WHEREAS:

Increased investment in public services to help cash-strapped state and local governments and school districts is AFSCME’s top federal legislative priority and the chief concern of the union’s unprecedented Make America Happen mobilization campaign; and

WHEREAS:
AFSCME members generated more than 40,000 phone calls, hand-written letters and e-mails to secure the first victory of the campaign – passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act), which invested $282 billion in public services according to the Government Accountability Office – including billions in direct local aid – to create and save jobs; and 

WHEREAS:
Despite the success of the Recovery Act, 48 states and many cities and counties still face enormous budget shortfalls due to record drops in total state tax revenues, meaning public services remain on the chopping block even as millions of Americans need them most; and

WHEREAS:
State shortfalls for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2010 totaled $200 billion or 28 percent of state budgets, according to the non-partisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and a majority of states expect shortfalls in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 as well, and aggregate gaps through 2012 that will likely exceed $500 billion; and

WHEREAS:
The most successful components of the Recovery Act, including additional aid to state and local governments particularly to offset increased burdens for Medicaid and education expenditures, must be continued in order to maintain, strengthen and rebuild public services; and  

WHEREAS:
All Americans benefit from investments in public services.  Police and fire departments, transportation infrastructure, public schools and sanitation and water treatment systems keep our communities safe, healthy and strong, while income support and services such as unemployment insurance, child care, and food and housing assistance help families get through tough times and provide opportunities to achieve the American dream; and

WHEREAS:
To achieve a healthy economy that generates sustainable jobs, we must reinvest in domestic priorities like education, health care, child care and job creation. 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME continue to vigorously press Congress to address the desperate economic conditions in state and local governments by providing additional state and local fiscal relief, which is the best way to save and create jobs and generate long-term economic recovery; including extensions of an increase in the federal funding formula for Medicaid (known as FMAP) and State Fiscal Stabilization Funds for education; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME will work to build support for the Local Jobs for America Act introduced by Representative George Miller (D-Calif.) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) that will save and create one million public and private jobs in local communities by investing $75 billion in local governments and school districts, including $23 billion to save education jobs and services and maintain schools; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME will continue to support extension of unemployment benefits and Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) health benefit subsidies for unemployed workers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME will educate and mobilize member activists, particularly at the state and local level where the toughest fights are being fought, to oppose budget cuts and protect jobs, benefits and services; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That AFSCME will continue the Make America Happen campaign to conduct this work and secure these and other federal legislative victories.
 
SUBMITTED BY:
INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD