1. Doug Domene gave us a revised budget presentation, which prompted our team to request more info on some items in the presentation. Mr. Domene expressed his willingness to listen to classified suggestions on cost-saving ideas. The CSEA team brought up the possibility of potential savings by modifying the District’s use of contractors.

2. CSEA has received budget documents from the District, and has sent them for analysis to determine the District’s financial strength (as is done each year when we negotiate). We will have a better understanding of the District’s financial health after we receive the budget analysis.

3. The District has not yet given us a formal written proposal; however, they have told us their “conceptual” proposal, which currently includes possible furlough days. Your team is exploring all options, and will investigate whether concessions are warranted in 09/10. The District also told us they anticipate health & welfare (insurance) discussions at a later date.

Thank you again for wearing blue to show your support. Our next scheduled negotiations date is Friday November 20.

Protecting our future through bargaining,

Your 09/10 CSEA negotiations team – Allyson, Nancy, Cheryl, Job, Aydin, and Brady

In what has become a hallmark of the healthcare negotiations in Congress, yesterday’s developments were old news by this morning. The closer the U.S. House of Representatives gets to voting on its healthcare bill, the more pressure mounts from all sides, but none more powerful than the insurance industry.

Last night, the insurance companies got their way. Nothing terrifies them more than single-payer healthcare, because they know it works in every single country that has adopted it.

Although Rep. Anthony Weiner pushed hard and secured a commitment from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to allow a vote on his single-payer amendment, this morning he withdrew the measure.

“I have decided not to offer a single-payer alternative to the health reform bill at this time,” Weiner said. “Given how fluid the negotiations are on the final push to get comprehensive healthcare reform that covers millions of Americans and contains costs through a public option, I became concerned that my amendment might undermine that important goal.

“I’ve discussed the issue with Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Waxman, and agree with them that the health reform bill is so close it deserves every chance to gain a majority,” he added.

At this time, CSEA is asking all members to hold off on any further phone calls to Congress in support of the Weiner amendment.

“I want to thank every CSEA member who has called and e-mailed Congress and participated in CSEA’s healthcare actions,” said Association President Allan Clark. “We have made history with our campaign, achieving many new milestones. Our healthcare campaign will continue and we will work even harder now to secure true healthcare reform.”

Clark said the insurance companies have so tightly controlled the environment surrounding healthcare reform in Congress that “getting single-payer legislation as far as we did is a huge success!” The fact that Pelosi was prepared to allow a vote on single-payer the day before the vote on the main bill is a testament to the incredible amount of effort CSEA members and other activists have put into this campaign.

“Speaker Pelosi has been a friend to workers and a friend to CSEA for many years. It was difficult to have to challenge her and the other leaders this week, but we have to stand up for our principles, especially in the face of the onslaught from the insurance companies,” Clark said. “Our actions are not personal — they are based on our principles and our positions on the issues. We will question Democrats, Republicans and anyone else when necessary. We can be very proud that we stayed faithful to our core values, and we will continue to do so.”

Congressmen Dennis Kucinich and John Conyers, principle authors of HR 676, CSEA’s endorsed national single-payer bill, also sent their appreciation to supporters this morning: “We thank you for your continued devotion to the cause of healthcare for all Americans. Your work, in communities across America, has been instrumental in helping at least 10 states create single-payer movements, with many more states to come. While state single-payer movements are already strong, the national single-payer movement is still growing. (The) time will come, and when it does, there will not be any doubt of the outcome. This system of healthcare injustice will not be able to endure forever. We are pledged to make sure of that.”

The situation in Congress is very fluid right now as the House edges closer to voting on HR 3962, the main healthcare bill. Stay tuned as we try to stay on top of the latest developments — and thanks again for your commitment to healthcare for all.

Please do not reply to this e-mail. This mailbox is not monitored and you will not receive a response. If you have comments, please send an e-mail to healthcare@csea.com.

Let’s make some more – keep those phones ringing…

Our actions with our allies over the past week – culminating in the civil disobedience at Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office on Tuesday – appear to have been the tipping point in the fight to get a fair debate in Congress on CSEA-endorsed HR 676, a bill to establish a single-payer healthcare program that would be publicly financed but privately delivered (similar to Medicare).

