Rep. Kevin McCarthy voted for a federal budget that would, according to the Economic Policy Institute, slow the economy and cost 1.1 million jobs next year -- and 3 million jobs in 2016. Paul Ryan's congressional budget would cut $137 billion from SNAP (food stamps), $125 billion from Pell Grants, and $16 billion to block grants for Meals on Wheels, homeless shelters, and child care for working-poor families. It would cut some $300 billion from education funding. We need to send Congressman McCarthy a strong message so that he knows we don't support these budget priorities. We have a chance to make an impact over the next few weeks as Rep. McCarthy is on recess and making public appearances. We want him to work for a budget that creates jobs and gives everyone a fair shot in life. If enough of us sign, Rep. McCarthy will know exactly where his district stands. MORE INFORMATION: "By Ignoring Economic Reality, Ryan Budget Would Slow Recovery, Cost Jobs," Economic Policy Institute, April 1, 2014 http://goo.gl/tNExVy "Ryan Plan Gets 69 Percent of Its Budget Cuts From Programs for People With Low or Moderate Incomes," Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, April 8, 2014 http://goo.gl/RuW0nQ

Rep. Fred Upton voted for a federal budget that would, according to the Economic Policy Institute, slow the economy and cost 1.1 million jobs next year -- and 3 million jobs in 2016. Paul Ryan's congressional budget would cut $137 billion from SNAP (food stamps), $125 billion from Pell Grants, and $16 billion to block grants for Meals on Wheels, homeless shelters, and child care for working-poor families. It would cut some $300 billion from education funding. We need to send Congressman Upton a strong message so that he knows we don't support these budget priorities. We have a chance to make an impact over the next few weeks as Rep. Upton is on recess and making public appearances. We want him to work for a budget that creates jobs and gives everyone a fair shot in life. If enough of us sign, Rep. Upton will know exactly where his district stands. MORE INFORMATION: "By Ignoring Economic Reality, Ryan Budget Would Slow Recovery, Cost Jobs," Economic Policy Institute, April 1, 2014 http://goo.gl/tNExVy "Ryan Plan Gets 69 Percent of Its Budget Cuts From Programs for People With Low or Moderate Incomes," Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, April 8, 2014 http://goo.gl/RuW0nQ

State Senator Diane Rosenbaum and Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian met recently with some unions and nonprofit organizations in Portland to strategize about getting the minimum wage raised by Oregon's legislature. The Legislative Director of the Oregon AFL-CIO, Elana Guiney, stated that “the minimum wage is never going to be a living wage,” and suggested the state legislature should raise the minimum wage to more than $10.10, but less than $15 (http://nwlaborpress.org/2014/08/will-minimum-wage-movement-come-oregon). Unfortunately, rent in Portland and other parts of Oregon are increasing at more than three times the national rate of inflation. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition's "Out of Reach" report, in 2013, single parents in Oregon needed to work 72 hours per week at minimum wage, or make at least $16.38/hr at 40 hours per week in order to afford adequate housing for them and their children. Clearly $10.10, $12, or even $13/hr is not enough. Oregon needs $15 NOW!

Officers of JPMorgan Chase knowingly allowed Madoff to operate his fraudulent investment advisory business in their bank. In order to enrich themselves, these officers watched as tens of thousands of people lost their life savings. Yet, the government allowed JPMorgan Chase to avoid criminal prosecution of its officers. We don’t want to live in a country where the super-rich don’t go to jail for their criminal conduct. Check out: jpmadoff.com

Currently, as many as 6 million California workers cannot take an hour off of work to care for themselves or a loved one who is sick without putting their pay or job in jeopardy. Losing three days of pay can equate to a whole month’s worth grocery bill for a low-income family. Additionally, the Institute for Women’s Policy Research shows that 1.3 million emergency room visits could be avoided if the patients had access to paid sick leave, giving them time to visit a doctor when they were sick. More than $160 billion is lost annually in our national economy because of low productivity when workers show up to work sick. Nearly 23 percent of adults in the US report that they have lost a job or have been threatened with being fired for taking time off due to illness or to care for a sick family member. In the recently released “Shriver Report,” more than 90 percent of single women said paid sick day reform was the most important policy that their employer could adopt to improve their lives. Connecticut is currently the only state with a statewide law on sick days. The Center for Economic and Policy Research found 3 out of 4 employers in Connecticut said the law had a positive impact on business. Fifteen percent of employers said productivity increased and 30 percent said it resulted in increased morale. AB 1522 creates a new workplace standard similar to minimum wage or the 8-hour workday. AB 1522 allows workers to seek redress for being cheated out of the sick days they earn.

Atlantic County has one of the highest median property taxes in the U.S., and is ranked 42nd of the 3143 counties in order of median property taxes. Tax increase amounts to 47 cents per $100. This has to stop and is only going to be stopped when we put our voices together so we can be heard. Please sign our petition to stop this tax increase!

The money never stops flowing at the Twin River Casino – until it reaches the front door. Rhode Island's largest gaming and entertainment venue has been driving its valet drivers closer and closer to poverty. Over the last few years, the casino has lowered wages for new hires and steadily decreased healthcare coverage. Right now, valets make as little as $3/hour or even less. It's not a wage that anyone can live on. We’re uniting together as a community to support the valets in their negotiations for better treatment. Sign the petition to demand the Twin River Casino pay its employees higher wages and provide affordable healthcare coverage for their families!

As millions of low-wage American workers struggle to make ends meet, pay their rent and feed their families, 41 Republican Senators blocked raising the minimum wage but will benefit from a "cost of living" salary increase of $2800 starting this coming January. To earn $2800 takes a minimum wage worker 386 hours or 48 days. As we continue to see wage inequality spiral out of control, this move is UNCONSCIONABLE and UNFAIR. Tell your Senator to RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE and ATTACH A COLA before they take their salary increase this January

The St. Paul Police Department likely will have less money to work with when Mayor Chris Coleman unveils his budget proposal this month. Serious cuts to the department will eliminate dozens of civilian jobs and end technological innovations. Paperwork that was once performed by civilians will shift to sworn officers. These new clerical duties will reduce the amount of time patrol sergeants are on the street. This also means there will be less time for intensive investigations, crime-lab procedures, stakeouts, drunk driving arrests, and riot control. Mayor Coleman's proposed budget cuts are threatening the very lifeline of safety in the city of Saint Paul. Tell Mayor Coleman the city of Saint Paul is unwilling to compromise its safety!

We want the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco to pass a law that would make the City take the Community Jobs Program seriously as a training program for its own hiring pool. The law would improve the Community Jobs Program to make it a real job training program that fast tracks participants into available entry-level City jobs. The law would expand the Community Jobs Program to include more CalWORKs participants and County Adult Assistance Program participants, such as from PAES, GA and the Refugee Cash Assistance Program. For more information, visit our website http://www.livingwage-sf.org/transform-welfare-to-work/

We should all rise up against tax whiners. Taxes have gone down steadily for decades, yet the less the whiners are taxed, the louder they whine. I am mad as hell and I am not going to take it any more.

Workers at Musso & Frank Grill, the old Hollywood restaurant, have long been members of UNITE HERE Local 11. As union members, they have been able to count on good working conditions and fair compensation. However, Musso & Frank management is now trying to bust the union. They've distributed anti-union fliers to the workers, and supported a petition to decertify the union. We need to let the management at Musso & Frank know that the community stands with these workers. Tell General Manager Mark Echeverria to end his anti-union campaign!