn@gmail.com.

Bulletin Board Posting

double click image it make it bigger

Bulletin Board Posting

double click image to make it bigger

Bulletin Board Posting

double click image to make it bigger

Bulletin Board Posting

double click on the image to make it bigger

Bulletin Board Posting

double click the image to make it bigger

Thursday, August 7, 2008

HCAN Truth Squad and Anthem

Health Care for America Now! held a press conference today, in an effort to get answers from Anthem Health Plans of Maine about their skyrocketing profits.
According to a report by the Northwest Federation of Community Organizations titled Insuring Health or Ensuring Profit?, Anthem Health Plans' annual net (profits) income have almost doubled between 2004 and 2007.
Anthem's net income in 2004 was $40.0 million, in 2007 it was $75.7 million, a 89.2 percent increase. How many of you have seen your premiums increase over the course of those years? How many of you have had to drop your insurance because your premiums have increased beyond affordability?
Anthem's per member per month profits have increased from $11.07 per member to $20.45 per member. That means that everyone who is insured by Anthem Health Plans is a $20.45 profit to the company. Is this right? What do they do with these profits? Anthem's membership has increased only by 2.4 percent.
The Health Care for America Now! Coalition is concerned that Anthem may be denying reasonable claims, and therefore we request an answer to these questions:
How many claims did you receive and what percentage of them did you deny in 2003-2007?
What percentage of these denials were for lack of medical necessity, pre-existing condition exclusion, experimental treatment, lack of prior authorization, or other reasons?
HCAN is concerned that Anthem enrollees are struggling with the increasing cost of basic necessities such as health care and insurance, while Anthem's per-member per-month profits have grown by 84.8 percent since 2004. Therefore we request an answer to this question:
For each year between 2002 and 2007, what percentage of health care claims costs has been borne by your company, and what percentage has been borne out-of-pocket by enrollees in the individual, small group and large group markets, respectively?
For each of your products, how much have you raised premiums each year for the past five years?
HCAN is concerned that there may be disproportionate representation of people of color, seniors, women and low-income people in Anthem's insurance plans that provide the least benefits and therefore we request an answer to this question:
What is the demographic breakdown of enrollment in each of your products by age, race/ethnicity, household income, gender or geography?
In 2007, Anthem Health Plans of Maine reported $75.7 million in dividends to its parent company. We are concerned that these profits are far above and beyond a healthy profit margin and offer no benefits to Mainers who are struggling to get by in our difficult economic climate. Therefore we request an answer to these questions:
For the past five years, how much has your company sent in dividends to your parent company? What was this money used for and how does your company determine how much it will send in dividends?
What is the complete compensation package for your top five executives?
After the press conference at the State House, HCAN went to Anthem's office in Augusta and demanded answers to these questions.
HCAN was stonewalled by the secretary. We didn't expect anything different. We were told we could not leave the questions but had to contact Anthem's spokesperson directly in order to make arrangements with him to get the questions to him.
The secretary did give HCAN his phone number. Outside Anthem's office, we called the spokesperson, got his voicemail and cell number, and left a message. We then tried his cell and left a message there too.
Check out Channel 6's report on the press conference and the action with Anthem. http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=91259&catid=2

Boycott "Tropic Thunder"

The movie Tropic Thunder will be released on August 13th. I am asking you to boycott the film. You will find below two links to articles regarding the upcoming release of the movie "Tropic Thunder", which features Ben Stiller portraying an "intellectually challenged" adult. The term "retard" isused frequently throughout the film, as noted on the movie poster featured in the movie "once upon a time . . . there was a retard" and the discussion between two of the starring actors during which Robert Downey Jr.'s character advises Stiller's character to "never go full retard." There are an estimated 14.3 million Americans with cognitive disabilities. These people share a history of segregation and exclusion, and report that what many call the "R-word" reinforces negative social attitudes just as surely as racial, ethnic and sexually oriented slurs do. http://www.patriciaebauer.com/2008/08/01/once-upon-a-time http://www.patriciaebauer.com/2008/08/01/never-go-full-retard There are efforts underway in some parts of the country to organize boycotts of the movie, from what I have heard. Please consider how you can participate in making clear that use of this type of language and characterization is offensive and hurtful to people across the country, and reflects poorly on our society as a whole. Please ask everyone you know to boycott this movie! Empty movie theaters would speak loudly! This came in an email from Julie Moulton, fellow Maine PASA member and fellow VOICES Institute Graduate.

