Am going to be on Fox News at 4pm defending California public workers unions

[stevenleser]

Am going to be on Fox News at 4pm EST discussing the California Ballot measure recently approved by voters that cut pensions for city workers.

I am going to be defending efforts by the public workers unions to sue to get it overturned.

[rustydog]

1. Going into enemy territory. Good luck.

[SalviaBlue]

2. Go get 'em!!

[Blue_Tires]

3. If you mention the San Jose thing

don't forget to mention how much $$$$ the city is about to dish out for the Oakland A's

[stevenleser]

6. That is beautiful I love my DUers. Thank you!

[Starry Messenger]

7. +1

Also there was a recent report that Silicon Valley *average* wages just topped $100,000 for engineers last year.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204624204577179193752435590.html

Average annual salaries for Silicon Valley technology workers surpassed the $100,000 mark last year, according to a new survey, pushed higher by the strength of the region's latest boom.

Last year the market for million dollar homes jumped in San Jose.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/03/07/real_estate/million_dollar_homes/index.htm

San Jose, Calif., had the biggest market for million-dollar homes, with a 27.4% spike in sales last year;

It's not like there's no money in the area.

[KamaAina]

39. DING DING DING!

Part of the problem locally stems from the last tech boom, when experienced public employees were fleeing in droves for those fat SiliValley paychecks. Local governments had to raise salaries and benefits to compete, even though, thanks to our old friend Prop 13 , they weren't able to raise revenue proportionately. And now here we are.

[KamaAina]

38. Also be sure to point out how disingenuous Mayor Reed has been throughout

1) He connived with his council allies to fast-track Measure B onto the low-turnout (25 percent, as it turned out) June ballot.

2) All of his pro-B flyers mention that "retirement costs" eat up more than half of the city's budget. Not pension costs, retirement costs. What's the 800-pound gorilla in the room? Health care.

3) Did you know? San Jose, the largest city in Northern California, DOES NOT participate in CalPERS, the state public employees' retirement system. No one has yet bothered to ask a) whether we could save money by joining CalPERS, or b) whether our own self-funded retirement system took a bigger financial hit than CalPERS during the Great Bankster Orgy And Crash of '08. Instead, it's just been full speed ahead toward union-busting.

[Starry Messenger]

47. Wow, I didn't know they weren't a part of CalPERS.

That's a huge thing to not mention in the media about all of this. Great post.

[KamaAina]

48. Thank you!

And be thankful you live on the Peninsula and not in SJ.

[bullwinkle428]

4. Which poor sap over there gets to have their ass handed over to them by you?

[stevenleser]

14. Not sure yet. ;-)

Those folks over there are tough though, I never take them for granted. They also have a staff of folks doing research for them.

Of course, I have you guys. That makes it pretty equal.

[Journeyman]

5. Good luck. Know what you're going to say and stick to it. Don't let them twist the conversation. . .

and when they do (because they will), try to stay on point and not follow their misdirections.

[Ichingcarpenter]

8. Thanks Steve.....I've followed your work over time... you rock

We will be there in spirt.

[BlueCaliDem]

9. Maybe it would help to note that CA is the ONLY state where we don't tax oil companies

for extracting our oil out of our lands. We should do that first before burdening workers with more taxes and cutting benefits.

Out of the 22 oil states in the union - and CA being in the top three producers - we're the ONLY state that is losing out on severance tax revenue in the billions.

This article will help you:http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jun/15/business/fi-hiltzik15

[stevenleser]

15. If you were close by, I would kiss you!

Awesome!

[BlueCaliDem]

25. You're welcome. :-) I hope you can do something with it.

We really need to put this problem forward to the people - especially Californians.

[florida08]

23. I read that a while back

and couldn't believe it. That should definately be overturned.

[BlueCaliDem]

24. It can be if the Ca legislature does something about it, but the GOTP have, I believe, blocked it

there as well until they watered it down to almost nothing, and then the oil companies came in, threw millions of dollars in scary advertising against it (gasoline prices will skyrocket, 1970's style prohibition, etc., etc) and Prop 87 failed.

Today, CA has the highest gasoline prices in the nation, beating even Hawaii and Alaska!

We are basically allowing our oil to be extracted for free and the oil companies come back and charge us more than they charge any other state.

This has got to STOP. Tax the oil companies first, then try and raise taxes on hardworking, overtaxed Californians.

[bigtree]

10. thanks. Steve

for all you do.

[RZM]

11. Cool

Do you know at what point during the hour you'll be on?

[stevenleser]

16. Probably right at the beginning. The big left-right debates are usually right up front.

If I hear differently, I will let you know.

[RZM]

17. Thanks

Generally I avoid Cavuto but I'm happy to support a DUer appearing on the show. Good luck!

[Chorophyll]

12. Awesome!

Don't let those fuxers shout you down! You rock.

[abelenkpe]

13. Good Luck and Good Job! nt

[renate]

18. good luck and rock on!

