and thank you to edward wytkind the president of the transportation trades department of the afl-cio.tdd represents the vast majority of amtrak employees. when we come back, we are going to seattle to talk about arctic drilling to the north and we will be talking about the gulf and bp and the person who has come close is to the bp oil spill. stay with us. ♪ [music break] amy: welcome to our students visiting. that song "saltwater," by julian , lennon. this is democracy now! democracynow.org, the war and peace report. i'm amy goodman with nermeen shaikh. nermeen: the obama administration has tentatively approved shell's plans to begin oil extraction off the alaskan coast this summer. federal scientists estimate the arctic region contains up to 15 billion barrels of oil and shell has long fought to drill in the icy waters of the chukchi sea. amy: environmentalists warn arctic drilling will pose a risk to local wildlife and exacerbate climate change. they fear that a drilling accident in the icy arctic ocean waters could prove far more devastating than the deadly 2010 gulf of mexico spil

the head of the afl-cio is saying no to the trade deal. he says a bad trade deal is worse than no deal at all. the afl-cio is the country's largest trade union federation. he opposes fast-track legislation that would let president obama present congress with proposed trade agreements. >>> the six bills aimed at helping veterans are one step closer to passage this morning. the house passed the measures yesterday. the bills now go to the senate. one would give preference to government contractors who employ veterans full-time. other bills would help veterans get spall business loans. >>> the -- owe small business loans. >>> the obama administration raised $500 million last year. many come from donors. the largest donation of a million dollars came from the founder of a chicago-based news web corporation. >>> d.c. flexing. the district just nabbed the top spot as fittest city out of 50 in the nation according to the 2015 american fitness index report which is out today. this is the second year in a row we've taken the god. the report crefds th

the founding province and -- president of the afl-cio was george meaney, of catholic immigrant stock. three of these people were also raised in the catholic church, while the only one who wasn't raised catholic, named kirkland, took his advanced degree from ages what university georgetown. born and bred catholics played a huge role in the history of american the labor and its leadership, and they continue to play an important role, i would say, even today, both in and outside the afl-cio. the leader of the nation's largest general union the service employees international union, argues that the values instilled in her catholic upbringing led her to her position as a leader. this helped shape the outlook of labor's leadership over generations. the impact of catholicism on labor's vision in the u.s. is also, i think, also evident. the concept of the living wage which has been revived over the last couple of decades, as some of the people in this room well know, has been theorized and popularized more than a century ago by catholic theologians, john a. ryan. the pastoral letter written b

the afl-cio. the u.s. chamber of commerce. the brookings institution policy program. the american society of civil engineer and holding america's future. over the last few years, infrastructure we cast transformed from a handful of events led by a small group of organizations to a nationwide initiative. this week, more than 80 affiliate organizations will host more than 40 events from alaska to washington, d.c. and everywhere in between. scores of mayors and legislatures are raising this with their members. the service sector is bringing their story to our nation's leadership and we will hear from our highest elect did and federal agency officials throughout the week on federal actions to repair and modernize our aging infrastructure. ladies and gentlemen, the timing could not be more appropriate. 20 days. 20 days. that is all that separates us from a highway shutdown unless congress extends federal highway and other transit program funding. another short-term extension would be the you at this the 33rd time in just six years that congress failed. failed when faced wi

the afl-cio, which does represent laborers in or country, did an analysis of c.e.o. salaries and, in one instance, found that c.e.o.s around the country are earning 373 times what their lowest-level entry-level workers are making, and the difference is getting bigger. they're getting bonuses, they're getting their pensions and things that do tie in and make a lot of money. this at a time when some of the workers can't even make ends meet because they're doing, as i said, hourly jobs that really don't afford a family. what do you think should happen here? the c.e.o.s can make an argument for they're running companies nationwide. they deserve something. but do they deserve 373 times what their workers are making. >> oy. >> walmart is getting jumped on, in particular. >> well, the c.e.o. of walmart came up from the worker ranks. >> exactly. and he said it's out there for everybody, "go get yours." >> that's -- i always -- consider the source. not that it sounds blatantly partisan, but of course -- and what is making mean? is that pension? is that i.r.a.? is that other fo

this is according to the afl-cio which says he was workers are getting $36,000 per year while the average ceo is paid $13.5 million per year. company's are fighting a government plan that would make them reveal pay comparisons. tim armstrong may be more than $200 million richer after that sale of aol to verizon closes. and has stockceo options plus he also controls 1.7 million shares of aol and has received $34 million in salary and bonus the past five years. he says he will stay on it aol after the deal is complete. olivia: happy birthday, mark zuckerberg. he turns 31 years old today. he has more billions than he has years. the facebook founder is worth amost $35 billion, it's fortune that increased almost $400 million in the past 24 hours. he became the world's youngest billionaire at age 23 back in 2008. he is currently the 18th richest person on the planet. washington, d.c. sports fans know the agony of defeat this morning. sorry, folks. within the space of 27 minutes last night, they suffered through to play of losses. hawks scoredanta with two seconds to go giving them an 82-81 vict

