Today, SEIU's Change that Works campaign released a report on rising health care costs and the value of reform in Iowa. The facts speak for themselves - in a state like Iowa, health care reform is not just about improving the health and safety of Americans, it's also a bottom-line, balance sheet issue. Government, families and businesses large and small stand to save trillions from fixing health care. It will strengthen Iowa's businesses, help us retain jobs, and provide greater access and choices to Iowans in need of care. Below are highlights from the report:

In 2007, Iowa's economy lost as much as $1.2 billion because of the poor health and shorter lifespan of the uninsured. That equates to $4,335 per uninsured Iowa resident. This year, Iowa faces a $484 million projected state budget deficit. This represents 7.6% of state spending. As a result, Iowa has already ordered a hiring freeze on state employees and imposed cuts on higher education.

A snapshot of Iowa's uninsured:

• 686,000 non-elderly Iowans uninsured between 2007-2008
• 41,360 of the uninsured are children.
• 70 Iowa residents lost their heath insurance every day in December 2008 and January 2009.
• 63,036 of the uninsured adults in Iowa are between the ages of 50 and 64, meaning that more than 11% of Maine's aging adults lack health insurance.

On spending:

• 660,000 non-elderly Iowans spend more than 10% of their pre-tax family income on health care costs in 2008.
• Health insurance premiums rose by 72.6% from 2000 to 2007, while median earnings only increase a mere 18.5%
• In 2007, premiums grew 3.9 times faster than wages
• By 2016, projections show that Iowa families will have to pay $21,436 for health care annually.
• If current trends continue, family premiums would spend over 39% of median household income. This represents a 76% increase over 2008 levels.

Download the full report here: http://action.seiu.org/IAreport

Presque Isle - On Wednesday morning, a diverse group of worker, academic, business and faith leaders came together to discuss the economic challenges Mainers are facing every day; and, practical solutions to confront those challenges head on.

University of Maine professor Roger Roy kicked off the roundtable discussion by sharing his insights on the current state of the economy saying, "over the past thirty years the middle class has been disappearing, which corresponds to a major decline in organized workers." He continued that the most obvious solution is, "changing labor law to level the playing field for workers and make it easier for them to organize," adding "that means passing the Employee Free Choice Act."

Debunking the notion that unions adversely affect small businesses and job growth, Presque Isle small business owner Martha Grant commented that "It is the workers who are most likely to invest their wages in the local economy and small businesses, not the very wealthy."

Addressing how purchasing power affects small businesses, Grant added, "When workers aren't paid fairly, they simply can't afford to shop," continuing "that hurts small business more than anything else."

Sister Mary Kelley of St. Mary's Church in Presque Isle joined the roundtable to discuss the struggles of the working families she serves every day. Sister Mary made perhaps the most emotionally powerful comment of the discussion, saying "These people are working two or three jobs and they can't provide for their families," continuing "it's not right...it breaks your heart." Kelley stated that we need to create better jobs for Maine's families, and "people need to learn more about the Employee Free Choice Act."

Shelly Mountain of Mapleton worked in a shoe factory where a majority of workers signed cards to form a union. She said of her experience "Management used a deceptive misinformation campaign to successfully intimidate and discourage workers from forming the union." She added "I believe we need the Employee Free Choice Act to put the decision to make a union back in the hands of people like me."

Bob Glidden, a union member from Westfield said "being a union member has been very good both for me and for my family." Glidden similarly saw the Employee Free Choice Act as a solution to the expanding rich-poor gap, adding "we need an economy that works for everyone, not just corporate CEO's." Adding, "We need to rebuild the middle class."

The lively discussion came to a close with the roundtable participants agreeing the policies of high profit margins at the expense of workers' wages and benefits was shortsighted; because, if workers cannot afford products the eventual effect is that everyone suffers. Roy concluded the discussion with an analogy speaking to this point.

"Starving a horse works great for the farmer for a while, because you're keeping costs down while the horse still works; but, eventually the horse dies." Roy continued, "That is what the policies of the last thirty years have done to American workers...now we are seeing the dramatic effects as the economy suffers."

Earlier, we delivered your 90,000 "Taxpayer Proxy Cards" to Bank of America, directly before the annual shareholder meeting.

Watch it here:

If you're in Charlotte, NC today, be on the lookout for this giant, moving billboard:

Momentum is building for real reform to take place at Bank of America.

Today thousands of taxpayers will tell Bank of America it's time for reform - and for CEO Ken Lewis to be fired - by gathering at "Take Back the Economy" events around the country. The purpose of these events is to show Bank of America it's time for reform - you can collect "taxpayer proxy cards" that we'll deliver to Bank of America's annual meeting on Wednesday.

