The Patriot Post

New & Notable Legislation

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) introduced legislation for the lame-duck session that would repeal right-to-work laws in 22 states. Currently, workers in those states employed in unionized companies can choose whether to join the union and pay dues. In the other 28 states, known as "forced dues" states, it's legal for unions to mandate that all workers pay union dues and to fire workers who don't comply. This is a blatantly obvious power grab by unions and their minions in the Democrat Party. Sherman disguises it as an attempt to level the playing field for "forced dues" states like his native California that "have to compete with the race to the bottom as our companies have to compete with those where the workers would like better wages, working conditions and benefits but are unable to organize to get them."


Sherman is either incorrect or just plain lying about the fact that workers in right-to-work states don't have the right to unionize. Nothing prevents unionizing in these states other than workers' votes. Furthermore, while he's correct that California businesses are losing out to right-to-work states, that's because unions have put such a squeeze on companies to enrich their own bank accounts that many choose not to set up shop there. Others have simply moved to other states.

Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) introduced legislation that would require the president to deploy a minimum of 10,000 National Guard troops to the southern border in an effort to stem the tide of illegal immigration. "The uniqueness of this," said Poe, is that the troops "would be paid by the federal government, because everybody says it is the responsibility of the federal government to protect the border. So the federal government will use the resources it already has to pay for those 10,000 National Guard troops, but they will be supervised by the governors of the four states on the border."

In other news, the House is waiting on the Senate to take action on some 420 bills it has passed since January 2009. We never thought we'd say it, but we're thankful for the 111th Senate.

http://patriotpost.us/edition/2010/10/08/digest/