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Spotlight NewsletterAugust 27, 2010 |
Volume 1, Issue 159
Thousands of Nurses and Supporters Rally to Celebrate Suffrage, Oppose Whitman
Yesterday, more than 2,000 nurses, union members and supporters came out for a massive rally in Sacramento yesterday in honor of the 90th anniversary of the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote. Activists dressed in early 20th century suffrage attire, and carried signs that read, "Women Vote for Women Who Vote," a reference to the fact that Meg Whitman has barely voted for most of her adult life, and is now out to buy the California governor's seat.
"She is just almost precisely the opposite of the leaders of the suffragist movement," said Rose Ann Demoro, executive director of the California Nurses Association, which sponsored the event. "We're basically here to call attention to the hypocrisy of her running and to say just because you're female, that doesn't make you a woman."
Legislature Passes Bills to Shine Light on Corporate Tax Breaks
This week, the state legislature voted to pass four landmark bills that will finally bring accountability to corporations that receive massive tax breaks. The bills -- AB 2564, AB 2666, SB 1272 and SB 1391-- introduce basic reporting requirements and performance measures to future tax breaks for major companies. Also, for the first time, the public will have the right to access information detailing exactly which corporations took taxpayer dollars, and how much they took. If that corporation promised to create jobs but instead created massive layoffs and outsourcing, the state will be able to recoup some of that taxpayer money.
"We cannot in good conscience allow our children to attend crumbling schools while at the same time blindly giving money away to corporations that aren't helping our state's economy grow," said California Labor Federation Executive-Secretary Art Pulaski in an op-ed for the Sacramento Bee. "It's time to shine a bright light on corporate tax expenditures that have so long thrived in the shadows of our budget."
Whitman-Samueli Fundraiser Raises Questions
Meg Whitman's big-ticket fundraiser with embroiled ex-CEO of Broadcom, Henry Samueli, raised some serious eyebrows this week, because Whitman and Samueli have more in common than being billionaire CEOs -- both were corporate insiders whose companies were involved in questionable insider deals that made millions for executives at the expense of shareholders.
Under Samueli's leadership, Broadcom was involved in the nation's largest stock backdating scandal after it failed to disclose to investors that the company had reset the dates of company stock grants to executives in order to artificially boost profits. Broadcom's backdating scheme resulted in an SEC investigation, Samueli's ouster, and a $160.5 million settlement with investors.
Attend a Labor Day Celebration in Your Area
Labor Day is right around the corner, and all across the state, workers will be coming together to celebrate the momentous achievements of the Labor Movement.
We have Labor Day events, picnics, barbeques and breakfasts going on throughout the state, and all are encouraged to join an event near you.
Click here for a complete list of Labor Day events.
This Week on "Labor's Edge"
We lambasted Whitman's fundraiser with embroiled tycoon Henry Samueli.
We blogged on the Assembly's vote to oppose the Colombia Free Trade Agreement.
The AFL-CIO's Mike Hall reported back from the massive suffrage action in Sacramento targeting Meg Whitman.
We posted our weekly Rants & Raves.
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