>> ON MONDAY, AUGUST 14TH, ALBUQUERQUE ATTORNEY PAT
ROGERS FILED AN EMERGENCY MOTION TO NEW MEXICO'S SUPREME
COURT ASKING THEY ACT TO REMOVE A PROPOSED SICK LEAVE
ORDINANCE FROM THE OCTOBER 3 BALLOT.
OPPONENTS OF THE HEALTHY WORKFORCE ORDINANCE, THAT IS
ITS NAME, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE EMPLOYERS TO LET THEIR WORKERS
ACCRUE PAID SICK LEAVE CALLED THE MEASURE EXTREME AND,
QUOTE, A JOB KILLER.
THOSE WHO SUPPORT THE ORDINANCE SAY WORKERS WILL NO
LONG HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN TAKING CARE OF A SICK CHILD OR
A PAYCHECK.
AND IT WOULD ENCOURAGE WAGE EARNERS TO STAY HOME WHEN THEY
ARE SICK AND NOT SPREAD THEIR GERMS.
HERE TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT SIDES OF THIS ISSUE ARE THIS
WEEKS PANELISTS.
JOINED BY RACHEL SAMS, EDITOR OF ALBUQUERQUE BUSINESS FIRST;
DANIEL FOLEY, FORMER HOUSE MINORITY WHIP; FORMER STATE
SENATOR ERIC GRIEGO AND VIKI HARRISON FROM COMMON CAUSE NEW
MEXICO.
>> RACHEL, START US OFF HERE.
ALL WE HAVE RIGHT NOW -- LET ME START WITH THIS
SPECIFICALLY.
ANECDOTAL THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN WITH THIS.
I AM CURIOUS, YOU MIGHT BE A FUNNEL POINT THERE AT YOUR
PAPER.
WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM BUSINESS OWNERS.
IT IS NOT STARTING TO RISE.
IT SIMMERED ALL SUMMER, NOW IT IS GETTING REAL.
BUSINESSES ARE GETTING IN THE GAME.
WHAT IS YOUR SENSE OF IT.
>> PEOPLE ARE DEFINITELY PAYING ATTENTION.
WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF THE LARGER BUSINESS TRADE GROUPS
ASSOCIATIONS HERE IN TOWN LINING UP AGAINST THE
ORDINANCE.
>> OFFICIALLY LINING UP AGAINST IT.
>> YEAH, THE ASSOCIATION OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, THE
REALTORS ASSOCIATION, SOME OF THOSE FOLKS REALLY SPEAKING
OUT STRONGLY AGAINST IT PUSHING SOME OF THE
LEGISLATION OR THE LAWSUIT AGAINST IT.
AND THEN, ON THE SIDE OF BUSINESSES SPEAKING OUT FOR
IT, YOU SEE MORE OF THAT FROM INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES, NEXUS
BREWERY, DONUT MART, THOSE TYPE OF COMPANIES.
>> IS THERE A COMMON THREAD FROM THOSE OPPOSED?
IS THERE ONE SPECIFIC PART OF IT THAT GETS THEM.
>> THERE IS A COUPLE OF THINGS.
COST IS A BIG ONE BUT THERE IS JUST THAT SENSE AMONG BUSINESS
PEOPLE, THEY DON'T LIKE BEING TOLD WHAT TO DO, ESPECIALLY IN
THIS ECONOMY.
WE HEAR A LOT FROM BUSINESS PEOPLE, HEY, WE ARE CREATING
JOBS, DON'T PUT ADDITIONAL MANDATES ON US THAT MAKE IT
HARDER.
>> MAKES SENSE.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISSUE, OF COURSE, FOR THE
WORKER, AGAIN, I SAY BUBBLING UNDER.
THIS HAS BEEN BUBBLING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW.
THE IDEA THAT YOU CAN HAVE SOME SICK LEAVE AND NOT HAVE
TO PLAY GAMES WITH YOUR EMPLOYER, SEEMS FAIRLY SIMPLE
ON THE SURFACE BUT IT IS COMPLICATED.
TALK ABOUT THIS FROM THE WORKERS SIDE.
>> FULL DISCLOSURE, I AM A STRONG SUPPORTER OF WORKING
COALITION AND WORK CLOSELY.
YOU KNOW.
I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED FRANKLY AT SOME OF THE
MESSAGES COMING OUT FROM SOME OF THE BIGGER BUSINESS GROUPS
THAT THIS IS SOME SORT OF DRACONIAN THING.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AN HOUR PER 30 HOURS, AND NO MORE THAN
40 HOURS A YEAR FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
NO MORE THAN 56 HOURS A YEAR, SO, BASICALLY.
>> FOR BIGGER BUSINESSES.
>> OVER 40 EMPLOYEES.
WE ARE SAYING, DO YOU THINK THAT ANY BUSINESS, SMALL OR
LARGE, SHOULD GIVE EMPLOYEES ONE HOUR OFF, YOU KNOW, TO
BASICALLY, FOR 30 HOUSE, TO TAKE CARE OF AN ELDERLY PARENT
WHO MAYBE NEEDS CARE, A SICK KID AT SCHOOL.
IT INCLUDES SEXUAL ASSAULT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
SO, IT IS THE SAME OLD STORY IN THESE TIRED TALKING POINTS
THAT WE HEARD WHEN I CO-SPONSORED THE SMOKING BAN
IN ALBUQUERQUE, THAT IT WAS GOING TO LEAD TO MASS EXODUS
IN THE ECONOMY AS WE KNOW IT, IT WAS GOING TO BE DESTROYED.
SAME THING WE HEARD ON THE MINIMUM WAGE, NONE OF WHICH
CAME TO FRUITION.
IT'S THIS OLD TALKING POINT IF YOU DO ANYTHING TO IMPROVE THE
LIVES OF WORKING PEOPLE, NOT PEOPLE WHO WORK SHIFTS, PEOPLE
WHO WORK IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY, BUT THOSE WHO ARE
REALLY IN THE TOUGHEST SORT OF EMPLOYMENT SITUATION, WHO ARE
LIKE MOST OF US, THEY CAN'T TAKE AN HOUR OFF TO TAKE CARE
OF A KID.
FRANKLY, MOST OF THE FOLKS INVOLVED IN THE TRADE
ASSOCIATION AREN'T IN THE SITUATIONS THAT WORKERS ARE IN
WHO IF THEY TAKE AN HOUR OFF AND THEY ARE A SHIFT WORKER,
IT AFFECTS THEIR EMPLOYMENT.
I WOULD HOPE AS A COMMUNITY THAT WE WOULD SAY, THIS IS NOT
DRACONIAN.
THIS IS A BASIC THING.
DO WE VALUE OUR EMPLOYEES?
DO WE VALUE OUR HELP IN THIS COMMUNITY AND OUR KIDS AND
ELDERS WHO ARE THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES OF HAVING AN
EMPLOYEE SAY, WELL, YEAH, I CAN PICK THEM UP BECAUSE HE IS
SICK AND I DON'T HAVE TO LOSE MY JOB OR TAKE CARE OF MY
ELDER PARENT.
>> DANIEL, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISSUE, WELL, ACTUALLY
BOTH SIDES, STATE DISTRICT JUDGE REJECTED THIS IDEA LAST
FRIDAY AND NOW IT IS GOING UP TO THE SUPREME COURT.
YOU ANTICIPATE ANY RELIEF FROM THE SUPREMES OTHER -- YOU
THINK THEY WILL BE MAKING THE SAME KIND OF DECISION.
>> GENE AS WE SAID THIS BEFORE, YOU KNOW THIS, THE
MOST PARTISAN ACTIVISTS I HAVE EVER SEEN IS NEW MEXICO STATE
SUPREME COURT.
I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE YOU WILL HAVE THIS PROGRESSIVE
ISSUE BEING OUT THERE AND THE CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
FIGHTING IN THE SUPREME COURT WILL STEP IN AND SAY, OKAY, WE
ARE LISTENING TO ALL SIDES OF THE ISSUE.
I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, I APPRECIATE WHAT ERIC HAD TO
SAY AND I THINK IT SOUNDS GREAT WHEN YOU WRAP IT ALL UP
IN THE SOUND BYTES.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAVE GOT THE FEDERAL FAMILY EMERGENCY LEAVE
ACT THAT APPLIES TO A LOT OF THESE BUSINESS FOLKS.
NOT SOME OF THE SMALLER ONES.
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE OPPOSED TO SAYING, LET'S GIVE
SOMEONE AN HOUR OFF.
I DON'T KNOW ANY BUSINESS THAT DOESN'T DO THAT.
IF YOU HAVE GOT A SICK RELATIVE, SICK FAMILY MEMBER,
SICK FAMILY.
WHAT THEY DO SAY, WE HAVE TO REPLACE YOU WITH SOMEBODY
ELSE TO WORK THAT SHIFT.
THESE BUSINESSES HAVE TO GO ON.
ESPECIALLY THESE TYPES OF BUSINESS.
BUT I THINK THE PART THAT MY GOOD FRIEND ERIC IS KIND OF
GLAZING OVER IS THIS WHOLE, YOU KNOW, YOU FILE A COMPLAINT
AND THE EMPLOYER HAS TO PAY FOR YOUR LAWYER AND WE GOT THE
HEARING PROCESS AND ALL THIS STUFF THAT IT GOES THROUGH.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, NOBODY IS OPPOSED TO
HELPING WORKERS, NOBODY IS OPPOSED TO MAKING SURE WORKERS
HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN AN ENVIRONMENT TO FLOURISH.
I DON'T THINK ANY BUSINESS WOULD SUCCEED WITH ANGRY
WORKERS, ESPECIALLY THE SERVICE INDUSTRY.
WE HAVE ALL GONE TO A RESTAURANT OR BAR BEFORE AND
WE HAVE HAD A VERY ANGRY WORKER THAT WORKS FOR US.
IT IS NOT A GOOD DEAL.
A LOT OF ENTITIES ALREADY DO THIS.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE KIND OF
UNDER THE RADAR, WE ARE GOING TO SAY THESE NICE COUPLE
THINGS, BUT IT IS REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE POLICY
WHEN IT COMES TO LOOKING AT SAYING, LOOK WE MAKE SURE
LAWYERS ARE GETTING PAID, MAKE SURE WE CAN TIE BUSINESSES UP
IN LAWSUITS AND TRY TO FORCE POLICY DOWN PEOPLES' THROATS.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN ERIC SAYS THINGS LIKE, WE HAD
THESE OTHER EXAMPLES WHERE THE SKY WAS FALLING, I DON'T KNOW
ANYBODY SAYING THAT THE SMOKING ORDINANCE WAS GOING TO
DRIVE PEOPLE OUT OF TOWN.
PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT IT BEING A CHOICE AND NOT RIGHT FOR THE
GOVERNOR TO MAKE A DECISION.
HE SAID THE MINIMUM WAGE HASN'T AFFECTED ANYTHING.
THAT IS NOT WHAT THE STUDIES SAY.
LOOK AT SANTA FE AND FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY AND
THEIR STUDY.
THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE CHANGES THAT
HAVE COME UP.
>> I WANT TO MENTION A REFERENCE.
ON THE SMOKING BAN THAT WAS A CENTRAL TALKING POINT OF THE
SAME FOLKS FROM THE RESTAURANTS SAYING VERY
SPECIFICALLY THAT THIS WAS GOING TO KILL THE ALBUQUERQUE
ECONOMY BECAUSE EVERYBODY WAS GOING TO GO TO THE PUEBLO AND
COUNTY.
AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
MINIMUM WAGE ACTUALLY THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY STUDIES
NATIONALLY, WE ARE NOT THE ONLY CITY TO DO THIS, HAVE
SAID IT HAS ZERO EFFECT.
THERE IS PROBABLY ONE STUDY THAT IS KIND OF LIKE CLIMATE
CHANGE, 1 OUT OF 100, THAT SAID THERE IS AN EFFECT ON
EMPLOYMENT.
IN FACT, IT ACTUALLY HAS SHOWN AN INCREASE IN DEMAND.
IF YOU BELIEVE IN DEMAND SIDE DRIVEN ECONOMICS, AS MANY OF
US DO, THAT PEOPLE HAVING THE ABILITY TO BUY THINGS.
IN THE CASE OF SICK LEAVE, IF EMPLOYERS REALLY WANT TO MAKE
THINGS BETTER FOR WORKERS, WE ARE TALKING ONE HOUR OF SICK
LEAVE PER 30 HOURS OF WORK, THAT IS NOT DRACONIAN AT ALL.
THAT LAST POINT -- >> THINK ABOUT ALL THE LAWYER
STUFF.
>> THIS IS NOT PUSHED BY LAWYERS BUT PUSHED BY GROUPS
REPRESENTING WORKERS AND THAT PROCESS, ALL IT SAYS, IF YOU
FIRE SOMEBODY WHO JUST TOOK SOME OF THAT SICK LEAVE, THEY
HAVE A RIGHT TO SORT OF QUESTION IT BECAUSE THAT HAS
BEEN TRADITIONALLY SADLY -- >> I WANT TO COME BACK TO THAT
90 DAY RULE.
VIKI, THE SO-CALLED HOME RULE IS THE SECOND PART OF THE SUIT
IN COURT.
MEANING, YOU KNOW, ALBUQUERQUE BEING ON ITS OWN, ITS OWN
MUNICIPALITY, CAN DO THESE KIND OF THINGS BUT THE
OPPONENTS SAY, NO, IN FACT, YOU CAN'T AS A MUNICIPALITY.
WHAT IS YOUR SENSE ON THAT ONE, THE HOME RULE THING?
IS THAT GOING TO FIND TRACTION?
>> THAT IS THE MOST DISTURBING PART OF THE ARGUMENT FOR ME IS
THE IDEA THAT THE PEOPLE NEVER HAVE A VOICE.
FOR SOMEONE TO COME OUT AND SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL TO DO BALLOT MEASURES IN THE CITY, THAT IS
RIDICULOUS.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS.
WHY WOULD WE SUDDENLY NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
IF YOU REALLY THOUGHT THAT, WHY HAVEN'T YOU DONE SOMETHING
BEFORE NOW.
WHY DOES IT HAVE TO COME RIGHT -- I MEAN THIS HAS BEEN
TALKED ABOUT FOR THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS IN ALBUQUERQUE.
I MEAN THEY TRIED TO PUT IT THROUGH THE COUNCIL AND
COLLECTED SIGNATURES.
THAT IS THE CORE OF DEMOCRACY, AND WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR
NOT, YEAH, IT IS MESSY, BUT IF THE PEOPLE NEVER GET A CHANCE
TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD EXCEPT TO VOTE FOR SOMEONE TO
REPRESENT THEM, THAT IS THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF THIS
EXPERIMENT IN AMERICA.
IT REALLY IS, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO -- WE DON'T HAVE IT
STATE-WIDE, WHICH IS GOOD AND BAD IN CERTAIN INSTANCES, JUST
BECAUSE OF ALL THE MONEY THAT FLOWS INTO STATE-WIDE BALLOT
MEASURES, BUT TO SAY THAT THE CITIZENS WHO FOLLOWED THE
ALBUQUERQUE CITY CHARTER TO A TEE, CAN'T HAVE A QUESTION ON
THE BALLOT IS JUST RIDICULOUS.
>> THAT IS PROBABLY MORE INTERESTING TO ME, THAT BIT,
THAN WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS OTHER BIT.
NOW RACHEL THE OTHER BIT WHICH IS INTERESTING, IS THE IDEA
ERIC MENTIONED THE 90 DAY WINDOW THERE, BUT THE OTHER
PART IS THAT THIS ALSO APPLIES NOT JUST TO PART-TIME AND
FULL-TIME FOLKS BUT TEMP WORKERS AS WELL.
SOME OF THE EMPLOYERS I HAVE TALKED TO HAVE A REAL ISSUE
WITH THAT, THAT SOMEHOW THIS EXTENDS TO TEMP WORKERS THAT
SOMEHOW, IF YOU WANT PEOPLE TO EARN THEIR WAY INTO THE
COMPANY, SO TO SPEAK, AND THEN YOU GET THE GOOD STUFF LIKE
SICK LEAVE.
ARE YOU HEARING THINGS ABOUT THAT AS WELL, THE TEMP SIDE OF
THINGS AS BEING A POTENTIAL STICKING POINT FOR THEM?
>> THAT IS ONE OF THE ISSUES WE HEAR ABOUT AND BEYOND JUST
THE GENERAL PHILOSOPHICAL ASPECTS OF THE DEBATE, THE
LAWYER ISSUE AND THAT ISSUE ARE A COUPLE THINGS THAT WE
HEAR ABOUT.
>> AND THE 90 DAY THING, I'LL GET TO ERIC IN A SECOND BUT
THE IDEA THAT AN EMPLOYEE COULD COME BACK AROUND AND
SAY, WELL IN THE 90 DAYS AFTER I TOOK THIS SICK LEAVE,
SOMETHING HAPPENED.
AND MY WORRY IS, IS IT POTENTIALLY A PROBLEM WHERE AN
EMPLOYEE WANTING TO JACK UP THE FORMER EMPLOYER COULD SAY,
I GOT FIRED FOR THIS OTHER THING, BUT REALLY IT WAS ABOUT
THIS SICK THING AND THEY HAVE TO FIGHT IT OUT IN COURT.
>> THAT IS CERTAINLY WHAT A LOT OF EMPLOYERS ARE SAYING
THEY ARE ANXIOUS ABOUT AND ARE WORRIED ABOUT.
NOW SUPPORTERS OF THE ORDINANCE SAY THERE ARE
SAFEGUARDS IN THERE TO MAKE THAT UNLIKELY.
CERTAINLY IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS KEEPING EMPLOYERS UP AT
NIGHT.
>> IT COSTS MONEY, ERIC, TO DO THESE THINGS IF YOU HAVE TO
DEFEND YOURSELF IN COURT, IS THAT FAIR TO THE EMPLOYER THAT
MAY HAVE A PROBLEM 90 DAYS DOWN THE ROAD.
>> NOT IF THEY ARE ACTING RESPONSIBLY.
>> WHO WOULD DETERMINE THAT; THE RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR?
WOULD IT BE THE COURTS?
>> IF YOU FIRE SOMEBODY WHO TOOK THIS BENEFIT WHICH AGAIN
WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT A 401K HERE IN TERMS OF THE TEMP
EMPLOYEES.
THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS IS FEDERAL LAW DOESN'T COVER A
LOT OF THESE FOLKS AND THE WAY, SADLY, MANY EMPLOYERS GET
AROUND THOSE REQUIREMENTS IS THEY HIRE FOLKS AS TEMPS.
THERE IS THIS BOOM IN TEMP AGENCIES.
SO THE WAY YOU GET AROUND A LOT OF THESE LAWS, SADLY, AND
I WISH IT WAS AN EXCEPTION, BUT IT IS ACTUALLY STANDARD
PRACTICE AMONG COMPANIES, INCLUDING IN ALBUQUERQUE, YOU
USE THESE MUCH MORE TENUOUS EMPLOYMENT SITUATIONS, WITHOUT
BENEFITS, WITHOUT RETIREMENT, WITHOUT SOMETHING AS BASIC AS
SICK LEAVE.
I WANT TO GET BACK TO THAT.
WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT A 401K OR PAID LEAVE TO GO DO
EVEN PTA STUFF.
WE ARE TALKING IF YOU NEED SICK LEAVE.
SO, ALL IT SAYS, I HOPE PEOPLE READ THE ORDINANCE.
SADLY, THESE SAME GROUPS THAT FOUGHT AGAINST ACTUALLY HAVING
THE ORDINANCE PRINTED IN A LEGIBLE FONT OR SUMMARY SO
PEOPLE CAN READ IT.
GO AND READ THE ORDINANCE.
WHAT THAT SECTION SAYS, IF YOU FIRE SOMEBODY AND IT IS PROVEN
THAT YOU DID THAT BECAUSE THEY TOOK SICK LEAVE, YOU HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY AND HAVE LIABILITY THERE.
IF YOU DIDN'T AND IT IS ERRONEOUS, LIKE ANY OTHER
FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS, THERE IS A PROCESS, BUT WE NEED AN
INDEPENDENT ARBITER OF WHETHER OR NOT THAT HAPPENS.
I THINK IT IS A RED HERRING.
THIS WHOLE ISSUE -- >> WHO PAYS FOR THE LAWYER
WHEN THEY FILE A CLAIM?
THE BUSINESS DOES.
THESE ARE PROBLEMS WITH ALL THIS STUFF.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE GROUND SWELL OF GRASS ROOTS
ORGANIZATIONS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ACORN
THAT HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF BEING INVOLVED IN PARTISAN
POLITIC POLITICS, A LONG HISTORY OF BEING INVOLVED WITH
FALSELY REGISTERING PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS WELL AS
IN NEW MEXICO, THROWING AWAY VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS THAT
ARE ONE PARTY OR ANOTHER, IT IS INTERESTING WHEN YOU HEAR
ERIC SAY THIS IS A GROUND SWELL OF SUPPORT FOR THE
WORKERS, THIS IS REALLY A POLITICAL MOVE.
WHICH IS FINE.
IT'S A POLITICAL MOVE BY AN ORGANIZATION WITH AN AGENDA
AND I THINK THE PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THAT.
>> ACORN IS NOT PART OF THE LANDSCAPE ANYMORE, ARE THEY?
>> YES, THOSE GUYS -- I MEAN, CHANGE YOUR NAME, SAME
ORGANIZATION, DO THE SAME THING, ALL PART OF THE SAME
GROUP OF FABRIC OF PEOPLE AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU
KNOW, THIS IS REALLY, IT IS NOT ABOUT SICK LEAVE, ONE
HOUR.
IT IS ABOUT HOW DO YOU GET AN AGENDA THROUGH WHERE YOU JUST
BEAT DOWN THE BUSINESSES, FORCE THEM TO PAY FOR PEOPLE.
ERIC IS RIGHT, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS FILE A COMPLAINT AND
ACCORDING TO THIS ORDINANCE YOU FILE A COMPLAINT AND THE
BUSINESS HAS TO DEFEND ITSELF AND HAS TO PAY TO DEFEND YOU
AS WELL.
>> THE IDEA OF THE PEOPLE HAVING A SAY IN THIS, SEEMS
VERY SIMPLE ON ITS SURFACE.
YOU TOUCHED ON IT A MINUTE AGO.
ARE THERE NOT CERTAIN THINGS BETTER LEFT TO ANOTHER DEVICE
BESIDES PEOPLE WEIGHING IN ON HOW A BUSINESS DOES ITS
BUSINESS, SO TO SPEAK?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENT AND CITY COUNCIL HAVE HAD MANY
YEARS TO DO THAT AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS.
IF YOU DON'T LIKE THIS THEN CHANGE THE CITY CHARTER.
WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE HEARD THE RUMORS FROM PEOPLE WHO
DON'T LIKE THIS, IS THAT WE SHOULD EXPECT FROM THEM COMING
UP A BALLOT MEASURE TO GET RID OF BALLOT MEASURES.
I AM GOING TO HAVE FUN WITH THAT ONE IF THEY DO THAT.
I JUST WANT TO PUSH BACK A LITTLE BIT ON DAN BECAUSE --
>> SURPRISE.
>> I KNOW.
BACK IN 1985 IN MEMPHIS TENNESSEE, I WAS A PROUD
CANVASSERS FOR ACORN.
THEY DID A LOT OF GOOD AROUND THIS COUNTRY.
THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT TRIED TO GET THEM INVOLVED IN THINGS
AND JUST LIKE ANYTHING, WHETHER IT IS LEGISLATORS OR
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME BAD
APPLES, BUT THEY DID A LOT OF GOOD.
I KNOW, I PERSONALLY WORKED ON CLEANING UP TOXIC DUMPS IN
NEIGHBORHOODS AND GETTING RACE LAWS PASSED.
>> WE KNOW THAT THEY LITERALLY THREW AWAY HUNDREDS OF
REPUBLICAN BALLOTS AND TRIED TO STIFLE THE CONSERVATIVE
VOTERS.
[MULTIPLE VOICES] >> ACORN.
WE HAVE TO LEAVE ACORN.
WE'LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT HERE AT THE LINE TABLE TO TALK
ABOUT POSSIBLE CONCERNS OVER ACCREDITATION AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO.
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