McDonnell and Bolling tackle “Card Check”
By JR Hoeft | Tuesday, March 10th, 2009 | PoliticsRepublican gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial candidates Bob McDonnell and Bill Bolling went after the Employee Free Choice Act (aka, “Card Check”), which was introduced by Congressional Democrats today.
Virginia, a “right-to-work” state, enables employees to not be forced to become union members or pay union dues as a condition of employment. Card Check makes it easier for worker’s to unionize by eliminating the secret ballot, placing peer pressure on workers.
“This is the most anti-jobs bill in decades. Rarely are elected officials and candidates presented with such a clear cut choice,” said McDonnell. “Every Virginia official and every Virginia candidate should let the public know whether they stand in support of the spirit of Virginia’s Right to Work Law and the job-creating environment it has established, or do they stand with big unions and their desire to take away the secret ballot from employees in the workplace?”
This is the second time McDonnell has called out his Democratic opponents on a major issue in as many weeks. Last week, he asked his Democratic opponents to join him on sending a message to Secretary of Interior Salazar to allow off-shore drilling to begin by 2011 – none of his opponents responded.
“I strongly support Virginia’s Right to Work Law, and the Commonwealth’s reputation as the most business-friendly state in the nation,” McDonnell continued. “I adamantly oppose this legislation which will hurt free enterprise and kill jobs. I continue to urge Virginia’s congressional delegation to vote no on the big unions ‘Card Check’ legislation.”
Card Check would allow unions hoping to organize to circulate what are known as authorization cards. Once a majority of employees at a workplace sign such a card, with no time limit for the collection of signatures, a union would be recognized and management would be required by law to bargain with that union. Further, in newly organized workplaces, if the employer and the union do not agree to a contract in the first 130 days of negotiations, an arbitration panel from the federal government can be brought in and its decision would be binding on the employer.
“Introduction of Card Check comes on the heels of disturbing actions by state Democrats to undermine Virginia’s right-to-work law,” added Bolling. “In January, all three candidates for Governor and two candidates for Lieutenant Governor marched in a union picket line against the Crystal City Hilton hotel. That march took place at the same time state and local officials were working to recruit the Hilton Hotels national headquarters to Northern Virginia. Additionally, during the recent General Assembly session, Senate Democrats killed legislation to include the right-to-work in the Constitution of Virginia.”
According to theThe Washington Post three individual Unions gave over $500,000 to the Democratic Party of Virginia in just September and October of this past year.
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Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. E-mail J.R.. Follow J.R. on Twitter.
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3 Responses to "McDonnell and Bolling tackle “Card Check”"
Realizing we are a republic as opposed to a democracy, this is one issue I’d like to be brought up in a referendum. Hopefully … card check would be handily defeated.
From what I hear, this has already passed in the house and is up to the US Senate. While I applaud McDonnell and Bolling for taking the proper position on “card check”, they are unfortunately unable to cast votes for or against.
It will be intersting to see how Warner and Webb vote. Will they stay loyal to the “Big union” dollars eventhough this legislation will hurt Virginia business. If this passes Virginia will lose its advantage of being a “Right to Work State” if this passes.
Not that management shouldn’t shoulder most of the blame but, after seeing how the auto industry is about to collapse in that union atmosphere, why would Senators Webb and Warner be so eager to bring that kinda hurt to Virginia?
This is certainly legislation that we oppose at the Tidewater Libertarian Party. It is good to see high profile Republicans denounce this even if they don’t have the ability to vote on it.
Britt, you are partially correct. When introduced in 2007, EFCA passed the House, but failed in the Senate as a result of a Republican filabuster.
From all those involved, it is pretty much assured that both Webb and Warner will vote in favor of this legislation. All throughout the campaign, Warner would not take a position for or against EFCA. He would just say that some reforms need to be made. Go figure. Good ‘ole Warner loves to talk out of both sides of his mouth.
The Democrats you need to watch are:
1. Sen. Lincoln of AR. She is up for re-election in 2010 and hails from a state that voted for McCain. AR is also almost void of organized labor and is home to Walmart. Her constituents are pretty much opposed to this bill.
2. Sen. Landrieu of LA. While she won re-election in 2008, Sen. Landrieu is one the Democrats, anti-EFCA backers are trying to peel off.
3. Followed by Sens. Nelson of NE and Pryor of AR
The only Republican people are worried about is Sen. Specter. Even his own staff doesn’t know what he’s thinking about this. Though he did Co-Sponsor the legislation last time around. Let’s hope Toomey takes him out in 2010.
What is unique to look at is the amount of Reps and Senators who took their names of the Co-Sponsor list this time around.
It is crucial this legislation be defeated! If you want to learn more, and I hope you do, I’ve found a good site: http://www.TheTruthAboutEFCA.com.
Finally, it’s important our Commonwealth officials come out against this legislation because of what is coming next.
Organized labor’s next move is to have the Democrats reverse part of the Taft-Hartley Act which allows states to become Right-to-Work. If EFCA passes, you can sure bet it won’t be long until Virginia loses our Right-to-Work status.
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