Ehrlich on Washington column, March 17, 1996

NEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 2 1 093 3 1 5 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 EHRLICH ON WASHINGTON Week of March 17, 1996 By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. HELPING WORKING FAMILIES For me, becoming your congressman meant undertaking many new challenges and exciting responsibilities. However, nothing is more satisfying than lending a hand to working families that find themselves in desperate situations. A few weeks ago I received a phone call from a lady— I will call her “Sally” for the purpose of this article— with nowhere else to turn. Sally and her husband live in Dundalk. They recently welcomed a new baby into their family. Due to a work-related injury, her husband— a steelworker— went on disability, and their economic situation quickly suffered because of the lost paycheck. They turned to the most logical source of assistance— the steelworkers’ union. They were informed by the union— as was my office— that there was no money to spare, and that nothing could be done to help them. This is, in my view, the most tragic part of this story. Though big labor bosses plan to spend $35 million on political advertising this year, and have been willing to pay time-and-a-half to stage political protests in my district, I question the extent to which they care about the daily welfare of dues-paying members. By the time Sally spoke with my district director, her family was set for eviction. We contacted her landlord immediately and explained the situation. We also put Sally in touch with the Baltimore County Department of Social Services and the Community Assistance Network— a