Obama signs 4th pro-union regulation (Projects must aid Big Labor)

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/07/obama-signs-4th-pro-union-regulation/ ^ | Feb. 7, 2009 | Stephen Dinan

[Free ThinkerNY]

President Obama on Friday quietly signed an executive order pushing federal construction projects to favor union workers, undoing yet another Bush administration labor rule and generating criticism of political "payback."

The order - a substantial boost to unions - says government contractors should favorably consider "project labor agreements," which carve out jobs for union workers. It overturns President Bush's 2001 order banning PLAs, which had overturned a Clinton order, which had overturned an order from President George H.W. Bush.

Unions said the agreements ensure certainty in both costs and timelines, making them worthwhile for government spending.

"PLAs help build America by ensuring that projects are completed on time and under budget, while turning jobs into careers with good pay, benefits and skills training that open doors to new opportunities for workers and contractors alike," said Terry O'Sullivan, president of Laborers' International Union of North America.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Elections have consequences.

[tbpiper]

Unions said the agreements ensure certainty in both costs and timelines

They're right. Look how well it helped Boston's Big Dig.

[Rennes Templar]

He’s adding layer upon layer of medoicrity to our great country.

[bergmeid]

President Obama on Friday quietly signed an executive order pushing federal construction projects to favor union workers, undoing yet another Bush administration labor rule and generating criticism of political “payback.”

The keyword here is “quietly”.

[CajunConservative]

Just how many EO’s has he quietly signed already?

[rustyboots]

“Unions said the agreements ensure certainty in both costs and timelines.”
First time they go on strike on a national project, start with the union leaders and toss every damn one of them in jail. Let them sit in jail and watch their families loose everything. Insure they can never work another govenment contract when they get out of jail. The unions will only assist in the fall of America if not controlled.

[Aria]

Unions said the agreements ensure certainty in both costs and timelines

HA! I've employed union construction workers and this is a real crock! It ended up that our non-union competitors had better employees because their loyalty was to the company who paid their wages - our "employees" loyalty was to their unions.

On federally funded construction jobs all you have to do is pay prevailing wages and the non-union workers get the money alloted for benefits paid to them in cash. But if the workers are in the union then that money is paid to the union trust funds. That becomes a huge slush fund for them.

[okie01]

Just how many EO’s has he quietly signed already?

Do you get the impression, as I do, that there is somebody in the backroom grinding out these EO's according to instructions? And it is Zero's job to sign them, not necessarily to understand them?

[tbpiper]

That becomes a huge slush fund for them.

Good Grief!

[CajunConservative]

Yes I get the impression that the puppet master had all these changes ready to sign and that the Zer0 is just following orders.

[upchuck]

BUMP!

IMHO, that person in the back room is doing a Hell of a lot more than just grinding out EOs.

[Sender]

Is it possible for a president to sign an executive order “quietly” for something like a gun ban or a UN treaty without Congress?

[ZOOKER]

"PLAs help build America by ensuring that projects are completed on time and under budget...

Two words: Big Dig

[CowboyJay]

Gotta slop the trough for the ‘more equal’ pigs.

[Myrddin]

Do you get the impression, as I do, that there is somebody in the backroom grinding out these EO's according to instructions? And it is Zero's job to sign them, not necessarily to understand them?

Perhaps that's why Obama was asking Greg Craig what was in the EO he was signing in front of the cameras in his first week. Obambi is a sock puppet. He's signing stuff he hasn't even read and probably can't comprehend.

[nathanbedford]

You asked two very profound questions.

Long before the election, I have been posting that the Manchurian Marxist might well go the route of executive orders and treaties as a side door to amend the United States Constitution without the bother of going through the amendment process. There are Supreme Court cases which purport to limit the degree to which the president by executive agreement, or even by treaty with other countries, can modify individual liberties of American citizens. However, the area of the law is unsettled and presents a promising prospect for a Manchurian Marxist.

Conceptually it is clear that foreign affairs belong with the federal government and much of that brief goes to the Executive with the Senate having the right to concur with a two thirds vote. But even this protection provided by requiring the Senate's concurrence is less than the full constitutional protection of the consent of the House and the Senate which an ordinary American citizen is entitled to expect. Still more, executive agreements, often secret, have a huge potential to deprive us of our Bill of Rights and our economic rights. I do not expect the Supreme Court to be nearly as diligent in preserving our economic rights as it might be in preserving our individual liberties. Still less do I expect a court dominated by Obama appointments to do other than the Manchurian Marxist' s bidding.

The same considerations apply to domestic executive orders which we are now experiencing to our horror. The question then arises whether the Congress can properly delegate authority to the executive to make determinations which we see as executive orders. I think most Americans would be shocked to know the degree to which the American Congress has turned over to bureaucrats with enabling legislation the powers that ought to be exercised by elected legislators alone or to properly appointed judges. Legislators are responsible by elections to the public and judges are subject to impeachment but bureaucrats are bulletproof.

I expect virtually no relief from the Supreme Court on any issue which does not directly relate to the Bill of Rights. We can forget about any help on issues that relate only to our economic liberties.

I believe that the posters on these threads are complaining about only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the mischief this Manchurian Marxist is doing. Watch Rahm Emanuel.

[hsalaw]

Unions said the agreements ensure certainty in both costs and timelines

They're right. Look how well it helped Boston's Big Dig.

Not to mention how unions made Michigan the economic powerhouse it is today.

[Talisker]

Do you get the impression, as I do, that there is somebody in the backroom grinding out these EO's according to instructions? And it is Zero's job to sign them, not necessarily to understand them?

Ya think?

[Sender]

Thank you for your insight. Yes, I believe that this president would not hesitate to legislate by executive order any law or treaty which cannot be brought to light of day in the Congress. He has an arrogance, a self-presumed mandate to simply say, "I won." With an opposition Congress, he might face a difficult rebuke and severe consequences for such actions, but of course they will explain and justify his actions. The wolf truly is in charge of the henhouse for now, and the hens all lay eggs for the wolf.

It may get to the point where civil disobedience is our only option for the next four years. Will Obama get his civilian security force? Perhaps he is thinking that he will need boots on the ground in this country he has occupied. But occupation doesn't last forever.