I would like to begin by thanking our distinguished panel of witnesses for appearing today. We appreciate that they have taken time out of their busy schedules to share their expertise and experiences with us. Today’s hearing provides Members of this Subcommittee with the opportunity to learn more about the emerging workforce sector encompassed by the term “green jobs.” As we have already seen, Co... Read more »
The undemocratic card check scheme has been the subject of relentless criticism for months now, with detractors highlighting everything from its transparent political implications to its shocking assault on workers’ rights. Although the bill has been dubbed the Employee Free Choice Act by its supporters, it’s hard to imagine a more misleading name. In fact, the bill would actually limit free choic... Read more »
There continues to be a great deal of confusion and outright misinformation about what the card check proposal would mean for secret ballots in workplace organizing elections. Opponents of the anti-worker plan, including us, have pointed to the plain language of the legislation, which states: `(6) … If the Board finds that a majority of the employees in a unit appropriate for bargaining has signed... Read more »
For months now, editorial pages all around the country have been sounding off against the stunningly misnamed Employee Free Choice Act, a bill that would give workers anything but a free choice when deciding whether to join a union. Public opinion remains squarely against the measure, better known as card check, and in recent days its legislative prospects have grown increasingly dim. Recognizing ... Read more »
One of the benefits of living in a free society is that its citizens are free to create. This freedom has given birth to art forms that Americans – and people around the world – have enjoyed for decades. Take music: Blues. Country. Jazz. Rock ‘n’ roll. All of them come from America. Then there’s Broadway and Hollywood. For more than a century, American films, plays, musicals and TV shows have been... Read more »
With yesterday’s news that Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter will join Senate Republicans—and perhaps a handful of Senate Democrats as well—in opposing the anti-worker card check plan, it seems that workplace democracy is on safer ground, at least for now. Of course, efforts to tilt the playing field in favor of special interests are sure to continue, so it’s a safe bet that this controversial sc... Read more »
Today’s hearing is about work and pay. It’s the engine that drives the American Dream. Republicans have long believed in the value and dignity of work, and the rewards that come from it. Take welfare reform. Back in the 1990s, Republicans pushed to change a system that – for decades – gave money to people for not working. Today, welfare recipients earn their benefits by working. Or training for a ... Read more »
Dear Republican Colleague: I am writing to invite you to cosponsor the Priorities in Education Spending Act which would repeal a number of ineffective and unnecessary federal education programs. With congressional Democrats on an out-of-control spending spree, this bill will stand up for students and taxpayers, and for future generations by proposing real solutions to reform federal spending and i... Read more »
Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), the top Republican on the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee, today joined fellow House Republicans in outlining a series of principles aimed at helping American families protect and rebuild their hard-earned savings, from college funds to retirement accounts and everything in between. The proposals unveiled today were developed by the House GOP Savings R... Read more »
Opposition continues to mount against the undemocratic card check scheme, with small businesses speaking up this week about how the controversial legislation is bad for their workers and bad for the economy. The Senate Republican Policy Committee and Senate Republican Conference joined together yesterday to host a hearing on small businesses and how they would be impacted by the so-called Employee... Read more »