May 28, 2014
Texas Seniors Keep Moving Up
Tony Padilla Honored!
Texas Alliance Secretary Tony Padilla was recently honored through election as national Vice President of NARVRE. Following his nomination speech he was elected on a contested race of two candidates. Delegates voted 55 to 8 for Padilla!
Here is the speech he made in acceptance of his nomination:
NARVRE 39th Biennial Convention Sacramento, California May 18-20, 2014
Brothers and Sisters, Mr. President, Officers, Area directors and Delegates of NARVRE. I accept the nomination for the position of National VP NARVRE. I want to thank Brother Gary Nelson for nominating ME and for enumerating a list of some of the qualities I have to represent you as your National Vice President.
I also distributed to you my bio so you can further view my credentials and my background. I have 20 years’ experience working as National Legislative and Political director for the Transportation Communication Union lobbying on all rail-labor Legislation including FELA affecting our railroad workers.
Some have asked how I know President Tom Dwyer and Legislative Representative Gary Faley; you should know that these two gentlemen are some of the most professional Rail Labor Lobbyist on Capitol Hill in Washington DC.
They both were my National Legislative Assistants in Washington DC DURING MY TENURE IN OFFICE. And, they were instrumental in helping adopt the not only the Early Retirement Legislation the 30/60 that allowed railroaders to retire at 60 years of age with 3o years of service, but also to create the Railroad Retirement Trust fund which today has a total of $27.5 Billion dollars to service all railroad Retirement Pensions for 75 years into the future. Provided that we continue to protect these benefits by not allowing Congress to change or weaken the law in pretense to Balance the Budget to pay the National debt.
I was one of the original Lobbyists that help create AMTRAK and was recognized by Senators and Representatives as one of the top lobbyist from Rail Labor that kept Amtrak funded for over 40 years.
BROTHES AND SISTERS, as Budget Chairman Paul Ryan proposed in the current Budget to Zero Fund Amtrak, every single year SOME CONGRESSIONAL MEMBER introduced at least 2 or 3 bills to kill Amtrak every CONGRESSIONAL YEAR for 40 Years.
I worked for NARVRE and used the power of the membership of NARVE to save our Railroad Retirement Pension. I will continue to be committed to increase the membership and work with your Area directors to implement solid and effective programs to reach our goal of growing and establishing new Units Nationwide.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I DO NOT NEED TO BE TRAINED TO REPRESENT YOU AS YOUR NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT.
I ALREADY HAVE THOSE QUALIFICATIONS AND I HUMBLY ASK you for YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR VOTE.
PLEASE contribute any amount to Texas Alliance for Retired Americans by clicking here.
Sign our petition to Dallas Mayor Rawlings asking him to stop pushing to privatize the school district and to NOT WELCOME the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) to Dallas July 30.
We’re also still gathering petitions for health care implementation in Texas. Sign that petition at:
http://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4055/c/1254/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4684
Contact Gene Lantz at labordallas@sbcglobal.net
Judy Bryant at 214-729-0063
facebook: Texas Alliance for Retired Americans
Twitter: @Tx4TARA