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A “Gift” to labor unions on of all weekends Labor Day weekend…..
Published September 06, 2010
| Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Vowing to find new ways to stimulate the sputtering economy, President Barack Obama will call for long-term investments in the nation’s roads, railways and airports that would cost at least $50 billion, administration officials said.
The infrastructure investments are one part of a package of targeted proposals the White House is expected to announce in hopes of jump-starting the economy ahead of the November election. Obama will outline the infrastructure proposal Monday at a Labor Day event in Milwaukee.
While the proposal calls for investments over six years, officials said spending would be front-loaded with an initial $50 billion to help create jobs in the near future. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the proposals ahead of the president’s announcement.
The goals of the infrastructure plan include: rebuilding 150,000 miles of roads; constructing and maintaining 4,000 miles of railways, enough to go coast-to-coast; and rehabilitating or reconstructing 150 miles of airport runways, while also installing a new air navigation system designed to reduce travel times and delays.
Obama will also call for the creation of a permanent infrastructure bank that would focus on funding national and regional infrastructure projects.
Officials wouldn’t say what the total cost of the infrastructure investments would be, but did say the initial $50 billion represents a significant percentage. Officials said the White House would consider closing a number of special tax breaks for oil and gas companies to pay for the proposal.
Obama made infrastructure investments a central part of the $814 billion stimulus Congress passed last year, but with that spending winding down, the economy’s growth has slowed. Officials said this infrastructure package differs from the stimulus because it’s aimed at long-term growth, while still focusing on creating jobs in the short-term.
With the unemployment rate ticking up to 9.6 percent, and polls showing the midterm elections could be dismal for Democrats, the president has promised to unveil a series of new measures on the economy.
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Sounds good and possible…..right?
HOWEVER……..there is ONE itsy-bitsy overlooked issue here.
Obama was inaugurated on January 20, 2009……17 DAYS later, Obama signs and Executive Order for Project LABOR Agreements.
February 6, 2009
USE OF PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS FOR FEDERAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act, 40 U.S.C. 101 et seq., and in order to promote the efficient administration and completion of Federal construction projects, it is hereby ordered that:
Section 1. Policy. (a) Large-scale construction projects pose special challenges to efficient and timely procurement by the Federal Government. Construction employers typically do not have a permanent workforce, which makes it difficult for them to predict labor costs when bidding on contracts and to ensure a steady supply of labor on contracts being performed. Challenges also arise due to the fact that construction projects typically involve multiple employers at a single location. A labor dispute involving one employer can delay the entire project. A lack of coordination among various employers, or uncertainty about the terms and conditions of employment of various groups of workers, can create frictions and disputes in the absence of an agreed-upon resolution mechanism. These problems threaten the efficient and timely completion of construction projects undertaken by Federal contractors. On larger projects, which are generally more complex and of longer duration, these problems tend to be more pronounced.
(b) The use of a project labor agreement may prevent these problems from developing by providing structure and stability to large-scale construction projects, thereby promoting the efficient and expeditious completion of Federal construction contracts. Accordingly, it is the policy of the Federal Government to encourage executive agencies to consider requiring the use of project labor agreements in connection with large-scale construction projects in order to promote economy and efficiency in Federal procurement.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
(a) The term “labor organization” as used in this order means a labor organization as defined in 29 U.S.C. 152(5).
(b) The term “construction” as used in this order means construction, rehabilitation, alteration, conversion, extension, repair, or improvement of buildings, highways, or other real property.
(c) The term “large-scale construction project” as used in this order means a construction project where the total cost to the Federal Government is $25 million or more.
(d) The term “executive agency” as used in this order has the same meaning as in 5 U.S.C. 105, but excludes the Government Accountability Office.
(e) The term “project labor agreement” as used in this order means a pre-hire collective bargaining agreement with one or more labor organizations that establishes the terms and conditions of employment for a specific construction project and is an agreement described in 29 U.S.C. 158(f).
