Let the Record Be Straight: Sequestration is an Agreement of the Bi-Partisan Wall Street Duopoly in DC
March 1, 2013
As the smoke clears on the implementation of the across-the-board cuts in vitally needed domestic programs, it must be acknowledged that the labor movement and our allies, together with the overwhelming majority of the population, have suffered yet another devastating blow, this one administered by politicians of both major parties, as well as by the president himself. It is estimated that as a result of the cuts, over 700,000 workers will lose their jobs by the end of this year.
The cuts, known as sequestration, were authorized by the Budget Control Act of 2011, enacted by large majorities of both Democrats and Republicans and signed into law by the president, who was the first to advocate sequestration. Nothing that has happened since and nothing that has been said since can change that basic truth.
The Obama administration admits its miscalculation. They thought that by linking cuts in social programs to cuts in military spending, the Republicans would come around and agree to revenue increases. But it did not work out that way. The military hawks in the Republican Party were outnumbered by the Tea Party-backed fiscal hawks, and the Party refused to budge or rescind sequestration. No surprise there.
Yes, the Republicans bear significant responsibility for what has occurred. They are the outspoken champions of the wealthy, Wall Street banks, and the big corporations. And the Republican Party is clearly controlled these days by the most extreme right wing forces, which has resulted in the Party’s approval ratings sinking to 29 percentile.
But as we go forward and face the danger of more massive cuts to the social safety net, it is essential that a broad, powerful, inclusive mass movement be built that is independent of the Democratic Party, which has proved itself once again to be no friend of labor, the unorganized, the unemployed, low and middle-income workers, communities of color, and other progressive sectors of our society.
Look at the recent record. On January 29, 2010, President Obama addressed the House Republican retreat and said that “the major drive of our long-term liabilities, everybody here knows, is Medicare and Medicaid and … health care spending. Nothing comes close.” In the summer of 2011, while attempting to negotiate a “Grand Bargain” with Speaker Boehner, the president offered to support raising the eligibility age for Medicare and also to change the cost of living formula for Social Security, which would drive down monthly payments to seniors. The three leading Democrats in the House of Representatives — Nancy Pelosi, Stenny Hoyer and James Clyburn — all weighed in on the need to cut earned income benefits (“entitlements”). In August of 2011 the Democrats and Republicans collaborated in enacting the Budget Control Act, which included the sequestration feature. This bill provided for establishing a “Super Committee” of 12 — six Democrats and six Republicans — and charged them with coming up with a plan to cut the deficit by $1.2 trillion over the next ten years. All six Democrats on that committee made clear they were for cutting “entitlements” so long as there were corresponding increases in revenue.
The failure of the Super Committee to reach agreement led to the sequestration, which is what we have arrived at now. And every member of Congress who voted for the Budget Control Act that led to this juncture ought to be held accountable.
Looking Forward
The next major challenge faced by advocates of NO CUTS, NO COMPROMISES, NO CONCESSIONS when it comes to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and the other social programs — many of which have now taken a major hit — is March 27, 2013, by which date Congress must act on a continuing resolution to keep the government running for the rest of the fiscal year. The same arguments, charges and counter charges that have filled the airwaves these past weeks by politicians from both major parties will be heard again.
There are differences between the Democrats and Republicans on the question of coping with the deficit and the debt — no doubt about that — but what happens if the Republicans cave in and agree to added revenue? Then, President Obama has repeatedly said, he will support major cuts in “entitlements,” even if it means taking on the liberal wing of his party.
Our labor movement now faces a fateful choice: either rewrite history and place all the blame on the Republicans for the cuts taking place, while calling for continued support for the president and the Democratic Party to protect our cherished benefits; or take an independent path and spearhead building a broad, massive movement capable of mobilizing millions, including occupying the nation’s Capitol if that becomes necessary, to defeat those hellbent on placing the burden of the economic crisis and austerity on the backs of the working class and the great majority, including beneficiaries of safety net programs that tens of millions depend on for their survival.
The Rutgers Conference
It is in this context that we urge the trade union movement to endorse the conference scheduled for Rutgers Universityin New Brunswick, New Jersey, on May 10-12, 2013. Any union endorsing this conference is free to send as many representatives as it wishes.
The conference is co-sponsored by two labor organizations: the South Central Federation of Labor, Wisconsin and the South Carolina AFL-CIO. Its stated purpose is “to explore how we in labor can most effectively mount an independent fightback action campaign based on such united front demands as putting America back to work; preserving and expanding safety net programs based on No Cuts, No Concessions, No Shared Sacrifice; Medicare for All; retirement security; and redirecting war spending to fund human needs.” The “Open Letter to Concerned Trade Unionists” announcing the Rutgers conference is below.
