From: Alan Maki [mailto:amaki000@centurytel.net]
Sent: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 12:06 AM
To: 'marc@asch.org'
Cc: 'Jim Hart'; 'shove001@tc.umn.edu'; 'Gordon, Cam A.'; 'farheen@farheenhakeem.org'; 'info@jamesmayer.org'; 'rep.al.juhnke@house.mn'; 'rep.bill.hilty@house.mn'; 'rep.brita.sailer@house.mn'; 'rep.carolyn.laine@house.mn'; 'rep.dave.olin@house.mn'; 'rep.maryellen.otremba@house.mn'; 'rep.tom.anzelc@house.mn'; 'rep.tom.Rukavina@house.mn'; 'rep.tony.sertich@house.mn'; 'Carl Levin'; 'Sen.Jim Carlson'; 'sen.mary.olson@senate.mn'; 'sen.david.tomassoni@senate.mn'; 'john mccarthy'; 'brian.melendez@usa.net'; 'charleyunderwood@hotmail.com'; 'Alan Uhl'; 'ddepass@startribune.com'; 'Randy Furst'; 'bswenson@bemidjipioneer.com'; 'mmiron@bemidjipioneer.com'; 'laurel1@dailyjournal-ifalls.com'; 'Working_Class_Study_and_Action@yahoogroups.com'; 'mzweig@notes.cc.sunysb.edu'; 'joel@joelclemmer.org'; 'amistad.nai@rcn.com'
Subject: For once you, a Democrat, have mentioned workers rights denied in the Indian Gaming Industry...
Mr. Asch,
Thank you!!!!!!!!
Now the question is:
What steps will the Democratic Party take to resolve this problem of worker’s rights… or, are you bringing in the issue of worker’s rights only as leverage for Democrats to re-open these disgraceful, unjust “Compacts” in an attempt by Democrats to raise much needed revenue?
I would note that in Michigan Democrats have successfully gotten a very small chunk of change by re-negotiating some of the “Compacts” but they have all but forgotten the rights of casino workers forced to work in these smoke-filled casinos for poverty wages without any rights under state or federal labor laws.
Mr. Asch, I hope it is not your and the Democrats intent to use worker’s rights as a bargaining chip to simply extract some funds from these casinos to pay down Minnesota’s enormous debts to the bankers and then conveniently ignore the plight of casino workers as you and the Democrats have done for so many years. Of course, when it comes to worker’s rights there is no need to speak of the Republicans; because, with the exception of honest Abe Lincoln and the Republican Vito Marcantonio, they have never been concerned about the plight of working people.
Again, thank you Mr. Asch for helping to raise awareness concerning the plight of casino workers employed in the Indian Gaming Industry in Minnesota.
Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council
From: Marc Asch
Subject: Re: [Minnesota] Viking stadium-10 am press conference from legislator
To: mn-politics@forums.e-democracy.org
Date: Monday, October 5, 2009, 2:21 PM
Lee wrote:
> Bcause the Indian Gaming Lobby and the Democrat party
> have reached nirvana and have become one in the same. If
> we taxed Indian Gaming like other states do,
Lee continues his practice of creating alternate realities.
Indian Gaming is controlled by a compact negotiated and signed by two
Minnesota Governors. The original compact was negotiated and signed by
Gov. Perpich (DFL). It was replaced by a later compact expanding the
type of gambling permitted negotiated and signed by Gov. Carlson (R.)
Governors of both parties are responsible for where we now are in our
ability to extract revenue from Indian Gaming. Certainly both signed
bad deals for the people, citizens and workers of MN. They not only
failed to extract reasonable payments in exchange for permitting Indian
gaming but they left workers without adequate workplace protections and
injured customers without access to fair and unbiased legal protection.
The how and why of two MN Governors getting it so wrong is a fascinating
story that I have never any solid reporting on the the press or in book
form.
Our failures in this area have been curiously bipartisan.
--
Marc Asch marc@asch.org
34 North Oaks Road 651-484-9037
North Oaks, MN 55127
"Democracy is not a spectator sport."
Craig S. Wilson
Marc Asch
Alan L. Maki
58891 County Road 13
Warroad, Minnesota 56763
Phone: 218-386-2432
Cell phone: 651-587-5541
E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net
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