What kind of impact does Bank of America have in Florida? Here are the facts:

Bank of America is the largest bank in the United States, with an estimated $2.3 trillion in assets and counts almost 1 in 2 households as customers. Bank of America is also the country's second largest issuer of credit cards. In Florida, Bank of America is the second largest bank and largest mortgage lender.

Bank of America is one of the largest small business lenders in the state, with more than 87,629 loans to small businesses totaling $1.4 billion.

Bank of America has put taxpayers on the hook for as much as $200 billion in bailout money, making it one of the top two recipients. And, it's estimated that Bank of America costs Florida taxpayers an additional $5.4 million annually for uninsured and underinsured employees who are forced to rely on publicly-funded state health care programs.

Bank of America in Florida by the numbers:

Branches: 656

Deposits (2008)
Deposits: $69.4 billion
Deposit Rank: 2

Mortgages (2007)
Mortgages: 122,149
Mortgage Value: $26.1 billion
Mortgage Rank (2006): 1

Small Business Loans (2007)
Total Small Business Loans: 87,629
Total Small Business Loan Value: $1.4 billion

Employees
Branch Workers (est): 5,520
Healthcare Cost to Taxpayers (est): $5.4 million

Momentum is building for real reform to take place at Bank of America.

Today thousands of taxpayers will tell Bank of America it's time for reform - and for CEO Ken Lewis to be fired - by gathering at "Take Back the Economy" events around the country. The purpose of these events is to show Bank of America it's time for reform - you can collect "taxpayer proxy cards" that we'll deliver to Bank of America's annual meeting on Wednesday.

Here are the events happening in Montana this week:
Missoula (Bank of America: Enough!): May 1 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, Merrill Lynch, 330 N Higgins Ave., Missoula, MT 59802

What kind of impact does Bank of America have in Montana? Here are the facts:
Bank of America is the largest bank in the United States, with an estimated $2.3 trillion in assets and counts almost 1 in 2 households as customers. Bank of America is also the country's second largest issuer of credit cards. In Montana, Bank of America is the state's largest mortgage lender.

Bank of America is a major small business lender in the state, with more than 1,502 loans to small businesses totaling $19.6 million.

Bank of America has put taxpayers on the hook for as much as $200 billion in bailout money, making it one of the top two recipients.

Bank of America in Montana by the numbers:

Mortgages (2007)
Mortgages: 4,591
Mortgage Value: $835.1 million
Mortgage Rank (2006): 1

Small Business Loans (2007)
Total Small Business Loans: 1,502
Total Small Business Loan Value: $19.6 million

Momentum is building for real reform to take place at Bank of America.

Today thousands of taxpayers will tell Bank of America it's time for reform - and for CEO Ken Lewis to be fired - by gathering at "Take Back the Economy" events around the country. The purpose of these events is to show Bank of America it's time for reform - you can collect "taxpayer proxy cards" that we'll deliver to Bank of America's annual meeting on Wednesday.

What kind of impact does Bank of America have in Maine? Here are the facts:
Bank of America is the largest bank in the United States, with an estimated $2.3 trillion in assets and counts almost 1 in 2 households as customers. Bank of America is also the country's second largest issuer of credit cards. In Maine, Bank of America is the third largest bank and number one mortgage lender.

Bank of America is a major small business lender in the state, with more than 2,572 loans to small businesses totaling $42.3 million.

Bank of America has put taxpayers on the hook for as much as $200 billion in bailout money, making it one of the top two recipients. And, it's estimated that Bank of America costs Maine taxpayers an additional $327,000 annually for uninsured and underinsured employees who are forced to rely on publicly-funded state health care programs.

Bank of America in Maine by the numbers:

Branches: 40

Deposits (2008)
Deposits: $1.8 billion
Deposit Rank: 3

Mortgages (2007)
Mortgages: 5,153
Mortgage Value: $853.7 million
Mortgage Rank (2006): 1

Small Business Loans (2007)
Total Small Business Loans: 2,572
Total Small Business Loan Value: $42.3 million

Employees
Branch Workers (est): 340
Healthcare Cost to Taxpayers (est): $327,000

Momentum is building for real reform to take place at Bank of America.

Today thousands of taxpayers will tell Bank of America it's time for reform - and for CEO Ken Lewis to be fired - by gathering at "Take Back the Economy" events around the country. The purpose of these events is to show Bank of America it's time for reform - you can collect "taxpayer proxy cards" that we'll deliver to Bank of America's annual meeting on Wednesday.