[tomkoop]

19. Charge!!!!

A strong union is forceful when it's members speakout and do not cower in managements face.

CHARGE!!!!

[Auntie Bush]

55. Welcome to DU tomkoop.

You're going to love this place!

[tomkoop]

66. Thanks!

Stand up and fight for the rights we have not lost as of today!!

[tk2kewl]

20. I hope you can point out the hypocrisy of how huge bonuses for bailed out execs are sacrosanct

but long-standing contracts for fair and modest pensions are somehow not.

[Whisp]

21. bestof luck, steven!

thanks for doing this! it's a dirty job being on Fox.

[valerief]

22. Good luck. Hope you're able to reach some Fox viewers and wake their neurons. nt

[florida08]

26. Going to refer to you now on as

Daniel. He went into the lions den too..lol It's really scary what's going on around the country and how blue collar workers are being made the scape goat for the debt. They cut our fire and police pay by 3%. Husband is a member of IBEW here for 40 years now.

We are not rich living in a right to work state by any means. Non union bidding hurts everyone. Not to mention generally it's a subpar level of work. But trying to cut pensions because they spent the defrayments that were paid is unacceptable.

This austerity is just a cover to come after unions as we all know. I salute you.

[Xedniw]

27. Good luck. Keep your head and be totally cool

If they can get you angry, they can portray you as a union "thug"--that's their schtick.

So be gracious, charming and well spoken.

[Cobalt Violet]

28. Good luck!

Don't forget to shower after.

[sabrina 1]

29. Good for you. Hope I'll be able to catch it live.

K&R

[eissa]

30. Bring up China

and the real reason American coporations are relocating there is to fulfill their wet dream of how labor should be: no minimum wage, no vacation/sick time, no safety regulations, benefits or job protections. Don't begrduge public employees for unionizing and legally fighting for those rights. All employees should have that, and if the private sector is unhappy because they don't have those same rights, fight for them and get them, don't take away what others fought hard to obtain.

[Ichingcarpenter]

31. Fuck the China thing.....

You don't get it on who sends it there.

China would have no business model without Wal-Mart.

[Fresh_Start]

32. Are there any studies about average salary, benefits etc that have facts in your favor?

For example, if the wages are actually lower than 'private industry' that the improved retirement is an offset for lower salary, etc.
Similarly benefits, no 401K, no bonuses, ....

Average Cost of Living argument may have merit as well because of the high cost of living in that area....especially if there are studies that people who lived there their entire lives can't afford to retire there....

Sorry for the weak ideas.

[sinkingfeeling]

33. Don't forget to sanitize yourself afterward. Good Luck!

[Sheepshank]

34. You know the thing that's so aggravating....

you do a good job, you work hard for 30 years and in return are promised something. Not just promised, but negotiated a contractually binding agreement, in return for that long term service. You promise the State your hard work for xxx years, and they promise a certain level of retirement. You have the option of staying and trying to qualify for that retirement, or leaving for greener pastures. But no, you stay because of a promise. People are being screwed in spite of holding up their end of the agreement.

Almost always during the negotiation process, something is given in return for something else. What did the State give up in return for reducing retirement that was promised to retirees? I imagine they gave up nothing. What a load of crap!

[KurtNYC]

35. Speak in soundbites. Practice with a friend

who can play the role of interviewer. Use your soundbite answers no matter what the questions are. Don't use your time repeating or try to correct their BS just put your own points on the board.

If done correctly they will be as pissed as O'Reilly was at that 9/11 orphan, Jeremy Glick:

[Hatchling]

36. Is this in San Diego or San Jose?

I'll definitely watch the San Diego Fox News if you are going to be on it, otherwise I avoid all Fox news channels. And yes, we need to get these lawsuits underway as soon as possible.

[Skinner]

37. Break a leg.

[freshwest]

40. Thank you! If corporations can be organized to advance the economic interests of the people...

Who have invested their time and labor by buying stock in them--

why should the workers who invest their time and efforts working there not be allowed to advance their economic interests as well?

And if the argument that they are feeding at the public trough if used, and costing taxpayers money, why can't we mention the tax waviers corporations get from local governments, then move to other cities and leave the taxpayers paying it in their property taxes in bond levies?

The people working for government are our neighbors and will be staying to pay the taxes that those who leave will not. These services make for a freer and more secure society in many ways that affect people personally, but the corporations are chartered only to make profit. They have no loyalty to the area they operate within, and often leave generations to pay for their problems.

Do Americans no longer believe in taking care of all Americans, educating our children, healthcare and all the things that are anathema to those who seek profit only? It is not the fault of the corporation... They represent only the ones who expect a return on their money whether they live where the services are being provided, and don't have the motive to make sure they continue if it doesn't make money.

A lot of things that public workers do are not a profitable enterprise; they are a moral responsibility to take care of the sick, disabled, young and old. There needs to be a dialogue take place to see if Americans are willing to throw their fellow citizens under the bus for money.