Rep. Anthony Weiner announced Wednesday evening that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is keeping her promise to him to allow his single-payer amendment a full debate and vote on the House floor!

YOUR PHONE CALLS, E-MAILS AND ACTIONS MADE THIS HAPPEN!

So let’s keep up the pressure. In fact, let’s step it up!

The Weiner amendment could be considered as early as the afternoon of Friday, November 6 so we need you to act today.

The Weiner amendment will provide an historic opportunity to have a straight up-and-down vote on single payer “Medicare for All” healthcare reform in Congress. We will finally get a fair debate in Congress on HR 676 and the merits of creating such a health program – a system that would cut healthcare costs, build on the strengths of Medicare and improve it, while expanding coverage to everyone.

Supporters of single-payer contend that a strong showing for the amendment will help set the stage for future healthcare reform activities and send the insurance industry a message that there is a strong single-payer block in Congress that will not tolerate their stranglehold on the delivery of healthcare to the American people.

House Speaker Pelosi has agreed to schedule a debate and vote on the Weiner Amendment prior to Saturday’s vote on the main bill. Pelosi’s action followed a week of intense pressure from single-payer supporters after she appeared to renege on her earlier agreement with Weiner to bring the amendment up before the full House.

Thousands of callers flooded congressional phone lines. In San Francisco, 12 activists–including representatives of CSEA, AFSCME and Grey Panthers–were arrested at a demonstration in Pelosi’s office. Similar demonstrations targeted Rep. George Miller and Rep. Henry Waxman.

Never before has Congress taken a floor vote on single-payer healthcare. Just as Rome wasn’t built in a day, we know our fight for secure, affordable, high quality healthcare is too important to back down now.

So we can’t let up.

Call Congress today!

Call your representative and state that you support the AFL-CIO’s endorsement of the Weiner amendment. Explain that, however they vote on the main healthcare bill, support for the Weiner amendment is crucial for the future of the movement for real healthcare reform. Ask them to put themselves on the record in support of healthcare as a fundamental human right! Keep it brief.

You can also reach the Washington office of your representatives by calling the Capitol Switchboard: 202-225-3121.

Next, call the House leadership to thank them for keeping their promise to allow the floor vote on the legislation.

Call Speaker Pelosi: (202) 225-4965

Call Bill Floor Manager Rep. George Miller: (202) 225-2095

Call Bill Floor Manager Rep. Henry Waxman: (202) 225-3976

Then pat yourself on the back for making history!

Upset that legislation introduced by House Democrats last week does not go far enough to fix the problems with health care, three CSEA staff were among 12 protesters arrested in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco office Tuesday.

While CSEA members and staff rallied outside the Federal Building in San Francisco, three CSEA staff members and several other healthcare activists went inside to attempt to communicate with Pelosi or her chief of staff in Washington, D.C.

Pelosi was not in her San Francisco office, nor did she or her chief of staff telephone the office to speak with the group. The protesters stated that they would refuse to leave until they received a response. After nearly three hours, the Federal Protection Service of U.S. Homeland Security arrested the protesters.

“These people stood up for CSEA members and our health care,” said CSEA Area A Director Martha Penry, who participated in the rally outside. “This was a huge step forward for CSEA. We were there to hold our elected officials accountable for the promises they made to us.”

The activists were very clear about what they wanted – an opportunity to talk to the speaker about two key amendments that were stripped out of the final healthcare bill introduced by the House Democrats last Thursday.

One amendment by Rep. Dennis Kucinich would remove federal barriers for states that want to set up a single-payer healthcare system, such as CSEA-sponsored SB 810 here in California. The second issue was asking Speaker Pelosi to keep her promise to Rep. Anthony Weiner to allow a floor vote on legislation for a national single-payer plan (CSEA-endorsed HR 676). House leaders, including Pelosi, had promised both amendments would be included in the final house legislation that could go to the House floor for a vote as early as Thursday.