Here are events that are happening in New Hampshire this week:

Manchester (Bank of America: Enough!): Tuesday, April 28 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, Bank of America, 1155 Elm Street, Manchester, NH 03101

Exeter (Bank of America: Enough!): Tuesday, April 28 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, Bank of America, 60 Portsmouth Ave, Exeter, NH 03833

Nashua (Bank of America: Enough!): Tuesday, April 28 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, Bank of America, 157 Main Street, Nashua, NH 03060

Hanover (Bank of America: Enough!): Tuesday, April 28 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM,Bank of America, 63 South Main Street, Hanover, NH 03755

What kind of impact does Bank of America have in New Hampshire? Here are the facts:

Bank of America is the largest bank in the United States, with an estimated $2.3 trillion in assets and counts almost 1 in 2 households as customers. Bank of America is also the country's second largest issuer of credit cards. In New Hampshire, Bank of America is the second largest bank and number one mortgage lender.

Bank of America is a major small business lender in the state, with more than 3,126 loans to small businesses totaling $53.1 million.

Bank of America has put taxpayers on the hook for as much as $200 billion in bailout money, making it one of the top two recipients. And it's estimated that Bank of America costs New Hampshire taxpayers an additional $303,000 annually for uninsured and underinsured employees who are forced to rely on publicly-funded state health care programs.

Bank of America in New Hampshire by the numbers:

Branches: 37

Deposits (2008)
Deposits: $4.3 billion
Deposit Rank: 2

Mortgages (2007)
Mortgages: 5,439
Mortgage Value: $1.0 billion
Mortgage Rank (2006): 1

Small Business Loans (2007)
Total Small Business Loans: 3,126
Total Small Business Loan Value: $53.1 million

Employees
Branch Workers (est): 310
Healthcare Cost to Taxpayers (est): $303,000

If you've been following the news, you know by now that Bank of America is in debt to the American taxpayer in the amount of $45 billion - the amount of TARP funds (aka "bailout money") that they received since last year.

But it turns out that a figure that you likely haven't heard - 199.2 billion - paints a bit more of an accurate number on how much Bank of America will most likely "borrow" from the American people.

How do we figure?

$12 Billion in TARP Funds for AIG
In addition to the $45 billion in direct TARP funds mentioned above, Bank of America has received a total of $12 billion from AIG after its own bailout, all of which is directly attributable to financing from the Federal Reserve (AIG: http://www.aig.com/aigweb/internet/en/files/Counterparties150309RELonly_tcm385-155648.pdf)

$98.2 Billion in Asset Guarantees Against Losses
Bank of America has received a taxpayer guarantee on $118 billion worth of toxic assets. Taxpayers are on the hook for up to $98.2 billion in losses - $7.5 billion from the Treasury, $2.5 billion from the FDIC, and $88.2 billion from the Federal Reserve. (New York Times, 1/16/09: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/business/16merrill.html)

$44 Billion in Asset Guarantees Through the FDIC's TLGP
That's a lot of initials, but essentially, the $44 billion is backed by new bond issuances under the Debt Guarantee Program. This is more than any other financial institution. (http://online.barrons.com/article/SB124001886675331247.html)

Sick of This?
So where does that leave Bank of America? Essentially, it leaves them in our debt. It's time that Bank of America's CEO, Ken Lewis, answers to the decisions that he's made during his tenure as Chief Executive Officer. It's just one of the many reasons why we're calling for him to be fired next week during Bank of America's annual shareholder meeting.

If you've yet to sign your name to our list of now-tens of thousands of fellow taxpayers who have called for CEO Ken Lewis to go, please so do here: http://www.takebacktheeconomy.org

At the Costa Mesa town hall meeting this week, the main item on President Obama's agenda was selling his $787 billion stimulus package and other large-scale proposals on the way on education, health care reform, housing and energy. Obama addressed a crowd of more than 1,000 people in a relatively upbeat fashion, as he promised "brighter days ahead" and the expectation that the administration can create or save 396,000 jobs in the state of California over the next two years.

President Obama also introduced the launch of a new website: www.MakingHomeAffordable.gov, to help borrowers determine whether they're eligible for the administration's housing plan (an estimated 7 to 8 million homeowners are), and to help them calculate how much money the plan could save them on their monthly payments. The plan is designed to help homeowners save money by refinancing or modifying their mortgages.

During the Q&A session of the Orange County town hall, Obama reiterated a theme of looking out for working people and creating an economy where prosperity is once again broadly shared--an economy that's good for everybody, not just the few at the top. "If the middle class is doing well, working people are doing well, then everybody's doing well," the president said.

