e-Team Report, Aug. 5, 2011
74,000 FAA Workers Idled Due to One Anti-Labor Congressman
The Republican shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has tossed 74,000 workers out of their jobs across the country. Some of these workers are FAA employees however, a large portion of these jobs are construction jobs tasked with improving airports all across the country. Congressman Mica (R-FL) has been blamed for single handedly shutting down the FAA due to his anti-labor views. Congressman Mica tried to use the FAA re-authorization bill as leverage to overturn a recent ruling of the National Mediation Board which reversed a rule that made it very difficult for unions to organize any airline workers. To read about Congressman Mica’s plan to overturn the Board’s recent ruling please click here. 
Despite Congressman Mica’s efforts the FAA shutdown came to a quiet close today. Although today’s remedy only brought forth a short term funding fix for the FAA as of Monday 74,000 hard working Americans will be back to work for at least another month while congress is in recess.
In a press release Friday President Obama was quoted as saying, ”I'm pleased that Congress has passed an agreement which will allow tens of thousands of people to return to their jobs rebuilding runways and working on construction projects all over America, while removing the uncertainty hanging over the jobs of thousands of hardworking FAA employees. This impasse was an unnecessary strain on local economies across the country at a time when we can’t allow politics to get in the way of our economic recovery. So I’m glad that this stalemate has finally been resolved.”
Senate Democrats Request Justice Department Review of New Voter ID Laws
Every week, different states are moving forward trying to shorten early voting periods, requiring voters to bring a valid picture ID with them to the polls and generally trying to discriminate against voters. Below are three more state battles happening this week.
This week the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee officially requested that the Justice Department place a hold on a new Florida Laws before we get to the 2012 Presidential election. Specifically there are four different changes to Florida election law that are drawing scrutiny and might violate the Voting Rights Act. To read more about the courts current review of Florida voting laws please click here.
In Kansas the Secretary of State, Kris Kobach is looking to make potential voters show proof of citizenship when registering along with a photo ID sooner rather than later. SOS Kobach is looking to move dates earlier for laws that were originally set to take effect in 2013. These laws can then be enacted in 2012 before the presidential election takes place. This is a time when massive voter registration drives take place in many states. To read more about Kansas’ implementation of new voter ID laws please click here.
In Ohio AG Mike DeWine turned down a petition aimed at repealing sections of legislation passed by the Ohio Legislature that looked to restrict early voting, absentee voting, provisional voting and several other ballot issues. A group named Fair Elections Ohio filed the recently rejected petition language. Fair Elections Ohio now has time to gather another 1,000 signatures to submit a new language proposal to the AG. To read more about this fight and the path that Fair Elections Ohio must follow to get language on November’s ballot in Ohio please click here.
Professor's Blog Fights Postal Service’s Closings
In this week’s Washington Post’s Federal Eye Section an article written by Lisa Rein captured an NYU Professor’s actions aimed at saving his and other post offices from closing across the country. To read Lisa Rein’s article please click here.
To read NYU Professor/ Blogger Steve Hutkin’s recent blog post “Robber Barons Plunder the Post Office” please click here.