“Today, CSEA’s delegation of members and staff showed the power of civil disobedience,” said Association President Allan Clark. “This action is consistent with CSEA’s organizational goal to achieve single-payer reform.”

Along with Sr. Health Policy Advisor Cindy Young, North Bay Field Office Director Keith Pace and Sacramento Labor Relations Representative (LRR) Amy Hines were arrested, cited and released pending a future court hearing.

“We knew we got their attention when they turned the lights out in the reception area,” Pace said.

The police ultimately attempted to broker a meeting between a small delegation of three of the activists and Pelosi’s local staff director. However, instead of working out how a call could be made to Pelosi’s D.C. office so that the delegation could discuss their concerns, the meeting proved to be fruitless.

“When the federal police came to make the announcement that anyone who remained in the lobby of Pelosi’s office would be arrested and charged, I had a vision of the rally going on outside,” Hines said. “I thought of all the CSEA members in front of the building in blue, chanting for what is right and just. I felt so supported, it pushed me onward.”

To back up the protesters engaging in civil disobedience, CSEA members and staff from the Sacramento, North Bay and River Delta field offices joined people from the California Alliance for Retired Americans, the California Nurses Association, the Gray Panthers, Healthcare for All-California and other groups in a lively and loud march along the sidewalk outside the building.

“CSEA can be proud that we made a stand for the Board of Directors principles at a critical point in the healthcare debate,” said Alternate Area B Director Melodee Bettman. “We made it clear that we are tired of doing all the compromising on this bill.”

The activists were also supported with an email blast to CSEA members throughout California, who made hundreds of phone calls to Pelosi’s offices urging her to talk to activists in San Francisco.

By Tuesday evening, Pelosi had announced that the time period for amendments had closed. It was not known if House leaders would allow Congress to vote on the bill to establish single-payer health care as promised to Rep. Weiner, but leadership did reject the Kucinich amendment.

However, Rep. Kucinich said there is still one more opportunity to offer the American people a true choice on healthcare. Once the healthcare bill passes the House, and the Senate passes its version, the two bills will go to a Conference Committee. At that point, we will have one more chance to get the amendment included in the Conference Committee report (since that is what will ultimately become law).

“I do not accept the decision to remove the amendment from the bill. Nor should you,” Kucinich wrote supporters on Tuesday night.

Kucinich said he is worried Congress might be “giving so much power and money to the insurance companies that we are giving far too much for the few benefits which the bill may confer. The insurance companies get at least another 26 million customers and an extra $50 billion in new revenue.”

“All of us today who were arrested will keep fighting to win single-payer health care in California and the nation,” said Don Hodges of Healthcare for All-California.

Tuesday’s action completed three days of healthcare activities throughout California.

On Friday, CSEA Area G Director Bill Rawlings and dozens of nurses, CSEA members, and healthcare activists from other unions and groups did their part and crowded into the office of Representative Henry Waxman. The activists were put on the phone with Waxman’s staff in Washington, D.C.

On Monday, CSEA Area K Director Teri Minoux and scores of CSEA members and staff held a candlelight healthcare vigil in San Diego. The local protest began over the weekend with more than 150 San Diegans gathering outside the Blue Shield of California office in Mission Valley for 45 hours – one hour for every 1,000 people who have died each year due to the lack of health care.

Also on Monday, CSEA staff including Pace, LRR Rob Norman, Organizer Heather Carroll-Fisher and member intern Vanessa Caires joined a delegation of nurses to visit Rep. George Miller’s office in Concord. They were put on the phone with Miller’s chief of staff, who ultimately admitted they were being bombarded with calls from across the country.

“Our message has been heard. Now it is up to Congress,” Clark said.

For more information and a photo slideshow of CSEA in action, visit www.csea.com/healthcare.

It appears that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is wavering on her promise to Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY) to allow debate and a vote in the full House of Representatives on the Weiner Single Payer Amendment.

The Weiner Amendment would substitute the single payer language of HR 676 for the language of the proposed House Bill (H.R. 3962). This would be the first and only time that the full House would have an opportunity to debate and vote on single payer.

