Photo: Kyle Jones, Beaver Falls Obama Fan

AFL-CIO and the
Steelers Going
All Out for Obama

By Carl Davidson

Progressives for Obama

Organized labor has set its sights on winning Western Pennsylvania for Barack Obama. They see a victory in this battleground “swing state” as critical to the national election, and are pulling out all stops to “Git ‘er done.”

AFL-CIO chief John Sweeny came to the IBEW Local 712 Hall in Vanport, Pa on October 25. He was joined by United Steelworker union top officials as well as members of Pittsburgh Steelers football team who were scheduled to be at the afternoon rally. In between, the unions deployed over 2200 rank-and-file union members to knock on the doors of some 31,000 union family homes across the state in a single afternoon, an effort that will become even more earnest in the next ten days. Continue reading ‘SteelBlitz For Barack’ Hits Beaver County →

A Union Leader Battles to Win the Pennsylvania 14^th Legislative District for Working Families

By Randy Shannon, PA 4^th CD Chapter, Progressive Democrats of America

This year Dennis Rousseau, a leader of the Carpenter’s Union, is fighting to win back the 14th District seat  for labor and the Democratic Party. Dennis has been a member of the Carpenters Union for 33 years. He is the Business Representative for Local 422 and Local 500 and the Political Action Chairman of the Greater Pennsylvania Regional Council of Carpenters. He is a volunteer and leader in many programs that help working families in Beaver County cope with job loss and dislocation.

Progressive Democrats in the 4^th District should spend the rest of the month knocking on doors in Midland, Rochester, New Brighton, Chippewa, and Beaver Falls for Rousseau along with the Obama-Biden ticket. While Beaver County is key to winning the state for Obama, the 14^th Legislative District is key to winning a progressive legislature for Pennsylvania.

In 2010 western Pennsylvania will lose a U.S. Congressional seat as young people are leaving to search for jobs. The Congressional District map will be redrawn by the Pennsylvania legislature. Dennis Rousseau has pledged to do all he can to make sure that western Pennsylvania loses a Republican seat in Congress instead of a Democratic one. Winning back the 14^th District Legislative seat is important to Progressive Democrats of America.

Because of the last Republican redistricting, the 4^th CD is stretched from the Ohio border to Monroeville, east of Pittsburgh. The 4^th CD is a weaker Democratic District with Republican districts to the north and to the south. In 2010, redistricting can potentially strengthen the Democratic 4th CD, eliminate one Republican district, and swing another Republican district to the Democratic column in western Pennsylvania.

Dennis Rousseau and a united Democratic caucus from this area can bargain for a larger 4^th CD west of Pittsburgh. This kind of district will be a more forceful voice for Medicare for All, for ending the war in Iraq, and bringing funding for infrastructure projects to western Pennsylvania.

The 14^th Legislative District has been one of the strongest Democratic seats in the Legislature because of the strong union influence in the steel, glass, machine, and service industries in the Beaver valley. That seat was lost to an inept Republican due to voter anger at the culture of arrogance and corruption that permeated the legislature in Harrisburg. Top Democratic and Republican leaders were involved and subsequently were replaced by candidates from the opposite party, no matter how weak they were. We now have an ineffectual and out of touch legislator with no base.

Dennis Rousseau is struggling against a Republican smear campaign that tries to associate every Democrat with the culture of corruption. The AFL-CIO campaign for Obama-Biden is helping Dennis with combined lit drops and phone banking. Voters must hear that electing Dennis is key to an economic recovery in our area.

Redistricting for a stronger Democratic Congressional delegation in Washington will help carry progressive legislation in the second half of an Obama presidency. Dennis is currently behind in the polls. A boost from Progressive Democrats can make a difference in the 14^th Legislative District of Beaver County.

Visit http://www.electrousseau.com

Lawrence County Progressive Democrats, an independent Democratic club that welcomes all progressive Democrats, will hold a meeting to organize the Get Out The Vote Campaign on Tuesday October 14th at 8:00pm. The meeting will be held at the downtown New Castle office at 121 East North Street. For more information contact Dick Craig, treasurer, at 724-652-7314.