Claudette Konola
 
Campaign Finance Reports

No, I didn’t fall off the planet. My first report, as Treasurer of the Mesa County Democratic Central Committee, is due at the Secretary of State’s office by midnight tomorrow. Because I don’t look good in orange, I spent most of last week dotting the “i”s and crossing the “t”s to make sure the report accurately reflects what we took in and what we paid out.  Karl Castleton, Co-Chairman of the Mesa DEMS reviewed my work yesterday, and we pushed to button to file the report. It is now public information. On November 2, I won’t be able to help myself—I’ll search out the Mesa County Republican’s report and probably tell you all about it here.

Climate Change

There was an interesting development while I was bogged down with numbers in the world of climate deniers. One of the 2% of scientists who were paid by industry to prove that humans play no role in climate change did a study to prove his point. When he applied scientific principles to the data, he discovered that climate change is real.  I’m sure the Koch Brothers wish this scientist’s research had not been funded.

The Continuing War on Women

A week ago Rick Perry was the darling of the GOP, but the newest rising star is Herman Cain. It seems he truly believes that no publicity is bad publicity, and he may be right. He sure got everyone talking about him when he released a political ad with a man puffing on a cigarette, followed by his slow grin. Front runner status always brings more scrutiny, and Cain is now the target of much scrutiny. The latest charge is one of sexual harassment. Speaking strictly as a woman who spent most of her life in the male dominated world of finance, I wouldn’t be surprised if Cain does treat women as sexual objects. It seems to be a common problem with the sociopaths that make it to the top in the corporate world.

Unions

The highlight of my week was a Saturday night party at the IBEW hall in Clifton. Best line of the evening came from the IBEW business manager, who was in costume as a pirate. He said that it was an appropriate costume for contract negotiations. The Colorado head of the AFL-CIO was present to remind people to vote in favor of 3B and 103. Those union guys really know how to throw a party. Good food, good drink, good friends, and good music.

Homework

Mesa County Democratic Central Committee Campaign Finance Report

Climate Denier Denies No More

Conservative Women to Cain: You've Got Some "Splainin" to do

Sociopaths in the Board Room
 

IBEW 969

02/06/2010

0 Comments

 
What a difference a day makes. One day I’m crashing a party, the next I’m the invited guest of a labor union. I’m from a union family. My father (He’s 84) belonged to a union when he worked in refrigeration and air condition in Denver’s high-rise buildings. My housemate belongs to a union. He works on oil and gas pipelines. My brother-in-law belongs to a stage hand’s union.

What I learned:

·         Unions are as upset as I am about the 5-4 ruling by the USSC about campaign finance. They had a hard time getting their message out before, but will have even more trouble now. Large corporations will simply be able to out-spend them. Corporations have more money than unions.

·         They liked a letter to the editor of the Sentinel.  On December 18, I wrote about Davis Bacon Wage Laws in response to a local official whining about being required to pay Davis Bacon wages on a project in Fruita. The three candidates running in the Republican primary are still whining.  I guess they don’t understand that $1.4 million will go into the pockets of their neighbors, and be spent in businesses right here in District 54.

·         They really don’t like some of the decisions made in Denver about vehicle licensing fees. I knew that was coming, I heard the same thing from my housemate.  Because of TABOR, Colorado must balance its budget every year—something my opposition doesn’t seem to know, as revealed in comments they made Thursday night. Increased fees aren’t popular with anyone, but it might be more acceptable if we follow the money. The second “homework” link is to a website that lets you see where the money is going by taking a virtual tour of some of Colorado’s bridges.

 

Homework:

http://www.ibew969.com/

http://www.inside-lane.com/2009/09/11/where-is-colorados-auto-registration-fee-hike-going-take-a-tour-of-the-states-poor-rated-bridges-your-money-will-replace/

http://www.wdol.gov/ß Everything you ever wanted to know about Davis Bacon wages.