Rick Reinhard

House Passes Flawed Election Reform Bill
On Dec. 12 the House leaders approved a $2.6 billion election overhaul bill that will send millions to states to improve voting systems. The bill essentially establishes minimum standards but gives states leeway to craft their own improvements. Civil rights groups and the UAW felt that this flawed bill did not go far enough. To prevent the serious problems that occurred in the 2000 election, the UAW urged Congress to require all states to meet certain minimum standards for conducting federal elections.

GOP’s Armey Set to Retire; DeLay Seeks Job
In a surprising move, House Majority Leader Dick Armey announced plans to retire from the No. 2 position in the House leadership. House Majority Whip Tom DeLay, R-Texas--known by friends and foes as “the Hammer”--moved swiftly to claim Armey’s post. The departure of Armey, also a Texas Republican, could give moderates an opportunity to challenge conservatives within the party leadership. Armey played a key role, along with Newt Gingrich, in the GOP’s 1994 takeover of the House.

Expansion of Andean Trade Act Won’t Help Region’s Workers
The Senate Finance Committee on Nov. 29 extended the Andean Trade Preference Expansion Act to Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. The UAW opposed extension of benefits to these countries because they routinely subject workers to exploitation, abusive working conditions and repression. More than 90 trade unionists have been murdered in Colombia since January 2001.

Reforming CAFE Standards Could Affect UAW Members' Jobs
The UAW presented its views on reforming the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. In his Dec. 6 testimony, UAW Legislative Director Alan Reuther stressed that the union supports CAFE and reasonable improvements, as long as they are technologically and economically feasible and don't jeopardize jobs.

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UAW Website: DC Link
UAW hotline: 1-800-482-3334