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Look For The Union Label...UPDATED

by: phillip anderson

Fri Dec 22, 2006 at 11:33:11 AM EST

Ughh. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit, though I can't say I'm terribly surprised.

From Capitol Confidential:

AFL-CIO In Bruno's Corner

AFL-CIO President Denis Hughes just released a statement of support for Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, R-Brunswick, saying the senator has "proven himself time and again to be a man of honor and unquestionable integrity."

"The labor movement has no better friend than Senator Bruno," Hughes continues. "He has consistently fought to protect and enhance the lives and well-being of working people, often at great political risk.
"Senator Bruno's lengthy and distinguished career speaks volumes to his character. As such, there should be no rush to judgment regarding his ability to lead.
"The New York State AFL-CIO fully supports Senator Bruno's leadership and looks forward to continuing to work with Senator Bruno, Speaker Silver, all members of the state legislature and Governor-Elect Spitzer in our efforts to further the cause of working men and women across this state."

Liz goes on to say that she wouldn't be surprised to see a similar statement from Dennis Rivera and SEIU in the next few days. I agree. Rivera's willingness to sell out SEIU's founding principles to protect Bruno and his job has a long and sordid history.

phillip anderson :: Look For The Union Label...UPDATED

UPDATE

Right on schedule! Ben from Daily Politics has posted Dennis Rivera and SEIU's statement of support for Bruno. Ben titles this post "Bruno, Nervous".

STATEMENT OF DENNIS RIVERA ON JOE BRUNO President of 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East
"The healthcare workers of New York State and the patients we serve have no better ally than Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno. Thanks to his vision and leadership, and with the strong support of his conference, Senator Bruno has established a record of commitment to health care and low-wage workers that is unparalleled.
"Whether it be support for expansion of health insurance options for women, children and working families; his leadership on raising the state's minimum wage; his protection for the health and safety of healthcare workers and their patients; leading the fight to reduce smoking; or his steadfast commitment to adequate funding for our State's teaching hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare providers, he has made New York a far healthier, humane and just State.
"Given this distinguished and lengthy record of results, there should be no question that he deserves to continue his leadership of the Senate. 1199 SEIU United Health Care Workers East fully and proudly supports Senator Bruno and his leadership of the Senate Majority, and we look forward to working with him to protect and enhance quality healthcare for all New Yorkers."

I think I'm gonna hurl....

Tags: Dennis Rivera, SEIU, AFL-CIO, Joe "the glitch" Bruno, State Senate, FBI, Brunogate, (All Tags)

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Look For The Union Label...UPDATED | 4 comments

This is just a prime example (4.00 / 2)

of the incumbency protection racket that The Albany Project was designed to expose.

Joe Bruno is no true friend of the working man and woman. Joe Bruno simply controls the purse strings and if the unions want to be able to play they gotta stick with him.

This needs to change.

I give many of the unions a great deal of credit for jumping ship from Sweeney to Gillibrand in this last election season. They gaged which ways the winds were blowing and took the chance of supporting the challenger. It was calculated... as all political decisions must be... but it was a risk regardless.

Sadly many unions, *cough* *cough* building trades and transportation *cough* *cough*, stayed with Sweeney.

Oops.

The system is broken. Unions are not the only victims of this broken process. Lots of "special interest" groups are forced to back incumbents over challengers regardless of ideological positions simply because the incumbents have far too much of an edge and far too much ability to screw their agendas if they don't back them.

Fair elections, equal and open media access, clean money, clean elections, fair and impartial re-districting, open and transparent reporting on the part of elected officials and all lobbyists, are all electoral reforms that will go a long to breaking this unfair power of incumbency that rots our democracy to the core.

by: Andrew C. White @ Fri Dec 22, 2006 at 20:00:46 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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This shows Bruno has too much power (4.00 / 1)

Unions won't take him on, because if he survives, he will retaliate.

by: pontificator @ Fri Dec 22, 2006 at 23:13:12 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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CSEA loves JB too. (4.00 / 2)

Not to be outdone by his fellow labor leaders, Danny Donohue, the President of CSEA issued the following sycophantic statement today:

“Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno is and will continue to be one of the finest leaders in New York State’s history. He cares deeply about all the people of the state and making New York a better place to live, work and grow. He has demonstrated that time and again through his tireless and passionate advocacy.
“Most importantly, he is always a man of his word. For that reason alone, CSEA is deeply troubled by those who question his leadership.”
“Senator Bruno has not been charged with any offense and we take him at his word when he says he has done nothing wrong. He deserves that respect and consideration.”

Source: http://blogs.timesun...

by: teaparty2 @ Sat Dec 23, 2006 at 03:03:49 AM UTC

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oy..... (0.00 / 0)

once again, i feel just a little bit ill.

TODAY is day one. It always is.

by: phillip anderson @ Sat Dec 23, 2006 at 03:52:15 AM UTC

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