Lock box bill

Turning now to the ‘lock box’ bill why did John E Samuelsen president of TWU Local 100 Take Backward Our Union TBOU take a risky issue without consulting the membership first? Who came up with this idea - even the MTA looked at this ‘lock box’ bill as a bad idea since it overlooks New Yorkers’ issues thus they did not want to join in. It plans to restrict the three branches of the government (executive, legislative and judicial) in utilizing any monies assigned for transportation issue elsewhere if passed into law. In theory it looked like a magnificent idea however we know the current executive branch has other priorities that take precedent over transportation as revealed by 2011 SOUS Survey, CaRDI, Cornell University - New York Minute issue number 44/ April 2011 employment took 24%, taxes 24%, economic growth 14%, NYS Budget 13% (transportation is lumped with many other issues). The question was put to New Yorkers - What do you think is the single most important issue facing New York State?

Now based on that response from New Yorkers the executive branch in New York State - that is the Governor Andrew M Cuomo will pay special attention to that survey even the New York State legislative branch will not go against the wishes of New Yorkers thus the ‘lock box’ bill status is in limbo. Probably by the end of the year it will reach the last stop - definitely the politicians know that, they do not want to be seen as pissing off the public.

It is clear that New York State has a range of issues - we believe John E Samuelsen knows that as far as the question of the ‘lock box’ bill. First he made that assumption on  arrogance, secondly he is making the assumption that he is going to be remaining in his position. Our membership fate should not be placed on an imaginary theory that there is no longer no credible plan that sets up what actions to be taken on the public finances. There is a risk that this ‘lock box’ bill will not be signed into law that is common sense therefore we should be prepared to move on without it.

Maybe John E Samuelsen will tell Governor Andrew M Cuomo to forget about the need to take action to ensure the economy should grow and he should ignore actions that are needed for the economy growth and have more jobs, that he should not be careful about public spending. The taxes have a part to play in reducing the deficit, it is obvious the position of John E Samuelsen with his ‘lock box’ bill. There has been so much given for so few people to read with so many words in vain so he may want to explain since the undertaking this ‘lock box’ bill gamble how much it has cost in membership dues - what a waste.

With this lock box bill gamble he has weakened the TWU Local 100, and in turn he has weakened the membership. What does he have to say to his weak leadership?