assumes his membership is going to follow this blindly and hope that his members have forgotten that the afl-ciolinton in 2008. they are appearing to do so in 2016. the labor and influence are dwindling at an accelerated rate. and the quotation of the evening all about politics and we often bemoan the fact that plato once observed long ago one of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors. plato a philosopher and generally good guy. we are coming back, so is he with us. >> the six officers charged in the death of freddie gray they say that a fair trial in baltimore is impossible. christian adams joins us next. and an amazing video of poor daredevils and her encounter with an if you're an adult with type 2 diabetes and your a1c is not at goal with certain diabetes pills or daily insulin your doctor may be talking about adding medication to help lower your a1c. ask your doctor if adding once-a-week tanzeum is right for you. once-a-week tanzeum is an injectable prescription medicine that may improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 dia

. >> kroft: he was joined by richard trumka, president of the afl-cio, who said that every billion dollarstransportation infrastructure would create 35,000 well-paying jobs. >> richard trumka: if business and labor can come before you united on this issue-- and we are united on this issue despite our sharp disagreements on a variety of other matters-- i think that should tell everybody something and tell it very loudly.but it was not heard during the midterm elections where there was virtually no public debate on infrastructure, and that has barely changed in the weeks that have followed. we wanted to talk to pennsylvania congressman bill shuster, the chairman of the house transportation committee and made numerous requests over the last five months for an on- camera interview. all of them were declined. we did the same with michigan congressman dave camp, chairman of the house ways and means committee, which has to come up with the money to fund transportation projects. we met with the same result. but we did talk with one of the committee members, earl blumenauer, a nine-term oregon demo

here now to take us inside the numbers is richard trumka, president of the afl-cio. d to have you on, mr. trumka. >> thanks. i appreciate it. >> so looking over the result i'm curious about something. in the paperwork that you put out and press release, you have a big focus on walmart. and yet the ceo of walmart doesn't even come close to the top 20 people in here. discovery communications, $156 million according to your numbers. time warner at the bottom of the list, $32 million. and then walmart looks small relative to those numbers. why the focus on walmart? >> well, because walmart ceo makes 810 times what his average employee makes. and that ratio is destroying morale and is bad for the company. its eye an 's an outrageous figure. ceo at costco only made 129 times what their average worker made. it shows how distorted walmart is and how overpaid he is with comparison to his employees. >> what do you say to critics who say walmart has created a tremendous number of jobs in america given employment opportunities to many and at the same time has been able to lower c

labor union organizer and he encouraged him -- in fact, the day reagan was shot he gave a speech at the afl-cioand i think he probably took words that aaron had written and scribbled over them. he said to the polish workers you have the right to organize and determine your own future. nobody really paid attention to that speech because reagan was shot shortly thereafter. he gave encouragement to people to say you do not have to live like this anymore. then he targeted their economy. he understood that the soviet economy and the pentagon is one thing. that they say did not develop an industrialized economy. nobody was buying russian cars watches or anything except for natural gas. he targeted that by realizing that the price of oil -- if the price of oil went down, the russian government would be bankrupt. he encouraged the forces to get the prices down. one of his favorite generals to saudi arabia, he said to keep pumping oil. the price of oil went from $40 a barrel to $18 a barrel in nine months. the soviet government was on the ropes. they had crop failure. reagan did the final triumph and sa

rich trumka president of the afl-cio tamara lungren chairwoman of the u.s. chamber of commerce and the noted harvard or kesser rose at that mosque cantor who unveils her new book move, putting america's infrastructure back in the lead. today's session was focused on the specific and particularly important topic long-term transportation funding the imperative that's it relates to u.s. competitiveness and leadership in the global marketplace. to begin i would like to call forward victoria kram who is the cochair of the squire patton boggs transportation infrastructure and local governments practice group to introduce ranking member peter defazio who will bring opening remarks to be followed by senator lott and our distinguished first panel. vicki. >> thank you secretary slater. it is morning everyone. it is my great pleasure to introduce peter defazio. he was first elected in 1986 and is now the longest serving house member in oregon history. he has served on the house transportation and infrastructure committee since he was first elected. the ranking member t

