Senate Republicans block union bill

[sinkingfeeling]

Source: Houston Chronicle

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked a bill that would allow labor unions to organize workplaces without a secret ballot election.

Democrats were unable to get the 60 votes needed to force consideration of the Employee Free Choice Act, ending organized labor's chance to win its top legislative priority from Congress.

The final vote was 51-48.



Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/politics/4921105.html

---

Why do Republicans hate American workers?

[ananda]

1. nasty

nt

[atreides1]

2. They Don't HAte American Workers

They just love the Corporations more!

[barb162]

18. Yeah, where does Congress get its really big bucks?

Corporations and the super rich.

[tbyg52]

50. Well, the *really* disgusting thing

Is how small those "big bucks" really are.

You can buy millions for tens of thousands, billions for hundreds of thousands.

Best investment there is. Maybe we should get together and buy ourselves a congresscritter.

[Acadia Blue]

3. I would like to know which corrupt dems votes with the pigs

[redqueen]

5. Only as many as were needed.

I bet they take turns getting their hands dirty.

:puke:

[Norquist Nemesis]

6. Huh? It was 51-48

:shrug:

[barb162]

19. That makes sense

Where is the big money coming from? How does a Congress person get the big money? VOTE ANTI-LABOR.

It's disgusting.

[SharonRB]

12. Sounds like this was totally a party-line vote

We needed 60 votes, but only got a simple majority.

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. Why? Because American Workers take "their money"

In the eyes of the Cons, it's not hard earned money for hard work...it's an expense taken out of their money.

[0007]

7. 'Tis hard to believe people are so ignorant!

Cheap labor in....Unions out.....Cost of living up...Sweat shops in......Big Brother is HERE

WAR IS PEACE

FREEDOM IS SLAVERY

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

[dwp6577]

9. triple-o 7 is spot on with the comment...

the ignorance of people who would vote/root against their own best interests makes me shake my head with that crazy lip flappy sound!!!

[dkofos]

8. COCKSUCKERS!!!!!!!

[ldf]

36. HEY!

I resemble that remark, ASSHOLE!

:grr:

[TwilightGardener]

10. Can somebody explain to me how a public process of election helps

more than a secret ballot? When I vote, I kinda LIKE secret ballots. Don't you? I don't understand how this is helpful for labor unions.

[Malidictus Maximus]

28. I am curious, too

It would seem that if fear of reprisals form the Corporate Overlords were a factor then a secret ballot would be preferable to signed cards.
I consider myself *STRONGLY* pro union, just am wondering what I do not understand- could someone enlighten me?
Thanks

[One_Life_To_Give]

30. IIRC The secret Ballot was to prevent Corp abuse

The reason for a secret ballot was so the Co couldn't retaliate against anyone it saw signing a union petition/card. Hard in any case based on a public signing of a card to argue against intimidation/fear of retaliation to either sign or not sign such a card.

[VP505]

29. The "secret ballot'

is another one of those meaningless terms used so well by the RePukes to hide what's easily going on. As I understand it they (Union supporters) are trying to make it easier for employees to unionize, the anti union crowd wants to make it harder by keeping the secret ballot provision in the law giving employers a better shot at killing any chance for the employees to unionize. There are other issues but basically that's what its all about.

[ldf]

37. and we should not consider the secret ballot sacred

because the only way we may get a democratic president is if we make it known who we voted for.

if it requires the democrats to individually verify votes, have them certified/notarized, whatever, i have no problem with it. we certainly can't trust the machines.

i am not ashamed of who i vote for. no one else should be, either.

that is a scare tactic from the past.

[Omaha Steve]

51. This bill did not eliminate secret elections, that was Rep counter spin

If 30% of the workers signed cards, an election would be held. But it would be done quickly and new penalties would make employers think twice about illegal activities. They would also have to bargain after a majority vote yes.

I was fired for union organizing in the early 80's It took 3 & 1/2 years to get to the appeals court for me to win. Today many employees wait over 10 years.

My NLRB case: http://www.nlrb.gov/shared_files/Board%20Decisions/261/261-38.pdf

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

11. Straight down party lines.

Grouped By Vote Position

YEAs ---51

Akaka (D-HI)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Clinton (D-NY)
Conrad (D-ND)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Kohl (D-WI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Obama (D-IL)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Specter (R-PA)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Webb (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

NAYs ---48

Alexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Craig (R-ID)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Dole (R-NC)
Domenici (R-NM)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Lott (R-MS)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Roberts (R-KS)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Stevens (R-AK)
Sununu (R-NH)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)
Not Voting - 1
Johnson (D-SD)

Hot offa Thomas.

