As a state senator, Barack Obama earned a 90 percent lifetime voting record with the Illinois AFL-CIO.

The following votes illustrate his support for issues important to working families:

Obama Voted with Working Families on these Important Issues:

Majority Sign-Up for Public Employee Unions—Obama voted to allow state employees to form a union if a majority in the bargaining unit sign authorization cards. (HB 3396, 2003)

Health Care Justice Act—Critical legislation sponsored by Sen. Obama establishes a bipartisan health care reform commission. The skyrocketing cost of health care has become the number one dispute in union contract negotiations. (HB 2268, 2004)

Expansion of the Federal WARN Act—Closes gaps in the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. The bill expands the notification process when companies enact mass layoffs, provides greater assistance for workers and communities and allows civil penalties. (SB 2665, 2004)

Buy American—Requires a state preference for products made in the U.S.A. in state purchasing contracts. (HB 6983, 2003)

Responsible Bidder—Sets requirements a bidder must meet in order to be considered for all state construction contracts. (HB 3048, 2003)

Minimum Wage—Sen. Obama voted to give low-wage workers in Illinois a much-needed pay increase. (SB 600, 2003)

Prevailing Wage Enforcement—Allows for stronger enforcement of the Prevailing Wage Act by posting rates at job sites, increased requirements for maintaining records and consequences for failing to comply. (HB 3398, 2003)

Equal Pay—Makes it illegal for employers to discriminate by paying wages solely on the basis of an employee’s gender. (SB 2, 2003)

Prevailing Wage Improvements—Clarifies the Prevailing Wage Act by tightening enforcement provisions and expanding definitions. (SB 1212, 2003)

Overtime Pay—Sen. Obama sponsored legislation to protect the rights of working men and women in Illinois by blunting the effects of President Bush’s overtime pay cuts. The new law effects 400,000 workers in Illinois and guarantees they will continue to be eligible for much-needed overtime pay. (SB 1645, 2004)

Anti-Strikebreaker—Prohibits a company from contracting with a day or temporary service to replace an employee during a strike or lockout. (SB 90, 2003)

Ethanol Plant PLAs – Extends tax credit and requires that construction and maintenance at plants be covered by the Prevailing Wage Act and Project Labor Agreements. (HB 46, 2003)

O’Hare Airport Expansion—A $9 billion expansion of the airport creates 195,000 new jobs at no cost to taxpayers. (HB 721, 2003)

Reckless Driving in Construction Zones—A reckless homicide in a construction zone becomes a Class II felony and increases prison time. (HB 3215, 2003)

McCormick Place Expansion—Created more than 2,000 construction jobs for $800 million expansion of Chicago convention center. (HB 263, 2001)

Protecting Unemployment Insurance—Protected the UI Trust Fund by voting against corporate tax breaks that would have cost the fund that pays unemployed workers $10 million annually. (SB 795, 2001)

Prevailing Wage Training Costs—Levels the playing field for union contractors by changing the calculation of the prevailing wage to include the costs of U.S. Department of Labor-approved apprenticeship programs. (HB 2255, 1999)

Workers Comp Insurance Standards—Requires out-of-state construction contractors to carry Workers’ Compensation insurance that is valid in Illinois. (HB 1587, 1999)

Plumbing License Enforcement—Allows Illinois Department of Public Health to disconnect advertised phone numbers of non-licensed plumbers. (HB 264, 1999)

Information provided by the Illinois AFL-CIO.