(Teamsters for a Democratic Union is sharing this important message from Sherman Liimatainen, Vice President of the National United Committee to Protect Pensions)
Dear Sister and Brother Retirees,
Please read this entire email as there is important information throughout, including a new Economic Impact Study to give your legislators.
As you know, Friday night, the 19th, the Senate failed to pass the spending bill, causing a government shutdown. Republican Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell put the spending bill forward. It was mostly Republicans voting in favor and Democrats voting against.
Below is a link to the summary of what was included in the spending bill. In short, it would have extended the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for six years, would have had a moratorium on some Obamacare taxes, and would have included missile defense and some other small items.
It didn't include anything about Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or the Pension Rehabilitation Act (PRA), also known as the Butch Lewis Act.
Summary of Failed Spending Bill
It's important to know Minority Senate Leader, Chuck Schumer, met with President Trump before the vote and President Trump agreed to have the Butch Lewis Act in the bill. Senate Democrats proposed an alternate funding bill that would include the Butch Lewis Act, however it was not going to get a vote. Mitch McConnell gets to decide what's included and not included in a proposal and he was not inclined to include DACA and the Butch Lewis Act.
Monday, the Senate passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) exactly the same as the above failed spending bill. The CR ended the shutdown by extending government spending through February 8th.
To get Democrats to vote for the CR, Mitch McConnell promised DACA and the Butch Lewis Act would be discussed by the Senate during the weeks leading up to February 8.
The Butch Lewis Act will be part of the negotiations with Mitch McConnell, and not with President Trump this time.
Hopefully, both sides of the aisle will find a way to resolve the impasse and the Butch Lewis Act will be included in the spending bill.
It's extremely important that we move forward and stay focused on the mission at hand. We remain confident that Senator Schumer will continue to work on getting the Butch Lewis Act passed.
Although the information given here can be discouraging, it can be seen as neither negative nor positive as it allows for discussion.
We encourage you to contact your Senators and Representatives at their local offices now and over the next two weeks leading up to the 8th. Ask them for appointments or invite them to attend your meetings. If you can't get an appointment, keep calling to ask them to support the Butch Lewis Act. S. 2149 and H.R. 4444. Let them know the solution will only become more expensive with time. Be sure to tell your personal stories, as this is very helpful.
At this time, we do not need any calls outside of the states or districts in which you vote. Please keep your lobbying to your respective States and Districts.
Find Your Representative
Below is an important new Economic Impact Study to give to your legislators. It's for the entire multiemployer system.
The data is from a study by the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) which used DOL Form 5000 data.
A few high-level impacts are of note. In 2015, the multiemployer system provided $2.2 trillion in economic activity to the U.S. economy, generated $158 billion in federal taxes, $82 billion in state and local taxes, supported 13.6 million American jobs, and contributed more than $1 trillion to U.S. GDP. The single year data is important, but for the U.S. Government, the 10-year data that comprises the federal budget window is even more critical. Most of the 10-year data is roughly 10.46 times the 2015 data.
This analysis proves that the stakes are enormous for the U.S. economy and all levels of government.
New Economic Impact Study
Two Page Summary of New Economic Impact Study
New Economic Impact Study
Two Page Summary of New Economic Impact Study
NUCPP, its Chapters and individual members have been aggressively lobbying for the Butch Lewis Act. You can be sure all work done in D.C. and your efforts at home have established a solid base and generated support in bringing the Butch Lewis Act to law.
Please don't expect to hear anything much about the (PRA) Butch Lewis Act until DACA is negotiated. We will keep you up-to-date as events unfold.
Please share this on Facebook and everywhere.
In solidarity,
Sherman Liimatainen
Vice President
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