Workers Will Be Watching as Tillis Raises Cash for Wake County Ideologues

NC State AFL-CIO, PO Box 10805, Raleigh, NC 27605

Press Advisory for August 25, 2011

Contact: Jeremy Sprinkle, Communications Director, 919-833-6678, [email protected]

WORKERS WILL BE WATCHING AS TILLIS RAISES CASH FOR WAKE COUNTY IDEOLOGUES

AFL-CIO and allies will picket Speaker Tillis’ appearance at right-wing fundraiser at 5:30pm on August 25

Raleigh, N.C. – Workers will be watching as the Northern Wake Republican Club holds its annual fundraiser at Newton Square on Thursday to "Paint the town red" and elect conservative Republican candidates in the 2011 elections.  North Carolina Speaker of the House, Thom Tillis, will be their guest of honor, but for many of Wake’s working families, there has been nothing honorable about his speakership.

Many Wake County residents are still seeing red from Thom Tillis' blocking of unemployment benefits last spring, putting at risk the lives and families of 37,000 people so he could extort budget concessions from the Governor.  They are seeing red from the 27 percent pay raise Tillis gave his staff while their own wages have remained flat for 30 years.  Many here blame Tillis for enacting a state budget that is worsening our jobs crisis while undermining public education and environmental protection.  They know Thom Tillis’ Voter ID bill and his assault on women’s health care are about partisan politics, not protecting the public interest.

While Thom Tillis is here working to elect more right-wing ideologues who will move Wake County backward not forward, we will be there to object.

What:     Protest of Tillis’ appearance at Northern Wake GOP fundraiser

When:     Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 5:30 pm

Where:    Newton Square, 230 Newton Rd, Raleigh, NC

Why:      Remind Thom Tillis and his right-wing supporters that workers, taxpayers, and voters are watching

Who:      NC State AFL-CIO and progressive allies

For more information or to schedule an interview with a worker or an officer of the NC State AFL-CIO, contact Jeremy Sprinkle at 336-255-2711.

###