"A citizen of America will cross the ocean to fight for democracy, but won't cross the street to vote in a national election." - Bill Vaughan

Author Vaughn wasn't at the Michigan Building Trades Council Legislative Conference earlier Feb. 28, but what he wrote nearly wraps up the focus of the conference: getting out the vote.

Following are some comments by speakers at the conference:

Michigan Building Trades Council Secretary - Treasurer Tom Boensch - "We're still fighting the same fight as we were 100 years ago. We're still concerned about workforce safety, child labor, and excessive employer influence on federal, state and local government.

"Some of us are still gloating about the whipping poor John Engler took last week, but that won't deter John from his course. His game is on (General Election Day) Nov. 7, and his prize is to retain control of state government. John is still controlling the legislative agenda.

"The attack on construction workers is clear, on issues like campaign finance reform, paycheck protection, and the comp time bill. These are just a few of the changes they want to make. They want to change our world, but we're going to continue the battle.

"The task for us is to remain just as focused on Nov. 7. We need to find people who will go to work in the local districts, and to communicate with our members about issues that are important to them."

Senate Minority Leader John Cherry (D-Clio) - "There's a reason our party is called the Democratic Party. It's because we stand for democracy. And for the people of the State of Michigan, it has come down to democracy vs. economics. Democrats want what the people want, to enhance democracy, to enhance educational opportunities, and to enhance health care. Republicans want market forces to govern our state.

"Do we want a health care organization to tell you and your doctor what's best for you? Do we want to allow workers to have a say about their working conditions? Do we want laws governing safety, prevailing wage, and the right to organize?

"In the marketplace, votes don't count, money counts, and some of us have more money than others.

"Our challenges will be met at the ballot box. In the meantime, Democrats in the Senate will continue fighting for you.

State Sen. Dianne Byrum, D-25th District, and candidate for U.S. Congress, 8th District - "In this next election cycle we're going to have to ask ourselves are we going to fight for the future of our families.

"That's why I'm running for Congress. I want to reconnect with people, and fight for the interests of your family and my family. We need to continue to fight for the interests of our children and our older loved ones. I want to improve education, with smaller class sizes, high-quality teachers and safe schools.

"I support paying down our debts, securing Social Security and lowering the cost of prescription drugs. We shouldn't be fearful that older people won't be able to live the rest of their lives out in dignity."

"Democrats will be there fighting for the interests of your family - but everyone in the labor family needs to participate in the election process and vote."

House Minority Leader Mike Hanley - "I could talk to you about paycheck protection, worker deaths, or the comp time bill, which is the greatest threat to the 40-hour work week since they invented the 40-hour work week.

"All of these things I would call family issues, and we have a lot of work ahead of us to make sure Michigan families aren't threatened.

"One of the things I would like to talk about is the health care crisis in Michigan. The reality is that in the last 18 months, 8,000 workers have been laid off in the health care industry and that has a direct impact on all of us. Prescription drugs are very expensive. Insurance rates have risen 20-25 percent. The real issue is poor quality care.

"This election is about values, and character, and what's right and what's wrong. The Republicans are all about cutting taxes. We have to get down to the business of asking what happened to values, and how the government's values are out of touch.

"We're seeing deceptive, lying tactics and subtle attacks on things that you and I and our parents and our grandparents fought for. How can a person who really cares about working people call themselves a Republican?"

State Rep. Julie Dennis (D-92nd District) - I have a couple of passions in my life. I believe in working to protect union labor and protecting health care.

"So when I hear about Republicans coming up with the 'Worker's Bill of Rights,' and how they want to put in reforms that would 'enhance fairness to workers,' what they're really saying is they're asking you to support legislation that would cut your wages, cut your health care benefits and cut your pension.

"Don't kid yourselves, Republicans would like Michigan to become a right-to-work state. Remember the economist from Comerica, who testified about this time last year in favor of Paycheck Deception, and how it would be the next best thing to making Michigan a right-to-work state?

"It was union leaders who sent the message to Comerica that there are union pension funds in Comerica, and that that bill was wrong. We managed stop that legislation for now, but that doesn't mean other legislation has been stopped.

"Republicans have given school districts the right to disband unions. I don't care what union you belong to - union members are the only people who can disband their union. And the comp time bill and paycheck deception are still on the agenda, and the Republicans will try to ram it up our (behind) in the lame duck session - not that they haven't done it already.

"This election matters."

Patrick Devlin, secretary-treasurer, Greater Detroit Building Trades Council - "Way back 100 years ago, building trades unions were founded on the concepts of political action, maintaining fair wages and benefits, and assuring the safety and health of our workers.

"Since then we have traded in steam shovels for diesel power, and today's fancy power tools make our workers' lives a lot easier.

"But all of the basic things still matter. Nothing has really changed since 1914, or 1514. Workers want to come home from work at the end of the day. Workers want a fair wage. Workers want a voice in their working conditions.

"At contract time, of course no one is going to let their union leaders forget about wages. But the history of contract negotiations has taught us that after wages, everything else is a major afterthought.

"It's time to start using the bargaining process to start talking more about safety.

"It's time to start talking more about basic sanitation, like demanding clean bathrooms and a place to wash on every job site.

"And it's time to start thinking about providing our workers with creature comforts like warm break areas, especially on jobs that are just coming out of the ground.

"Building trades workers have come to accept almost being treated like animals on construction sites - that is truly 100-year-old thinking that we need to change now."