[ellenfl]

14. only specter crossed the party line. so sad. eom

[dbackjon]

23. Yep

No difference between Dems and Reps...

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

24. Huh?

Surely you jest.

[Chulanowa]

49. Pretty sure that was sarcasm

Given the context, anyway.

[dbackjon]

58. Sarcasm, indeed

Nothing (other than Republicans) makes my blood boil with the assertation that there is no difference between Democrats and Republicans. Our Dems may make mistakes, and not always vote the way we want, but they are a million times better than Republicans. Hell, even Lieberman voted with us.

[spotbird]

13. Typical. nt

[thoughtanarchist]

15. I'm pretty pissed right here...

But now I think I understand why they were willing to bend on the war funding bill by attaching the min wage hike. It could just as easily been blocked by the obstructionists.

Where is the outrage over "filibustering obstructionism" now?
Where is the echo chamber repeating the meme?

:mad:

[knight_of_the_star]

16. That would assume we have a liberal media

Would be nice if we did

[denverbill]

17. How the hell did the Republican Congress ever pass their tax cuts?

If Democrats don't have the f'ing balls to get this stuff passed, why bother electing them? Why the hell do they need 60 votes? Are they afraid of a filibuster? If so, why? Let the damned Republicans hold up work on everything else while they filibuster this bill and lets see them explain it to the American people.

If they are afraid of a veto, then stop being afraid. Make Bush veto the damned bill.

[sinkingfeeling]

21. Try Civics 101 next time. It takes 60 votes for 'cloture'... cutting off debate and getting that

famous 'up or down' vote on the bill. It's the GOP that's was keeping the debate (filabuster) alive and this vote was to end it. So, the real bill will not get to be voted on, because the GOP blocked it.

[denverbill]

32. Try reading my post next time.

I was saying if the Republicans won't give you the necessary votes to shut off debate, don't allow any other issue to be debated until they do. Let them actually DO a filibuster (with an 'i', not an 'a').

[Frances]

31. I have always wondered why so many were anti-Dem

on this board. Now I know why. It's ignorance.

Evidently a lot of DUers are just plain ignorant of how our Constitution works. Every single Democrat (except Johnson who is out sick) voted for the bill. One Republican voted for it. But it takes 60 votes to get the bill passed. If only a few more Repubs had joined all of the Dems, all would be OK.

Blaming the Dems is just plain wrong.

[denverbill]

33. It doesn't take 60 to get the bill passed.

It takes a simple majority. It does take 60 for cloture, but if the Republicans won't vote for cloture, then force them to spend the next 6 months standing on the floor of the Senate debating this bill. If they want debate to be kept open, then keep it open and don't do anything else.

[Frances]

35. Thanks for the correction

I was using shorthand. Without the 60 votes for cloture, no bill.

I think the American people don't want the Congress to just consider one bill over and over. Do you?

[denverbill]

52. Well, that's up to the Republicans then.

They are the ones who don't want to end the debate. They are the ones demanding that debate be kept open. They will be the ones forced to stand on the Senate floor day after day after day 'debating' this bill. If they want to end the debate and move on to new business, they can vote for cloture. If not, keep debating it.

[Frances]

56. I hear you

But most Americans (and many DUers) will blame the Dems, not the Repubs if the SEnate stays on one subject.

[rocktivity]

53. DING DING DING! Denverbill, you're our grand prize winner!

Let the damned Republicans hold up work on everything else while they filibuster this bill and let's see them explain it to the American people...Make Bush veto the damned bill.

That's exactly how I look at it. Let the Rethugs go right ahead and block, filibuster, veto, and obstruct their heads off--and THEN let's see them use it as their '08 campaign platform!

:headbang:
rocknation

[More Than A Feeling]

20. This should be the second bill up for consideration for the next Democratic president.

[dbackjon]

22. God damn them

I am not sure who I am more pissed at - the Fucking republicans who won't let any votes through, or the fucking democrats who LET votes through the last 4 years....

[Ian David]

25. Maybe now the unions will work harder to elect more Dems so we can get the bill passed? n/t

[MaineDem]

26. Susan Collins, the union brothers and sisters in Maine will remember this vote

Here's one chance you had to show that "moderation" you're pushing so hard. Another example of how you stick to GOP principles.

Watch your back; Tom Allen is gaining on you!