Corporate Attack Dogs Targeting Rep. Tom Allen for Support Working Families

Last week brought us news of Wal-Mart pressuring employees to vote against Democrats like Rep. Tom Allen who are fighting for working families. Now we’re learning that corporate front groups are taking it a step further and unleashing vicious, misleading attacks on Allen. Corporate-financed groups like the misnamed “Coalition for a Democratic Workplace” and “Center for Union Facts” are on the attack because Rep. Allen supports the Employee Free Choice Act to restore workers’ freedom to form unions and bargain without employer harassment. Across the country, these front groups are running misleading TV, radio and newspaper ads attacking candidates who are doing the right thing. It is important that Rep. Tom Allen knows you are behind him and the other candidates 100 percent. Please take a minute and tell Rep. Tom Allen that you appreciate their support for the Employee Free Choice Act. The Employee Free Choice Act, when enacted, will restore balance between corporate power brokers and workers trying to form unions. Right now, corporations have ALL the power— Corporations decide how workers will form their union. Corporations illegally fire workers for supporting a union. Corporations force workers into intimidation meetings with supervisors. Corporations threaten to shut down if workers unionize. Corporations delay contract negotiations. And corporate fines for violating our rights are so insignificant that these fines are treated as just a regular cost of doing business. And as a result, 60 million workers who want to join unions cannot. Which means millions of working men and women are intentionally denied the higher wages and better benefits that come with a union card—and America’s middle class dwindles. Please thank Rep. Tom Allen for supporting the Employee Free Choice Act. The Employee Free Choice Act isn’t complicated. It would enable workers to choose for themselves whether to form a union by majority sign-up or through a National Labor Relations Board election. It would strengthen penalties when corporations trample the rights of workers trying to organize and bargain. And it would ensure that once workers form a union, the company can’t indefinitely delay reaching a contract. With wages stagnating, prices rising, health and pension benefits disappearing and the middle class shrinking, what could be more important than giving every working man and woman a fair chance to bargain for a better life? Please take a moment to let Rep. Tom Allen know that you support the Employee Free Choice Act, too. Thank you. In solidarity, Working Families e-Activist Network, AFL-CIO

Monday, August 4, 2008

Got a Good Story about Quality Public Services?

It could win you $100 MSEA-SEIU members consistently make a positive difference in the everyday lives of Maine people. When we tell those stories, it helps remind everyone in Maine about the importance of quality public services that are sometimes easy to take for granted. What is your favorite story about how the quality public services provided by one of our members improved or continues to improve the lives of Maine residents? If you have such a story, please write it down today and enter it in the first MSEA-SEIU Quality Public Services You Can Count On contest. The top four entries will be turned into newspaper ads promoting the quality public services our members provide. The four MSEA-SEIU members who submit those winning entries will receive cash prizes of $100 each. To submit your idea, go to http://www.mseaseiu.org/ to get the form or contact MSEA headquarters for a contest entry form. Fill it out and fax to MSEA at (207) 623-4916 or mail them to MSEA-SEIU Contest, P.O. Box 1072, Augusta, Maine 04332-1072 or drop them off at MSEA-SEIU headquarters on State Street in Augusta. Deadline is Friday, August 19, 2008 by 5 pm at MSEA-SEIU headquarters. I urge 771 members to participate in this. What a great opportunity to share with other MSEA-SEIU members the important work you do for your consumers. This is a wonderful chance for us of 771 to educate our union brothers and sisters on what we do on a daily basis to help fellow Mainers.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

DID YOU KNOW?

I have been listening for some time to members of MSEA wondering what the union has done for them. I would like to attempt to provide some of that information to you. First of all, contrary to belief, MSEA is a member organization and can not operate without the members being active. From the first contract to the upcoming negotiations members have been at the table presenting the wants and needs of fellow members. This is a rewarding and yet at times unappreciated volunteerism that your co-workers do for each of us. Your vacation time, sick time, paid holidays, stipends for dangerous work, mileage reimbursement, longevity pay, personal time and other reimbursement and time issues are in the contract because someone cared enough to negotiate those for you. Who you ask represents you. Why it is the Steward in the work site. Training is provided them two times a year. They have a large network of other Stewards and Chief Stewards as well as staff to help you. Members like you and me, go to chapter meetings, check the union website www.mseaseiu.org and keep ourselves informed. We get elected to positions in our chapters and attend our annual convention (council meetings) where we as members set dues and a course for our union to go into. We elect fellow members to sit on the Board where they are responsible for adhering to the councils wishes and to administer the budget that the council approved. Those who have been providing their volunteer services need your help. We should be standing together with support and understanding. These are bad times and they are not getting any better. We need more volunteers. At a recent meeting to start the bargaining process early an election was postponed in order to try to involve more members. Yes, it was a nice sunny Saturday and there was something else to do. It is becoming harder and harder to find funds for a good contract. Please find some time to help yourself and fellow members and get involved. It is rewarding and you can actually make new friends. Let me ask a question in a different way. What would get you interested in attending meetings and getting involved? You can't complain that the Union doesn't do this or doesn't do that if you don't ask. Remember YOU are the Union and if the Union isn't doing something you want part of the responsibility is yours. Although not all of this pertains to 771, the membership involvement does. I too get asked what has the union done for us. If you don't like the way things are going, get involved. I took this from UnionMaine's blog.

Insurance Company Rules

Check out the video from HCAN http://healthcareforamericanow.org/ We all know about dealing with insurance companies when trying to get a claim paid, be it auto, home or health. Insurance companies rewrite the rules as they go along to win every time. Why shouldn't you?" Really, none of us should have to play by insurance company rules in a system that costs too much, covers too little and excludes too many. We have a choice. Please sign the petition now to help win secure, high-quality health care for all. While working families are struggling to make ends meet, insurance companies rake in huge profits, enjoying lax regulations that allow them to make money by denying coverage and care. Today, one in four people don't get the care they need, even though they pay for health insurance. Many of us are one medical emergency away from bankruptcy. On top of that, 47 million people have no health coverage at all. Change the rules. Sign the petition now to win health care we all can count on. No more losing coverage because you change jobs, or being denied coverage because of an illness. No more having to choose between feeding the kids and keeping them healthy. No more worrying that one injury could cost you your home. Please help us change the rules so working families, not insurance companies, are in charge of our health care. Sign the petition now to help us win high-quality care we can count on. By signing the petition, you will make your voice heard. Together, millions of our voices are stronger than the special interest money trying to block the health care reform we need. In solidarity,Working Families e-Activist Network, AFL-CIO

Workgroup - BOI Meeting, July 30th

The Direct Care Worker Workgroup meeting with the Bureau of Insurance on July 30th went well. BOI asked the Maine State Chamber to present information on their purchasing alliance. What this particular alliance does is allow companies who are members of their local chamber of commerce buy into the group health insurance that is purchased by the alliance. These companies pay a yearly membership to the alliance. That fee goes to cover the administrative costs of the alliance. Ninety percent of the companies in this alliance have fewer than 50 employees. The participation rate is sixty percent. That makes a significant difference in whether or not the companies can utilize this alliance. The sixty percent participation rate means that the companies need to have sixty percent of their employees use the coverage in one form or another in order to participate in the plan. Another thing that struck me was the flexibility of the insurance plan. Employees have the option of choosing a plan that best suits their needs. Someone who is healthy and does not see their doctor often can opt for the health savings plan where someone who has small children can opt for an HMO plan. This alliance is also community rated and this is also attributed to its success. On the down side was the fact that most of these companies have 50 employees or fewer. A second BOI code was presented. That was the Maine Bar Association. This association was created with the sole purpose of buying health insurance for lawyers and their staff. This association is large, made up of 400 members. It is treated as a large group. Base rates are the same for all members in the group. The association is not community rated, it competes with community rated options. Small and large businesses participate, one having 1,500 employees that are insured. The association offers four to seven insurance products. Examples of associations to purchase health insurance are the Maine Medical Association and the Maine Dental Association. After discussion on this code, Kurt Wise of MECEP and Elise Scala of the Muskie School, both members of the Maine Direct Care Worker Coalition, presented information on what other states are doing in gaining health care coverage for their direct care workers. Kurt pointed out that states like Rhode Island and Montana have chosen to single out certain workforces that they feel are important to the overall health and well-being of their states. Rhode Island created a special program to help cover child care workers. Montana enhanced Medicaid payments to homecare providers that provide coverage to workers. The employer has to demonstrate that the money is going to providing health insurance for its workers. Other states are singling out their direct care workers as a viable, needed, important workforce; states like Iowa, Montana, California, New York. Elise brought attention to HCHCW's Coverage Models from Other States (http://hchcw.org link at right as well) and pointed to Iowa and its Health Care Reform Bill. Part of this reform requires Iowa's Department of Public Health to expand efforts to insure that a well-qualified and stable health and long-term care workforce exists. A Direct Care Worker Compensation Committee will be set up to make recommendations to increase worker wages and other forms of compensation. A pilot project will also get under way to provide health care coverage for up to 250 direct care workers and their families. This will be done by the Department of Human Services in an effort to see how this coverage will help workers and see if there's an impact on the turnover rate. There was some discussion on the SEIU plans that are covered in that booklet from Health Care for Health Care Workers. Maryanne Turowski from MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 will bring in information on those plans and on a plan that is in the works for its child care members and for 771 to the next BOI meeting. That meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 11 at the Bureau of Insurance in Gardiner from 9 - 11. Again, the public is welcome. Please contact me helen.hnsn@gmail.com for more information or directions.

