cash for free from the feds or no cash
quiet thomas gargiulo stll has vocal chords. and errand boys
what does the man have to say?
Conservative Tom Gargiulo suspends campaign for Suffolk legislative seat
Washington — The Democratic-controlled House late Wednesday approved a bill to help an estimated 45,000 current and retired Teamsters union members in Michigan avoid pension cuts related to the distressed Central States Pension Plan.
Financial problems have left the plan severely underfunded and could force cuts in payments to hundreds of thousands of retirees nationwide who paid into the system over their careers.
Lead sponsors, including Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell of Dearborn, said the legislation would shore up Central States and other qualifying multiemployer pension plans in danger of insolvency.
"For too long, these hard-working men and women have lived in fear, not knowing what’s going to happen. They've given up pay raises, they played by the rules, they thought they would have a safe and secure retirement," Dingell said during debate.
"By passing the Butch Lewis Act, we are sending a loud message that we hear them and are taking steps to ensure that their retirement that they work for for a lifetime will be there when they need it."
Republican leaders said the bill was fiscally irresponsible and that the poor financial situation of multiemployer pension plans is the result of "union and employer negligence," as California Rep. Virginia Foxx argued Wednesday.
"For the first time ever, taxpayers will prop up failing, mismanaged union-run pension plans," Foxx said during debate. "We're giving failed union pensions a blank check. What a deal."
The bill did receive bipartisan support from Michigan members, with Republican Reps. Bill Huizenga of Zeeland, Tim Walberg of Tipton and Jack Bergman of Watersmeet among 29 GOP House members who voted yes. The vote was 264-169.
Walberg, the top Republican on the Education and Labor subcommittee that handled the bill, voted yes despite arguing the legislation is a "bailout" missing the structural reforms needed to prevent a similar situation from arising again.
Walberg recalled talking to rooms full of Teamsters "who are in agony over this."
"I realize there's many retirees in a world of hurt," he said. "I want to convince my colleagues in Congress that we can't let this go. We can't turn our heads."
Huizenga agreed, saying that failing to act would jeopardize hard-earned pensions for thousands of Michiganians and over a million Americans.
"While the bill isn’t perfect, it takes important steps to support middle class families who played by the rules and planned for their retirement," Huizenga said in a statement.
"The Senate product will likely look very different, and we will have to reach a bipartisan, bicameral solution."
The Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act would create an office in the Treasury Department and a related trust fund to issue loans to certain distressed or insolvent multiemployer defined benefit pension plans so they can continue to provide benefits for retirees and workers.
Foxx said that, under the bill, all 160 multi-employer plans could apply for a government loan at no limit, and the loans would be forgiven if unable to be repaid after 29 years.
"Taxpayers are on the hook for a lot of things right now with respect to pensions," said Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Midland, who voted against the bill.
"Taking an additional taxpayer responsibility for private pensions sets a precedent that could lead us into different areas with different states and different other entities, and the federal government can't sustain that kind of support."
Democrats said the legislation isn't a bailout but a "backstop," as freshman Rep. Haley Stevens argued in a fiery floor speech Wednesday.
"The ringing irony is that the very people opposing this bill are some of the very people who rush to vote to pass a tax relief act for the wealthiest corporations and the biggest banks, ballooning our deficit by $1.9 trillion," said Stevens, D-Rochester Hills.
"We scratch our heads, and we ask why is it that you cannot lift a finger for the middle class?"
mburke@detroitnews.com
Tom Gargiulo has suspended his campaign for the Suffolk County Legislature's 14th District seat. Photo Credit: Ed Betz
A Conservative Party candidate for the Suffolk County Legislature who lost his own party's ballot in last month's primary election has suspended his campaign, even though his name will stay on the Democratic ballot line in November.
Tom Gargiulo was designated as candidate for the 14th District as part of a Democratic-Conservative cross-endorsement deal to take on incumbent GOP Legis. Kevin McCaffrey, who had the minor party line in the past. McCaffrey waged a Conservative write-in campaign, winning the June 25 contest 186-146.
Gargiulo’s decision to suspend his campaign came to light after Rich Schaffer, the Suffolk County Democractic chairman, sent an email to party members last week announcing the cancellation of a $150-a-head Gargiulo fundraiser set for July 11 in Lindenhurst.
Schaffer said Gargiulo re-evaluated his campaign after the primary loss diminished his chances of winning on just the Democratic line.
Gargiulo was upset about the harshness of the political attacks during the primary especially on the issue of abortion, which he opposes because of his Catholic faith.
“It really hurt, and it was hard for me,” said Gargiulo, a retired teacher who is active in church work. He said he plans to send a letter to Conservative voters to make clear his stand.
McCaffrey said he has “no regrets” about his campaign, adding that Gargiulo — by accepting the Democratic ballot line — “had to expect some of the splatter” from the party’s liberal stands on such issues as late-term abortion and voting rights for felons.
“I never really wanted to campaign against Tom,” said McCaffrey, who has known Gargiulo for 30 years. “I’m just glad it came to this happy ending.”
He also said the move lets Democrats redirect resources to other tight races like the 8th District, where Republican aide Anthony Piccirillo also won his write-in bid against incumbent Legis. William Lindsay III (D-Oakdale).
Although he faces only token opposition, McCaffrey said he will keep knocking on doors.
“I may not out wear out another pair of shoes," he said, "but I’ll still be at the doors because that’s where you hear unfiltered what's on the minds of regular people.”
Gargiulo noted he also still has the Independence Party ballot line and he expects friends to vote for him.
“You never know,” he said.
Rick Brand has covered Suffolk life, government and politics for 37 years.
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