12/11/12 – Words Matter on All Fired Up Radio
Right-to-Work laws
Michigan SB 116 (8 pages long) & HB 4003 (20 pages). Pdfs to the bills here: http://www.wilx.com/news/headlines/Michigan-Senate-Bill-116-and-Michigan-House-Bill-4003-183042051.html)
Michigan state legislators approved right-to-work legislation amid intense protests Tuesday: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/12/11/teachers-call-out-as-protests-rev-up-against-michigan-union-bill/
What did they really do here?
Passed a right-to-work law.
If you wanted to work in the auto industry in Michigan or as a public school teacher or in any industry that has a union machine, then you are forced into union membership. You have no choice but to pay union dues, deducted from your paycheck. It is mandated. You have no right to work unless you financially support the applicable union machine, even if you never went to a meeting, wanted nothing to do with the union, and completely disagreed with everything the union stands for — their political donations, candidates, and lobbying on behalf of left-wing Democrats in our government.
They are major political players. They organize, campaign, protest, advertise, lobby, and if the union supports the Communist Party of America, then in a union state you are forced to support the Communist Party of America too.
Democrat Rep. Doug Geiss in Michigan: There will be blood…
Undoing “a hundred years of labor relations.” Purely baseless fear-mongering.
“There will be blood, there will be repercussions,” State Democratic Rep. Douglas Geiss, speaking on the House floor on Tuesday, warned ahead of the votes. The final votes on the House side Tuesday deliver a blow to the labor movement in the heart of the U.S. auto industry. The measures ban unions from demanding dues from workers. http://nation.foxnews.com/right-work/2012/12/11/right-work-showdown-michigan-beginning-end-big-labor
Michigan Republicans are not denying anyone a right to join a union. They are not denying unions the right to collectively bargain or negotiate in any way. Michigan workers have not been denied any rights with this legislation. They are simply denying the unions the power to force you to join them.
This legislation gives Michigan workers more rights. Michigan workers will also have more power within their own unions. If your union leadership works against you, your industry, or your politics, then you, the individual Michigan citizen, will now have the right to say ‘No’ to union leadership, putting the power of your own checkbook back into your own hands. The union leadership doesn’t like this, because as it stands, they have the power to do whatever the hell they want with your money, and they don’t have to listen to you at all. I saw an estimate that there are 25% of existing union-due-payers who will stop paying their dues and drop out of the unions if they aren’t forced to pay them. This is about money. Polls show a possibility of 25% of existing union-due-payers dropping out of the unions if they aren’t forced to pay them, taking an estimated $100 million out of Michigan union hands.
Judge Napolitano joined Fox and Friends to decipher the issue at hand. He said, “Right now in Michigan, if you are in certain industries […] you are forced to join the union. If you don’t join the union, then the government forces your employer to deduct the equivalent of your union dues from your paycheck and give it to the union.”
Napolitano explained that this impinges upon a person’s First Amendment rights, and that the new legislation would allow workers to choose whether or not to give money to the unions. According to the First Amendment, Americans are guaranteed the freedom of association, and in turn, the freedom not to associate. “For generations, the states have trampled this right. Now, the right is resurgent again.”
Heritage article:
Regardless of news reports, the people of Michigan are behind this. A recent poll showed that 51 percent of Michigan voters support right-to-work. Only 41 percent are opposed. In fact, 40 percent of union households supported it. In November, Michigan voters rejected a ballot proposal that would have amended the state constitution to prevent the legislature from passing a right-to-work law and elevated union contracts above state law. The New York Times called it “a test case on enshrining the rights of unions,” and unions spent more than $23 million campaigning for the initiative. It lost by 15 points.
They’re still campaigning. Yesterday, President Obama campaigned for the labor movement in Detroit by making false claims about the law:
What we shouldn’t be doing is trying to take away your rights to bargain for better wages and working conditions. We shouldn’t be doing that. These so-called “right to work” laws, they don’t have to do with economics; they have everything to do with politics. What they’re really talking about is giving you the right to work for less money.
Those are strong words. They would be even stronger if they were true. As Heritage labor expert James Sherk explains:
Right-to-work laws prevent unions from imposing mandatory fees, giving employees the right to work without paying union dues. Otherwise, right-to-work has no effect on collective bargaining. All other negotiations continue as before.
Of course, the unions have a lot to lose. Sherk points out that “Polling shows a quarter of Michigan’s government employees would opt out of unions under a right-to-work law. Losing those members would cost Michigan’s unions more than $100 million annually.”
Unions losing in their last stronghold: http://blog.heritage.org/2012/12/11/morning-bell-unions-losing-in-their-last-stronghold/
This Republican congress in the state of Michigan was elected by The People of the state of Michigan, as was their governor, Rick Snyder. The minority Democrats have not been stifled or strong-armed. They simply didn’t have the votes to stop the measures. Representation worked, and the unions are fighting it.
Fox coverage of union thuggery:
Video Gallery of Union Thuggery: http://michellemalkin.com/2012/12/11/video-gallery-of-union-thuggery-in-michigan/
Troopers use night sticks on Right-to-Work protesters: http://www.wilx.com/breaking/home/Troopers-Use-Night-Sticks-on-Right-to-Work-Protesters-183048891.html#storyTitleSummary
Unions are not simply negotiators for fair employment. Unions are a powerful political tool, funneling hundreds of millions of dollars into our political system every year in support of left-wing Democrats.
