CLINTON HIRES KATHLEEN STRAND TO SERVE AS NH CAMPAIGN COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

Democratic Party Communications Head Worked in State in 2004 and 2006

The Clinton presidential campaign announced today that Kathleen Strand will be joining the campaign as New Hampshire Communications Director. Strand, who currently serves as Communications Director for the New Hampshire Democratic Party, worked in the Granite State as the Press Secretary for the Kerry-Edwards campaign in 2004 and was the Deputy Press Secretary in Iowa for Richard Gephardt’s presidential campaign.

“I am extremely proud and excited to be joining Senator Clinton’s campaign. She possesses the wisdom, experience and vision to take this country in the direction it needs to go,” said Strand. “Senator Clinton is looking forward to many conversations with Granite Staters in the coming months, and I am thrilled to join her in this historic effort.”

In addition to managing communications for the 2006 campaign cycle that led Democrats in New Hampshire to experience historic victories, Kathleen worked in communications on a number of landmark healthcare programs under Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Before that, Kathleen served as the press secretary for the 2004 New Hampshire coordinated campaign. In addition, she worked for Congressman Richard Gephardt’s presidential campaign as his Deputy Press Secretary in Iowa.

Strand joins Nick Clemons, who was recently named New Hampshire state director for the Clinton campaign. She grew up in Chicago, IL and received her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Gov. Lynch Urges House Committee To Raise Minimum Wage

Gov. John Lynch today urged the House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services Committee to help New Hampshire's working families and pass legislation increasing the minimum wage. The legislation, HB 514, raises New Hampshire's minimum wage in increments from the current $5.15 an hour rate to $7.25.

"Many of our families are working hard just to get by - to pay for food, gas, housing and childcare. There is often not enough for the basics, let alone the extras. It is time we do the right thing for our families and raise the minimum wage," Gov. Lynch said.

New Hampshire is the only state in the Northeast whose minimum wage rate is just $5.15 an hour. Two years ago, the New Hampshire House passed legislation increasing the wage. The state Senate killed the measure.

House Bill 514 would raise the minimum wage rate to $6.50 on Sept. 1, and then to $7.25 next year.

A recent University of New Hampshire study found the majority of people earning minimum wage in New Hampshire are over the age of 25, and a high percentage of those people are women.

"These are men and women trying to make ends meet. They're trying to pay for the basics on a wage rate set 10 years ago. Has the price of groceries, or rents been frozen for 10 years? Of course not," Gov. Lynch said.

Other studies by Princeton economists have shown an increase in the minimum wage has little to no effect on employment. Raising the minimum wage does not hurt low-wage earners through a reduction in jobs and actually leads to economic activity, the studies found.

"We should not wait for Congress to raise the federal minimum wage. We should do what is right for our families and for our state and finally raise the minimum wage ourselves," Gov. Lynch said.

'WORKING FAMILIES WIN' 2007 KICK-OFF: ISSUE AND ACTION TRAINING

Many working people in NH feel the pinch as health care, affordable housing, a secure retirement and good jobs are further from reach. This Saturday, Working Families Win sponsors, “Building an Economy that Works for Working Families” 2007 KICK-OFF ISSUE AND ACTION TRAINING. We will outline the unique opportunity we have in NH to create political change, offer workshops on healthcare, affordable housing, retirement security and job security and trade policy. Citizens will learn strategies for building political power for working people. Workshops will by led by NH SEIU, NH Community Loan Fund, NH AFL-CIO, NH for Health Care, UMASS Labor Extension, American Friends Service Committee and Priorities NH.

“Corporate profits and the stock market are at record levels, the American economy is in the fifth year of a recovery, but many working families are not sharing in this bounty”, stated Jaime Contois, NH Organizer for Working Families Win. “We can change that and the opportunity is now!” Too many of our nation's public policies have contributed to the growing gap between the rich and everyone else, rather than a shared prosperity. Working Families Win, a project of Americans for Democratic Action, creates opportunities for citizens to address policies in Washington that have a negative impact on the health of our family economy through action and education.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24^TH,2007

CONCORD UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH

274 PLEASANT ST., CONCORD,NH

8:30AM - 3PM

ATTENDANCE IS FREE, LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED

For more information on Working Families Win go to: www.workingfamilieswin.org

SEIU Members Launch Walk a Day In My Shoes Site

We wanted to let you know about a web site SEIU members just launched, www.WalkADayInMyShoes2008.com.It’s part of SEIU’s campaign to have presidential candidates spend a day in SEIU members’ lives—accompanying them on their jobs and spending time in their homes, so they’ll get a taste of what the real world is like for the rest of us.

