Legislators returning for their first day of session were greeted by a rally of more than 500 demonstrators in the Capitol Rotunda. They came from a wide range of backgrounds, including labor, faith, health-care, veterans, community and advocacy groups. Demonstrators held up photos of people who would lose medical services as they delivered one unified message: Save GAMC.

AFSCME members have overwhelmingly ratified new two-year contracts with Washington County after majority votes by the exempt professional and non-exempt clerical/technical units. The contracts, retroactive to January 10, 2010, cover 650 members of Local 517. The exempt unit will get step increases in 2010, and the non-exempt unit will divide the value of their steps equally among all their members. The employer’s contribution to health insurance premiums will remain the same in 2010. With good news that the total cost of premiums declined 3 percent this year, there will be a health insurance re-opener in 2011.

After strong pressure from AFSCME, other labor groups and allies, the Crowne Plaza decided to hire union painters instead of contracting with non-union labor from Georgia and Mississippi. We threatened to pull our Day-on-the-Hill event from the hotel and encourage our attendees to join the Painters’ picket. Hotel management also got an earful from Mark Dayton, our endorsed candidate for governor. Congratulations to our union brothers and sisters in District Council 82 of the Painters and Allied Trades. Solidarity works!

There is still time to register for AFSCME Day-on-the-Hill. Our goal this year is to fill the Capitol with at least 1,100 members. With grim news that the state is $1.2 billion short of paying its bills over the next two years, the governor and our state legislators will need to hear us loud and clear: “THE BUDGET SHOULD NOT BE BALANCED ON THE BACKS OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES!” Please register today. You can register online and view the mailing materials.

AFSCME hospital workers and the Save GAMC Coalition have a little good news for 70,000 of the poorest and most vulnerable Minnesotans who count on General Assistance Medical Care for health coverage. The program, initially slated for elimination after Feb. 28, will now be extended for one month. This extra month gives policymakers time to rescue GAMC, preserve medical care for the poor, and save jobs at safety-net hospitals that care for the uninsured. A new report by the Minnesota Budget Project examines why GAMC is so important and what options are on the table for replacing it. You can take action at FixItNowMN.org and WillYouLose.org.

With W-2s showing up in mailboxes, it’s time to make sure you’re getting every break you deserve on your taxes. Here are some credits you should make sure you look into.

While Minnesota’s crowded race for governor is on track to break campaign spending records, our endorsed candidate is on track to win. Mark Dayton leads in the polls and he has gathered far more campaign cash than any other candidate for governor. In 2009, Dayton raised $641,000 – and $570,000 of that came out of his own wallet. It’s refreshing that Dayton is willing to self-finance much of his campaign. He’s using his wealth to fight for a better Minnesota where prosperity is shared by everyone.

Once a national leader in education and employment, Minnesota is now lagging behind other states. Just ask the 230,000 Minnesotans who are currently unemployed. Minnesota 2020 tracked this disturbing trend in a new report titled, “On Our Way to Average.” Their research shows that Minnesota can’t cut its way to greatness. Since 2002, the decline in public investment has coincided with a decline in Minnesota’s economic performance and quality of life. To remain an above-average state, we must invest in education, health care, transportation and good jobs that can support a family. We can do that by raising revenue fairly and asking the wealthiest Minnesotans to pay their fair share.

Our AFSCME sister Shar Knutson attended President Obama’s first State of the Union Address on January 27 as a guest of Congresswoman Betty McCollum. "Too many Americans are hurting because they have lost their job or are worried about losing a job," said Congresswoman McCollum. "No one understands the issues facing working families better than Shar Knutson. Her leadership of the Minnesota AFL-CIO is making a difference for Minnesota families.” Knutson was elected president of the of the 300,000 member labor federation in August 2009, and is the first woman in the Minnesota AFL-CIO's history to hold this office.

Populist anger is boiling because fat cats aren’t getting leaner and Wall Street is back to business as usual. The six biggest U.S. banks paid their executives $150 billion in bonuses last year. Once again, these bankers are reaping quick rewards from risky bets that destroy jobs, pensions and prosperity for workers. If big banks can afford record bonuses, then they can afford to pay back every penny to taxpayers who bailed them out. After all, Wall Street owes its continued existence to the American people – folks who continue to face real hardship in the Great Recession. It’s time to declare a national jobs emergency and tie taxes on Wall Street bonuses directly to job creation on Main Street.