04 Apr 2013

Iowa Teamsters Endorse Braley for US Senate Rep. Bruce Braley a Proven Champion of Working Families

By Jeff Link
(Cedar Rapids, IA) - Today, Teamsters Local Unions in Iowa unanimously endorsed Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA) for United States Senate. With more than 10,000 members across Iowa, the Teamsters Union is committed to helping Braley in his bid for Senate.
Since his election to Congress in 2006, Braley has an established record of fighting to create good-paying jobs and putting the interests of middle class workers and their families first. He established the Populist Caucus in order to cut taxes for the middle class, level the playing field at the negotiating table, defend American competitiveness by fighting for fair trade principals and ensure all levels of education are available to anyone who desires it.
"Rep. Braley is someone who isn't afraid of hard work," said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. "He has spent his life standing up for workers and their right to have safety on the job, a pension to retire and dignity and respect in the workplace. He is exactly the kind of person we need in the Senate."
"I have known Bruce for many years and he is a tireless fighter for our members and the working families of Iowa," said Gary Dunham, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local Union 238 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. "Bruce was born and raised in a small town in Iowa and I can think of no one better to serve in the Senate. I am so proud that our union has endorsed him today."
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information.

Press Contact:

Galen Monroe
gmunroe@teamster.org
202-624-6904
# # #
03 Apr 2013

71 Iowa Legislators Endorse Braley for Senate

By Jeff Link
DES MOINES, IA - 71 Democratic members of the Iowa legislature have announced their formal endorsement of Bruce Braley for Senate.  45 Iowa House Democrats are endorsing Braley today, as are all 26 Iowa Senate Democrats, including Iowa Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal and President Pam Jochum.
Braley announced in February that he had formed a committee to run for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Tom Harkin.
Sen. Michael Gronstal (D-Pottawattamie) said, "I'm proud to endorse Bruce Braley today.  Iowans are fortunate to have Bruce in their corner fighting for them in Congress, and he'll do even more in the Senate.  From passing polices that strengthen the middle class to helping small businesses, Bruce works so hard to get things done for Iowa because he's never forgotten where he's come from."
Rep. Kirsten Running-Marquardt (D-Linn) said, "Today is a great day for Iowa. I proudly stand with many of my colleagues and endorse Bruce Braley. Bruce has a proven track record of fighting for the middle class, standing up for veterans and working to make college affordable. He is one of us and Iowa needs him in the US Senate."
Braley said, "I'm honored by this outpouring of support.  I've launched this campaign because Iowans deserve a Senator who will work hard every day to rebuild the middle class, create economic opportunity, and use taxpayer money more wisely.  The endorsements of 71 Iowa legislators today is a big boost to our campaign and I'll rely on all of them to help build our growing grassroots organization in the months ahead."
In recent weeks, momentum has continued to build behind Braley's Senate campaign.  On Monday, Braley announced that he has raised $1 million for his Senate campaign since Harkin announced his retirement.  In February, Rep. Dave Loebsack (IA-02) and former Rep. Leonard Boswell endorsed Braley for Senate.  Last week, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller and Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald announced their endorsement.  And eight labor organizations have endorsed Braley: State Association of Letter Carriers, the Iowa Postal Workers Union, the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 3 Iowa Union, UAW Region 4, SEIU Iowa - Local 199, AFSCME Iowa Council 61, the Iowa State Council of Machinists, and the Great Plains Laborers' District Council.
A full list of the legislators announcing their endorsement today can be found below:
HOUSE

