Railroad Retirement reform
killed by Republican leadership

Your union will not tell you how to vote on Tuesday, November 7, but we want to provide you with all of the information so that you can make your own decision. Given the choice of voting with you and the widows and widowers, or using your money for a tax cut for the privileged, the Republican leadership made their choice. Now it is your turn.

After 10 months of hard work, a handful of conservative Republicans, primarily Senators Phil Gramm (R-Tex.), Assistant Majority Whip Don Nickles (R-Okla.) and Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), have ignored the pleas of Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) and killed Railroad Retirement for this session.

Almost 40 Republican senators had indicated support of these improvements. But given a choice of standing with the more than 50,000 widows and widowers who need additional benefits and the many thousands of railroaders who are looking forward to a well-deserved early retirement, the Republican Caucus stood with these three senators. It is my understanding that Sen. Gramm is very proud of his position. He said, in effect, that killing this legislation was something that the Republican senators should be able to campaign on. In addition, we are told that some Republican senators did not want to pass this legislation because they wanted to "leave the money on the table" so it could be credited for a possible George W. Bush tax cut, if he is elected President.

When you enter the voting booth on November 7, do not forget that the Republican leadership killed H.R. 4844. If those in Congress ignore hundreds of thousands of working men and women our best solution is to vote for UTU endorsed candidates.

Make your voice heard on November 7!

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