Rep. Barbara Mikulski Speaks to Steel Workers
Interview with an Elderly Woman about Rep. Barbara Mikulski
Adult Caucasian female speaking with elderly adult Caucasian female seated next to adult Caucasian male at a folding table; many elderly adult Caucasian males and females in the BG, standing, seated, or waiting in line, talking with one another. The woman asks what the elderly lady thoughts on U.S. House Representative Barbara Mikulski (D-MD). She thinks Rep. Mikulski tries, that she has helped senior citizens, and cares about them; elderly adult Caucasian male walking in the BG with a food tray. The elderly woman is asked what issues are important to her, and she states that Social Security is the primary concern. Reporter off camera, asks if Rep. Mikulski could be described as a fighter, and the elderly woman agrees with that description.
Rep. Barbara Mikulski Speaks to Blue Collar Workers
A middle-aged adult Caucasian female on stage with middle-aged adult Caucasian males, and U.S. House Representative Barbara Mikulski (D-MD); speaking to an audience of middle-aged and elderly adult Caucasian male blue collar workers; zoom out to crowd and couple of elderly adult Caucasian men seated at folding table with a small rotating raffle/lotto drum. Adult Caucasian man introduces Rep. Mikulski; she walks to the microphone. Rep. Mikulski pays compliments, a few times, to the previous speaker, Mrs. Dickerson, while discussing the issues surrounding Social Security.
Rep. Barbara Mikulski Speaks to Blue Collar Workers
U.S. House Representative Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) continues speaking on the issue of Social Security; middle-aged adult Caucasian female seated in BG. She views the best way to stabilize the Social Security system, is to maximize employment in the country. The more people that can contribute to the Social Security fund, the less burden there is on unemployment payments and food stamps. Underestimating employment and its ripple effects is a direct threat to the Social Security system.
Rep. Barbara Mikulski Speaks to Blue Collar Workers
U.S. House Representative Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) speaks on job loss; middle-aged adult Caucasian female seated in the BG. Rep. Mikulski believes a grave threat to shipbuilders is the export of jobs and manufacturing from America. She pledges to vote down any tax cut that does not keep American jobs staying in America. Multinational corporations should be rewarded with tax cuts when they take jobs done in America by workers and move those jobs overseas; zoom out to middle-age and elderly adult Caucasian men applauding. Rep. Mikulski also states that she will oppose any legislation that favors automation, citing coded language such as: "tax cuts to increase productivity." She states that she has told U.S. Vice President George H.W. Bush that she will not support tax cuts that will allow U.S. automakers to buy Japanese robots and displace autoworkers who are competing with the Japanese auto companies in the first place.
Rep. Barbara Mikulski Speaks to Blue Collar Workers
Middle-aged and elderly adult African American and Caucasian males listening to U.S. House Representative Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) speak, off camera, about defense spending. Rep. Mikulski speaking to World War II and Korean veterans; she understands that no military can be successful without a strong military using American made products; middle-aged adult Caucasian woman seated in the BG. A strong military, good paying jobs, and a revitalized industry are paramount, should the country face a national emergency. Products of convenience are nice to have, but those products come from other nations. Should a emergency arise in the Middle East or with Libya, we cannot depend on foreign countries to provide us with the products the United States wants and needs. Mikulski ties this all back in to the need for American industries; ship building, iron, and steel workers, to continue healthy employment and produce materials for America. She comments that young adults coming out of school should be able to find good jobs in these industries, paying into the system, stabilizing Social Security and the economy on the whole.
Rep. Barbara Mikulski Speaks to Blue Collar Workers
U.S. House Representative Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) continues speaking on Social Security benefits; middle-aged adult Caucasian female seated in the BG. Given the phone calls her office receives daily and the attendance today, she understands the fear that current recipients have regarding changes to their Social Security benefits. Rep. Mikulski speaking for herself and Maryland Democrats is adamant in stating there will be no support to changing Social Security benefits. A deal is a deal, and the only changes that should come would be cost of living increases to the checks. When it comes to raising the age to receive Social Security benefits, she is opposed to this because while people may be living longer, that does not mean they are working longer. Men and women in her district work tough, blue collar jobs that wear a person out.
Rep. Barbara Mikulski Speaks to Blue Collar Workers
U.S. House Representative Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) continues speaking to crowd of workers; she acknowledges that there are some tough fights ahead, but she intends to fight, and when it appears as though the tide in Congress will turn against them, she will organize a march to protest with the help of Dominic; middle-aged adult Caucasian female seated in the BG. When it comes to paying for this system, Rep. Mikulski believes that taxes are there to already pay for the Social Security system. It is the government fraud and waste that must be eliminated, and she cites an example of at least $100,000 of unused airlines tickets being discovered under someone's desk. Middle aged and elderly adult Caucasian men seated, listening. Rep. Mikulski wraps up her remarks and hopes to come back around Easter with good news regarding Social Security; she receives applause from the crowd. Dominic thanks Rep. Mikulski for her support and welcomes any public official who wishes to help on the workers' behalf; Rep. Mikulski sitting next to elderly adult Caucasian man on stage.