WHEREAS:

            Many thousands of employees of state and local governments are prohibited from seeking election to public office in a partisan political election by the Federal Hatch Act; and

WHEREAS:

            Many of these affected workers are members of AFSCME; and

WHEREAS:

            The only other citizens prohibited from their constitutional right to seek public office are convicted felons; and

WHEREAS:

            There is no better time to seek legislation reforming the Hatch Act than now, when the White House and both houses of Congress are controlled by friends of organized labor; and

WHEREAS:

            Thus far the AFL-CIO and its affiliates have not yet made such reform of the Hatch Act a priority; and

WHEREAS:

            Many members of Congress would push for such legislation if it were a top priority of the AFL-CIO; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME make it one of their top priorities to change the Hatch Act so that all AFSCME members have the right to be candidates for partisan political office, without jeopardizing their employment; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME report to its leadership on a regular basis until the goal is achieved.

SUBMITTED BY:

Steve Siegel, President
John T. Garr, Secretary
AFSCME Local 3018, Council 61
Iowa