"Workers nationwide have been ravaged by the Bush–Coleman agenda; our union will work tirelessly with candidate Franken to put an end to that," said Mike Buesing, president of AFSCME Council 5 and chair of PEOPLE, the union\'s political action committee.
 |
|
Al Franken |
AFSCME also screened trial attorney Mike Ciresi, but decided that Franken is in a stronger position to win DFL endorsement and the general election.
"Al Franken is building a grassroots army of supporters and can match Coleman dollar for dollar in fundraising," explained Alan Netland, president of AFSCME Local 66 in Duluth. "Franken’s strengths magnify Coleman\'s weaknesses. Norm Coleman is a politician\'s politician, who will do or say anything to hang on to his job. Franken neither sounds nor looks like a typical politician – his smart wit and brutal honesty are refreshing."
"Al fits Minnesota; he\'s not the right-wing caricature," said Eliot Seide, director of Council 5. "The Al Franken we know grew up in Minnesota, attended Harvard, authored best-sellers, supported our troops on USO tours, and has been married to Franni for 32 years."
Franken’s working family agenda is strong, the union said.
"He has a plan for universal health care that can pass in the U.S. Senate; it would make every state responsible for covering all of its citizens in whatever way works best," AFSCME said in a news release about the endorsement. "Franken supports investment in physical and human infrastructure and would fully fund programs that keep our social safety net strong. He would roll back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. He would stop the erosion of pension security and the privatization of Social Security. He opposes outsourcing of public services and supports making it easier for workers to form and join a union."
Franken is a member of four unions – AFTRA, the Screen Actors\' Guild, the Directors\' Guild, and the Writers\' Guild, the union noted.
AFSCME said Coleman did not respond to invitations to screen for the endorsement. Coleman is completing his first term in the U.S. Senate, having been narrowly elected after the death of U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone.
AFSCME Council 5 represents 43,000 public and nonprofit employees in Minnesota. Other unions that have endorsed Franken include United Steelworkers District 11, St. Paul Fire Fighters Local 21 and Teamsters Joint Council 32.
For more information
Visit the Council 5 website, www.afscmemn.org
Share
"Workers nationwide have been ravaged by the Bush–Coleman agenda; our union will work tirelessly with candidate Franken to put an end to that," said Mike Buesing, president of AFSCME Council 5 and chair of PEOPLE, the union\’s political action committee.
|
|
Al Franken |
"Al Franken is a lifelong union member who will use sharp wit, hard work and progressive convictions to restore the middle class and change the culture of corruption in Washington," said Buesing. "Our union is proud to give our energy and resources to electing Al Franken."
AFSCME also screened trial attorney Mike Ciresi, but decided that Franken is in a stronger position to win DFL endorsement and the general election.
"Al Franken is building a grassroots army of supporters and can match Coleman dollar for dollar in fundraising," explained Alan Netland, president of AFSCME Local 66 in Duluth. "Franken’s strengths magnify Coleman\’s weaknesses. Norm Coleman is a politician\’s politician, who will do or say anything to hang on to his job. Franken neither sounds nor looks like a typical politician – his smart wit and brutal honesty are refreshing."
"Al fits Minnesota; he\’s not the right-wing caricature," said Eliot Seide, director of Council 5. "The Al Franken we know grew up in Minnesota, attended Harvard, authored best-sellers, supported our troops on USO tours, and has been married to Franni for 32 years."
Franken’s working family agenda is strong, the union said.
"He has a plan for universal health care that can pass in the U.S. Senate; it would make every state responsible for covering all of its citizens in whatever way works best," AFSCME said in a news release about the endorsement. "Franken supports investment in physical and human infrastructure and would fully fund programs that keep our social safety net strong. He would roll back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. He would stop the erosion of pension security and the privatization of Social Security. He opposes outsourcing of public services and supports making it easier for workers to form and join a union."
Franken is a member of four unions – AFTRA, the Screen Actors\’ Guild, the Directors\’ Guild, and the Writers\’ Guild, the union noted.
AFSCME said Coleman did not respond to invitations to screen for the endorsement. Coleman is completing his first term in the U.S. Senate, having been narrowly elected after the death of U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone.
AFSCME Council 5 represents 43,000 public and nonprofit employees in Minnesota. Other unions that have endorsed Franken include United Steelworkers District 11, St. Paul Fire Fighters Local 21 and Teamsters Joint Council 32.
For more information
Visit the Council 5 website, www.afscmemn.org