Yesterday,  I participated in SEIU’s “Walk a day in our shoes” campaign in which candidates for office are asked to do the work of SEIU members.  I love a challenge, of course, and I got one.  My first duty – sewer cleaning.  Yup - I cleaned out a couple of sewers in Royal Oak with DPW workers.  Steve, who was my co-worker on the job, a die-hard Republican (whom I think will vote for me) was warning me that when the massive snaking line was pulled up, it will be full of “you know what.”  My response, “That’s OK, I’m in politics, I’m used to it.” 

I've included the whole press release below. (I love those SEIU guys. I'm cleaning sewers and Gary was dusting and mopping in home health care.  What's up with that?) 

So I’m watching Congressman Rahm Emanuel on Hardball.  Matthews is asking him why the Democrats are going to cave in and give Bush another $200 billion for the war in Iraq, when they were elected to get us out of Iraq.  His answer?  The election was about more than just Iraq.  But they are demanding a report from the President on when they can come home. 

Even Chris Matthews said the Democrats were being held hostage by the President on Iraq because he will say they are against the troops.  “Every time you bet your money on the establishment, their goal is just to stay in the establishment.”

I rest my case on why we need more courage in Congress – and primaries for that matter.

How can we allow this President, who has been wrong on most every point in this Iraqi misadventure, continue to define this debate?

On another front, the New York Times blasted the Democratic leadership for failing to stop warrantless wiretapping by this administration. 

“Otherwise, it was a very frustrating week in Washington. It was bad enough having a one-party government when Republicans controlled the White House and both houses of Congress. But the Democrats took over, and still the one-party system continues.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/20/opinion/20sat1.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

My friends, we need to make sure our party will stand up to this President.  I assure you, as your congresswoman, there will be no doubt of that. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE          

Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007                                                                                

Bob Allison
(313) 965-9450

Peters and Skinner get hands dirty to earn SEIU support by working alongside members

Oakland County Congressional candidates each spend a day cleaning sewer lines, dusting and mopping

OAKLAND COUNTY - The two Democratic candidates for Michigan's 9th Congressional seat each walked in the shoes of an SEIU member on Monday and Tuesday as part of the SEIU Michigan State Council's candidate endorsement process.

Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Township) dusted, mopped, vacuumed and prepared meals today for Farmington Hills senior Janice Brinkley, 65. Peters worked alongside SEIU Healthcare Michigan member Janice Brinkley, a home care worker.

"It's important that as we deal with the issue of home care on a national level, that we now have an appreciation of what they do on a day-to-day basis," Peters said. "The only way we can do that is to walk with them as they do their job. What's impressed me most is that this job is more than a job. It's more than a relationship between clients and workers - it's a relationship between friends."

Nancy Skinner, a Democrat from Birmingham, cleaned sewer lines and read meters Monday with the Royal Oak Department of Public Works.

"I think that everyone, not just aspiring office holders, should walk a day in the shoes of an SEIU member to fully appreciate the hard work they perform on a daily basis," Skinner said. "After cleaning out two sewer lines, reading water meters and emptying the parking meters, I'm certainly thankful that we have so many good hard-working people making society a better place every single day."

The activity, which has been used by the SEIU for many races across the nation, is known as "Walk A Day In My Shoes." See www.walkadayinmyshoes2008.com for more information.

As part of the SEIU Michigan State Council's member-driven endorsement process, candidates must complete the following steps:
* Fill out a questionnaire on issues important to members and their families
* Participate in a Candidate Meet & Greet with members, who then fill out assessment forms
* Participate in a "Walk A Day In My Shoes" event  

"This is a member-driven process, so our decision to endorse a Congressional candidate will come directly from our members in the workplace," said Phil Thompson, SEIU Michigan State Council president and executive vice president of SEIU Local 517M. "The working families of Michigan, and especially SEIU members, want to know that our candidates for Congress know and understand what it's like to do their jobs and walk a day in their shoes."

Marge Faville, secretary-treasurer of SEIU Healthcare Michigan and the Michigan State Council treasurer, said: "Our representatives in Congress must appreciate what our members go through so they can effectively carry our message to Capitol Hill. By standing shoulder-to-shoulder with workers, cleaning sewer lines and mopping homes, the candidates demonstrated a willingness to earn our support."

U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-Bloomfield Township) was invited to participate in the endorsement process, but declined.

SEIU Michigan State Council represents 80,000 workers and their families in Michigan, including 4,000 in Oakland County, and is part of the largest and fastest growing union in the United States, the Service Employees International Union, with over 1.8 million members nationwide. The SEIU Michigan State Council has five locals across the state of Michigan that represent government workers, school employees, health care workers, corrections officers and building services workers.