THIS IS AN URGENT MESSAGE FROM YOUR UNION. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO CALL YOUR SENATORS RIGHT NOW!

More than one million Americans had their unemployment benefits disrupted recently because of the deplorable tactics of Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY). And unless we act now, you or someone you know could be the next victims of Republican obstructionism and heartless filibustering.

Here's what's happening. The Senate is about to vote on The American Workers, State and Business Relief Act, and we need to pass this bill because it includes critical funding to help states deal with huge budget shortfalls for health care services — funding that will save thousands of jobs.

That's why we need your immediate action today. Please call your senators right now and urge them to vote YES on the American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act and make sure the bill includes funding for Medicaid.

Not only will this bill literally save thousands of public service jobs that are currently on the chopping block, but it will extend unemployment benefits for Americans who are still looking for work. It will also invest in Medicaid health services to ease the burden placed on state and local governments by skyrocketing health care costs. This is exactly the kind of bill that everyday Americans need — so while Republicans like Jim Bunning are playing games and trying to score political points, we're fighting harder than ever for aid to state and local governments that will save AND create jobs.

Economists agree that this is one of the most sure-fire ways to help our economy, and our country, recover. Every dollar invested in public service creates $1.41 in economic growth, and that means not only more public service jobs, but also more jobs for all Americans.

The bottom line is that without federal aid to state and local governments, we will lose 900,000 more jobs in the near future — including thousands of public service jobs — and that's the last thing our country needs right now. Please join with tens of thousands of other AFSCME members across the country, and call your senators to fight for our jobs right now: http://www.afscme.org/relief

Thanks for everything that you do to help working families. I'll be sure to keep you updated about this important bill over the next couple weeks.

In solidarity,

Charles Loveless
AFSCME Legislative Director

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