It has been said, too, that 'privatization is the new apartheid.' Meaning that those who can afford to get what they need done, be it security or policing, medical care, child care or education, will get it. Those who are in transition to move to that status, must rely on the morality of the social contract to survive and then hopefully be able to afford it. The move to punish public workers and demonize them is based on the profit motive, and the media is used regularly to make exposes that often coincide with private companies coming to legislatures for contracts. That will still cost the tax payer more money, be unaccountable and without sufficient oversight, as it will then be propriety information. Then the public will not have the legal right to make them follow the law.

Off my soapbox. Best wishes for your talk today, glad to hear it. Will hope to hear from you here later on DU on how you think it went.

[1000 Words]

41. 26

[kentuck]

42. Steve, you did a great job!

You stuck to your guns.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

43. I saw the segment. Good job even getting a word in

edgewise with Neil Cavuto's loud interruptions of the BEGINNING of every one of your answers to his questions.

If you get a chance to discuss pension theft on some other media outlet:

IMO the biggest omission in what I heard you say was the years-long THEFT of pension contributions the cities' pols diverted to their pet boondoggles. Demography is an exact science. If the cities did not know how high to build their pension funds to fulfill the pension promises they negotiated with their unions, they should sue thier pension consultants. Union workers gave up much in contemporary cash wages in return for future income in retirement. The cities knew how much they were supposed to contribute to pension funds each year to meet their future obligations. But their contributions fell far short. Now they say that pensions are "unsustainable".

This is a matter of trust. The cities, many corporations, and Congress are too corrupt to keep multi-year promises anymore. Millions have had their pensions stolen from them over many years, and now Congress wants to do the same thing San Diego did with the extra TRILLIONS low and middle-income workers have had deducted from their paychecks since 1983, ostensibly for Social Security.

[Kurovski]

44. I hope you wiped the evil off your shoes when exiting the studio.

[sabrina 1]

45. Well, you got him riled lol!

Those rightwingers, even the ones like Caputo who try to appear to be reasonable, cannot tolerate any deviation from their beliefs.

He was very frustrated when you mentioned raising the cap on SS. Like all rightwingers he resorted to insults, 'is that all you've got'? Mentioning SS is like waving a red flag at bull to Rightwingers like him, especially the wealthy ones.

Good job.

[Dawgs]

46. Bragging again, I see. n/t

[stevenleser]

49. LOL, if this upsets you, you will be really upset when I post the video!

Have a nice day!

[usregimechange]

51. would like to see

[progressiveinaction]

53. I'm sure you did a great job today!

But I didn't get a chance to see it. Impatiently waiting....

[stevenleser]

59. It is uploading to Youtube now. It will be available in around an hour. As soon as its up, I'll post

it and link to it from this thread.

[Son of Gob]

64. Bitter, table for 1.

[classof56]

50. You did great, Steve!

Although my DVR made funny gagging sounds when I set it on Fox, I recorded your segment to watch again. As a retired state government employee in the state directly to your north, I've taken my share of the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune from those who hate me for who I am. They'd love it if they could snatch away what I have rightfully earned and incidentally, paid into all those years. Keep up the good fight and stay strong, brother!

[fascisthunter]

52. thank you for what you are doing

"Give em hell..."

[barbtries]

54. i hope they let you make your point.

share the video later, let us know how it goes, and good luck!

[Auntie Bush]

56. I didn't see it. How'd you do? Thanks for an update.

[Zorra]

57. Thanks, steven. Please let us know how you feel it went ASAP.

[stevenleser]

60. Thank you Zorra! I think it went well. It's uploading to Youtube now

I'll let you know when it is up!

[freshwest]

61. Okay, I'll be looking for it!!!

[stevenleser]

63. Here is the link to the video!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101733176

[Raine]

58. Good luck, I know you'll do a great job! nt

[Hassin Bin Sober]

65. You are a good man and an asset to DU.

[duhneece]

67. I pray for you to remain centered

I pray you don't get so angry that you say anything you regret (speaking from MY experience)!
I am with you, knowing you'll do a great job. Let us know what you think afterward.

[JitterbugPerfume]

68. very admirable

[SkyDaddy7]

69. Seriously, what in hell is the point?

SERIOUSLY, what is the point going on FOX "News"? If you are even lucky to speak for 30 seconds without being interrupted or having your mic cut you won't change a single mind watching...Folks going on FOX "News" do NOTHING but give that channel credit as legitimate news channel. Which I find very SAD!

[Caeser67]

70. Make sure you,

shower afterwards.

[Presidentcokedupfratboy]

71. Don't let them throw you off message

That's standard operating procedure at GOP-TV (I mean Fox "News&quot . They will cut you off or ask irrelevant questions if they think you have the upper hand.

[Cleita]

72. Better take some

Holy water with you just in case. Just kidding. Sending you good vibes.