This is a watershed moment in the life of the labor movement and the nation. Let’s rise to the challenge, recognizing that if we do not, we face the prospect of further damaging setbacks down the road. We have the numbers and the power to avert such defeats, but only if we mobilize to do so.
Issued by the Emergency Labor Network (ELN)
For more information write emergencylabor@aol.com or P.O. Box 21004, Cleveland, OH 44121 or call 216-736-4715 or visit our website at www.laborfightback.org. Donations gratefully accepted. Please make checks payable to the ELN and mail to the above P.O. Box.
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OPEN LETTER TO CONCERNED TRADE UNIONISTS
[PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY]
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
Please be advised that a national Labor Fightback Conference for concerned trade unionists who want to do something about labor’s plight will be held May 10-12, 2013 at the Rutgers University Student Center, New Brunswick, New Jersey. The undersigned urge attendance at this critically needed conference, with any interested union free to send as many representatives as desired.
This conference will address the key question: “What strategy will enable labor to mount the most effective and powerful fightback possible against the corporate assaults?”
The conference is being held in the aftermath of enactment of right-to-work in Michigan and Indiana; destruction of bargaining rights for Wisconsin public employees; the all-out assault on defined pension plans; demands by large corporations making huge profits for substantial concessions; layoffs, curtailment of benefits, and other austerity measures in cities and states across the country; 25 million unemployed or underemployed; and the list goes on.
And in the months to come, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other vitally needed social programs will be targeted for steep cuts, which could imperil the health, safety, welfare and very lives of the tens of millions of people who are dependent on these programs.
Labor’s plight ─ and the plight of the working class as a whole ─ is dire but by no means hopeless.
Despite the defeat of the recall, we take heart in the mobilization of over 100,000 Wisconsin workers and the occupation of the state’s capitol building, labor’s stunning referendum victory in Ohio, the outcome of the Chicago Teachers strike, victories of the West Coast longshore workers, and the new winds blowing in the struggles of low paid retail workers at Walmart and many food centers for a living wage and basic human rights, including the right to have union representation.
The purpose of the Rutgers conference is to explore how we in labor can most effectively mount an independent fightback action campaign based on such united front demands as putting America back to work; preserving and expanding safety net programs based on No Cuts, No Concessions, No Shared Sacrifice; Medicare for All; retirement security; and redirecting war spending to fund human needs.
We also strongly believe that labor must resurrect campaigns to organize the South and repeal repressive anti-labor legislation, especially Taft-Hartley. In this regard, we welcome the development of the Southern Workers Assembly at its recent meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, which drew hundreds of trade unionists and others.
At the centerpiece of a fightback action campaign, in our opinion, is the building of labor-community coalitions. TheChicago teachers set an example for the entire labor movement by the way they forged an alliance with community groups and activists, which was key to the teachers’ victory. The Rutgers conference can help advance the formation of such coalitions on a local and national level.
It is through building labor-community coalitions that we will be able to mobilize the largest number of people. Confining ourselves to lobbying and nothing more will not get the job done. Street heat that will move hundreds of thousands ─ even millions when you consider the 90 million people who depend on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid ─ is what is needed now more than ever.
Finally, at Rutgers we can discuss how to hold accountable politicians whose loyalty is to the corporations, not the working class majority ─ politicians we often supported in the past and who betrayed our trust. How best can we fight for our own agenda? Isn’t it high time to assert labor’s political independence in our workplaces, in the streets, and in the electoral arena, starting with running independent, local, labor-community candidates for public office, who run on a platform that reflects the interests of the overwhelming majority?
We hope that you agree that there is a compelling need for trade unionists concerned about the issues cited above to convene for a free-wheeling discussion and debate leading to an action program. Please plan to join us for the Rutgersconference (a registration form will be posted separately). We look forward to seeing you there!
An endorsement form is below. We encourage your union to endorse the conference and do everything possible to build and publicize it.
For further information, please call 973-944-8975 or email conference@laborfightback.org or write Labor Fightback Conference, P.O. Box 187, Flanders, NJ 07836 or visit our website at http://laborfightback.org/
In solidarity,
Ken Riley
President
South Carolina AFL-CIO
Donna Dewitt
Retired President
South Carolina AFL-CIO
Kevin Gundlach
President
South Central Federation of Labor, Wisconsin
Charity Schmidt
Co-President
University of Wisconsin-Madison Teachers Assistants’ Association (TAA)
Executive Board, South Central Federation of Labor, Wisconsin