e-Team Report, Jan 13, 2012

Republican Presidential Candidate Speaks in Favor of "Right to Work" in SC

As the Republican primary battles moves forward into South Carolina, Mitt Romney reaffirms his strong support for “right-to-work” legislation at the state level. In a new T.V. advertisement, Romney calls recently appointed National Labor Relations Board members “union stooges.” Click here to read the full story from the National Journal.

Multiple Republican Presidential Candidates Make Insensitive Statements

Recently, two Republican presidential hopefuls made remarks that drew attention from the NAACP and the National Urban League. Newt Gingrich said if he were invited to the NAACP's convention, he would address, "why the African-American community should demand paychecks and not be satisfied with food stamps." Additionally, Rick Santorum was quoted as saying that he did not want to “make black people’s lives better by giving them somebody else’s money. I want to give them the opportunity to go out and earn the money.”  To read the full story click here.

More Successful Vote-By-Mail Programs

More and more states, counties and municipalities are taking advantage of holding elections by mail-in ballot. These vote-by-mail efforts have proven to be highly successful. Not only do these efforts greatly increase overall voter participation in each election but they also drive down the overall cost of each election per voter. Below are two recent efforts to implement vote-by-mail efforts.

To read about Morgantown, West Virginia’s successful vote-by-mail program click here . To read about Weld County, Colorado’s efforts to do their primary election entirely by vote-by-mail, click here.

Congressman Cummings Discusses Upcoming Fight for Federal Employees

This week, Congressman Cummings (D-MD) spoke about the uphill battle facing federal employees, along with the battle that is sure to come this year for postal workers. To read the entire story, please click here.

NOTE: Tuesday, Jan. 17 — The House starts its second session of the 112th Congress.

NOTE: Monday, Jan. 23 — The Senate starts its second session of the 112th Congress.