One of the audience's questions came from the president of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, Bob Balgenorth, who referenced the Bush administration's failure to enforce wage and hour conditions for workers and other workers' rights protections. "What can your administration do to make sure that people get the wages that they're entitled to in this terrible economic downturn?" asked Balgenworth.

In his response, Obama reiterated his support for making it easier for workers to form unions to restore balance and improve millions of Americans' economic standing:

We think it is important that unions have the opportunity to organize themselves.

[...] The business press says that's anti-business. And whenever I hear that I'm always reminded of what Henry Ford said when he first started building the Model T -- and he was paying his workers really well. And somebody asked him, they said, why are you paying your workers so well? He said, well, if I don't pay them well, they won't be able to buy a car.

Think about that...part of the problem with our economy and the way it was growing was that wages and incomes for ordinary working families were flat for the entire decade. Now, I don't need to tell you this because you've experienced it in your own lives. You've just barely kept up with inflation while people at the very top...were seeing all the benefits.

So when I say that we should make it easier for unions to organize and observe Davis-Bacon, all I'm trying to do is to restore some balance to our economy so that middle-class families who are working hard, going to their jobs every day, doing the right thing by their kids -- they should be able to save, buy a home, go on a vacation once in a while. You know, they should be able to save for retirement, send their kids to college. That's not too much to ask for. That's the American dream. And the only way we get there is if we have bottom up economic growth instead of top down economic growth.

In the first independent poll conducted this year on the issue, Americans are firmly and overwhelmingly in support of not only the Employee Free Choice Act, but of workers' rights and of labor in general.

Here's what Gallup found:

• 53% support "a new law that would make it easier for labor unions to organize workers."
• 55% say it's "important" for Congress to pass "a new law that would make it easier for labor unions to organize workers."

What does this mean, besides the fact that Americans stand firmly behind the Employee Free Choice Act? It also shows that despite a multi-million dollar campaign by corporate interests to lie about the bill and smear working people, the public wants the Employee Free Choice Act. We found the same to be true when the same corporate interests tried and failed to influence the 2008 election.

The fact that only 3% of those surveyed had no opinion on the issue shows that there aren't many people out there to convince, one way or the other. Americans simply like unions, and that view is concrete.

The poll also showed that more people need to hear more about the Employee Free Choice Act. Please take a minute to tell your friends and family about our campaign.

The 14-point majority also becomes even more impressive with a quick look at the phrasing of Gallup's questions. Gallup used a less-than-neutral phrase, "labor unions to organize workers," in its survey - with no further elaboration on the benefits of unions or the Employee Free Choice Act. If anything, this shows that our opposition's demonization of "big bad labor unions" has no effect whatsoever.

It'll be interesting to see how these front groups try to dismiss or spin these Gallup numbers. The similarity in numbers between responses to both questions shows that there's a strong internal validity to this poll.

But given the fact that our opposition has had no prior qualms in merely making stuff up, we're pretty excited to see what kind of imaginative spin they'll come up with.

But while Americans do know what unions can do to improve their lives, the poll also showed that 39% of Americans don't know much about the Employee Free Choice Act. Be sure to take a moment to tell your friends about Free Choice and this new Gallup poll.

You can read Gallup's write-up on this poll here, or watch editor-in-chief Dr. Frank Newport discuss the poll's findings:

Today, the Employee Free Choice Act was introduced in Congress. Want some great reasons to support this bill that you've been hearing so much about? Here's five. (And if you already support it, please contact your Members of Congress and ask them to do the same.)

1. Because more jobs should be good jobs.

Unless you've been living under a rock for the last year, it's no surprise that millions of Americans are out of work, losing their health care or their retirement money, or are otherwise in financial straits. Times are tough. And who's taking this economic crisis on the chin? Well, we are, of course.

Four million people have lost their jobs since the recession began in December 2007. It's not for lack of trying. In terms of productivity, people are working harder than ever-- but American workers still haven't gotten a raise. And while jobs and wages are down, the cost of living continues to rise: The average cost of family health insurance plan will go up to $24,000 by 2016. $24,000!

The Employee Free Choice Act says that workers should have the ability to bargain with their employers for better wages and benefits--like affordable quality health care.

2. It's good for the economy.

One of the biggest reasons for our current economic crisis? People literally don't have the cash they need to buy goods and services--which would in turn help the economy. Higher wages and higher benefits would give workers the purchasing power they need to buy more of the goods and services that this economy produces. According to a February report from the Center for American Progress Action Fund, unionization could pump more than $49 billion into the economy.

