AFSCME 6: Living Wage

Do you support or oppose policies to establish a ‘living wage’ designed to ensure low-wage workers and their families can live above the poverty level?

I would support a living wage that ensures low-wage workers can live above the poverty level but I have never seen a plan that would accomplish that. Minimum wages hurt less-skilled workers because they can't get a job if they aren't worth the minimum wage. They help some workers a little and hurt many workers a lot. I am very much against telling people that they aren't even worth having a job because that aren't skilled enough to meet some minimum level.

AFSCME 4: Right to Bargin Collectively

Do you support or oppose policies to guarantee workers’ rights to bargain collectively?

Support: Everyone should be free to associate however they want.

AFSCME 3: Work safety

Do you support or oppose policies to ensure that workers have legal rights to safe, healthy and fair conditions at work?

The county should definitely provide a good work conditions. The county board doesn't address "legal rights"

AFSCME 2: Right to Work

Some states have adopted laws that allow workers to take union jobs without paying union dues or joining the union, which is called “Right to Work.” Do you support “Right to Work” legislation that would allow people to enjoy union benefits without paying union dues?

This isn't applicable to the county board.

Private (but not government) employers should be free to require union membership. If someone isn't part of the union, they shouldn't necessarily get the same benefits. It is up to the employee and employer to agree on benefits.

AFSCME Survey 1: Freedom to form unions

The AFSCME sent me a survey, so I will be posting many of the questions and my answers from that survey.

Do you support or oppose policies to protect workers' freedom to form unions, including strengthening and enforcing laws to prohibit employer intimidation, harassment, or coercion?

All people should be free to join any groups they desire. If workers want to form or join a union, they should certainly be free to do so. Likewise, no one should be forced to join any groups that they don't want to join. Related laws should certainly be enforced but the county board doesn't strengthen laws so that isn't applicable to the position.

Introduction

My name is James Stauffer and I am running to represent the 8th district of St. Croix County on the county board. I have lived in St. Croix County for the last 20 years. My wife, Annette, has live in St. Croix County her whole life except for a few years when she was only a few miles from the border. We have five children.

I want to represent the 8th district to minimize taxes and other costs while keeping county services high-quality. The election will be held April 6, 2010.

The 8th district includes:
Town of Hammond Ward 1 (all)
Village of Hammond Wards 1 and 2 (all)
Town of Pleasant Valley Ward 1 (all)
Town of Rush River Ward 1 (all)
Town of Eau Galle Ward 1 (approximately the southern half)
Map of the district (pdf)

Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments.
James Stauffer
2092 90th Ave
Baldwin, WI 54002
688-3948
stauffer.james@gmail.com