WHEREAS:
Since February, President Bush has spent about two days a week traveling around the country promoting a wide range of domestic proposals, ranging from tax cuts for the wealthy to drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He has used these "official" trips, paid for by taxpayers' dollars, to raise $60 million for the Republican Party and its candidates; and
WHEREAS:
According to the Los Angeles Times, these "dual-purpose trips are the linchpin of White House strategy for recapturing the U.S. Senate, enlarging the Republican's six-vote margin in the U.S. House and sharpening Bush's differences with Democrats for the 2004 campaign;" and
WHEREAS:
In order to defeat the Bush agenda and to elect working-family-friendly legislators, voters must be convinced that — as the Administration fights terrorism and provides for homeland security — it is not attuned to the pocketbook concerns of the majority of Americans; and
WHEREAS:
The political climate in the country and the White House strategy require that AFSCME, like-minded organizations and individuals who oppose President Bush's priorities mount a concerted campaign organized in much the same ways and advanced with the fervor of a nationwide electoral campaign — a campaign to win the hearts and minds of American voters.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME commit available human and financial resources to inform the American public about the implications of President George W. Bush's current and proposed federal budgets and of his domestic agenda; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME councils and locals commit available resources to educate their respective memberships and communities about the anti-working family nature of the Bush Administration's agenda, through union meetings, worksite leafleting, op-ed articles, letters to editors and town hall meetings; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That, where possible, the International Union, councils and locals create or participate in opportunities to highlight the implications of the Bush Administration's policies for American cities, states and union constituencies; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That AFSCME International, its councils, locals and members work to elect members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives who will protect and advance the interests of America's working families.
SUBMITTED BY: INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD