Newton B. Jones

Party candidates vie for extremist mantle

THE GOP PRESIDENTIAL debates have illustrated just how far right the Republican Party has shifted — and the struggle that awaits organized labor should one of their candidates succeed in unseating President Obama in November.

THE FAILURE OF the congressional “super committee” to reach agreement on $1.2 trillion in budget cuts over the next 10 years creates a super-sized problem for the security of the United States. Without intervention by Congress, automatic cuts will go into effect in 2013, and the Defense Department will shoulder half of the rollback.

NOTHING SHAPES OUR Brotherhood more dramatically and profoundly than our consolidated conventions. This has been true throughout our long history. Our conventions bring together the ideas, innovation, and ingenuity of our members — allowing us to develop workable solutions to the challenges we face.

In this regard, I believe the 32nd Consolidated Convention this past July will serve us especially well.

Defunding government programs will cost jobs, threaten unions

FACED WITH A national debt that has grown to over $14 trillion over the past decade, Washington is debating how best to proceed with deficit reduction — and Republican-sponsored budget cuts are quickly spiraling out of control. The unfolding budget battles could have a dire impact on job growth and the nation’s continued economic recovery. Those battles will also define what kind of nation we leave our children and grandchildren.