Altmire Talks Deficit While Our Bridges Are Crumbling

by Randy Shannon

Treas. PA 4th CD Chapter Progressive Democrats of America

Cong. Jason Altmire loves to get his picture in the paper standing around our locks and dams. It promotes the illusion that he is doing something on the House Transportation committee of which he is a member.

Pittsburgh is the second largest inland port in the United States. But the locks system that feeds this transportation artery is so old that Pittsburgh is losing out to other sites that need efficient transportation. Our lock system is smaller than the rest of the locks onthe Ohio River so they won’t take big tows. The large tows must be broken and moved through the locks in sections. Large windmill blades can’t fit in the locks.

But it isn’t only the decrepit lock system. Our bridges are in serious danger of failing. No doubt Altmire will rush to the next bridge disaster for a photo op and issue a press release about some million dollar bill he’s introduced. But we need a Congressperson who will fight for $billions of infrastructure spending today in Western PA.

Continue reading Altmire Talks Deficit While Our Bridges Are Crumbling

Top 5 Social Security Myths

Top 5 Social Security Myths

Rumors of Social Security’s demise are greatly exaggerated. But some powerful people keep spreading lies about the program to scare people into accepting benefit cuts. Can you check out this list of Social Security myths and share it with your friends, family and coworkers?

Myth: Social Security is going broke.

Reality: There is no Social Security crisis. By 2023, Social Security will have a $4.3 trillion surplus (yes, trillion with a ‘T’). It can pay out all scheduled benefits for the next quarter-century with no changes whatsoever.1 After 2037, it’ll still be able to pay out 75% of scheduled benefits–and again, that’s without any changes. The program started preparing for the Baby Boomers retirement decades ago.2 Anyone who insists Social Security is broke probably wants to break it themselves.


Myth: We have to raise the retirement age because people are living longer.

Reality: This is a red-herring to trick you into agreeing to benefit cuts. Retirees are living about the same amount of time as they were in the 1930s. The reason average life expectancy is higher is mostly because many fewer people die as children than did 70 years ago.3 What’s more, what gains there have been are distributed very unevenly–since 1972, life expectancy increased by 6.5 years for workers in the top half of the income brackets, but by less than 2 years for those in the bottom half.4 But those intent on cutting Social Security love this argument because raising the retirement age is the same as an across-the-board benefit cut.


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Sunday Benefit for Families of Horsehead Accident Victims

United Steelworkers Local 8183 will sponsor a

Spaghetti dinner to benefit the fund for

James Taylor and Corey Keller

Monaca Turners

1700 Old Brodhead Rd.

Sunday August 8

1:00pm – 7:00pm

Adults $7 Children $4

USW Signs Agreement with Chinese Companies

USW Signs Landmark Agreements with Leading Power Generation Companies in China August 06, 2010 | UNITED STEELWORKERS

To Advance Development of America’s Clean Energy Manufacturing Supply Chain

(Pittsburgh) The United Steelworkers (USW) announced today it has signed agreements with A-Power Energy Generation Systems Ltd, (NASDAQ: APWR) and Shenyang Power Group (“SPG”), two of China’s leading power generation companies.  This agreement provides a strong foundation for a win-win relationship between Chinese renewable energy equipment manufacturers and U.S. workers as the USW will guide and work collaboratively on all aspects of the companies’ U.S. market strategies including manufacturing, assembly, component sourcing, distribution and wind energy project development.

“We will work with A-Power and SPG to create long-term, good-paying, green American jobs,”   said USW International President Leo W. Gerard. “The USW is committed to building a strong domestic supply chain that will be key to the future of America’s global renewable energy leadership.” A-Power and SPG  anticipate purchasing over time approximately 50,000 tons of steel to be manufactured in unionized American steel mills to supply the towers for a 615MW wind farm in Texas.

“It is an honor to team up with the Steelworkers for this historic partnership that will result in hundreds of American jobs and help create a clean energy future for the U.S.” said Cappy McGarr, US-REG Managing Partner. “We look forward to working closely with the USW on further projects to help expand wind power and renewable energy in the U.S.”

Continue reading USW Signs Agreement with Chinese Companies

Altmire Blows Smoke to Hide His Plan to Steal Social Security

Dr. King in Birmingham Jail

Hands Off Social Security

by Randy Shannon
 
Treasurer, PA 4th CD Chapter, PDA

Cong. Jason Altmire’s office on 2110 McLean St. in Aliquippa has been the site of two vigils demanding HANDS OFF SOCIAL SECURITY. The vigils were sponsored Progressive Democrats and SOAR. The gatherings were the third Wednesday in June and  July. 

The next vigil to protest Altmire’s plan to cut social security will be held on August 18th at noon at his McLean Street office. 

In response to the June vigil Altmire sent a letter to each of us that said he “shared our concern about Social Security.” Of course our concern is Altmire’s plan to vote for the Deficit Commission’s recommendations to steal our social security taxes that are invested in US Treasury bonds. If Altmire is “concerned” with Social Security, we should be worried since  Altmire falsely implies that there is some problem with Social Security . 

There is no problem with Social Security. Social Security is solvent and has a large surplus to support the baby boomers as they retire. 

The Social Security is invested in US Treasury bonds. These bonds are the only debt of the US government that is not owed to the banks or to foreign governments. It is owed to the working people.  It is money created by work that adds value to the economy. So the banks plan to steal this money by raising premiums and raising the retirement age. 

Continue reading Altmire Blows Smoke to Hide His Plan to Steal Social Security

What Should We Do About Altmire in November?

YOU ARE

CORDIALLY INVITED

TO ATTEND A

Progressive Democrat’s

Breakfast Meeting

 

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7th

 9:00 AM

 

AT THE

CANDLE-LITE LOUNGE

 

CONWAY-WALLROSE ROAD

near intersection with Route 989

ECONOMY BOROUGH

 

$6.00 ADMISSION

 

———

 

TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION

 

HOW SHOULD WE HANDLE THE UPCOMING ELECTION

FOR THE 4TH CD CONGRESSIONAL SEAT?

 

SHOULD WE VOTE FOR JASON ALTMIRE?

 

JOIN US FOR AN INTERESTING POLITICAL DISCUSSION

AND A STIMULATING SOCIAL EVENT

RSVP REQUIRED

Tina Shannon 724 843 0545