The debate over the Employee Free Choice Act is about many things. It’s about a worker’s right to a secret ballot, of course, as well as jobs. But it’s also about forced government contracts, a “disastrous” part of the bill that has taken center stage now that there are reports its “card check” provision could be removed. There are several reasons to oppose binding arbitration, but Investor’s Busi... Read more »
The U.S. House Education and Labor Committee continued its march toward a bigger, more intrusive federal government today with passage of sweeping legislation to impose a fully government-controlled student lending system on students and schools. The Democrats’ legislation, H.R. 3221, abolishes the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program and redirects tens of billions in government savings an... Read more »
Supporters of the Employee Free Choice Act should take a long, hard look at Michigan before moving forward with the proposal – especially in this struggling economy. That’s what The Detroit News suggested in a Sunday editorial about one of the most destructive features of the act: forced government contracts. The News knows its stuff here. Michigan enacted a similar law in 1969, Public Act 312. It... Read more »
I have to confess a certain feeling of ‘déjà vu all over again’ as we prepare to vote on yet another budget reconciliation bill that vastly expands the reach of government. Last week, we approved a plan that sets up the federal government to take control of our health care system. This morning, we’ll be voting on a bill that will put the federal government in complete control of student lending. W... Read more »
I appreciate the opportunity to speak, but I regret that my comments will be in opposition to the bill before us. I was named Ranking Member on the Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness Subcommittee earlier this year with great excitement. After all, workforce development and higher education were key priorities for me as a State Senator, and I was anxious to get to work on bipa... Read more »
Even though the “card check” aspect of the Employee Free Choice Act received a major blow last week, it’s no time to celebrate. A Wall Street Journal editorial today offers a glimpse of some equally bad ideas in the “new” card check, which is currently brewing in the Senate: "One proposal would slash the time for an organizing vote, requiring that it be held within five or 10 days after 30% of wor... Read more »
Democrats on the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee approved their planned government takeover of our nation’s health care system this morning after forcing an overnight legislative session to meet their arbitrary deadline for committee passage this week. Three Democrats joined Republicans in unanimous opposition to the plan. Rep. John Kline (R-MN), the panel’s top Republican, issued the fol... Read more »
Republicans are presenting a united front against the Democrats’ plan to allow a government takeover of our nation’s health care system, fighting to ensure Americans who like their current coverage can keep it. In an effort to ensure Democrats do not impose a flawed health care system on the American people that they themselves would not be willing to accept, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) is proposing an... Read more »
With the unemployment rate at its highest level in a quarter-century and the federal deficit at its highest level ever, Republicans are doing all they can to ensure Democrats don’t make our economy any worse with their proposed trillion dollar government takeover of our health care system. The question is: Will Democrats stand up for workers, families, and the economy? “There’s no denying that the... Read more »
A worker’s right to a secret ballot became a little safer today as a handful senators dropped their support of the “card check” provision in the Employee Free Choice Act. But while this appears to be good news for workers, rejection of the politically toxic proposal may merely be camouflage for an agenda to impose alternative revisions to workplace law that would be equally threatening to workers ... Read more »