Filibuster Rule-Changes
Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Tom Udall (D-N.M.) said Wednesday that they’d be fine with the proposed changes to the filibuster rules made by Democrats if they become the minority party in the Senate.
The two senators outlined the proposed changes: ending the filibuster on motions to proceed to a bill; ending the filibuster on motions to go to conference with the House on a bill; and requiring that a lawmaker filibustering stay on the floor to debate.
Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell has been adamant against the changes, as have most Republican Senators.
McConnell added that in accordance with Senate rules, such an effort would require a 67-vote majority, and that Reid’s approach to make the changes with a simple 51-vote majority — a procedure that has been labeled a “nuclear option” by its opponents — would be “bad for the institution, bad for the country.”
…
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) has been working with Reid on the proposed changes, which would effectively force any senators wanting to delay a vote to visibly take to the floor and talk. Once every senator had left the floor and could no longer debate, a cloture vote would be taken that would require only a simple majority rather than two-thirds of the chamber in order to pass muster.
12/4/12, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/04/harry-reid-filibuster-reform_n_2239401.html
We should be demanding the same representation in the minority of Congress today that Democrats had when they were the minority party for more than a decade. It is not acceptable for our congressional representatives in either the House or the Senate to change our constitutional representation in favor of mob-rule democracy, just to make passing unpopular legislation more convenient.
If a 2/3 majority cannot be reached on filibuster rule-changes, then they shouldn’t be made. As it stands, a filibuster can be busted. All it takes is 60 votes. Democrats will have 54 votes in the Senate in January, with 45 Republicans and 1 Independent. If Democrats can’t muster four Republican votes on any measure, then they can’t possibly be compromising or reaching across the aisle. If they can’t pull the necessary votes, then they should not be able to change the rules to end a filibuster.
In 2005 a Republican-controlled Senate tried to change filibuster rules much like Reid is today. In 2005, Democrats spoke out on behalf of the republic, the founders, the constitution, and checks and balances. All these constitution-thumping Democrats in the minority included: Barack Obama, Harry Reid, Joe Biden, Dick Durbin, Charles Schumer, Tom Harkin, Patty Murray, Dianne Feinstein, John Kerry, and Bill Nelson.
Short-lived Democrat outrage:
Harry Reid vs. Harry Reid:
Harry Reid of 2012 is un-American. Just ask Harry Reid of 2005. http://weaselzippers.us/2012/12/08/video-harry-reid-calls-harry-reid-un-american-for-trying-to-change-filibuster-rules/
Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, interviewing Democrat Sen. Charles Schumer
WALLACE: Let me just ask you about the filibuster. And you’re right, there are arguments on both sides, Senator Schumer.
But when Democrats were in the minority a few years ago and you guys were filibustering George W. Bush’s judicial nominations, you had a different view about the filibuster. Let’s watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCHUMER: The wisdom of our republic has shown that when the Senate does slow things down, when the Senate does invoke checks and balances, the republic is better off.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: Senator, what’s the difference except for the fact that you’re now in the majority?
SCHUMER: Nothing. No, nothing, that’s exactly right. And the filibuster, I am not for going to a House of Representatives where 51 votes decides everything. But the filibuster has been overused. It’s not just used on major issues like very significant judges, Supreme Court leaders, the courts of appeal, health care — obviously, that shouldn’t have passed by 51 votes. It needed 60.
But it’s used on such trivial things and not by the whole majority –
WALLACE: Wait, wait, we’re going to run out of time. Didn’t health care pass on reconciliation by 51 votes?
SCHUMER: Health care got 60 votes.
WALLACE: I thought there was a — when it finally came back it went on –
(CROSSTALK)
SCHUMER: Well, there has to be, but not — not until after it passed by 60 votes.
WALLACE: Yes, but on the changes it passed at 51?
SCHUMER: No. No. You have to do –
WALLACE: Anyway, it’s a technical point but anyway, what you are saying that you think there has to be some reforms?
SCHUMER: Correct.
WALLACE: OK.
Whole interview & transcript from Fox News Sunday: Sens. Schumer (D), Corker (R) on chances of ‘fiscal cliff’ deal; Israel’s response to Syria’s civil war: http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/fox-news-sunday-chris-wallace/2012/12/09/sens-schumer-corker-chances-fiscal-cliff-deal-israels-response-syrias-civil-war#p//v/2024842067001
Chuck Schumer’s reason for wanting to change senates filibuster rules because Dems are the majority: http://weaselzippers.us/2012/12/10/chuck-schumers-reason-for-wanting-to-change-senates-filibuster-rules-because-dems-are-the-majority/
Senate Dems seek rule changes, GOP wary: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jan/6/senate-democrats-seek-rule-changes-gop-780975651/?page=all
Debt Ceiling
Obama’s not going to play that game:
Obama wants unilateral control of the debt limit. He’s not playing “that game” of cutting spending, but he is politicizing the debt-limit increase by bringing it into negotiations over tax rates. He asked Congress for the power of the purse strings for this country in a joke of a “compromise” to raise taxes. The argument that Republicans in Congress are the obstruction to Obama’s agenda is offensive. Republicans in Congress were elected by voters within their individual districts in this country. When they obstruct a foolhardy policy that one Statist administration wants to ram down our throats unchecked, they are representing their constituents, us — the people who elected these Republicans to represent us in Congress. Your individual representation does not come through the presidency, but through Congress. Obama’s power grabs are not about representing you, but dictating to you.
“All power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Lord Acton
Recent Obama power-grabs: http://www.reagancoalition.com/articles/2012/20121207005-busy-grabbing.html
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