‘We Must Begin to Find the Answers That the American People Demand’
During a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today criticized the $165 million in bonuses and retention pay distributed by the American International Group and repeated his call to create a Financial Markets Commission to fully investigate the near collapse of the banking system and the loss of tens of trillions of dollars.
“We were all reminded yesterday when word of the AIG bonus payouts hit the news of the frustration the American people have with the financial difficulties this nation is experiencing. We must begin to find the answers that all of us seek and that the American public demands,” Isakson said. “I urge my colleagues to look at the Financial Markets Commission. We can learn from the mistakes that have been made, we can put in the transparency necessary to prevent it from happening in the future and we can restore the confidence of the American people.”
On Jan. 22, Isakson and Kent Conrad, D-N.D., introduced legislation to create a seven-member, bipartisan Financial Markets Commission. The commission is modeled after the 9-11 Commission, which thoroughly and independently investigated the failures leading up to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and made sound recommendations on where we needed to improve to prevent another attack in the future.
Likewise, the Financial Markets Commission will have one year to investigate all the circumstances that led to this financial crisis. The panel will have the authority to refer to the U.S. Attorney General and state attorneys general any evidence that institutions or individuals may have violated existing laws. At the end of its investigation, the Commission will report to the President and to the Congress its recommendations for statutory or regulatory changes necessary to protect our country from a repeat of this financial collapse.
This bipartisan Commission shall include two appointees by the President and one appointee each from the Speaker of the House, the House Republican Leader, the Senate Democratic Leader, the Senate Republican Leader and the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
Co-sponsors of the legislation include Sens. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., John Cornyn, R-Texas, Bill Nelson, D-Fla., James Risch, R-Idaho, Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.
Showing posts with label johnny isakson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label johnny isakson. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Georgia's Isakson Questions BHO's Sec Labor on Union's Secret Ballot
If the Unions have their way with taking away worker's rights to vote via secret ballot, we may as well throw in the towel. We will ultimately be a unionized nation of workers, unable to compete on any reasonable level with other countries. The Unions will be another arm of government without any of the meager restrictions that currently hamper our politicians.
I see the new regime chipping away at the foundation of our country from so many angles it's virtually impossible decide where to focus. It's death by inches. We focus on trying to fight the un-"Fairness Doctrine" and they inch forward on the "Employee Free Choice Act" (how much time went into choosing the names of that misleading moniker?). We focus on the monumental problems with the economy while they inch forward with unqualified or far-far-left cabinet appointments. While we focus on national issues our local governments stick out their hands for money, happily agreeing to comply with all the Federal strings attached.
I'm not one to get discouraged, but I can already tell that the next few years are going to test every positive bone in my body.
Our Georgia elected representatives seem to be, for the most part, conservative. I don't agree with everything they've signed onto or supported. In fact, if we had good viable, conservative choices in a few cases, I'd cast my vote in that direction. However, overall the Republican's seem to have the right views.
U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) sent this release out Friday. Although many of you aren't in Georgia, I think you'll find it interesting reading.
Isakson Pushes Labor Nominee to Oppose Eliminating Workers’ Rights to Secret Ballot in Choosing Whether to Unionize
Isakson Notes Nominee’s Previous Support of Secret Ballot for Workers in Negotiating Flex Time
1/9/09 WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today questioned why President-elect Obama’s nominee for Secretary of Labor supports legislation to strip workers of their right to a secret ballot when deciding whether to unionize, but previously insisted on a secret ballot for workers during negotiations with management on flex time.
The nominee, U.S. Rep. Hilda Solis of California, voted for legislation to strip workers of the secret ballot when deciding whether to unionize in 2007, but pushed legislation in the California Legislature in the late 1990s in which she insisted that workers have the secret ballot when negotiating with management on flex time and overtime pay.
“You insisted that there be a vote by all employees and that it be by secret ballot. Why would we want to change the law of the United States now with regard to how unions are organized and eliminate the secret ballot?” Isakson said to Solis during her hearing this morning in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
Solis responded to Isakson this morning that she was not prepared to make a statement about her position on the secret ballot at this time.
