I Write Letters

Over at TPM, I was surprised to find that my Congressman, Mel Watt, wasn't a co-sponsor of the bill to overturn Bush's wage cut for Gulf Coast workers. So I wrote him a letter.

I am writing to urge you to become a co-sponsor of H.R. 3763, the Fair Wages for Hurricane Victims Act. This bill would override President Bush's suspension of Davis-Bacon wage requirements in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.

The equitable reconstruction of the Gulf Coast demands that the working families of the area receive a fair wage. President Bush has effectively cut the pay of those workers who need a good income the most, and his callous action should not be allowed to stand.

The vast majority of the Democratic caucus has co-sponsored this legislation, and I hope that you will join them. This bill exemplifies some foundational values of the Democratic Party — fairness, equality, and a helping hand for those in need — and should be supported.

If you live in NC-12 and believe that reconstruction workers deserve a fair wage, please considering writing a letter, too. That Rep. Watt isn't a co-sponsor of this bill is a little troubling (and embarrassing).

Update: Rep. Watt became a co-sponsor on 9/27/05.

Posted at 1:10 pm by Eric :: Politics :: Comments (0) :: Trackbacks (0)

Eternal Vigilance

Over in Currituck, NC, a high school student's project on freedom just got a whole lot more relevant.

Sandy Kinzel, a school spokeswoman, said the Secret Service questioned the student about a photograph he had taken for a class project on freedoms. In the student's photograph, a photograph of Bush is shown fastened to a wall with a thumbtack. Over the picture of Bush is a "thumbs-down" sign. The thumbtack in the photo was apparently placed somewhere on Bush's head, Kinzel said.

Concerned that the thumbtack might represent a potential threat to the president, the company that developed the student's film notified authorities.

Thankfully, the Secret Service quickly closed the case without pressing changes. It's a good thing this student didn't use a stapler, however, or things might not have turned out so well.

Posted at 10:58 am by Eric :: Politics | Carolinas :: Comments (0) :: Trackbacks (0)