Press coverage of our response was extensive, beginning with the always-reliable CTNewsJunkie, which posted our complete statement online along with their report on the Governor's speech. 

Both the Associated Press wire story and the lead article in yesterday's Hartford Courant included the comments of our Local Union's President, Cathy Osten. She raised important questions about the long-term impact on Connecticut's working families by making deep service cuts during this crisis. 

Prior to her speech, the Governor had said "everything is on the table" when it comes to cutting services to spare the budget. But we know firsthand that many of our worksites are already overextended and running "bare-bones," which is why we have warned against cuts to public services at a time when people need these very same services the most...

That has been an important part of our coalition's message since the economic downturn began dragging on the State budget last fall. And our members will back at the capitol to deliver this message on Monday when the General Assembly's Appropriations Committee convenes an informational forum at 11:00AM on the Governor's Deficit Mitigation Plan for the current budget year.

And our message is backed up by economists from across the political spectrum who agree on a fundamental point; the states need more funding in order to provide critical services during this crisis. 

That's why, as we continue mobilizing strength in Hartford, we are also working with our SEBAC partners' international unions to pass a federal economic recovery plan in Washington. Among the primary goals is to support President-Elect Barack Obama's proposals to keep people working, create millions of new jobs, and maintain services for our communities.

SEIU has taken a lead role in mobilizing support not just in the nation's capitol, but in hundreds of communities across the nation where our fellow members live and work. It's part of the "Change that Works" campaign to get our nation's economy back on track now, and for generations to come.

With the new Congress in session this week, and the inauguration of a new President just eleven days away, SEIU is mobilizing to bring federal resources back to Connecticut to preserve and rebuild crucial services, invest in our crumbling infrastructure, and grow good, middle-class jobs. 

Sign-up at the SEIU website online to receive regular updates on national efforts by e-mail -- then contact me here at the union hall at (800) 894-9479, ext. 129, to let me know how you'd like to get more involved in the effort to make economic recovery work right here in our state!