Press Office of Cody Shea

[Cody Shea]

PRESS OFFICE OF SENATOR CODY SHEA - SENATE MINORITY LEADER

Washington, DC Office
217 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 225 - 3154
Fax: (202) 225 - 2981

Asheville Office
Federal Building
151 Patton Avenue, Suite 204
Asheville, NC 28801
Phone: (828) 350 - 2437
Fax: (828) 350 - 2439

Chief of Staff: Jacob Bethlehem


Press Secretary: Allison Mary McCallister


VISIT US ON THE WEB - shea.senate.gov

[Cody Shea]

Safe Games Act (2008)

This bill is an attack on the already embattled retail workers by far-right lobbying groups and their attack dogs in the Congress. Help Senator Shea fight this by writing your own Senators to join him in striking it down in the Senate.

Budget FY '09

The President's budget, while making great progress in some areas, completely ignores Labor. He allocates none of the taxpayers money to helping them with job training, employment opportunity, and unemployment relief. This is an unacceptable situation. Help Senator Shea change this glaring problem in the budget by contacting your Senator and telling them to support Shea's revisions to the budget which will include a 5% increase in Labor spending.

[Cody Shea]

China Patents

The President's calls on the PRC to honor U.S. patents is legally sound but ethically underhanded. Of all things for which the United States could fault the government of China (human rights violations, unlawful arms sales to rogue states, slave and child labor, etc.) we choose patents? Senator Shea has already confronted China and other nations in the past with the Consumer's Ethical Responsibility Act, which exposed their inhumane labor practices.

Now, Senator Shea wants the President and the GOP to join him in demanding China not only to honor the legal trade agreements it made when joining the WTO, but the human rights and trade sanctions with terrorist states it agreed to as a member of the UN.

[Cody Shea]

Job Numbers Illustrate Need for Labor

The recently released unemployment figures only serve to illustrate the need for increased spending in labor programs. The increase Senator Shea has put before the Senate takes money from needless Pentagon bloat and redistributes it to vital labor progams that help workers who've been laid off or require training. Support Senator Shea's amendment to the President's budget proposal by alerting your Senator to join him in calling for an increase in labor spending.

[Cody Shea]

Shea Masses Labor Fundraiser

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - Senator Cody Shea (D-NC) was the keynote speaker at a massive AFL-CIO rally in Tennessee. The Senator spoke about the revitalization of the American labor movement and the Democratic Party. He was joined by several prominent labor leaders, state and regional DNC chairmen, and two Nobel Prize laureates who spoke at length about the importance of respecting human rights and how the labor movement is a part of that.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the future of America does not reside in the boardrooms and country clubs of the elite, but in the sweat and sacrifice of the workers. The Bush era of reckless, pro-corporate exploitation Republican stewardship of the government is ending and the future of our great nation is with the labor movement, and with the Democratic Party."

"No longer will we allow Republicans to mask an agenda designed to rob the working men and women of America of their rights, their salaries, their healthcare, and their dignity behind so-called 'compassionate conservatism' and faux-moralizing. Americans have had enough, and when the time comes to cast votes, the GOP will find that they have lined their pockets at the expense of the support of the people. We're going to ride them and their culture of corruption out on the rail!"

"Never has the need for organized labor been so great in our country as now; unchecked conglomerates poaching your pensions, orchestrating massive layoffs, and forcing workers to accept long hours for low pay and no benefits to help them and their families."

"It's shameful that Republicans allow this, even promote it, and then have the audacity to say they are the party that represents Christian values. What about charity? What about humility? What about aiding the poor, the sick, and the downtrodden? What about striving for peace instead of clamoring for war? Are these not all values of a Christian? Because they certainly aren’t the values of the Republican Party."

"To those of you tonight who contributed to our struggle against corrupt Republican politics, I thank you. Your help will be essential in bringing honesty, integrity, and respect for the common man back to Washington. However, your greatest contribution will always be your vote, your voice in our great democracy. Use that voice, spread its message to those around you and they will listen."

"When you leave here tonight and go back to your homes in states all across our great nation, take with you the promise of a better tomorrow for yourselves and your families. That is the promise I offer you, the union offers you, and that the Democratic Party offers you."

The details of the amount collected by the fundraiser have yet to be made public, but by all accounts the event was considered to be a massive success by DNC and AFL-CIO organizers.

[Cody Shea]

Shea Reaches Compromise over Safe Games Act, Unveils Legistlation to Protect Retiring Seniors

After much deliberation and meetings with Senate Republicans, Sen. Cody Shea has managed introduced and gotten approval of an amendment to the Safe Games Act which makes the retail sales worker no longer criminally or economically accountable. Thanks to your help, it will be the Wal-Marts, K-Marts, and Targets who will have to pay for their lax employee training. Now, retailers will be held responsible for not aiding parents groups and their members understand the ESRB guidelines. With the threat of fines in place, it will quickly become standard practice for these companies to insure that inappropriate material is not put in the hands of minors by them.

Also, Sen. Shea has introduced a the Secure Retirement Act in the Senate. This bill insures a retiree's pension is protected from corporate swindling or mismanagement, and makes sure a retiree is kept well-informed about the status of his pension. Help the Senator get this needed legislation passed by calling or writing your Senator and asking them to support this bill.

[Cody Shea]

Shea Reacts to Washington Marriage Bill

The marriage bill in Washington is an important one that we should all look at very carefully. The state government of the state of Washington is doing their appointed duty by pushing legislation that they believe supports the views of their constituents. Senator Shea believes that providing the legal and economic benefits of 'marriage' to all stable unions is both fair and appropriate.

He takes great exception to far-right groups who claim that unions between conscenting members of the same sex is somehow an 'attack' on the institution of marriage. Senator Shea believes that long work hours, financial burdens, and general quality of life issues are the true attack on the family and marriage. Support Senator Shea as he works to protect the American family by bringing fairness and humanity back into labor practices and support the legislature of Washington is they steer the course that the entire country should follow.

[Cody Shea]

Shea on Iranian nukes in Syria

The recent news that the Syrian government has agreed to hide Iranian nukes has disturbed Senator Shea deeply. He believes it represents the fractured and unstable status of the region caused by irresponsible U.S. and European foreign policy of the long and even recent past. While he agrees in the strongest possible terms that such an arrangement between Iran and Syria cannot and will not be allowed to come to fruition, Senator Shea would advise that the President diffuse such a delicate situation rather than ignite it.

It is a situation like this in which international diplomatic agencies, supported rather than rebuked by the U.S., are the best solution. The U.N. should take the lead, with the help of the U.S., in convincing both the Iranian and Syrian governments of the indescribable dangers that such an arrangement would create, mostly for themselves and their people.

[Cody Shea]

Shea Meets with Teachers Unions

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – Only a few weeks after his landmark speech at an AFL-CIO rally in Tennessee, Senator Cody Shea (D-NC) returned to his home state to make a similar appearance at the annual meeting of the collected southern affiliates of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). The senator met with teachers from all across the south and discussed at length about the President’s new budget and his proposed amendment that would increase labor spending.

"Bottom line, the future of our great nation rests with the children. If these children are not given the education they need, that they deserve, then we all fail. What the President needed to be reminded of was that merely throwing money at the education system is not entirely the answer."

"A strong, vibrant, and respected Teachers’ Union is as much a boon to education as federal funding, if not more. The education system has long suffered being undercut financially by Republican fat cats in the past without entirely imploding, and the reason for that are the unions."

Over the course of the evening the senator fielded numerous questions ranging from the current state of partisan politics to the role of teachers in the War on Terror.

"You are our first line of defense against the greatest enemy our country has ever known; ignorance. By replacing fear and suspicion with knowledge and critical thinking, you will do more for protecting our nation than a lifetime’s worth of defense spending."

However, despite all the other topics discussed, the seemingly most important was the ongoing debate on the teaching of evolution vs. intelligent design in schools.

"What I feel is going on is a grave misconception. The far-right wing has tried to label anyone who does not support the teaching of intelligent design as an atheist with an anti-Christian agenda. It’s a shameful lie that I want to dispel right now. There is a place for the teaching of creationism, it’s called the church. That is where I go, as well as many others, to receive the information that meshes with my religious beliefs. My children were taught creation in a school as well, it’s called Sunday school. That is where such a deeply emotional and personal matter as one’s religious faith needs to be kept, in the place of worship."

"The school, the science classroom, is a place for the teaching of accepted, tested, and supported scientific fact. I would have no problem with intelligent design if it had undergone even a miniscule amount of scientific examination. It hasn’t. There are no peer reviewed and researched studies done that substantiate the claim of intelligent design. The entire concept is nothing more than a public relations campaign put on by a right-wing lobbying group."

The views of Senator Shea on the issue seemed to resonate with those in attendance, as many in attendance said they would support the campaigns in their home states of other Democrats.

[Cody Shea]

Shea Appalled by President's Threat to Veto Safe Games Act

Hearing that President Warder would veto the Safe Games Act should it pass through the Congress both shocked and angered Senator Shea. The senator realizes now that the many promises made by the President to help Americans in their struggles have been nothing but pretty words while his true intentions have always been to rub the backs of big business.

The Safe Games Act, with the Shea amendment, keeps the finanical and legal burden of inadaquate employee training from being shifted to the worker and instead places it where it belongs; the employeer. By threatening to veto this legislation, President Warder has turned his back on the common man and taken the side of the massive retail conglomerates.