SENATE
Name County Name County
Deb Berry Black Hawk
Jeff Danielson Black Hawk
Anesa Kajtazovic Black Hawk
Bill Dotzler Black Hawk
Bob Kressig Black Hawk
Amanda Ragan Cerro Gordo
Sharon Steckman Cerro Gordo
Rita Hart Clinton
Patti Ruff Clayton
Tom Courtney Des Moines
Roger Thomas Clayton
Pam Jochum Dubuque
Mary Wolfe Clinton
Brian Schoenjahn Fayette
Daniel Muhlbauer Crawford
Rich Taylor Henry
Dennis Cohoon Des Moines
Mary Jo Wilhelm Howard
Nancy Dunkel Dubuque
Tod Bowman Jackson
Charles Isenhart Dubuque
Dennis Black Jasper
Bruce Bearinger Fayette
Joe Bolkcom Johnson
Todd Prichard Floyd
Bob Dvorsky Johnson
Daniel Kelley Jasper
Robert Hogg Linn
Curtis Hanson Jefferson
Wally Horn Linn
Dave Jacoby Johnson
Liz Mathis Linn
Vicki Lensing Johnson
Steve Sodders Marshall
Mary Mascher Johnson
Chris Brase Muscatine
Sally Stutsman Johnson
Dick Dearden Polk
Jerry Kearns Lee
Jack Hatch Polk
Art Staed Linn
Matt McCoy Polk
Daniel Lundby Linn
Janet Peterson Polk
Tyler Olson Linn
Michael Gronstal Pottawattamie
Kirsten Running-Marquardt
Linn
Joe Seng Scott
Todd Taylor Linn
Herman Quirmbach Story
Mark Smith Marshall
Daryl Beall Webster
Ako Abdul-Samad Polk
Marti Anderson Polk
Bruce Hunter Polk
John Forbes Polk
Ruth Ann Gaines Polk
Jo Oldson Polk
Rick Olson Polk
Joe Riding Polk
Jim Lykam Scott
Phyllis Thede Scott
Cindy Winckler Scott
Frank Wood Scott
Lisa Heddens Story
Beth Wessel-Kroeschell Story
Mary Gaskill Wapello
Scott Ourth Warren
Helen Miller Webster
Dave Dawson Woodbury
Chris Hall Woodbury
# # #
02 Apr 2013

THIS WEEK: Braley to Make First Campaign Tour of Western Iowa

By Jeff Link
Hosting series of "meet and greet" events in small towns from Fort Dodge to Osceola

DES MOINES, IA - Rep. Bruce Braley will make his first tour of western Iowa counties since announcing in February he had formed a committee to run for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Tom Harkin.  

On Wednesday and Thursday, Braley will host a series of informal "meet and greet" events in small towns from Fort Dodge to Osceola.  A full schedule follows:

Wednesday, April 3, 2013
10:00am
 Fort Dodge Meet and Greet
Bloomer's Coffee
900 Central Ave.
Fort Dodge, Iowa
12:15pm Carroll Meet and Greet
Sam's Sodas and Sandwiches
127 W. 5th St.
Carroll, Iowa
2:30pm Denison Meet and Greet
Reiney's Soda Fountain
1305 Broadway
Denison, Iowa

Thursday, April 4, 2013

10:30am
 Red Oak Meet and Greet
Fountain Perk
322 E. Coolbaugh St.
Red Oak, Iowa
12:30pm Creston Meet and Greet
Home of Marcia Fulton
1710 W. Spencer St.
Creston, Iowa
2:15pm Osceola Meet and Greet
Playa Margaritas Mexican Restaurant
707 W. McLane St.
Osceola, Iowa
6:00pm Attend Polk County Democrats Annual Awards Dinner
UAW Hall Local #450
4589 NW 6th Dr.
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
# # #
29 Mar 2013

Attorney General Tom Miller and Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald Endorse Braley for Senate

By Jeff Link

DES MOINES, IA - Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller and Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald announced their endorsement of Bruce Braley for Senate today.

Miller and Fitzgerald are the first statewide elected officials in Iowa to announce their endorsement of Braley.  Braley announced last month that he had formed a committee to run for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Tom Harkin.

Miller said, "Bruce Braley fights for Iowa, plain and simple.   From championing policies that have helped countless Iowa veterans to working to prevent student loan rate increases from hurting Iowa students, Bruce has never forgotten where he's come from.  He'll be even more effective in the US Senate, and I'm proud to endorse him today."

Fitzgerald said, "In a Washington defined by fiscal irresponsibility and recklessness, Bruce Braley has been a breath of fresh air, working across party lines to save taxpayers money and strengthen the middle class.  We need leaders in Congress who will stand up for policies that tackle our nation's growing debt and use taxpayer money more wisely.  Bruce Braley will stand up for common sense in the Senate, and that's why I'm proud to endorse him today."