[rodeodance]

27. Damm!!

[last_texas_dem]

34. Hypocrites

I thought the 'pugs were devout advocates of the "upperdown" vote...?

[DainBramaged]

38. One of these fucking years we'll have a 60 vote majority

And the press will not mention a word about the obstructionism of the Reich wing.

[lonestarnot]

39. For the same fucking reason they hate America!

[rocktivity]

40. Everything the Rethugs veto puts another nail in their coffin for '08.

They can veto everything 51-48 for all I care--it's better than the Dems doing nothing at all.

:headbang:
rocknation

[rcdean]

41. Since when did Secret Ballots become a bad thing for labor?

Sorry I just don't get it.

Maybe things have changed, but the last time I was involved with this, there was a petition process (which could be done by individual cards as well) to see whether to hold an election. Petitions were submitted to the NLRB which then came in and supervised a secret ballot vote by all non-management employees.

Has this processed changed? How?

Can't somebody explain the damn facts here instead of just parroting the party line?

[athena]

60. The bill is not against secret ballots.

Next time, read up on the issue before accusing people of "parroting the party line".

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070101/editors
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060206/miller

The bill does not ban secret ballots. It allows a union to be formed if a majority of workers sign cards stating that they want to form a union. Corporations are against the majority sign-up process because the secret ballot process gives them much more time to intimidate workers, hold mandatory anti-union meetings and spread misinformation about the time, place, and rules of the vote. The bill also stiffens penalties for corporations engaging in anti-union intimidation tactics.

Or do you seriously think workers will be forced to join unions against their will? What evidence is there that such a thing is likely to happen?

Here is a blog explaining the arguments in more detail:
http://www.democratictalkradio.com/wordpress/?p=285

[Omaha Steve]

42. Senate Republicans Block Labor Bill

Source: Associated Press

Senate Republicans Block Labor Bill
Senate Republicans Halt Measure That Would Reform Union Formation Practices

WASHINGTON, Jun. 26, 2007
(AP) Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked a bill that would have allowed labor organizations to unionize workplaces without secret ballot elections.

Democrats were unable to get the 60 votes needed to force consideration of the Employee Free Choice Act, ending labor's chance to win its top legislative priority from Congress.

The final vote was 51-48.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., had said for months that he would stop the legislation. The White House also made clear that the bill would be vetoed if it passed Congress.


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/26/ap/politics/main2983873.shtml

[Vincardog]

43. WTF happened to the disdain the GOP had for the filibuster?

[Green Mountain Dem]

44. We have to make sure......

That we HAVE 60 or 61 votes of our own after Nov 2008....then Joe and his friends can kiss our ass!!

[Omaha Steve]

45. This is a dupe of an earlier story

I don't know why search didn't bring up the earlier story. I am sorry.

[OHdem10]

46. Your headline should be repeated all over the country.

Somehow this type information stays here in DC.

The People need to know the Republicans are obstructing
at every turn.

[Middle finga]

47. Dems don't seem to be any match for the rethuglican

When Republicans had a slim majority they push Bush's and their agenda through even if it meant holding the vote open, twisting arms, invoking the so called nuclear option and now that the dems are in the majority they don't seem to be able stop anything or pass anything. The dems got to learn how to get down and dirty with those assholes. We really need to consider replacing the dems leaders in congress, we need someone who's willing to stand up those republican bastards and someone who's willing to put Lieberman in his place.

[NI4NI]

48. Remember when Tom Daschle was an "obstructionist"

The Pukes labeled him that up until the day Daschle lost his re-election bid.

[JerseygirlCT]

54. Would someone mind explaining to me what the problem is

with a secret ballot?

I'm afraid I'm not seeing why that's a bad thing.

[SergeyDovlatov]

55. Need explanation too. I thought a secret ballot allows to express persons preferences better ...

without fear of intimidation by either side. Why is it bad?



:eyes:

[Norquist Nemesis]

57. There's no problem with it and the bill doesn't eliminate it

The problem isn't the secret ballot itself; it's the process and who controls it. As it stands, the ballot can take one or two years to even take place. In that time, management is able to ummm...take care of the "union problem".

Not up on all of the ins and outs as I used to be, but from what I understood, secret ballots can still be called for and take place. In fact, the card check would be prelimary to having a vote if called for. As it stands, employees/union organizers have to jump through so many hoops just to even get a vote all the while management is doing its thing.

[JerseygirlCT]

59. Ok, thanks! nt