he became when he became to america the international director of george at the afl-cio. he always knew communism and understood it because of michael ross. there was always a division the trade unions understood the leadership and with communism meant for the workers. my mother and father lived in moscow from 29 to 36 and he was arrested she got out of russia because she put me on her passport as a british subject. we we've lived and i we lived and i grew up in greenwich village in the 40s. her friends norman thomas sydney, james burnham, many of the leaders of the socialist movement if you will in those days. i was a child in that world and the world and my mother entertained refugees and i would hear as a child these god awful stories of those that escaped as communists. i grew up learning about what it all was. i remember her jokes. one of them was adam and eve are communists. they lived on for its and vegetables can have no clothing to wear and thought they were in paradise. [laughter] that's one of them. there was another one where they visited a village and an old w

included voices from a diverse quarter or quarters of our society where it stronger, president of the afl-ciotamra lundgren chairwoman of the us chamber of commerce and the noted harvard professor who unveiled her new book move putting america's infrastructure back in the lead. today's session must focus on the specific and particularly important topic long-term transportation funding the imperative as it relates to us competitiveness and leadership in the global marketplace. i would like to call forth victoria kram who is the cochair of the transportation infrastructure and local government practice group to introduce ranking member peter defazio who will bring opening remarks to be followed by senator lott and i distinguished 1st panel. it's. >> thank you, secretary. >> it is my great pleasure to introduce congressman defazio. 1986 and is now the longest-serving house member in oregon history. he he served in the house transportation infrastructure community since he was 1st elected. of course as you all know the making member of the transportation and infrastructure committee infrastructur

listen to the heads of the afl-cio, the u.s. chamber of commerce leaders in transit, truckers, a.a.a. bicyclists all who agree with presidents eisenhower who used the gas tax to start the highway trust fund and the interstate freeway system, and president ronald reagan who increased the gas tax a nickel, more than doubling it in 1992. in fact, we can invite legislators from today. six red republican states have raised the gas tax already this year -- nebraska georgia, idaho, iowa utah, south dakota . state senator michael bailey comes to mind. the key is to have real hearings like congress used to conduct. have a full week of debating the transportation crisis. bring in the witness, grill them, test their thoughts and theories, discuss real solutions, not gimmicks or ideologically driven fantasies. let's have serious work sessions and a markup. president kennedy -- president obama could help by establishing a marker that he will approve no further extensions past september 31. it will not be less complex, expensive or easier pol

the steelworkers union here in the united states, one of the largest unions in the afl-cio, here, stunned the world of american labor two years ago when they issued a press release announcing the formal alliance-- i'll use their words--the formal alliance between the steelworkers union of the united states, which--i don't know how many members it has, but in the hundreds of thousands, big union--with mondragon, the corporate--that huge, successful worker's self-directed enterprise in spain. and i remember many of us were taken aback. "what an interesting idea. an alliance." what did it mean? well, the details were hard to come by. it seems as though there was discussion, obviously, between them. they issued a joint press release and had a press conference. but it's hard to tell, so i'm now going to imagine where this might go. i'm not saying that's where they're taking it. i don't know exactly where they're going to take it, or even whether they're going to take it somewhere, but here's what i would do. imagine a trade union movement with a completely different strategic idea from what it

what if we invited the president of the afl-cio, tom donahue, the president of the u.s. chamber who don't usually agree much on anything but do on this? former kansas governor bill graves, who's not just president of the american trucking association, he was a republican governor who raised the gas tax not once but twice. former mayor bloomberg, rendell. we brought in the electrical contractors are in town this week. they could tell us. i got a great constituent, ted adlin, who used to be chair of a.g.c. there are countless people, legislative leaders that have stepped up and met their responsibility all expecting that congress would do its part. these experts, leaders, politicians know what the problem is they fashion st. louises and -- solutions and are willing to give the politicians in congress cover for something that appears hard only in the abstract. there is broad consensus for the same solution that was advocated by ronald reagan who in 1982 raised the gas tax. or dwight eisenhower who helped establish the gas tax for the modern transportation system. it's hard

