Not satisfied with record-breaking profits of $12.5 billion last year – a whooping 56 percent spike from 2008 – the nation’s five largest insurance companies have the audacity to raise their premiums on thousands of families who are still struggling in these tough economic times. One California insurer, Anthem Blue Cross, has threatened to increase premiums by up to 39 percent this year. It made an enormous profit of $4.7 billion in 2009.

As U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein puts it, these insurers “have gotten very greedy.”

She’s right. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), these companies raked in profits of 250 percent between 2000 and 2009. Now they want even larger premium hikes: 56 percent in Michigan, 24 percent in Connecticut, 23 percent in Maine, 20 percent in Oregon, and 16 percent in Rhode island.

These are “disturbing examples of the problems that make reforming our health insurance system more important than ever,” HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius points out. “Thousands of struggling families are left with an unpleasant choice between fewer benefits, higher insurance rates, or having no insurance at all.”

It’s time to pass real health care reform and stop health insurance premiums from soaring even higher.

Participants in AFSCME’s 2009 Alternative Spring Break in Missouri. Learn more and apply at www.unionbreak.org.

This spring, student activists are organizing conferences on college campuses throughout the country, taking on some of the most critical issues of our time. Students in Knoxville, TN, are focused on the issue of solidarity with campus workers and raising consciousness about the transition from student to young workers in the labor force. At the beginning of March, students will be converging in Washington, DC, to urge our nation’s elected leaders to support sound education policy.

Even in this tough political and economic climate, student activists continue to make a stand and fight for issues that are critical to their experience.

At AFSCME, we are committed to providing a space for these activists to continue their work long after they have left campus. Many of our programs are geared towards college seniors who are passionate about grassroots organizing and progressive social change — student activists who are anxious to continue the fight for social justice and workers’ rights once they’ve graduated.

More importantly, we are looking for students who believe that a strong labor movement is vital to fighting back against the attacks on working families, on health care, and the very fabric of what makes our communities vibrant.

If you are ready to take on these challenges, then consider fighting for social and economic justice as a union organizer for one of the most progressive unions in today labor movement. Go to www.unionbreak.org to apply for AFSCME’s Alternative Union Break, a program for college seniors interested in making a difference and pursuing a career in union organizing.

The deadline for applications is March 1, 2010.

While the Senate is seeking agreement on jobs legislation, states will need to start reprogramming their unemployment insurance (UI) computers before the current federal benefit extensions and COBRA subsidies are scheduled to end on February 28.

Senate Majority Leader Reid attempted to get unanimous consent to move a stop-gap extension of the programs through March 7 while negotiations continue, but Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) objected.

Without timely congressional action, workers losing jobs after February 28 will only be eligible for 26 weeks of basic state benefits, and those participating in the federal extension programs will only be able to complete the extension in which they are participating, possibly losing months of assistance.

While most observers believe an extension ultimately will pass, the delay will cause mass confusion among the over 10 million unemployed workers receiving unemployment checks and cause states to spend unnecessary time and resources shutting down the extension software, responding to calls from UI claimants, and then starting up the programs again.

This message is from Chuck Loveless, AFSCME Director of Legislation.

Your job matters. Whether it’s clearing the roads of snow and ice, providing health care services, ensuring public safety, or simply working hard for our communities, the vital services that AFSCME members like you provide make our country happen.

And right now, these services — and our jobs — are on the chopping block as state and local governments face massive budget shortfalls. Unless Congress invests in states and communities, more than three million jobs will be lost by 2012 — including hundreds of thousands of public service jobs.

That’s why I hope you’ll add your name to our new Jobs Now petition: we need to fight for our jobs and fix the economy.

Economists on the left and right agree that investing in our jobs — the vital public services that AFSCME members provide — is one of the best ways to save and create jobs. Plus, every dollar invested in public services grows the economy by $1.41 — and that helps put all Americans back to work.

Please join thousands of other AFSCME members and add your name to our petition today: Urge Congress to support and fight for aid to state and local governments to save and create jobs.

The last thing we need right now is more layoffs. Investing in state and local governments is one of the most sure-fire ways to help our economy — and our country — recover from the worst recession in generations. As Congress and the President make jobs their number one priority over the coming months, it’s vital that the working families and public service employees who are on the front lines of this crisis make our voices heard. Please join us.

AFSCME is running this ad in the Politico newspaper today.

In a full-page ad in today’s issue of Politico, AFSCME calls for an end to the destructive “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in the United States military.

The ad reiterates the statement released earlier this week by Pres. Gerald W. McEntee and includes a photo of former U.S. Army Sergeant Darren Manzella (courtesy of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network). Sgt. Manzella served two tours of duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom before being discharged under “don’t ask, don’t tell” in June of 2008.

In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this week, Joint Chiefs chairman Adm. Mike Mullen and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates echoed President Obama’s call for an end to the policy. Former secretary of state Colin Powell, who opposed efforts by President Bill Clinton to repeal the ban in 1993 while serving as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has also come out in support of the plan to end “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

The text of the ad reads as follows:

President Obama is right.

It is time to end “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

More than 13,000 Americans, who volunteered to serve and defend our country, have been discharged under the unnecessary and unjust “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. Discrimination has no place in any American institution. During a time of two wars, this policy undermines our national security and the effectiveness of our military. It requires the discharge of trained, essential members of military units. It requires dishonesty. And it promotes a misguided notion that some Americans are not entitled to full equality.

Across the globe, our allies — including Britain, Canada, France and Israel — have demonstrated that openly gay and lesbian personnel are as effective fighting the enemy as anyone else in military service. Our military will be stronger when we stop a policy that denies talented men and women the opportunity to serve our country with honesty. Institutional discrimination undermines the spirit of equality that has shaped our deepest values. It is time for Congress to act quickly to bring this relic of bigotry to an end.

Equality should not be denied to any group of Americans. AFSCME is proud of the role we have played in working to end discrimination. For thirty years, we have fought to eliminate discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans. Our strength lies in our diversity. We support President Obama’s effort to change a destructive policy. It is time to end “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

Download the ad as a PDF.

AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee released the following statement regarding President Obama’s efforts to end the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy:

“We are encouraged by the steps begun today by President Obama and the Pentagon to end the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy. More than 13,000 American troops have been discharged under this unjust policy that forces gay and lesbian Americans in our armed forces to serve in silence. Discrimination has no place in any American institution. It undermines our national security and the effectiveness of our military by discharging trained individuals who are essential members of military units. It undermines our values by requiring dishonesty and promoting a misguided notion that some Americans are not entitled to full equality.

“Our allies across the globe, including Britain, Canada, France and Israel, have many years of experience demonstrating that the service of openly gay and lesbian personnel does not impact the fighting effectiveness of their armed forces. America’s military will be stronger when we stop a policy that denies talented men and women the opportunity to serve our country with honesty. Discrimination against gay and lesbian service personnel undermines the spirit of equality that has shaped our country throughout our history. It offends our deepest values. It is time for Congress to act quickly to bring this relic of bigotry to an end.

“AFSCME is proud of the role we have played in working to end discrimination on the basis of race, religion, disability and sexual orientation. For thirty years, we have led the fight to eliminate the discrimination too many gay, lesbians, bisexual and transgender Americans face every day in our nation. We support President Obama’s effort to change this destructive and unnecessary policy. It is time to end ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’”