Working Families

The killing of Trayvon Martin has made the dangers of Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law clear to every American. This is the law that gives people the right to “shoot first, and ask questions later.” Sadly, Florida is not the only state with this kind of law on the books.

Someone working full-time at minimum wage earns $290 a week, or just $15,080 yearly without any time off. It’s impossible to pay for rent, food, transportation, health care and everything else on such a meager salary. It’s indefensible that someone who works 40 hours a week would be unable to feed her family. Sign the petition to urge Albany to raise the minimum wage!

Across the country, elections are being financed by wealthy contributors and corporations cutting huge checks to political action committees. But in New York, we’ve got a chance to change directions. The Fair Elections plan currently stalled in Albany could limit the influence of big money in politics. It’s a common-sense plan to make politicians more responsive to voters than to donors.

You’ve heard the story already. A young, unarmed black man was shot and killed, in a place he had every right to be. The tears of parents and friends flow. But I’m not talking about the murder of Trayvon Martin in Florida. This story is closer to home.

New York – Today, the Working Families Party announced its endorsement of Kirsten Gillibrand for US Senate. The endorsement, which marks the progressive party’s first of the 2012 cycle, gives Gillibrand the WFP’s line on the November ballot – Row D – and also the support of its formidable grassroots door-to-door get-out-the-vote operation.

Before being elected to Congress, Bob Turner put Rush Limbaugh on TV. Now he’s running for Senate. Does he share Rush’s his old pal’s despicable views on women’s rights? Co-sign our letter to find out.

Last week, the New York Times published a letter to the editor that made the absurd argument that Super PACs help make elections more democratic. This weekend, the paper published several responses as their “Sunday Conversation.” You can read the original letter and several responses here. WFP Executive Director Dan Cantor’s response is below.
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The misguided [...]

After service cuts and fare hikes, the MTA’s 2009 decision to extend the G train was a welcome change. But now, the transit agency has reversed course, and plans to cut the G back to its old route, ending at Smith-9th. Don’t let the MTA cut back the “Brooklyn Local.” Tell the MTA: Save the G train!

After a Republican member of Congress had award-winning filmmaker Josh Fox arrested for trying to film a public hearing on fracking, more than 30,000 WFP supporters signed a petition supporting Fox.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney rebuked the Republican Congressman who ordered the arrest by dropping all charges. To thank you for your support [...]

Working Families Party Executive Director Dan Cantor released the following statement about the mortgage servicing settlement announced today:

Six months ago, the Wall Street banks were pushing for a bad settlement that would have granted the banks broad immunity from any further investigation into fraud and malfeasance leading up to the mortgage meltdown. It would have [...]