Isakson strongly opposes the so-called Employee Free Choice Act, also known as Card Check, which would eliminate the rights of workers to participate in a secret-ballot election in order to certify the creation of a union. The legislation would force employees to make a public declaration of their preference by allowing union organizers to bypass elections if a majority of employees sign cards authorizing a union.
The legislation passed the U.S. House in 2007 and is expected to be brought forth by Democratic leaders for a vote in the Senate this year.
Isakson believes the current system, which allows employees to use a secret ballot in choosing whether they want a union to become their exclusive representative in the workplace, has worked well because it neither advocates nor discourages unionization.
Isakson blamed declining union membership as the motive behind the legislation, which did not receive committee consideration. Union membership among private sector employees is at its lowest level in decades.
Isakson also used the nomination hearing for Solis to stress the importance of writing regulations that both protect workers and allow businesses to operate efficiently.
“In my four years on this committee as the Republican leader on the Employment and Workplace Safety Subcommittee, I have worked with Senators Murray, Kennedy, Enzi and others to try and strike this delicate balance,” Isakson said. “We have a strong record of working together on critical issues to American workers such as mine safety reform, banning asbestos, and pension protection.”
I see the new regime chipping away at the foundation of our country from so many angles it's virtually impossible decide where to focus. It's death by inches. We focus on trying to fight the un-"Fairness Doctrine" and they inch forward on the "Employee Free Choice Act" (how much time went into choosing the names of that misleading moniker?). We focus on the monumental problems with the economy while they inch forward with unqualified or far-far-left cabinet appointments. While we focus on national issues our local governments stick out their hands for money, happily agreeing to comply with all the Federal strings attached.
I'm not one to get discouraged, but I can already tell that the next few years are going to test every positive bone in my body.
Our Georgia elected representatives seem to be, for the most part, conservative. I don't agree with everything they've signed onto or supported. In fact, if we had good viable, conservative choices in a few cases, I'd cast my vote in that direction. However, overall the Republican's seem to have the right views.
U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) sent this release out Friday. Although many of you aren't in Georgia, I think you'll find it interesting reading.
Isakson Pushes Labor Nominee to Oppose Eliminating Workers’ Rights to Secret Ballot in Choosing Whether to Unionize
Isakson Notes Nominee’s Previous Support of Secret Ballot for Workers in Negotiating Flex Time
1/9/09 WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today questioned why President-elect Obama’s nominee for Secretary of Labor supports legislation to strip workers of their right to a secret ballot when deciding whether to unionize, but previously insisted on a secret ballot for workers during negotiations with management on flex time.
The nominee, U.S. Rep. Hilda Solis of California, voted for legislation to strip workers of the secret ballot when deciding whether to unionize in 2007, but pushed legislation in the California Legislature in the late 1990s in which she insisted that workers have the secret ballot when negotiating with management on flex time and overtime pay.
“You insisted that there be a vote by all employees and that it be by secret ballot. Why would we want to change the law of the United States now with regard to how unions are organized and eliminate the secret ballot?” Isakson said to Solis during her hearing this morning in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
Solis responded to Isakson this morning that she was not prepared to make a statement about her position on the secret ballot at this time.
Isakson strongly opposes the so-called Employee Free Choice Act, also known as Card Check, which would eliminate the rights of workers to participate in a secret-ballot election in order to certify the creation of a union. The legislation would force employees to make a public declaration of their preference by allowing union organizers to bypass elections if a majority of employees sign cards authorizing a union.
The legislation passed the U.S. House in 2007 and is expected to be brought forth by Democratic leaders for a vote in the Senate this year.
Isakson believes the current system, which allows employees to use a secret ballot in choosing whether they want a union to become their exclusive representative in the workplace, has worked well because it neither advocates nor discourages unionization.
Isakson blamed declining union membership as the motive behind the legislation, which did not receive committee consideration. Union membership among private sector employees is at its lowest level in decades.
Isakson also used the nomination hearing for Solis to stress the importance of writing regulations that both protect workers and allow businesses to operate efficiently.
“In my four years on this committee as the Republican leader on the Employment and Workplace Safety Subcommittee, I have worked with Senators Murray, Kennedy, Enzi and others to try and strike this delicate balance,” Isakson said. “We have a strong record of working together on critical issues to American workers such as mine safety reform, banning asbestos, and pension protection.”
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