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.”

Obama thinks I'm selfish...

Obama is saying (broadly speaking) that anyone who doesn't buy into his tax plan is selfish.

I beg to differ. No, I don't beg, I'm telling you Mr. Obama, you are SO wrong.

I give and I give mightily. I spend a lot of time helping local charities and sit on a number of working (and I mean working) Boards. I work my butt off in my business, too. I CHOOSE who I give to though, I don't need you or any government hack telling me who I need to give my hard earned money to. (and yes, I know you're not supposed to end a sentence in a preposition)

I would bet that my percentage of monetary giving makes yours look like a distant star in the universe, too. I don't earn money when I give like you did as a "community organizer". I give because I care and because I want to make the world a little bit better.

I don't want to give my money to people who won't get off their backsides and do an honest days labor. I don't want to support illegal aliens, deadbeat dads and those who bilk the system.

I want my money to go to those who truly can't help themselves and those who need a leg up so they can get back on track.

Do you really think that by taxing the so-called rich (those making over $120,000 was the last number I heard from your campaign) and giving it to those who haven't earned it that you'll be helping the world?

Here's what's going to happen to the "rich" folks who are supporting your government:

1. They're going to stop giving as much to charity.
2. They're going to increase the price of their products.
3. They're going to lay off workers.
4. They're going to cut benefits if it's allowed in your authoritarian government.
5. They're going to stop handing out bonuses and raises.

I'm not selfish. It's people like you who expect the government to do it all who are selfish. You wouldn't roll up your sleeves and do an honest days work to help someone unless it involved a photo op with the media.

I don't mind working and I believe in giving. I just don't believe in giving the government the right to choose where I give the dollars I work hard to earn. I do believe in paying my fair share of taxes to keep this great country working like it should. However, when you and your buddies in the Senate take my tax dollars and waste them, you're getting too much from me.

Maybe Martha Stewart had it partially right when she said we'd all have to learn to budget so we could give your government more taxes. She just needs to turn the phrase around to say that you and the rest of government need to learn to budget so you don't need as much from taxpayers.