. >> i want to be clear, because this is an issue i'm seeing the afl/cio coming out with more concernstate clinton elizabeth warren. some high profile people think it's a bad idea and you think this is good for the country? >> no no i didn't say that. in fact i think it's a bad idea. i'm against the transpacific agreement because there's an investment plank in that agreement. we only know because of what is leaked. this is is a classified document and i can tell you only on the basis of leaks, but under nafta, it says essentially that companies, global companies can go to a separate tribunal outside the laws of any individual company and get reimbursed for health, safety environmental or any kind of regulation that may impede their profits. that to me is not necessarily good for the country. might be good for bottom lines. >> great. >> i have a question for you, secretary reich. you said that you think the fed is doing the right thing and they shouldn't do anything with regards to touching rates. but where do you come out on whether or not the fed is responsible for the growth inequali

rich trumka president of the afl-cio, tamara lungren, chairwoman of the u.s. chamber of commerce, and the noted harvard professor who unveils her new book "move: putting america's infrastructure back in the lead." today's session will focus on the specific and particularly important topic long-term transportation funding. the imperative as it relates to u.s. competitiveness and leadership in the global marketplace. to begin, i would like to call forward victoria kram, who is the co-chair of the squire patton boggs transportation infrastructure and local governments' practice group, to introduce ranking member peter defazio, who will bring opening remarks, to be followed by senator lott and our distinguished first panel. vicki. >> thank you, secretary slater. good morning, everyone. it is my great pleasure to introduce congressman peter defazio. he was first elected in 1986 and is now the longest serving house member in oregon history. he has served on the house transportation and infrastructure committee since he was first elected. as you all know, he is the r

as i said at the top, a host of issues where the chamber and the afl-cio, organized labor do not see eye to eye. i saw mr. trumka and on this issue there is so much overlap and the question is raised immediately, if organized labor and the largest business group in washington are on the same page, why can't this get done. maybe i'll go to you, rich, first. what's standing in the way? you've looked at this issue and battled over this for years. what's in the way? >> it's pure politics right now. in the past this was always a bipartisan issue. there was never bickering. everybody knew that you had to keep the country running. it's like your household. if something leaks you have to fix it. if it needs painted, you have to fix it. you have to do those things. and the country needs to be replenished so we can stay competitive. everybody knows that, yet they can't figure out a way to get it done. it's just politics. there's no other reason for it. they know it needs to be done. they agree it needs to be done, but it doesn't get done. i think that's what frustrates the american people, busi

recently the president of the afl-cio transportation trade department said this years of congressional inaction on a long-term surface transportation bill has harmed our economy. congress needs to get to work on a robust long-term bill that expands investments in job creation and is paid for with the sustainible revenue stream. i couldn't agree more. the newburgh dundee bypass was decades in the making. it's a partnership with local, state tribal and quite simply it wouldn't be under construction without previously approved funding. the oregon department of transportation couldn't make a commitment without a commitment from the federal government as well. when i visited the construction site last week it was clear that this project is putting people to work. construction workers, people down the supply chain and many others. now, with just a few days until the current transportation bill expires, i call on my colleagues to take up a robust multimodal, long-term transportation bill. funding transportation provides our communities with an economic boost now and reinforces our infrastruct

a whole host of issues where the chamber and afl-cio do not see eye to eye. i just saw mr. trumka and mr. donahue talking about trade. but on this issue, there is so much overlap. in organized labor and the largest business lobbying group are on the same page, why can't this get done? what is standing in the way? you have battled over this for years. what is in the way? panelist: it is pure politics right now. in the past, it is a bipartisan issue. never bickering. everyone knew you had to keep the country running. it is like your household. if something leaks, you have to fix it. if it needs painting, you have to fix it. the country needs to be replenished so we can stay competitive. everyone knows that. yet, they cannot figure out a way to get it done. it is just politics. no other reason for. they agree it needs to be done. that is what frustrates the american people, frustrates business, working people. this is an issue that needs to get done now. host: from the chamber's perspective? panelist: i completely agree on this. one thing that congress fails to make a distincti

let's have at the witness dais heads of the afl-cio, u.s. chamber of commerce who agree we should raise the gas tax. the head of transit, the american trucking association triple-a by sick list -- bicyclists, they could refer to republican leaders of the past. dwight eisenhower established the gas tax to fund the interstate freeway system. ronald reagan, the conservative icon, called congress back in october -- excuse me, november of 1982 and called on them to more than double the gas tax, which ronald reagan and tip o'neill did. in fact, my republican friends could involve republican leaders today. six republican states have raised the gas tax already this year. idaho, iowa, nebraska, utah, south dakota, georgia -- the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is granted an additional 15 seconds. mr. blumenauer: not exactly liberal bastions. this is something that we can and should do. let's step up solve this problem, avoid this continual uncertainty for people around the country. they deserve better. the speaker pro tempore: the time of the gentl

