"It is my honor to be here to honor you, the leaders of working men and women, the people who have built the wealth and strength of our community, our state, and our nation. It's an honor to share the stage with your honorees---with people who have given of themselves to make the vision of fairness and opportunity come true for more people in our community. I thank you for what you will do this year and next year to get the state of California marching again-- for progressive values and democratic ideals for working men and women!"

--Phil Angelides, California State Treasurer and Democratic Candidate for Governor.

"I am so delighted to be here with you, the leaders of the Sacramento Central Labor Council, to celebrate tonight what a strong voice you are for California workers, and I congratulate your honorees for their outstanding contributions." --U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, keynote speaker.

Boxer then delivered an update on the Washington, D.C. scene, describing the extreme arrogance of President Bush: "I've been in Congress under (many administrations), and I have never seen an administration that is more arrogant than the Bush White House. This one is utterly incapable of admitting mistakes! He's made mistakes about the war, how it would be paid for, and how we would be received in Iraq. He's made mistakes about tax cuts, saying they wouldn't lead to deficits, and now we have deficits as far as the eye can see."

"I know you're not supposed to interrupt a President, but we have to interrupt these Bush mistakes-- they're costing our people dearly, in lives, in blood and in treasure. 1,818 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq, 24% from California or based in California. California is carrying a heavy burden! It's my belief that the American people will see see this arrogance of power and will express their disappointment in what is going in Washington at the midterm elections."

Boxer spoke of the Senate's power of "advise and consent" in regard to the confirmation hearings for Bush's nominee for Supreme Court Justice.

"I want to tell you how much Labor has at stake in this nomination. Since the 1930's, the Supreme Court has recognized Congress's broad role under the commerce laws of the Constitution to protect families, which include providing a safe workplace, a minimum wage, pension protection, family and medical leave, and protection from discrimination. These are very important laws that reflect American values, but some Justices want to limit the ability of Congress to meet these challenges. If Roberts (Bush's nominee) shares this view, he could roll back generations of progress for workers-- for workers' rights, for women's rights, and for civil rights A stacked court can rule that Congress doesn't have the authority to set a minimum wage, or regulate pensions, or have a right to privacy."

"I encourage you to be involved in this debate. I need you to be involved!"

***

Senator Boxer gave a website where people can write in questions that they want answered at the Senate hearings for Bush's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Roberts. It is: http://democrats.gov/askroberts

"Phil is a special individual--This is a man of character and courage. He stood up when no one would stand up to say about Arnold Schwarzenegger "You know, I don't think he's taking us in the right direction!"

On the so-called "paycheck protection" proposition (Prop 75): "We've all got to fight this--it's nothing but a backdoor way to shut down the political arm of the union! It's your union, it's your dues, and it's your business!"--Senator Boxer