From the diaries, by Erick.
Much to the pleasure of the organized labor movement, Sen. Tom Harkin, as the Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, stands to offer a tremendous amount of help to Big Labor. By pledging to pass a misleadingly-named and detrimental bill called the Employee Free Choice Act, Sen. Harkin is revealing his true loyalties – and his inconsistent rhetoric.
With union pension plans grossly underfunded, EFCA presents a number of threats to workers and businesses, and a number of benefits for union bosses. In their quest for more political spending power, union bosses have been feverishly pushing for the swift passage of EFCA and the question arises as to what Sen. Harkin has been saying about the bill. The answer is quite egregious.
In July of this year the Senator assured the public that Democrats were “not doing anything” about EFCA due to other priorities on the docket such as healthcare. But on September 9, he told a group of pro-union activists that in July he had the 60 votes needed for EFCA to pass, and then proceeded to audaciously blame the lack of a vote on the recently late Senator Edward Kennedy. On October 22, Harkin admitted to a news source that Democrats are “very close to having an agreement” on the bill, though he didn’t go into details.
So which is it Senator? Were you “working out an agreement” or were you “not doing anything”? With many Democrats beginning to distance themselves from this bill, Sen. Harkin is sending conflicting messages to various groups in an effort to appease all of them. That tactic will not stand.
If you’re wondering why this specific bill is of such concern, take a look at the recent unemployment rates around the country. America is at a 26-year-high unemployment rate and Senators like Harkin are making progress in getting support for EFCA – a bill that will increase that rate by 600,000 jobs in the first year it is enacted.
The bill is also a plea by labor bosses to help them with their mismanaged pension plans. Unions right now are being criticized for their lack of funding for their members pension plans, while their officers’ plans are faring quite well. EFCA would bring in more money through union dues to help alleviate the strain on the mismanaged pension plans as well as feeding the multi-million dollar political spending machine created by powerful unions.
So would EFCA actually lead to very many new union members? Undoubtedly – but they would not likely come willingly. The card-check aspect of the bill would prevent workers from having a secret ballot, and would therefore open them up to intimidation from union thugs. Remember the videos of those SEIU guys we saw make a scene at some recent town hall meetings in August? That could be happening at the front doors of workers’ homes all around the country if EFCA passes. Unions would be pushing for these workers to publicly sign cards indicating their support for unionization. Furthermore, businesses could be met by a government arbitrator with little or no knowledge about the business and who would determine wages and benefits for the union employees in a contract that would be binding for two years. Employees would lose any bargaining power and employers would suddenly be bearing the burden of wages and benefits that could potentially bankrupt them.
America has a lot of needs right now and Sen. Harkin is right that there are several priorities facing Congress. But shouldn’t helping the economy be at the top of that list instead of pushing a special interest bill that will kill jobs?
It’s time to be honest and face the music – EFCA is bad for our nation and dishonest politicians are even worse.
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
KnightsofMalta
Dan Spencer
Dan McLaughlin
Employee Forced Choice Act
redpens (Diary) Wednesday, November 4th at 8:31AM EST (link)They don’t understand that companies don’t have an unlimited supply of money. They need to stop demanding outrageous contracts and scrap the jobs’ bank, which enables idle workers to collect their full or almost full salaries, with full benefits, and pension. The unions are the problem. The company’s that agree to their ridiculous demands are equally to blame. Both sides need to stop the madness. We shouldn’t
have to pay for their stupidity.
EFCA is a farce
conritwng Wednesday, November 4th at 9:06AM EST (link)This is so typical of Democrats and union thugs. The whole world revolves around them .Doesn’t matter as long as their coffers are full and the Congress has a SECRET VOTE..What do we now have? Gangster Government?
I’m either a birther or a moby, and the moderator doesn’t really feel it’s worth his time to determine which; both are insta-bans anyway.
Unions.Schoolczars,FCCczars,Enviromentalczars
blondi2 Wednesday, November 4th at 10:17AM EST (link)I don’t know about you but this sure looks like a government,American takeover to me! When are the people going to say ENOUGH? This administration is breaking all of our Constitutional Laws,and a few more i’m sure.Now the global warming group is changing their mind and saying that the earth is cooling! Goes to show that this isn’t about the enviroment,or if it was ,they don’t know what they are talking about!This is to take total controll of every aspect of our lives and definately our money! They are going to tax us on how much we drive,how much electricity we use,how much gas we buy .And we are going to be looking like those poor Russians in there homes wearing their thick coats,with heavy blankets over them while they are in their homes!!!!! Is this the kind of country you want to live in? If Obama signs the Cap N Trade bill we will not only be giving an obsene amount of money to the U.N. and soposedly third world countries,and corrupt governments,but we will also be giving up our Constitution! We will be under International Law! Is this what you want America to come to? We will not be America anymore,we will be run by the One World Government! This is not what I want for my children,grandchildren or myself! And I’m sorry if i’m Politically Incorrect,but I love America and no matter its’ falts it is still the best country in the world! We have to empeach this administration before it is too late! The Cap N Trade deal is comming up December the 7th. through the 18th. WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH? WAKE UP PEOPLE ,WE DON’T HAVE MUCH TIME! I know alot of you can’t believe this is happening,but just how many hints do you need?
Laws! We don' need no stinkin' laws!
realskinny (Diary) Wednesday, November 4th at 12:49PM EST (link)Almost everything this gangster government has been doing over the last year is illegal. Almost none of the TARP funds have been spent for the purpose allowed by statute. The repaid funds are a slush fund for whatever strikes BHO’s fancy. Porkulus authorized tens of billions in payoffs to criminal organizations and Democrat support groups. DOT has given over a half billion to an Obama supporter to build a non-existent car in Europe. They’re building the machinery to control and censor the internet and broadcast media. There is no end to it. Corruption on steroids.
This isn’t even counting the vicious attacks on the American people represented by the major pieces of legislation in Congress or the outright treason in the treaties being worked on. Marxist revolutionaries are being put in positions of power throughout the Administration. Obama meant it when he said he was going to “fundamentally change the United States of America”.
It has gotten so bad even the American Public, lied to 24/7 by the MSM,, is waking up. People are reading our founding documents. Conservative books are dominating the bestseller lists. People are in contact with like minded on the internet. Concerned citizens are assembling. When asked where in the Constitution was the power allowing her “Health Care Bill”, Speaker Pelosi sneered “Are you serious?”. Well, Madam Speaker, yes, the American people are serious…serious as a heart attack.
GM
dclamage Wednesday, November 4th at 1:16PM EST (link)The unions destroyed GM and USS. Now they want to take that record of success to every business big and small across America.
If some union thugs ever step onto my property and make threats against me or my family, they’ll be looking down the wrong end of a barrel.
– Dan Clamage