| Calvin Amos, NTEU District II National Vice President | Mike Scalise, NTEU Chapter 25 Legislative Coordinator | Tammy Garvey, NTEU Chapter 25 Steward |
2000 Legislative conference
Article by Mike Scalise
This year's National Legislative Conference, which was again based at the Holiday Inn Capitol in Washington, D.C., began February 7, 2000, and ended February 9, 2000. Approximately 300 NTEU members from around the nation attended including three from Chapter 25, Calvin Amos, District 2 National Vice-President, Tammy Garvey, Stewart, and me, Michael Scalise, Chapter 25's Legislative Coordinator. As usual, the conference opened Monday morning with speeches--one by the Director of OPM, Janice LaChance and another by Senator Chuck Robb (D-VA). From my notes, Janice LaChance said the following is included in the Administration's budget for 2001:
Colleen Kelly, National NTEU President, and other NTEU officials than gave us our marching orders before we headed off to "the Hill." Colleen made a specific point to tell us that NTEU is a single-issue special interest group and that the union endorsed AlGore for President, not because he is a Democrat, but because he promised to support the union.
The real business of a Legislative Conference is the visits the union members make to their state's congressional delegation. NTEU's National office pre-schedules appointments for us with our Senators and Congressional Representatives. We then show up in the correct offices at the appointed times and plead our case. Prior to the conference a group of union members traveled to Washington and chose the topics that we presented to the congressional delegations. This year the topics included the following.
As usual, the reception we received from our various Senators and Representatives varied. Both of Kentucky's Senators and five of Kentucky's six Representatives are Rebublican. However, most everyone we talked to was very cordial and listed to what we had to say. We did speak with Senator Bunning in person, but did not speak with Senator McConnell, just his aides. Nevertheless, I believe we established a good rapport with most of the people we spoke with and that our message was listened to. We left a set of information sheets on the above topics with each person we visited.
In addition to the visits we made during the day we were kept busy at other times also. On Monday night the Union sponsored a candle light vigil at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial for Customs Officers fallen in the line of duty. There were 75 of them. The first died in 1863 and the most recent in 1998. Each person's name was read aloud by the Commissioner of U.S. Customs or Lawrence Summers, Secretary of the Treasury. Tuesday during lunch time we picketed the Securities and Exchange Commission because NTEU wants to be their bargaining unit and the SEC's employees have not been allowed to vote yet. Tuesday night NTEU sponsored a reception for all the attendees and as many Represnetatives who would attend. Charles Rossotti and Bob Wenzel both made an appearance as did Bob Tobias.
The Conference closed with a luncheon on Wednesday, the 9th, and the speakers this time were Representative Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA). During the closing speeches the Customs Officer who intercepted the suspected terrorist who tried to bring 200 pounds of explosive components into Washington state over new year's was introduced along with her daughter. She is a union member from Seattle.