Gephardt promises to block antiworker laws
House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., promised delegates to the Building Trades annual convention that if Democrats win back Congress this November, no legislation to erode workers’ rights will be allowed on the House floor.

Bush leads Gore in polls
Texas Governor George W. Bush leads Vice President Al Gore 46 to 41 percent according to an early May poll taken for the Wall Street Journal and NBC News.

Hearings on 'right to work' for less
Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., held hearings May 3 on a 'right to work' bill which now has 134 cosponsors in the House and 23 in the Senate. The bills, introduced by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and Sen. Paul Coverdell, R-Ga., would prohibit states from outlawing free riders, workers who accept union benefits and representation but refuse to pay dues. "Right to work" really means the right to work for lower wages," said Rep. Tim Roemer, D-Ind., who opposes the bill.

AFL-CIO calls for election reforms
The AFL-CIO Executive Council has called for fundamental election reforms including public financing, limitations on individual contributions, restriction of soft money, and public disclosure of independent soft-money political committees. The council also called for free television and radio time for candidates, protection of issue advocacy, and reforms to make voting easier such as 24-hour voting, weekend voting, and making Election Day a holiday.

Specter hits Medicare fraud
U.S. Senator Arlen Specter, R-Penn., has suggested that jail time might curb Medicare fraud. "There is nothing like criminal prosecution in the white-collar area to get results."

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