Donna Edwards needs our help.

Written by: Phil Specht on Jan 21, 2008 7:45 PM EST

As the President of SEIU, the nation's fastest-growing union, representing janitors, child care and health care workers, and public employees. I know our families need champions in Congress. Sometimes that means challenging Democrats who are failing to be accountable to the people who put them in office.

That's why SEIU, MoveOn, and other groups are working together to defeat Democratic Representative Al Wynn in Maryland's primary election next month. As progressives, we have the opportunity to elect Donna Edwards, a person who will work for us.

In his 16 years in office, Al Wynn has put the interests of big business and corporate contributors ahead of his constituents. Instead of offering assistance to families feeling the pinch from high gas and heating oil prices, Wynn voted to give big oil and gas companies tax breaks after receiving more than $250,000 from the industry.1

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Taking back Congress from the Republicans in 2006 was a great victory for all progressives, but our work is far from over. Groups like SEIU, the Sierra Club, ACORN and others are working with MoveOn to hold the Democrats in power accountable.

Donna Edwards is the kind of person we'd all like to see in Congress. She's been fighting for our interests her entire career:

• Helping to pass the Violence Against Women Act;
• Leading a national effort for affordable prescription drugs;
• Standing up to billionaire developers to negotiate an agreement that protected the air, water, and wildlife in suburban Maryland;
• Supporting living wage campaigns and promoting innovative programs that make a difference in the lives of working families;

She came very close to defeating Wynn and his corporate interests. This time, with an even stronger coalition of local and national progressives behind her, we can push her to victory. Electing Donna Edwards will send a message to all Democrats in Congress that we expect leadership on issues like health care, the war, and global warming.

Together, we can win this race and make real changes in Congress.

Sincerely,

–Andy Stern
Monday, January 14th, 2008

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