UAW backs $1 increase over two years
The UAW is backing a $1 an hour increase in the minimum wage spread over two years. We have rejected a plan by the House GOP leadership to spread a $1 increase over three years effectively costing full-time, low-wage workers about $1,500. The GOP also loaded up their minimum wage bill with "poison pill" provisions to exempt millions of workers from the minimum wage and overtime protections.

GOP tax bill tilts to rich
The Republican leadership’s tax package would provide about $35 billion in tax breaks heavily skewed towards upper income individuals. This includes windfalls for the rich like partial repeal of the estate tax.

Progressive tax bill exempts tuition benefits
The UAW backs a progressive tax package narrowly targeted to benefit small businesses and working families. This Democratic tax package contains a provision exempting from taxation tuition assistance benefits received by the children of workers. This provision could save many UAW members at the Big Three automakers $300 or more a year in taxes.

Rep. Goode switches parties
After two terms as a Democrat, U.S. Representative Virgil Goode Jr. from Virginia has announced he’ll join the Republican Conference. Goode, with the worst voting record of any House Democrat last year on the UAW’s rollcall, voted against us on all but one of 13 key issues. Goode’s switch means the Republicans control the House 222 to 211.

Second thoughts about term limits
In 1994 George Neathercutt, R-Wash., was the poster child of the term limits campaign. In ousting then House Speaker Thomas Foley, D-Wash., Neathercutt pledged to serve no more than three terms in Congress. Now, however, Rep. Neathercutt plans to run for his fourth term. He says his pledge was a mistake and that six years is not enough time to effectively represent his constituents.

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