Area I Caucus

There will be an AREA I Caucus at 10 am on Saturday Aug. 9, 2008 in the DOT Blue Building on the Hogan Road in Bangor. The purpose of this meeting is to elect a replacement Board Director. ALL members in good standing can run for the position, but only current Delegates and Chapter Presidents are allowed to vote.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Barack Obama and SEIU

I'm reading Barack Obama's The Audacity of Hope in an effort to gain more knowledge of Obama and what makes him tick. I came across something of interest as I was reading this morning. In this chapter of the book, Obama is talking about politics and trying to remain true to his beliefs and not cave to the campaign contributors who donated the most money to his US Senate campaign back in 2004. He talks about the surveys put out by those who may endorse him. He says that he lost some endorsements by answering their questions wrong, but then he gained some endorsements despite his wrong answers on their surveys. What struck me was the support he gained from several of the largest service workers unions, SEIU being one of them. He says that "it was a risky move on their part; had I lost, those unions might have paid a price in access, in support, in credibility with their members." He goes on to say . . . So I owe those unions. When their leaders call, I do my best to call them back right away. I don't consider this corrupting in any way; I don't mind feeling obligated toward home health-care workers who clean bedpans every day for little more than the minimum wage, or towards teachers in some of the toughest schools in the country, many of whom have to dip into their own pockets at the beginning of every school year to buy crayons and books for their students. I got into politics to fight for these folks, and I'm glad a union is around to remind me of their struggles. When you're considering your vote this fall, I urge you to remember who SEIU endorsed, and I urge you to think about Obama's words from his book. Check out Obama's walk in a home care worker's shoes . . . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miUS7WnMgBw Think about it, has McCain done this? Does he know about what direct care workers do on a day-to-day basis? Does he know about the challenges we face? Granted, SEIU had a lot to do with Obama meeting a home care worker. He doesn't "choke" on the word union. He knows what we're about, thanks to SEIU.

Maine PASA Conference

SAVE THE DATE!!! Friday, September 26, 2008 Join us for the 6th Annual Conference of the Maine Personal Assistant Services Association (PASA) On
“Working Well, Working Wise” Because you have the world in your hands each day, take time among friends to re-charge your batteries. Join others doing the same important work and spend a day caring for yourself so you can continue caring for others. Discount registration for Maine PASA members and the first 100 registrants get a $15 gas card at the conference! Hear national and regional speakers – more to come! At the centrally located St. Paul’s Center, Augusta, from 8 am to 2 pm. For more information, call 207-890-0773 or go to http://www.mainepasa.org/ Maine PASA is a non-profit organization that advocates for resources
and recognition to develop front-line direct care, direct support and personal assistance workers; and offers them information,
networking and professional development opportunities.

Come Work for YOUR Union!

Your Union - MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 - is looking for members of Local 771 just like you to help us build our power with home care workers across the state. We have several positions available for members only to work approximately 6-10 hours a week as a member advocate. The positions pay $15 an hour. Hours are flexible around your schedule with consumers and positions are available across the state.
Interested? Call Jay Economy or Mike Sylvester at MSEA headquarters at 1-800-452-8794.