Working Families

“To earn the Working Families Party’s nomination, candidates had to answer questions about their level of commitment to the Working “Families Party’s priorities. Candidates for state office were asked to support the establishment of a publicly-owned bank and the creation of a disability insurance program; to impose minimum labor standards whenever state funds are used to stimulate the economy; to publicly support union organizing drives, contract campaigns, and strikes; to fully fund the state’s need-based grant program for college students; and to oppose privatization of Oregon’s public colleges and universities.

Candidates for Congress were asked to support moves toward a single-payer, not-for-profit system of universal health care; to insist on labor standards when federal funds are used to stimulate the economy; to co-sponsor and actively support the TRADE Act, a bill that would turn away from NAFTA-style trade policy; to support legislation to make it easier for workers to unionize and get a first contract; and to vote for the strongest possible financial regulatory reform.”

Read the whole article here.

We put out the call for help – and boy, did you answer.

This is more than a stack of papers. These petitions represent the hard work of WFP activists all over the state.

Just two weeks ago we told you that in order to get our information in this year’s Oregon voters’ pamphlet we had to either pay several thousand dollars to the state, or collect enough signatures from registered voters to have our statement appear for FREE. Being a grass-roots kind of organization we decided to go get some signatures.

Well, we did it.

Not only did we meet our signature goal, we smashed it–collecting well over the 500 needed on both of our petitions. What’s more impressive is how we did it. Over 60 volunteers came out to help gather signatures from 13 different counties — as far south as Jackson County and as far east as Umatilla county.

Clearly there is a real hunger in Oregon for a party that fights for working people for a change.

The Oregon Voters’ Pamphlet is something all of us take for granted – we know it shows up a few weeks before every election, and we know it will be filled with useful information to help us decide who to vote for.

But if you stop and think about it, the Voters’ Pamphlet is actually pretty amazing. For no money at all, a political party (like, you know, the Working Families Party) can have its message sent to every registered voter in the state. That’s more than 2 million people.

There’s just one catch: We have to collect 500 signatures from registered voters, otherwise it’ll cost thousands of dollars to print our statement. We’re having petitioning parties this Saturday, August 14th in the following cites. Can you join us for one?

Eugene/Springfield: 10:00 AM
Portland: 10:00 AM
Salem/Keizer: 1:00 PM

Click here to sign up and for details.

The WFP is proud to announce our first round of nominations for the 2010 general election. Click here for a list of candidates for State Representative and State Senator who have earned the Working Families Party’s “seal of approval” on the ballot this fall.

Working Families Party members reviewed their questionnaires and conducted interviews, and determined that these candidates are committed to fighting for Oregon’s working families.

We look forward to supporting these candidates in this fall’s elections, and to working with them to pass important legislation in the 2011 session, including our proposal for an Oregon State Bank and universal disability insurance.

This is the first year of “fusion voting” here in Oregon. The WFP is proud to have worked to make Oregon the first state in the country to re-legalize fusion. Click here to learn more.

UPDATE: Listen to a podcast of Oregon WFP Co-Chair Barbara Dudley discussing priority issues and nominations with Carl Wolfson on KPOJ’s “Carl in the Morning.” (Barbara’s interview starts at minute 16:40 in the podcast)

All registered members of the Working Families Party are invited to participate in our first official Regional Caucuses, to be held in each of Oregon’s five Congressional Districts. Regional Caucuses will elect delegates to our statewide nominations committee. This is an important opportunity to chart the course of the Working Families Party in the first year of fusion voting in Oregon.

Individuals who are interested in learning more about the WFP are welcome to attend, but only registered members may vote for delegates.

Not yet registered? Grab your driver’s license and head to http://oregonwfp.org/register and you’ll be on your way.

You can also RSVP by emailing us at info@oregonwfp.org. And feel free to write to us with any questions.