The CAFTA 15 are already feeling the heat–and more to come. As I mentioned a few days ago, Working Life will devote on-going space to holding the CAFTA 15 accountable–including a special section under development.

So, here’s some more info:

Melissa Bean (Illinois, 8th District): is already losing support in her district. The Northeastern Illinois Federation of Labor was holding a fundraiser for its political action committee and dear Melissa was supposed to be given the “Person of the Year” award. Sorry, Melissa, get your plaque somewhere else–the Fed has revoked the honor because of her CAFTA vote. In addition, I know that at least two major unions are actively out recruiting a primary candidate to take this gutless first-termer on.

Ed Towns (New York, 10th district): as previously mentioned, a big press conference is being held Sunday by a cross-section of unions to trash Towns and his spineless colleague Gregory Meeks for their pro-CAFTA votes (I’ll be there and report either Sunday or Monday…depends if I go lounge in the park after). Two potential primary opponents are being talked about for Towns: Eric Adams, the head of 100 Blacks for Law Enforcement, who probably has at least the same name recognition as Towns; and Sidique Wai, a community activist. As one key national union political operative tells me, “Towns is a do-nothing. His whole political program has been saving his seat for his son, who is a state senator.”

Henry Cuellar (Texas, 28th District): he may be the easiest to take out because he already has two primary opponents. This upstanding so-called Democrat was widely known to be considering switching to the Republicans when his election last year went into a recount, during which he narrowly defeated Ciro Rodriguez–who is one of the two primary oppponents. I hear the Steelworkers have a full-time person working that race to defeat Cuellar. I could not find a website for Rodriguez but, when that information is known, I’ll provide a link to it.

William Jefferson (Louisiana, 2nd District): he’s got potential other troubles which may make a primary moot. According to an article in yesterday’s Times Picayune, “In a series of coordinated raids Wednesday morning, federal agents swooped into the political domain of U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, executing search warrants on his homes in New Orleans and Washington, the office and home of his longtime campaign treasurer, and even the congressman’s car.” Hey, innocent until proven guilty but we’ll keep an eye on this one.