Volume 1, Issue 173

Jerry Brown Sworn In As Governor

On Monday at precisely 11:19 a.m., Governor Schwarzenegger’s term finally came to a close as Jerry Brown was officially sworn in as Governor. Unlike Schwarzenegger -- who spent his inaugurals hobnobbing with corporate lobbyists and courting wealthy donors -- Governor Brown instead chose to head straight to the People’s Inauguration Party on the Capitol lawn, sponsored by the Orange County Employees Association, and later spent time greeting labor activists and leaders at the California Labor Federation reception.

In just a matter of days, Governor Brown has already begun to usher in a new era that works for the people, not just the corporations and politicians. As said in his inaugural speech, “We can overcome the sharp divisions that leave our politics in perpetual gridlock, but only if we reach into our heart and find that loyalty, that devotion to California above and beyond our narrow perspectives.”

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Republican Lawmakers Use Budget Crisis to Attack Unions

According to the New York Times, Republican lawmakers in a number of states throughout the country are taking advantage of the budget crises they face to attack unions. Proposals include limiting collective bargaining, ending prevailing wage on construction projects, eliminating the right to strike, and even banning the union shop.

In truth, the Labor Movement has been the most outspoken critic against all of the things that actually did cause this crisis: bad free trade agreements, unfair lending practices, Wall Street excess and unrestrained corporate greed. Attacking and weakening unions would harm not just union workers but all workers, regardless as to whether they themselves belong to a union.

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Rep. Darrell Issa Seeks To Eliminate Regulations on Corporations

As his first order of business, new House Oversight Committee Chair and California Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Temecula) sent letters to over 150 corporations, trade associations and conservative think tanks, requesting a list of their least favorite “existing and proposed regulations” that he  could help eliminate. The regulations Issa is assailing have led to safer food and drugs, cleaner air, better working conditions and more equitable pay.

In an open letter to Rep. Issa, the California Labor Federation wrote: “In reality, the workplace safety regulations you demonize don’t kill jobs; they keep jobs from killing people. The environmental standards in your crosshairs aren’t damaging recovery; they’re keeping California a great place to live. As actual residents, we hope you come to your senses and explore other, more effective, less ideologically-driven solutions.”

Read the full letter.

Learn more and get involved at http://www.IssaExposed.org