Congressman Peter Welch (D-VT), one of the seven co-sponsors of the Weiner Amendment in the Energy & Commerce Committee, is quoted in “The Hill” as predicting that the Weiner Amendment could get between 100 and 200 votes.
He estimated it would be in the “mid-100s”.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/65675-congressman-sees-votes-in-mid-100s-for-single-payer

House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman publicly related Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s promise to allow Weiner to bring his single payer amendment to the House Floor. Pelosi, through Waxman, asked Weiner and the six co-sponsors to withdraw the amendment in Committee in return for being able to offer it in the full House. You can see Waxman making the promise on behalf of Pelosi here:

IMMEDIATE ACTION IS CRUCIAL—CALL TODAY!

We urge you to call Speaker Pelosi’s Washington, DC office (202) 225-4965 and ask her to keep her promise to Representative Weiner and allow him to offer his Single Payer Amendment.

Also call Rep. Henry Waxman’s Washington, DC office (202) 225-3976 to ask him to urge the Speaker to honor her promise which he publicly conveyed to Rep. Weiner.

Call Rules Committee Chair Rep. Louise Slaughter, (202) 225-3615, and ask her to report the health reform bill to the floor of the House with a Rule that PERMITS consideration of the Weiner Amendment.

Call your Representative in Washington, DC (202) 224-3121 and ask that he/she contact the Speaker’s Office to urge her to honor her promise on the Weiner Amendment.

Remember, every call counts…thanks…

I am writing to you today to stand in opposition to the proposed  cuts to Education, put forward in the Governor’s latest  budget Proposal
The Proposed cuts to Student Transportation will further erode our ability to provide adequate education to our neediest populations.
The poorest children will be forced to walk longer distances, or to stop attending at all, because they have no other means of transportation. This will affect the overall health of our school districts budgets through falling ADA numbers making it impossible to any of our children adequately. Furthermore, taking this action will be putting more of our children at risk as they walk to and from school.  Lack of supervision, having to cross on foot more and more busy intersections and potential dangerous encounters with traffic and possibly put them at a greater exposure to child predators, gangs and even drugs.

Additionally this will result in greater numbers of qualified professionals being laid off, and burdening our already over taxed unemployment system.

This also brings me to the concept of repealing AB1419 which is simply granting Classified School Employee’s the same protections that are already afforded to other Government agencies. Contracting out jobs which are being performed by competent, trained, professional employee’s is not a step forward. It is a shameful way to deprive working families of Health benefits, which due to the Governors cuts will not be available to them elsewhere.
Many Classified worker’s are already the “working poor” and to support the repeal of AB1419 is to put more families on to public assistance.
Not to mention that the is a problem of oversight with contracted, work and to deny this fact is foolish and ignorant.
Look at the tragedy of the Metrolink crash earlier this year. The employer , Metrolink, had no control of what the contractor Veolia provided and people died.
To say that this won’t happen again is foolhardy.
When an employer, especially in a safety sensitive business such as Transporting our children, has direct control and knowledge of it’s workforce we all benefit, quality does cost a bit more as does safety.
Their are many examples to be had in the world of  unscrupulous contractors who have ignored or rewritten the rules to suit their needs only to have it cost us more, whether that cost be monetary, injury or death.
Not everyone is honest. Not everyone is dishonest. Why should we as tax payers and Parents have to play the lotto with some thing as precious as our children.
The state of California has enough challenges to face without throwing the baby out with the bath water. Once we allow the gutting of our educational system how much money will it take to rebuild what we have spent so much time and effort to put into place originally?  We must stand firm and say no to the destruction of the educational system in California and the rest of the country as well.
We need to preserve our educational system, to preserve the ability to compete in the world, as we train the leaders of tomorrow.

We all need to look at realistic ways to solve the problem and not put that solution on the backs of our children and our neediest populations.
We need to look at the fact that in education the biggest expense is not the support staff, and we need to acknowledge that a school cannot run with out the support staff.
I believe that we as citizens of the great state of California agree that there needs to be change and even some sacrifice’s.
But that sacrifice cannot be our children and their ultimate safety and well being.
Find your compromises somewhere else.