Braley said, "When I was growing up in Brooklyn, Iowa, and someone had a problem, they didn't ask what party you belonged to.  They asked for your help and they got it.  I'm running for Senate to be an effective voice for Iowans of all backgrounds, and I'm thrilled to have Attorney General Miller and Treasurer Fitzgerald's endorsement today."

In 2007, Miller and Fitzgerald endorsed then-Senator Barack Obama for president just one day after Obama made his candidacy official.

Braley has received a flood of endorsements in recent weeks.  Last month, Rep. Dave Loebsack and former Rep. Leonard Boswell endorsed Braley.  Additionally, eight major labor organizations have endorsed Braley, including the Iowa State Association of Letter Carriers, the Iowa Postal Workers Union, the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 3 Iowa Union, UAW Region 4, SEIU Iowa - Local 199, AFSCME Iowa Council 61, the Iowa State Council of Machinists, and the Great Plains Laborers' District Council.

# # #

28 Mar 2013

Iowa State Association of Letter Carriers Announce Endorsement of Braley

By Jeff Link
DES MOINES, IA - The Iowa State  Association of Letter Carriers have announced their endorsement of Bruce Braley for Senate, marking the second major postal union endorsement for Braley in three days.
Braley announced last month that he had formed a committee to run for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Tom Harkin.
The Letter Carriers are the eighth major labor organization to endorse Braley.  Other endorsing unions include the Iowa Postal Workers Union, the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 3 Iowa Union, UAW Region 4, SEIU Iowa - Local 199, AFSCME Iowa Council 61, the Iowa State Council of Machinists, and the Great Plains Laborers' District Council.  Rep. Dave Loebsack and former Rep. Leonard Boswell have also endorsed Braley for Senate.
Jim Beach, President of the Iowa State Association of Letter Carriers, said, "We're proud to stand with Bruce Braley in his campaign for Senate.  Bruce has been an ardent supporter of maintaining six day delivery, a service that if eliminated will cut thousands of working class jobs while negatively impacting rural communities, small business owners, and a growing number of seniors who use the mail to receive their prescriptions. As postal reform moves to the forefront, he'll be an even more effective voice for Iowa in the US Senate advocating for strengthening -- not shrinking -- the USPS."
Bruce Braley said, "I'm honored to have the endorsement of the Iowa Association of Letter Carriers.  I've fought for policies in Congress that strengthen the middle class and help preserve the economic lifeline of the USPS in communities across Iowa.  In the Senate, I'll keep fighting to create new economic opportunities for working Iowans and the communities they live in."
The Iowa State Association of Letter Carriers is affiliated with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), the union of city delivery letter carriers working for the United States Postal Service.  The Iowa Association of Letter Carriers represent over 2,600 Iowans.
# # #
06 Mar 2013

Great Plains Laborers' District Council Endorses Braley for Senate

By Jeff Link
DES MOINES, IA - The Braley for Iowa campaign announced Tuesday that the Great Plains Laborers' District Council has endorsed Bruce Braley in his 2014 campaign for US Senate.
The union is the second major organized labor group to endorse Braley.  The Iowa State Council of Machinists and Aerospace Workers announced their endorsement last week.
Bill Gerhard, Secretary-Treasurer of the Great Plains Laborers' District Council, said, "Bruce Braley grew up working hard and he's never forgotten where he came from.  He gets things done in Congress that make life better for the middle class.  That's why the Great Plains Laborers' District Council is proud to endorse him for US Senate.  We know he'll be an even more effective voice for working families in the US Senate."
Rep. Bruce Braley said, "I'm excited to have the support of the Great Plains Laborers' Council.  These men and women know what it means to get up every day and work hard to get the job done.  We could use a lot more of that spirit in Congress these days, and that's why I've taken the first steps in this campaign.  I hope to keep fighting to expand opportunities for middle class families in the Senate."
The Great Plains Laborers' District Council represents 19 different Laborers International Union of North America (LiUNA) local unions. These local unions cover northern Illinois outside Chicago, Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota.  Over 4,000 construction workers and public employees are represented by Great Plains Laborers Council unions across the state of Iowa.
# # #

Pages

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Real Astrology and RCR Crossword every week?) 

Subscribe!

* indicates required

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.