[,,,]
Sec. 6. Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (FAR Council), to the extent permitted by law, shall take whatever action is required to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation to implement the provisions of this order.
Read entire Executive Order here…..
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Will the permanent infrastructure bank be in the design of the UNION owned bank…..like the Almalgamated Bank or branch thereof?
Company History:
Amalgamated Bank is the only bank in the United States wholly owned by a labor union. Located chiefly in New York City, but with branches in California, the District of Columbia, and New Jersey as well, Amalgamated Bank offers free checking accounts, no minimum balance on savings accounts, low monthly fees, low rates on mortgages and auto loans, and low or no fees on ATM transactions. In addition to its full line of commercial and individual banking services, Amalgamated Bank provides trust, investment advisory, custodial, and benefit remittance services for employee benefit plans.
And L@@K there is a branch in all places CHICAGO:
Founded in 1922 by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union (now known as UNITE HERE), Amalgamated Bank of Chicago has always been dedicated to serving America’s working people. Though times have changed, Amalgamated’s original vision has not. The union heritage continues. As Amalgamated Bank changes and grows, we offer new and innovative banking products and services to better serve our customers – unions and union members in Chicago and across the nation. In furtherance of our growth, we established in 2007 a full service branch facility in Warrenville, Illinois to better service the banking and trust needs of unions and their members located in DuPage County.
**Our Board of Directors includes a number of prominent and dedicated local and international union representatives.
In 2003, Amalgamated Bank of Chicago expanded on our pledge to be ‘labor’s bank,’ welcoming 12 labor organizations as significant investors – including the American Federation of Teachers, the Chicago Federation of Labor, Chicago Fire Fighters Union Local 2, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 11, Service Employees International Union Local 1, Cement Workers Local 76, Sheet Metal Workers – International Association, International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 705, International Brotherhood of Teamsters Joint Council 25 and International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 727.
***Amalgamated established, in connection with the Illinois Housing Development Authority, a first time buyer mortgage program that offers union members preferential terms when they are buying their first home.
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FINAL DETAILS OF OBAMA’S SPEECH AT LABORFEST
September 4, 2010, Labor Press
Of all the Labor Day celebrations in the US, President Obama chose Milwaukee’s Laborfest, a free festival for the community organized by the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, to visit and talk about workers’ issues on September 6.
The decision requires significant preparation by the festival, which begins downtown with an 11 a.m. parade and then moves to Summerfest (Maier Festival Park) where the president will speak from a secured area at the Miller Stage.
All tickets issued for the event by the sponsor were distributed by the weekend before Labor Day Monday, and priority was given to families and workers participating in the annual union parade at 11 a.m. that Monday.
“This is organized labor’s festival and our folks come first,” said Sheila Cochran, the council’s chief operating officer as she reminded hundreds of delegates and volunteers at September meetings that the council affiliates, staff and volunteers organize, arrange and pay for Laborfest.
The White House advance team agreed to the ticket distribution, since the president – speaking after a motorcade through Milwaukee, with his speech amplified to be heard beyond the Miller Stage area itself — is a guest at the council’s annual event.
Laborfest traditionally draws 8,000 visitors. The additional attraction of the president and such special guests as National AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis on the Summerfest grounds – plus a number of noted names from top Nov. 2 political races – has swelled that traditional estimate enormously. In response, Laborfest has been extended until 7 p.m. with activities for all continuing outside the vast secured area around Miller Stage. Thousands of seats plus standing room have been arranged within that security area, after attendees with tickets pass through security measures.
More here…..
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Will Obama ensure the Unions at laborfest that they will have “first-dibs” on the contracts for this new Major Infrastructure Spending plan?
After all they are classified as FEDERAL jobs so the PLA will be part of the plan.
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It IS all about POWER and MONEY.
HAD ENOUGH AMERICA?
The only thing the Progressives FEAR is the BALLOT BOX.
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Socialism/Marxism only works until they RUN OUT OF OTHER PEOPLE’S MONEY.
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