Work is tough in America right now. So if candidates understand the struggles workers face each day, our next president will be better able to offer the 21st century solutions our country needs.

“Walk a Day in My Shoes” is putting workers back at the center of the political debate. Right now, you can watch videos of:

§ A highway foreman in NH who keepspassing up higher wages so she can keep her health care;

§ Nurses in NV who worry about how ourhealth care crisis affects patient care;

§ A police dispatcher in NH whoworries about the burden her child’s student loans are to their future;

§ A nurse in IA who covers her patients’co-pays so they receive the care they need.

You’ll also be able to watch candidates spend the day working with a nurse, janitor, or other SEIU member, and then have a meal with their family; and listen to members from all across the country tell candidates what life is like for them—and hear the candidates respond.

Below, find links to some of SEIU’s latestpolitical news.

>>SEIU Members Send Message toPresidential Candidates: Walk in My Shoes

SEIU members launcheda national campaign to ensure that the issues facing working people are frontand center in the presidential debate. SEIU members are urging every candidate for president to “Walk a Day in My Shoes,” by accompanying them on the job and visiting their homes. Read More. See SEIU Billboards.

Watch Video.

>>Edwards First Candidate to Accept “Walk in My Shoes” Challenge

Former Senator John Edwards became the first presidential candidate to accept the challenge to spend a day on the job and at home of an SEIU member. Read More.

>>SEIU President Andy Stern Sets Pace for Walk in My Shoes—Visits IA, NH

SEIU President Andy Stern set the pace of the campaign by “walking inthe shoes” of an Iowa City school employee, and a Concord snowplowdriver. His trip captured the attention of opinion shapers and the blogosphere. The Washington Post ’s Harold Myerson dubs him Liberalism’sEnergetic Architect . Meanwhile, blogger Matt Stoller joined Stern and SEIU memberson the trail. Read More. Watch video from thetrips.

>>SEIU Studies ‘08Democratic Presidential Field

SEIUlocal union leaders individually questioned eight Democratic presidentialhopefuls—Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL),former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC), Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), Rep. Dennis Kucinich(D-OH), Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM), and former Gov. Tom Vilsack (D-IA)—about where they stand on the issues that matter most to SEIU members: affordable health care, good jobs, and retirement security. Member-to-candidate conversations will be on going and SEIU members will extend a similar invitation to Republican presidential candidates. Read More andSee Photos.

>> For the Latest Updates , visit www.WalkADayInMyShoes2008.com.

Presidential Candidates to Address Health Care in March 24 Forum

Washington, DC – The Center for American Progress Action Fund (CAPAF) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) announced today the candidates who will appear at New Leadership on Health Care: A Presidential Forum . The first presidential forum of the 2008 election focused solely on health care will take place on Saturday, March 24th at 9:30 a.m. in the Cox Pavilion at the University of Nevada,Las Vegas.

Presidential candidates who have confirmed are: Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. John Edwards, Sen. Barack Obama, Gov. Bill Richardson, and Gov. Tom Vilsack. Invitations have been extended to every Republican and Democratic presidential candidate.

Karen Tumulty, National Political Correspondent for TIME , will moderate the forum and ask the candidates questions about the issue, giving them a platform to discuss how they will address our nation’s health care crisis. With nearly 47 million Americans uninsured – including 9 million children – and millions more underinsured or facing bankruptcy due to medical costs, few issues will be as important to Americans in the 2008 presidential electionas health care coverage.

“Working people all across this country want to know what the next president is going to do to make health care more affordable and accessible for their families. The time is past for incremental reform –what we need is an American solution to fix our broken health care system,”said Andy Stern, President of SEIU. “This is an opportunity for all of the presidential candidates to show voters that they will provide a new kind of leadership that gets results on health care reform.”

“Fundamental reform of America’s health care system is both a moral and economic imperative,” said John Podesta, President of CAPAF. “The public debate is no longer focused on the question of whether or not we need universal health care, but what is the best way to achieve it. It’s those answers we hope to discuss at this Forum.”

Read the CAP (CAPAF’s sister organization) health care plan. For more informationon SEIU’s campaign to fight for quality, affordable health care, go to www.seiu.org.