KentuckyStateAFL-CIOannouncesendorsementsinkeyracesforU.S.Congress

TheKentuckyStateAFL-CIOhasannouncedendorsementsinkeyracesforU.S.Congress.

BillLondrigan,presidentofthestatefederation,saysthesecandidates,andtheissuesthey’llfightfor,willhelpmobilizeunionmemberstowinthisfall. 

[We]endorsedonthebasisoftheirofsupportfortheissuesofcriticalimportancetoKentucky’shardworkingmenandwomen:goodjobs,therighttoorganize,healthcareforall,retirementsecurityandeducationandtrainingopportunities.

ToppingthelistofKentuckyendorseesisBruceLunsford,whoisrunningforU.S.SenateagainstMitchMcConnell,theRepublicanminorityleaderwho’sledthefightagainstworkingfamily-friendlypolicieslikearealeconomicstimulusbillandchildren’shealthinsurance.

McConnellisbehindthestrategyofobstructionthathasallowedaminorityofsenatorstoblockimportantlegislationliketheEmployeeFreeChoiceAct.HeconsistentlyhasvotedforBushnomineesforkeyfederalagencies,includingtheMineSafetyandHealthAdministration(MHSA)andtheDepartmentofLabor(headedbyhiswife,ElaineChao).Inshort,McConnellistheSenate’skeyenableroftheanti-workeragenda.LunsfordhaspledgedtosupporttheEmployeeFreeChoiceActandtoworkwithunionmembersastheyfightto“DitchMitch.” 

InadditiontosupportingLunsford,KentuckyunionsgavetheirstrongendorsementtotwoincumbentHousemembersandachallenger.EndorsementswenttoDemocraticReps.JohnYarmuthofthe3^rdDistrictandBenChandlerofthe6^thDistrict,aswellastoDemocraticStateSen.DavidBoswell,who’srunningforthe2^ndDistrictseatleftopenbyretiringRepublicanRonLewis. 

UnionmembersinKentuckywerecrucialinthestunning18-pointvictoryforGov.SteveBeshearlastNovember,andtheKentuckyAFL-CIOislookingtobuildonitssuccesswiththeseendorsementsfortheU.S.HouseandSenate. InadditiontoworkingtoelectLunsfordandBoswellandre-electChandlerandYarmuth,LondrigansaysthestateAFL-CIOwillfocusonexposingtherecordofSen.JohnMcCain.

--AFL-CIO;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor