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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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OR Workers Ask to Bend McCain’s Ear

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Monday, May 12, 2008   

Portland, OR – Not everybody can afford to attend tonight's Republican campaign fundraiser in Portland – but that's not stopping some people from showing up. Presidential candidate John McCain's dinner costs about $15,000 dollars per person to attend, but he's also being asked to meet with folks who aren't in that league. The Oregon AFL-CIO has rented a meeting room in the same Portland hotel where the banquet is being held, and has invited McCain to stop by, to discuss healthcare and other concerns with working people.

Sam Houston of Milwaukie is a real estate appraiser. He's bringing his wife, kids and grandkids to the Portland Airport Sheraton. Houston believes McCain would listen, and has thought about what he'll say if he gets the chance to speak with him.

"I would say that I'm tired. I'm tired of working day and night to support my family. The pandering to special interests has got to stop; and the outsourcing of jobs to other countries, and tax breaks to corporations instead of the middle class – this has got to stop!"

Portland resident Nancy Cochran says she'll be there, too, and is hopeful that McCain will take the time to listen. She and her husband both work full-time, but Cochran says they have wrestled with layoffs and high healthcare expenses.

"If he doesn't make himself available, I think that's a strong message, in and of itself. I'm not asking for any handouts. I want to be able to earn a decent wage, so that I can afford to pay health insurance – and if I have it, that I can afford to use it."

The AFL-CIO has issued similar invitations at about 50 recent campaign stops, but says McCain has declined in every case. The Oregon labor federation is hoping this time will be different, because its roundtable event is being held in such close proximity to McCain's banquet room. Nationally, the AFL-CIO has been critical of what it sees as McCain's "anti-worker" record.



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