wire for 5/28/08

CIW Wins Fight with Burger King
May 23, 2008 CIW website
CIW, Burger King to work together : Burger King campaign comes to an end with historic press conference, signing ceremony at US Capitol! Read more http://www.ciw-online.org/index.html

New G.I. Bill Would Help Vets Get College Education
by Seth Michaels, May 23, 2008 AFL-CIO Now Blog
While passing the extension of unemployment assistance by a veto-proof margin yesterday, the Senate also overwhelmingly approved a new bill to help veterans pay for college.The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act is an expansion of the historic G.I. Bill, which helped a generation of veterans attend college and work their way into the middle class. The original G.I. Bill, enacted in June 1944, helped millions of veterans returning from World War II (and later from other wars) get needed education or job training and enabled broad prosperity. Read more http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/05/23/new-gi-bill-would-help-vets-get-college-education/

Federal Employees Concerned About McCain’s Record on Veterans
by Seth Michaels, May 27, 2008 AFL-CIO Blog
Last week, the U.S. Senate passed a groundbreaking update to the G.I. Bill, which would cover the cost of college education for all returning veterans.
By ensuring our nation’s veterans have access to education, this bill would honor their service and give them the opportunity to have good jobs and economic security Read more http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/05/27/federal-employees-concerned-about-mccains-record-on-veterans/

Realtors pony up for Amendment 5
posted by Aaron Deslatte on May 23, 2008 6:11:04 PM Orlando Sentinel
The Florida Association of Realtors on Friday officially decided to devote at least $1 million to the campaign to pass Amendment 5, the property tax swap on the Nov. 4 ballot.
Realtors VP John Sebree said the group would "start with $1 million," and could invest more depending on what their opponents do and what the political landscape looks like. Read more http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2008/05/realtors-pony-u.html

Volusia boosts Kosmas Donors raise $247,000 in bid to unseat Feeney
By JIM SAUNDERS 26 May 2008 Tallahassee Bureau Chief Daytona News Journal
TALLAHASSEE -- If Suzanne Kosmas unseats U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney this year, she will owe a big debt of gratitude to Volusia County.
Volusia contributors poured more than $247,000 into Kosmas' campaign from October through March, helping the New Smyrna Beach Democrat gain a slight edge over Feeney in the battle for election cash, federal records show Read more http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Politics/Florida/polPOLF01HEAD01052608.html

Massachusetts LG blasts CSX
posted by Aaron Deslatte on May 27, 2008 2:28:24 PM Orlando Sentinel
Last spring, Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray's office called Florida CFO Alex Sink to alert her to a train wreck in Canton where a CSX freight train lost control and hit a passenger car, injuring more than 100 people.
Sink's office at the time was deciding whether to step in more forcefully to Florida's debate over the CSX-Central Florida Florida commuter rail deal, and the wreck helped galvanize opponents to giving the company a no-fault insurance policy on the rail line Read more http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2008/05/massachusetts-l.html

Justices Say Law Bars Retaliation Over Bias Claims
By LINDA GREENHOUSE Published: May 28, 2008 NY Times
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that employees are protected from retaliation when they complain about discrimination in the workplace, adopting a broad interpretation of workers’ rights under two federal civil rights laws. Read more http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/washington/28scotus.html?_r=1&th=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&emc=th&adxnnlx=1211973831-OuTD0uFUIMuGADjA5tgJRw