The 2006 Elections:
An Opportunity We Can't Afford to Miss

Record-high gas prices, increasing income inequality, hostility abroad, uncertainty at home, pension cancellations, skyrocketing health care costs, mass layoffs, an enormous trade deficit. This is what our one-party Republican government, led by the Bush Administration, has brought us. We can change it, but we can’t wait until 2008. We have to start now.

The November 2006 elections provide us with a real opportunity to bring leaders who value working Americans back to power. In Congress, all the members of the House of Representatives and 33 members of the Senate are up for re-election. If we can re-take Congress, the Bush Administration’s campaign of failure, corruption, and deception can finally be brought to a halt, and real laws that take into account the needs of all the people, not just the wealthy and the powerful, will become possible again.

Congress is not the whole story, however. Governor’s races are particularly important, with 20 of the 28 Republican governors up for reelection. State and local elections will be key as well. In Kentucky and New Hampshire, right to work legislation has been introduced in the state legislatures, and referendums to raise the minimum wage will be on the November ballot in nine states. If we get to work now, we can make sure anti-labor legislation is defeated, and pro-worker measures are introduced and succeed.

Do not forget the importance of primary elections for setting the agenda and making sure the strongest Democratic contenders end up on the ballot. Please make sure as well that you and your family and friends are registered to vote. Registration deadlines vary from state to state, and can be found on this Web site: http://www.eac.gov/register_vote_deadlines.asp. Make sure not to miss them.

The tide has begun to turn. The President’s approval ratings are lower than ever, and forecasters are predicting that the Republican stranglehold on power in Congress is in danger. But we cannot take anything for granted. In 2004, strong Republican voter-registration and get-out-the-vote drives in just a few locations played a major part in giving us 4 more years of the same regressive, misguided policies. And in 2000, we learned that every vote really does count. Volunteer, make phone calls, register, drive people to the polls. And above all, vote.

Election Day is November 7, 2006. I look forward seeing a lot of new, friendly faces at all levels of government, and to seeing a strong groundwork laid for 2008. I want to see this country give back to the people who make it work. And I want to see our members lead the charge.