The flood of phone calls demanding that the U.S. Senate amend or reject the big business "Fast Track" scheme have helped slow the progress of this job-killing legislation. The anti-worker U.S. Chamber of Commerce (CoC) and National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) have mobilized an army of business lobbyists to bribe and threaten Senators who do not yet support "Fast Track" in its most destructive form.
Last week the Senate passed an amendment to water-down "Fast Track", and more such amendments are scheduled for a vote in the coming week. It is hoped that the addition of these amendments will make it impossible for the Senate to combine their version with the House version passed last December. There is also a chance that President Bush will be forced to veto an amended "Fast Track" bill that significantly differs from the "pure" version that the CoC and NAM are demanding.
NOW is the time for UE members and supporters to call the U.S. Senate - or call them again! Demand that both of your Senators vote "NO" on "Fast Track" during the final vote. Also demand that they support amendments such as those offered by Senator John Kerry (D-MA) or Senator John Corzine (D-NJ). Both of these amendments would add limited protections for workers and citizens to the bill. Call both of your Senators at (877)611-0063 (Toll-free thanks to the AFL-CIO.) Some UE members, weary of calling the U.S. Senate offices in Washington, D.C., are instead calling toll-free to obtain Senate office phone numbers back home, and then calling those for a "fresh" call. See earlier UE Political Action updates for more information on "Fast Track."