the latino community. i read this thing and i couldn't believe it, you guys. did you know a recently afl-cio report shows u.s. latino workers are 18% more likely to be killed on the job than workers of any other racial ethnic group-- 18%, you guys. that is messed. you i don't even know what that is about. i don't know how they fig outer a number like that. iment to talk about the employers because these are the people responsible for that. how do these ploirs put their employees into such unsafe conditions. it's absolutely appal-- what's that noise? what's going on. the lights are sparking. sorry. that everyone. hey, ricky. ricky velez, can you come out here? >> what's up, larry. >> larry: ricky velez everyone. ( applause ) can you do me a favor and check out those wires on the shelf. >> i'm on. >> larry: there's a little arcing and it doesn't seem safe. as i was saying we have to pass regulations in industry like construction-- >> arrgghh! i fixed it. >> larry: oh thanks ricky. appreciate it. >> happy cinco de mayo boss. >> larry: you, too, man have a happy cinco de mayo. ricky velez everyb

the trade deal. >> it will effect whether people vote for her. >> reporter: afl-cio president suggests that unions could hold back an endorsement or offer a week nod. >> it will be tougher to get them to do work. >> reporter: that despite clinton working to keep the left happy. flip-flopping on issues like same-sex marriage and driver's licenses for illegal immigrants and trying to win over african-american voters in south carolina by doubling down on the president. >> i went to work for him because he and i shared many of the same positions about what should be done in the next presidency. >> there could be danger in teeing up a third obama term though there is good news for clinton in a new poll. she is beating any republican contender with 60% of voters believing she has strong leadership quality. >> standing up for you, making a difference for you. >> reporter: the voters may not buy talk of her being a middle class champion amid pricey speaking fees. the poll found voters divided 48% to 47% on whether she cares about their needs and problems. 53% say she's not honest and trust worthy as new de

. >> and look who is aligning against the president, it is the people to his left, elizabeth warren and aflci afl-cio technologies -- texts every day go against this deal, this is an alignment of special interests my bigger problem is fast track a process, is potentially dangerous when either side has full old control we don't get transparency we're a republic that means our representatives should have a say in fast track they don't get a say. they don't get an up-and-down vote, but they get to reject it. neil: enough do, and enough are -- shared the skepticism but we'll get to a point where they say trade deals get bogged down, and never realized. to give president the republican or democrat this authority. >> i say this is very -- a pretty good reason to trust washington in this case, this is a democratic president putting a historic trade deal through and the support of the republicans that are going to make it happen. both parties acting in a politically unconventional way. neil: hillary clinton faces a devil of resistence on the left. it is haunting her is it a problem for her? >> i think part o

enjoy the rest of >>> labor union strife over president obama's trade deal, we'll talk with afl-cio president richard trumka about that and a lot more. >> and money, money, money, running for president is all about the benjamins, the growing argument over the politics of cold hard cash. i'm susan page. >> and i'm derek mcginty. this is capital download. well, good morning to you and welcome to capital download. okay, susan, peoples like we've been talking about this trade deal business for weeks now. finally the senate passed the trade promotion authority and the house is about to pick it up, but the real battle is within the democratic party. >> that's right, derek. democrats are divided and long time allies like organized labor are making

need to have the worker the ceo rash yo explained and disclosed so that investors can look at it and decide whether those ceos are paying their workers fairly. >> that of course afl-cio trumka talking about increasing worker pay. facebook founder mark zuckerberg is joining the fight to raise wages and improve benefits for workers. kate rogers joins us with the details. >> if you're a vendor or contractor and want to work with facebook you're going to have to pay your workers at least $15 an hour. that's $6 above california's minimum wage. also are to offer 15 paid days for vacation sick leave and holidays. workers who do not receive paid parental leave, facebook is setting a child benefit of $4,000. facebook will pay for the program when vendors increase rates. in a blog post sheryl sandberg said the benefits kicked in may 1st for larger vendors and the company will work in the next year with a broader set of vendors to implement these changes. a spokesperson told me they worked with vendors so it wasn't a surprise. facebook not the first company to do this big corporate names like wallmartwalmart, the gap, t.j. maxx hiked wages but few have extended wage hikes to th

and that's why both the business community and the labor unions representing the building trades the afl-cio building trades supported this bill today. they want to see people back to work and so do i. you look at the past year, our economic growth is anemic. the first quarter .2% growth is the number. employment numbers were disappointing. we need to give the economy a shot in the arm and this will help do it. unfortunately, what we have now is a permitting process that is out of date, it does hinder investment it stifles growth, keeps groups from being -- jobs from being created when people particularly in the construction trades are looking for work. this is a real problem there's a world bank stewedy good how countries about their ability to get things done, the ease of doing business. with regard to greenlighting a project, permitting, america the united states of america now stands number 41 in the world. 41. that's unacceptable. that means that capital is going he would elsewhere and one reason is because of delays. one reason is because of the liability risks. because people are worr