PEP, September 2006: DC 37 backs Hillary

The DC 37 Executive Board voted unanimously Aug. 16 to endorse U. S. Sen. Hillary Clinton for re-election. Clinton met with various local presidents and activists that morning, winning a unanimous recommendation from the DC 37 Screening Committee.

“Senator Clinton has worked tirelessly on behalf of our members and all working men and women,” said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts. “She fought for additional funding for New York City after 9/11, helped stop Bush’s drive to dismantle Social Security and backs increasing the minimum wage. Whenever there’s an attack on the working families of this city or this state or this nation, Hillary Clinton is there fighting for the working class.”

Clinton commended DC 37 for its role in the fight against privatizing government services and jobs and Social Security. “DC 37 has been a good partner and an advocate for everyday heroes. I have enjoyed working with you for over five-and-a-half years,” she said.

This election year Democrats have the potential to take back control of Congress. Poll after poll shows that if elections were held today, the majority of Americans, regardless of party affiliation, would vote Democrat. The quagmire of ethics scandals, skyrocketing fuel prices, and poorly managed wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are causes for dissatisfaction with the Bush administration, Clinton said.

Although Bush has less than 18 months left inoffice, Clinton said the way the people can curtail the “arrogance and incompetence of this administration” is to vote for her and like-minded Democrats.

“Hillary has done a great job for our members, our city and our state,” said Political Action Committee Chair Lenny Allen. She recently pressed for and won $125 million in federal funding to monitor the health of 9/11 emergency responders, including many DC 37 members.

“Our members know that Senator Clinton will represent their needs and speak up for them. She will have the full backing of DC 37’s powerful political operation working hard to re-elect her and all our endorsed candidates,” Roberts said.

— Diane S. Williams