Zach Wamp who is running in the Tn Republican Governor Primary is continually calling his credentials as a fiscal conservative, free market supporter and pro-US Constitutionalist. I’m finding that Wamp is more a political animal than any of the positive principled values noted above. This pro union, anti states rights push with H.R. 413 shows the farce of the Wamp Campaign. We do have the vote of Zach Wamp for H.R. 1586 to Impose an additional tax on bonuses received from certain TARP recipients. Apparently, Wamp has no problem in targeting specific individuals for a 90% tax on bonuses. This vote was especially interesting to me since I’d sat through a bloggers meet up with Zach Wamp just before this vote and he was espousing his free market principles and conservative values while also expressing his regret for voting for the TARP bill. Who can possibly believe what Zach Wamp has to say since he seems to have situational Conservative principles. That phenomenon also seems to apply to Tennessee’s Blue Dog Democrats. It all depends on whether they are in Tennessee meeting with their constituents or in D.C. having to cowtow to their exalted leader Speaker Nancy Pelousi.

I will note there are other Republicans sponsoring this bill: Judy Biggert (R-IL13),David Camp (R-MI4), Shelley Capitao (R-WV2), Geoff Davis (R-KY4),Charles Dent (R-PA15),Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL21),Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL25),John Duncan (R-TN2),Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO8),Elton Gallegly (R-CA24), Jim Gerlach (R-PA6), Samuel Graves (R-MO6), Duncan Hunter (R-CA52), Walter Jones (R-NC3), Peter King (R-NY3), Steven LaTourette (R-OH14), Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ2), John McHugh (R-NY23), Tim Murphy (R-PA18), Thomas Petri (R-WI6), Todd Platts (R-PA19), Ted Poe (R-TX2), Dennis Rehberg (R-MT), Dave Reichert (R-WA8), Micahel Rogers (R-MI8), Thomas Rooney (R-FL16), Peter Roskam (R-IL6), Ileana Ros-Lehtinien (R-FL18), Paul Ryan (R-WI1), John Shimkus (R-IL19), John Sullivan (R-OK1), Lee Terry (R-NE2), Todd Tiahrt (R-OH12), Michael Turner (R-OH3), Don Young (R-AK).

Then of course we have to include other TN ‘Blue Dog Democrats’ in this list: Lincoln Davis (D-TN4), Bart Gordon (D-TN6).

So much for Republican and Tennessee Blue Dogs who cherish the US Constitution and our TN Right to Work laws.

H.R. 413 – PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE COOPERATION ACT OF 2009

Yet another misnamed, blatant attempt to payoff the labor unions for the vast amounts of money “donated” to corrupt labor friendly politicos. The bill would force municipalities and special districts to recognize and negotiate with a police or fire department union.

Forget states rights and any concept of home rule. Forget that the people who pay the bills, the local taxpayers, might like a say in how their money is spent. Forget that these public service employees already have a valid employment contract, willingly signed, and that in many cases the voters approve unionization if asked.

Nope, not enough according to the unions desperate for new members. We need a federal law because the people might not agree with us. Very democratic!

Hopefully this abomination will die in committee and we’ll see another payback quashed.

H.R. 413:Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2009

I had some other surprises in looking at the sponsors of this bill. I heard Rep Paul Ryan of WI give a rousing speech at CPAC 2009 espousing the US Constitution and Conservative principles. Then there’s Duncan Hunter who took over his father’s district, ran on Conservative principles and adhering to the US Constitution. Funny how nuanced that US Constitution must be!

Cross Posted at Bear Creek Ledger