Women of Note
AFL-CIO: Liz Shuler Has Been Elected to Serve as President of the Federation of 56 Unions and 12.5 Million Members
The AFL-CIO Executive Council has elected Liz Shuler, a visionary leader and longtime trade unionist, to serve as president of the federation of 56 unions and 12.5 million members. Shuler is the first woman to hold the office in the history of the labor federation. As an international representative in the union’s Political/Legislative Affairs Department in Washington, D.C. In that role, Shuler ran grassroots political mobilization efforts and lobbied Congress on a range of issues important to working families. In 2004, she was promoted to assistant to the international president, where she served President Hill, who had succeeded to that position, in driving the agenda of the nearly 1-million member union. more »
Jo Freeman Writes: Sex and the Democratic Party – In Brooklyn
Jo Freeman Writes: Fifty years ago, when I first began looking for information on women in politics, the world was a different place. The only History of Democratic Women I could find was a 40-page pamphlet published by the Democratic Congressional Wives Forum in 1960. There were no updates. That year there were only eight women in Congress; a Democratic Women’s Caucus was inconceivable. Politics was a male domain. By the time I moved to Brooklyn in 1979, women were breaking barriers, but politics was still a male world. Shirley Chisholm had been joined in the House by Elizabeth Holtzman from Brooklyn (who would run for Senate and lose in 1980) and Geraldine Ferraro from Queens (who would run for Vice President in 1984 and lose). Jump ahead to 2021. There are 123 women in the House (9 from NY) and 24 in the Senate (1 from NY). more »
FactCheck.Weekly, an Update: Pelosi, Capitol Police and Jan. 6
FactCheck Weekly: "House Republicans have sought to change the narrative on the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by pro-Trump protesters, claiming that Speaker Nancy Pelosi is “ultimately responsible for the breakdown of security at the Capitol.” But their arguments overstate the role of the House speaker in overseeing the security of the Capitol and rely on speculation about Pelosi’s involvement and knowledge about intelligence warnings for which they have not provided any proof. Republican Rep. Jim Banks said that Pelosi, as speaker, “has more control and authority and responsibility over the leadership of the Capitol Police than anyone else in the United States Capitol” and therefore, “is ultimately responsible for the breakdown of security at the Capitol that happened on Jan. 6.” The speaker does not oversee security of the US Capitol. The speaker appoints one member of a four-member board that oversees Capitol security, and who then must be approved by the House. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy suggested Pelosi played a role in denying efforts prior to Jan. 6 to bolster security on the Capitol grounds with members of the National Guard. There is no evidence of that." more »
Jo Freeman Reviews MADAM SPEAKER, Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons Of Power: “An iron fist in a Gucci glove”
The bulk of the book is on Pelosi’s 35 years (to date) in the House. As Washington bureau chief of USA Today, Page has been well-positioned to cover a woman who has broken several glass ceilings. Pelosi was the first women to be elected Whip and House Minority Leader. She’s been Speaker twice (2007-2011 and 2019 to date). Nancy used her ability to corral votes to pass Obamacare. She opposed the invasion of Iraq while remaining cordial with Bush ‘43. She opposed his impeachment for that war while supporting the impeachment of Trump years later. She’s been attacked and lauded. (Editor's note: A marvelous gift for a daughter, relative, friend, for the Holidays and birthdays.) more »