Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO; Consumers for Smart Solar PAC defends utilities-backed Amendment 1.

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BY Rob Lorei

Our first guest on Radioactivity Wednesday was Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO. It’s the largest union federation in the US, representing more than 12 million active and retired workers. Trumka is a former coal miner and an attorney who was elected president of the AFL-CIO in 2009. He gave his take  on Trump’s stance on  several economic  issues that effect the American worker such as wages, immigration, and trade.

Then we spoke with Screven Watson, former Executive Director of the Florida Democratic Party, who is with a  group called Consumers for Smart Solar which is backing Amendment One on November’s ballot. Amendment 1’s first part would establish the right for consumers to own or lease solar equipment, something that consumers can do already. The second part states that state and local governments will keep the right to protect consumers’ rights and ensure that “consumers who do not choose to install solar are not required to subsidize the costs of backup power and electric grid access to those who do.” Amendment 1 has been heavily backed by Florida’s big utility companies, but has also faced criticism by those who say its language is misleading and that it will hinder growth for Florida’s solar energy industry.

2 Responses to “Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO; Consumers for Smart Solar PAC defends utilities-backed Amendment 1.”

  1. Imma Needat

    This intent of this legislation is to allow utilities to create a surcharge for customers who do not use very much electricity from the power company. In other words, it is yet another government legislation to force people to pay for things they don’t use…much like Obamacare.

    Reply
  2. Gina T

    Great show! Richard Trumka is interesting and well-spoken guest. i never thought about legal immigration, that these folks are paid one-third what we citizens get or how precarious their lives are once here. It is just another example of the institutionalized inequality in our country, This is the long term result of Reaganonics; People don’t know it’s so insidious the loss of protections for consumers and workers. Thanks for helping get the word out.

    GMT

    Reply

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