You Don’t Scare Me – I’m Sticking with the Union!
At first glance, it would appear that events have been unusually quiet around the statehouse for the past couple of weeks. While legislative sessions continue to happen – the real action seems to be focused on the union busting legislation called Right to Work (RTW). Consequently, intense political maneuvering and activity is happening below the surface and if the stories are accurate – a great deal of arm twisting and intimidation on a level never seen in NH has permeated the legislature.
This has been compounded by the Majority’s loss last week in a special election that has only enhanced the intensity. Add that the Finance Committees are frantically trying to spin the public perception that they are softening the blow to human services and the budget’s impact on downshifting costs to cities and towns has resulted in some very trying days. Consequently, the effort to override the governor’s veto on the right-to-work legislation has added to the polarization of the New Hampshire House.
This week all attention is over the Speakers insistence of having the House override the Governor’s veto of HB 474 (RTW). To be successful, the radical republicans will need to muster 2/3rd of the members present to override, hence the arm twisting and urging dissenting members to take a walk and not vote. Unfortunately, this has resulted in a situation where rumors and half-truths rule the day. What will happen is anyone’s guess and it certainly gives credence to the old saying “those who say –don’t know; and those who know – don’t say!
Among the stories being circulated is that the more fervent radical republicans are threatening to have any member evicted from their caucus if they don’t support and vote the republican leadership position. It would seem that the party of Lincoln, T. Roosevelt and Eisenhower has no tolerance for individual opinion and principle. What is especially sad is they frame the RTW argument with contradictions and use words like personal liberty and freedom, but to their members the hidden message is –do what you are told or else! Of course the bill’s title – Right to Work – fits nicely with this double speak as it really means workers have the right to work for less money.
Interestingly, the Democrats appear to be solidly in support of sustaining the Governor’s veto and defending the rights of working people to organize. While there has not been much contact between House Dems and the governor’s office – we all seem to be on the same page.
The Governor did provide all House members a written rationale for his veto of Right-to-Work and I was quite impressed by his argument. Unfortunately, much of the discussion regarding RTW has dissolved into rhetoric and posturing by both sides. Therefore, it was refreshing to read that the Governor chose to provide extremely sound and substantive reasons why this is bad for New Hampshire.
He started with the baseline position that “States should not interfere with the rights of businesses and their employees to freely negotiate contracts,” and how he saw no compelling public interest that would mandate the intervention by government on this matter. Governor Lynch’s statement continued on how there is no evidence that RTW would “offer any benefit to NH’s economy or workers.” He reminded us that NH has a successful economic strategy and how we are among the “strongest and fastest growing economies in the nation.” Also, how New Hampshire’s employment rate and wages are higher than any existing right-to-work state. My read is do we really want to pass legislation that permits a lower standard and quality of life for NH citizens!
The governor was a successful corporate CEO before being elected – so I was especially interested to learn how “in his many years in the private sector turning around companies, as well as governor” – he has “never seen the RTW law serve as a valuable economic development tool.” Also, how in the past seven years as governor – not one business leader interested in locating here has ever asked him if New Hampshire has a right-to-work law!
Governor Lynch further stated that “no New Hampshire business leaders” has ever told him that the “lack of a so called RTW law prevented them from expanding or hiring new workers here in New Hampshire.” He then went on to share with us that no NH worker has ever told him they could not get a job because we do not have a so called right-to-work law.
The Governor’s written no nonsense statement ended with how the debate for RTW appears “to be largely driven by national outside interest groups and is not a result of problems faced by New Hampshire businesses or workers.” Governor Lynch concluded by stating that “there is no justification in this case for state government to interfere with the right of private businesses to freely negotiate and enter into contracts with their employees,” thus his reason for vetoing HB 474.
So there you have it – I intend to support the rights of business and workers and to sustain the Governor’s veto. To quote the old labor song: “No – you don’t scare me; I’m sticking with the Union!”