President Warder's claims that the $20k fine would do great damage to small businesses. Senator Shea finds such a suggestion ridiculous, especially when every study done has shown that the majority of sales of videogames rated 'M' for mature to minors happen almost exclusively in the large retail chain stores not in small boutique shops where the owners and operators are thoroughly acquainted with the product.

The President's decision has deeply shaken the faith that Senator Shea had in him. While he can still find reason to compromise with the administration, he cannot allow them to continue their assault on the working men and women of our great nation. The senator urges the President to reconsider his threat and to sever the collar put around his neck by the corporate lobbyists on the Hill.

[Cody Shea]

Shea Blasts RNC for Mud-Slinging

The recent television ad paid for by the RNC that tries to protray Democratic Senators as somehow wanting to see America and / or its allies subjected to nuclear annihiliation would be shameful if it wasn't so completely ridiculous. The mere assertion that Senator Cody Shea has any interest but that of the American people's safety and security in mind is a deception with absolutely no evidence to support it.

However, numerous Republicans on the Hill have a long history of supporting or downright being party to policies or plans that are contrary to the best interests of the American people. They've allowed big business to run roughshod over the rights of the working American; stealing hard earned pensions, undercutting benefits, outsourcing jobs while still collecting subsidies. These accomplishments are not done by mere corporate lobbying, but rather by complete Republican complicity in such henious activities.

Join the Senator in fighting back against Republican deception and their culture of corruption by supporting your local DNC candidate.

[Cody Shea]

Shea Responds to President's Outrage with Facts

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In response to the President's remarks concerning statements made by the Shea press office, and his threats for a cessation of bi-partisan cooperation, Shea made the following comments to reporters in a special press conference held outside his offices here in the capitol.

"The President likes to paint himself as the victim here," said Shea, "but let's not forget that I supported his Guest Worker Treaty, and aside from the smallest of changes to his budget I've been the sole Democrat in the Senate he's stood behind it, especially his choices on Medicare. I've even publically commented on the issue."

"All these cost me greatly with my fellow Democrats, but still I tried to keep the lines of dialogue open. What was my reward? The President shut down the bi-partisanship found in the Safe Games Act because he wouldn't allow big box retailers to pay the price for their faulty training, he prefers that working class Americans pay that price."

"If the President wants bi-partisanship then it is HE who needs to consider deals and compromises instead of threats and ultimatums."

[Cody Shea]

Shea Explains Support of Gang-Violence Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - After voting "Aye" on the floor of the Senate to the Majority Leader's Gang Violence Provention Bill, Senate Minority Leader Cody Shea (D-NC) met with reporters to explain his reasoning behind the vote.

"Frankly, I couldn't see anything wrong with the bill," said Shea, "it stressed community involvement as well as greater law enforcement. It's exactly what these areas in crisis need to combat such a social ill."

The senator spoke candidly about what implications this instance of bi-partisanship could mean on the eve of a very tense election season.

"I wouldn't read too much into it. The Majority Leader and myself agree on some things, and disagree on many others. I'm the kind of person who won't turn away a good piece of legislation because of the party of the person who proposed it."

"That said, the Majority Leader has yet to vote on my Secure Retirement Act. I can only hope he sees the necessity of that legislation the same way I saw the necessity of his."

[Cody Shea]

Shea Speaks Out Against Rep. Jackson-Cortez

WASHINGTON, D.C. - While most of the Senate has tried to remain as 'above the fray' as possible from the campaigning going on in the House, the Senate Minority Leader Cody Shea (D-NC) decided to buck that trend by speaking out against recent comments and accusations he says were made by Rep. Orenda Naaz Jackson-Cortez (R-NY).

"She's been spouting garbage rhetoric," said a livid Shea outside his offices in the capitol, "It's shameful politics, I don't care who you are."

The Senator seemed to contend particularly with the Congresswoman's views on border control.

"I usually only hear such nonsense from the farthest right wing of the opposition. The opinion that any sort of progressive border strategy is going to make it suddenly EASY for drug-trafficking, human trafficking, or terrorist infiltration is scare tactics. Nothing more."

"I've been very vocal in the past that there is a quick and easy way to curb illegal immigration; enforcing the law that the corporations employing the illegals have broken. But you won't see Republicans supporting anything like that, not even Rep. Jackson-Cortez, because like all the rest she kneels at the altar of big business, figuratively speaking of course."

The Senator then went on to add his disdain about the comments the Congresswoman had made in regards to the DNC Chair, Rep. William Reynolds (D-IL).

"She accuses decietfulness and racism from of one of the most honorable, upstanding Democrats that has ever graced the House. It's ludicrous. I can only imagine the GOP leadership must have been speaking through her at the time."