FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2002
October 23, 2002
John Irvine
(202) 639-6419
(202) 639-6419
AFGE Endorses in Maryland's 8th
(WASHINGTON, D.C.)-AFGE is proud to endorse two excellent candidates for election to the House of Representatives for Maryland's 8th Congressional District.
AFGE has decided to endorse both candidates for election to the House of Representatives for Maryland's 8th Congressional District. "A decision to not endorse either candidate would send the wrong signal that neither one was deserving of our endorsement," said AFGE National President Bobby L. Harnage, Sr. "Quite the contrary, we have two excellent candidates and have equally good reasons to endorse either one. Therefore, AFGE is proud to endorse both candidates."
After eight terms, Connie Morella has a proven record of strong support for federal employees and their unions. She has always been a leader in the fights to boost federal employee pay, reduce the burden of health care premiums on federal employees and defend federal pensions from mindless budget-cutting. Earlier this year, Connie Morella was a leader in the fight to abolish the infamous OMB privatization quotas. Moreover, she was a courageous leader in the fight to defend the collective bargaining rights of homeland security employees. Although a Republican, Connie Morella always emphasizes principles over partisan ties, and her considerable seniority would be of considerable assistance to federal employees if the House stays under Republican control.
Chris Van Hollen is a very promising state legislator who has compiled an excellent record on issues of concern to Maryland's public sector employees. Moreover, Chris Van Hollen has already committed to supporting AFGE's efforts to increase pay for both white-collar and blue-collar federal employees, lower the costs of health care premiums and prescription drugs for federal employees, and to hold government contractors accountable to the taxpayers through enactment of the union's all-important Truthfulness, Responsibility, and Accountability in Contracting Act. Finally, as a Democrat, Chris Van Hollen's election would mean one less vote in favor of retaining the rabidly anti-federal employee and anti-union House Republican leadership in the 108th Congress.
At a time when the Bush Administration is unleashing wholesale privatization and undermining civil service protections and collective bargaining rights, AFGE members can be assured that both candidates would very strongly represent the interests of federal employees and their families.
AFGE is the largest federal employees union, representing 600,000 federal and D.C. government workers. For more on AFGE, log onto www.afge.org.
AFGE has decided to endorse both candidates for election to the House of Representatives for Maryland's 8th Congressional District. "A decision to not endorse either candidate would send the wrong signal that neither one was deserving of our endorsement," said AFGE National President Bobby L. Harnage, Sr. "Quite the contrary, we have two excellent candidates and have equally good reasons to endorse either one. Therefore, AFGE is proud to endorse both candidates."
After eight terms, Connie Morella has a proven record of strong support for federal employees and their unions. She has always been a leader in the fights to boost federal employee pay, reduce the burden of health care premiums on federal employees and defend federal pensions from mindless budget-cutting. Earlier this year, Connie Morella was a leader in the fight to abolish the infamous OMB privatization quotas. Moreover, she was a courageous leader in the fight to defend the collective bargaining rights of homeland security employees. Although a Republican, Connie Morella always emphasizes principles over partisan ties, and her considerable seniority would be of considerable assistance to federal employees if the House stays under Republican control.
Chris Van Hollen is a very promising state legislator who has compiled an excellent record on issues of concern to Maryland's public sector employees. Moreover, Chris Van Hollen has already committed to supporting AFGE's efforts to increase pay for both white-collar and blue-collar federal employees, lower the costs of health care premiums and prescription drugs for federal employees, and to hold government contractors accountable to the taxpayers through enactment of the union's all-important Truthfulness, Responsibility, and Accountability in Contracting Act. Finally, as a Democrat, Chris Van Hollen's election would mean one less vote in favor of retaining the rabidly anti-federal employee and anti-union House Republican leadership in the 108th Congress.
At a time when the Bush Administration is unleashing wholesale privatization and undermining civil service protections and collective bargaining rights, AFGE members can be assured that both candidates would very strongly represent the interests of federal employees and their families.
AFGE is the largest federal employees union, representing 600,000 federal and D.C. government workers. For more on AFGE, log onto www.afge.org.
###
Click here to Donate to the AFGE Federal Employee Defense Fund.
For the latest AFGE news and information, visit the AFGE Media Center.
Follow us on:
