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GOP blasts Boyda on union proposal
Here are today's headlines from the Kansas congressional delegation:Rep. Nancy Boyda (D) ![][1][(The Hill) House GOP strategists take aim at Dem freshmen on union organizing measure :][2] As House Democrats and Republicans prepare to face off on a bill touted as the first clash between business and labor in the 110th Congress, GOP strategists are eyeing vulnerable freshman Democrats who have put their name on the legislation. Ken Spain, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), said that several freshmen are taking a political risk by support the legislation, which has produced sharp partisan divisions. One of its most contentious provisions would eliminate the requirement of a secret ballot for workers attempting to unionize. "In return for half a billion dollars in contributions to Democrat candidates in 2006, [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is delivering the lock-step support of members like Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) and Nancy Boyda (D-Kan.) in an effort to destroy a worker's right to privacy in an election," said Spain. "Their support for such anti-worker, small-business-stifling legislation is completely out of step with their districts. This will certainly not go unnoticed for them back home." ... On her part, Boyda rejected the implication that her vote was out of step with her district. "I have never met an American that doesn't believe in the right to organize," she said. "We are a working-family district. I strongly believe that people have a fundamental right to organize and that right has been severely diminished. "I think Kansans will stand behind me," she added.Sen. Pat Roberts (R)![][3][(KC Star) Rural cuts:][4] Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas says the Bush administration's budget proposes to cut $143 million from the rural health-care delivery system. "The proposed budget has drastic cuts in payments to rural physicians, hospitals and home health-care providers," Roberts, a Republican and member of the Senate Rural Health Care Caucus, said at a recent hearing of the Senate Finance Committee. "I don't see how these providers, often the sole provider in many communities, can sustain these cuts." Roberts said 88 out of 105 Kansas counties are considered rural or frontier and that more than 75 percent of the state's community hospitals are in rural areas. [1]: http://ljworld.com/specials/election04/primary/boyda.jpg [2]: http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/022807/union.html [3]: http://roberts.senate.gov/Roberts-020405-18060-080-CFFflipped.jpg [4]: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/business/16790176.htm
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28 February 2007
at 9:04 a.m.
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dagopman (Anonymous) says…
Wrong Nancy. People agree with the right to unionize but they also agree that people should be afforded the protection of privacy in the unionization election process. People should be free of the undue pressure placed on workers to vote in the way union bosses feel they should. Nancy you are way out of bounds on this one. You are nothing more than a rubberstamp for the Pelosi regime.
28 February 2007
at 9:19 a.m.
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63BC (Anonymous) says…
Seconded. No secret ballot? Seriously? Geez, how far in the tank is this lady for the union bosses?
28 February 2007
at 9:21 a.m.
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dagopman (Anonymous) says…
I just don't understand Boyda's position on this issue. Voters are allowed the right to cast their vote in private during any other election, why should a ballot not be secret or private when deciding whether to organize a union. No other reason than for union supporters to be able to pressure those in opposition or riding the fence on the matter.
28 February 2007
at 9:34 a.m.
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75x55 (Anonymous) says…
“No other reason than for union supporters to be able to pressure those in opposition or riding the fence on the matter.”
BINGO!
28 February 2007
at 10:03 a.m.
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Jamesaust (Anonymous) says…
“I strongly believe that people have a fundamental right to organize and that right has been severely diminished.”
By secret ballots?
The real statement here is that union membership is in decline so labor(union) supporters want government to put its thumb on the scale.
28 February 2007
at 10:19 a.m.
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dagopman (Anonymous) says…
Her true colors show through once again.
28 February 2007
at 11:07 a.m.
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merrill (Anonymous) says…
I wonder if we have the whole story on this matter. It seems a bit peculiar that when most votes are made it is by secret ballot so what's up?
28 February 2007
at 11:16 a.m.
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prpltoes (Anonymous) says…
seems like the far right spin is working again. HR 800 is not about doing away with the secret ballot. It is about making sure people don't get fired because they want a safe and fair work environment. Do some homwork.
28 February 2007
at 12:05 p.m.
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janeyb (Anonymous) says…
Union Bosses???!!! This isn't the 1920's/1930's. My Dad's a union rep and sits on mostly safety committees etc., and doesn't own a machine gun. The secret ballot when trying to unionize has more to do with not being fired if the vote fails. There has to be more to the bill than what is revealed here.
I just asked my Dad and he said a union would want a secret ballot, because businesses fire their employees for trying to organize. There is something weird in this article, because business and Republicans would support doing away with the secret ballot, not unions. Boyda must be doing a pretty good job if Reps. are having to spin her votes to this extent.
28 February 2007
at 12:10 p.m.
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Jamesaust (Anonymous) says…
“HR 800 is not about doing away with the secret ballot.”
I can put up with a lot - but not lying.
H.R. 800 allows an alternative method to certifying a union that gets around the traditional secret ballot. Certifying a union as a bargaining representative allows the union to collect bargaining dues from all workers, regardless of whether each worker wants a union. (Note: unions like dues: dues = power.)
That alternative method (essentially publically signing a petition) does not allow workers who do NOT want a union to make that choice without subjecting themselves to harrassment by union supporters. So, when union president Tony Soprano comes looking for the workers' signatures, how “safe and fair” an environment does anyone think will exist?
People can see it here:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D…
None of this matters: the White House has been clear that this is a guaranteed Presidential veto.
28 February 2007
at 12:22 p.m.
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dagopman (Anonymous) says…
If each worker doesn't want to be a part of the union, that worker should be able to opt out and not pay union dues.
28 February 2007
at 12:55 p.m.
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Agnostick (Anonymous) says…
Regardless of which brand of extremism you happen to be peddling, the secret vote should be kept “secret” for two reasons:
1) Prevents workers from being harassed by union representatives for voting against the union
2) Prevents workers from being harassed by management for voting in favor of the union
This way, a man or woman who wants to play their cards close to the vest can do so without catching flack from anyone.
The secret ballot evens the playing field for all parties concerned.
Agnostick
agnostick@excite.com
28 February 2007
at 2:01 p.m.
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dagopman (Anonymous) says…
I have been satisfied with the job of Governor Sebelius and AG Morrison but have indeed been disappointed with Rep. Boyda. She has been nothing but a rubberstamp for the Pelosi machine. A lot of flash but no substance.
28 February 2007
at 3:30 p.m.
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opinion (Anonymous) says…
Continued culture of corruption:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/politics/02/2…
House Democratic caucus approves Speaker Nancy Pelosi's appointment of Jefferson to the Homeland Security panel.
28 February 2007
at 4:15 p.m.
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Agnostick (Anonymous) says…
I can see both positives and negatives about that assignment, opinion.
Agnostick
agnostick@excite.com
28 February 2007
at 5:02 p.m.
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dagopman (Anonymous) says…
He should be serving on the Budget Committee. He was able to put away money for a rainy day.
28 February 2007
at 5:20 p.m.
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Agnostick (Anonymous) says…
I nominate dagopman's 5:02pm for “Post of the Day”!!
Agnostick
agnostick@excite.com
28 February 2007
at 5:26 p.m.
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opinion (Anonymous) says…
:^)