What kind of America do you want to live in?

One that does what’s needed to keep working families and our communities safe and strong? Or one that sits by while its citizens struggle to cope with high gas prices, rising food costs and cuts to public services and jobs?

If you’re like most, you want an America and an economy that work for everyone.

That’s why we are calling on our elected leaders to strengthen America by investing in the important services that AFSCME members provide and everyone in our country relies on, including health care, education, public safety and infrastructure.

This 4th of July we can do more than celebrate — we can take action to get our country back on track. Sign the AFSCME petition today.

AFSCME’s 1.4 million members are on the frontlines of our country’s economic crisis and it’s up to us to speak out. Every day we take responsibility for our families’ –– and our communities’ –– safety and needs. Today, I hope you’ll take that responsibility one step further and sign our petition urging Congress and the President to put America’s economy back on track by creating jobs and strengthening the economy.

Tuesday, July 1, Baraboo, Wisconsin

The massive flooding that swept across much of southern Wisconsin has devastated the lives and homes of hundreds of thousands of families, including about 200 of our own members.

In early June, Lake Delton emptied out into the nearby Wisconsin River, washing out roads and highways, tearing apart trees and homes in the village of Baraboo in nearby Madison.

Although in need of help themselves, AFSCME city and state workers have been on the front lines, stepping up for flood victims, helping in rescue operations and providing aid. They are now putting in 12 to 16-hour days in clean up operations, hauling tons of debris and repairing and restoring roads.

Kenny Weaver, Local 758 president (Council 24), oversees the flood relief operations for the state’s Dept. of Transportation and coordinates the clean up of Sauk and Juneau counties with county DOT workers from Council 40.

Kenny describes the devastation in Baraboo to Gloria T. Caoile, head of the AFSCME Midwest Flood Relief team. “The surging waters swept four feet of sand in this area, destroying dozens of homes,” explains Kenny.” Our task now is to prevent the damage from getting worse by digging out the sand, fixing the roads and restoring the streams.”

Kenny confers with Mike Keichinger (right), a county DOT foreman and a member of Local 569, Council 40. He drives a back hoe excavator. For more than a week now, Mike and his co-workers have hauled away 100 truck loads of debris from the area. Council 24 and Council 40 members have been working together to clean up the mess. “This is what public service is all about,” Mike says proudly.

“We have the expertise, the equipment and the skills to get the job done,” adds Jim Garrity, a member of Council 40 Executive Board who works for the Jefferson County Highway Department.

The AFSCME Midwest Flood Relief team made on-site inspections and delivered cash assistance from the International union, with assurances of continued support.

An aerial view of Sauk county, one of the flooded areas.

From the airport, the team hit the road right away, crossing the Wisconsin River in a ferry and meeting up with members at a work site an hour away from Madison. Debbie Garcia, organizing director, provided valuable logistical support.

Photos by Jon Melegrito

Tickets to a recent fundraising luncheon for Senator John McCain’s campaign went for $1,000 – but for a $2,300 contribution, attendees were promised a campaign lapel pin in addition to their meal. In his latest entry on the Huffington Post, AFSCME President Gerald McEntee says we shouldn’t be surprised by wealthy Republican donors paying $1,300 for lapel pins. What’s really shocking is the failure of the press to cover Sen. McCain’s hypocrisy on campaign finance reform:

In February, he was told by the chairman of the Federal Elections Commission that he could not bow out of the federal financing system during the primaries because he had agreed to participate and had secured a bank loan predicated on his agreement to accept public funds. But once McCain began to win some primaries and the money started to flow in, he went back on his commitment. He and the corporate lobbyists who run his campaign decided to go out and start collecting big bucks from the big spenders who could afford $1,300 lapel pins.

Read the full post.