But don't take it just from us. Last month, forty leading economists, including three Nobel prize winners, took out a full-page ad in the Washington Post offering their reasons for supporting the bill. In the ad, they argued that one of the main reasons for our economic slump is the "erosion of workers' ability to form unions and bargain collectively," that shifted the wealth of our country from "broadly-shared prosperity" to "growing inequality."

3. Barack Obama loves it, and so do most of you.

Not to mention Joe Biden, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, and majorities in both houses of Congress. And according to recent polling, 73% of the public supports it. Just last week, speaking in front of a labor gathering, President Obama vowed to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, stating,

"I have every confidence that if we are willing to do the difficult work that must be done, we will emerge from these trials stronger and more prosperous than we were before. And as we confront this crisis and work to provide health care to every American, rebuild our nation's infrastructure, move toward a clean energy economy, and pass the Employee Free Choice Act, I want you to know that you will always have a seat at the table."

What's not to love about that?

4. Because CEOs should be helping workers, not hurting them.

Want to get really depressed about your paycheck? Compare it to a CEO's. As a testament to the growing income disparity between CEOs and the workers they employ, look no further than Wal-Mart's former CEO, Lee Scott. Scott earned $15,000 an hour in 2007 while Wal-Mart workers earned just $10.68 an hour. On average, CEOs earn 344 times what their typical employee makes.

And yet, when Goldman Sachs received $10 billion in Wall St. bailout funds, they turned around and spent $6.5 billion on bonuses! If the Employee Free Choice Act passed, workers would have more of an opportunity to share in the prosperity they helped create.

5. Because the other side is really scary.

Or at least, they're trying their hardest to scare us. The corporate interests opposing the Employee Free Choice Act have warned of everything from rioting in the streets to, literally, Armageddon if the bill passes. For a sense of just how extreme the other side has gotten, check out our "scary movie" video here:

Corporate interests are bent on lying about the Employee Free Choice Act - they'd have you believe that the bill means the end of the secret ballot - but nothing could be further from the truth. The Employee Free Choice Act simply gives employees the choice to join unions - not the employers. Right now, workers can join unions through majority sign-up or a secret ballot election, and they can do so under the Employee Free Choice Act, too. The only difference is it will be the employees' choice, not the employers.

But don't take it from me - watch Rachel Maddow destruct this argument:

If you're as fired up as we are, go to SEIU.org and sign up to help. It's time for the Employee Free Choice Act.

Crossposted from the Huffington Post here.

Hundreds of Workers Head to Washington Monday to Press Lawmakers, Lobbyists and CEOs on Need for Workers' Voices in Rebuilding Economy

Next week, 350 SEIU members from across the country will come to Washington, DC to tell lawmakers, lobbyists, and corporate CEOs to stand with them and take immediate steps to create an economy that works for everyone--not just those at the top.

Corporate CEOs and lobbyists are spending millions of dollars to stop President Obama from creating the change we voted for in November. Even worse, they are using our tax dollars to oppose laws that will help working families. They want to continue down the same failed economic path of the past eight years--lower wages, higher healthcare costs, and an uncertain future for our families.

On Monday, workers, religious leaders, and community allies will join SEIU member lobbyists for a 3 p.m. rally on the northwest corner of Lafayette Park to tell corporate CEOs to stop standing in the way of an economy that works for everyone. On Tuesday, workers will sit down with their Senators and Members of Congress to share their stories about being fired, intimidated, and harassed by their employers for trying to form a union and discuss the importance of the Employee Free Choice Act.

Workers will also visit the offices of eight major corporate industry associations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to ask for a meeting with the groups' top officers and call on them to stop spending millions of dollars lobbying against common-sense legislative solutions to our economic crisis.

The actions are part of SEIU's Change That Works campaign--a campaign in more than 30 states to bring economic solutions to Main Street by ensuring passage of comprehensive healthcare reform and the Employee Free Choice Act. Stayed tuned for more details about next week's member mobilization kick-off events, leading up to nationwide "Take Action Against Corporate Excess" demonstrations in 50+ cities March 19th.

Read more about SEIU's Grassroots Lobbyists program through our Change That Works campaign here and check out blog posts written by two of our member lobbyists:

• "My First Week in Washington DC with SEIU," by Mike Kingsbury, an RN from Colorado who has been an active member of the Nurse Alliance of CO for many years and also worked with SEIU on the Obama campaign.
  
• "Standing Up for Homecare Workers in Washington," by Theo Jackson, from Scotts Valley, CA, who was one of five workers to share his story at the Feb. 4 Employee Free Choice Act rally on the Hill to urge Congress to support the legislation.