GENERAL ASSEMBLY'Right to work' hearing on rally day PROPOSALS ON ORGANIZED LABOR LIKELY TO BE KILLED

FRANKFORT -- House Democrats are expected to formally kill the governor's proposals regarding organized labor on Tuesday in front of an audience of thousands of union workers who will be rallying at the Capitol. Rep. J.R. Gray, a Democrat from Benton who chairs the House labor and industry committee, confirmed that his panel will discuss "right-to-work" legislation and a bill to repeal Kentucky's prevailing wage laws at its 8:30 a.m. scheduled meeting. Gray had said for two months that he wasn't going to allow hearings on those bills, which are keystones of Gov. Ernie Fletcher's legislative agenda. But the union rally, scheduled for 1 p.m., created an opportunity for Democrats to score political points. "It would be my hope that we could take their word that these have been considered in committee and they were turned down," Gray said. Fletcher's call for right-to-work legislation, which would bar unions from automatically signing up workers and charging them dues, has stirred a strong outcry of protest from the labor community. Fletcher also wants to repeal the state's prevailing wage law, which mandates that construction workers on public building projects be paid at a rate calculated on a regional average. The governor says right-to-work offers employees "freedom to choose" and argues that both proposals make Kentucky more attractive to businesses. The issues appeared to fade in recent weeks, only to come roaring back up with with the hearing, the rally and the activities of two non-profit groups that have recently launched opposing public relations campaigns. Gray said he's confident the two bills will fail in his committee. Larry Roberts, director of the Kentucky Building and Construction Trades Council, said voting down the measures on Tuesday would "be a rather dramatic death for the governor's proposal." One Republican on the committee, Rep. Bill Farmer of Lexington, described Gray's decision to hear the bills on the day of the rally as "very politically savvy." In addition, the administration can't blame the House Democrats for being "obstructionists" because they gave it a hearing, said Farmer. He added that he's one of two or three committee members who will probably vote for the measures. Rep. Stan Lee, another Lexington Republican who sponsored the right-to-work bill, said he welcomes the hearing and has no problem with its coming on the same day as the union rally. "I think it's great when people get involved like that," Lee said. Roberts said as many as 5,000 union members are expected in the Capitol rotunda. He said that, unlike a rally earlier this year, no one will be bused in from other states. Labor unions have mobilized since Fletcher began calling for right to work and the repeal of prevailing wage in two statewide speeches last January. Most recently, a non-profit organization headed by Democratic campaign consultant Kim Geveden began running 60-second radio spots that blister Fletcher. Geveden formed Moving Kentucky Forward, a so-called 527 group that is permitted to be politically active, last summer "to develop and promote progressive policies," Geveden said in an August interview. The radio ads, which began running on Thursday, represent the group's first public action. "Supported by wealthy corporations and greedy, low-wage contractors who fund his political campaigns, Governor Fletcher is trying to make Kentucky a 'right to work for less' state and abolish Kentucky's prevailing wage law," an announcer says in the ad. "Folks, the policies and priorities of Governor Fletcher's corrupt administration are wrong." Brett Hall, the governor's communications director, dismissed the ads as being part of union bosses' "defensive and reactionary" response. "It's pretty arrogant for somebody to totally ignore the fact that workers in this state don't have the right to decide whether they want to pay union dues or not," Hall said. Another non-profit advocacy group has latched onto Fletcher's arguments, which has set up dueling public relations campaigns. Kentuckians for Jobs Now announced its steering committee last week that includes many prominent business leaders and Fletcher supporters. The group called a press conference for Monday at 2 p.m. Doug Alexander, a member of the steering committee, acknowledged that the group probably won't be able to sway lawmakers to support Fletcher's proposals during this session. Instead, the group is looking long-term and could play a role in the fall election by running ads on the issue, he said. "We will endeavor to do whatever it takes to get the message out," Alexander said. "That could include media, and obviously it includes building a network of people and gathering support."

Call Rep. Gray and tell him you want a right to work law in Kentucky!

Representative J. R. Gray (D)

House District - 6 Lyon Marshall McCracken Address 3188 Mayfield Highway Benton, KY 42025

(Home) - 270-527-8376 Frankfort Office - Capitol Annex Room 324D, Frankfort, KY 40601 Frankfort Phone - 502-564-8100, ext. 699 E-Mail - click here Service - House 1976-89; 1995 - Present Owner, Gray Consulting, Inc. Methodist. American School, Chicago, Illinois. Journeyman Machinist. State Central Committee, Ky. Democratic Party. Executive Committee, Marshall Co. Democratic Party.

'Right to work' hearing on rally day

PROPOSALS ON ORGANIZED LABOR LIKELY TO BE KILLED

By Ryan Alessi And John Stamper

HERALD-LEADER FRANKFORT BUREAU

Rep. J.R. Gray, a Democrat from Benton who chairs the House labor and industry committee, confirmed that his panel will discuss "right-to-work" legislation and a bill to repeal Kentucky's prevailing wage laws at its 8:30 a.m. scheduled meeting.

Gray had said for two months that he wasn't going to allow hearings on those bills, which are keystones of Gov. Ernie Fletcher's legislative agenda.

But the union rally, scheduled for 1 p.m., created an opportunity for Democrats to score political points.

"It would be my hope that we could take their word that these have been considered in committee and they were turned down," Gray said.

Fletcher's call for right-to-work legislation, which would bar unions from automatically signing up workers and charging them dues, has stirred a strong outcry of protest from the labor community. Fletcher also wants to repeal the state's prevailing wage law, which mandates that construction workers on public building projects be paid at a rate calculated on a regional average.

The governor says right-to-work offers employees "freedom to choose" and argues that both proposals make Kentucky more attractive to businesses.

The issues appeared to fade in recent weeks, only to come roaring back up with with the hearing, the rally and the activities of two non-profit groups that have recently launched opposing public relations campaigns.

Gray said he's confident the two bills will fail in his committee.

Larry Roberts, director of the Kentucky Building and Construction Trades Council, said voting down the measures on Tuesday would "be a rather dramatic death for the governor's proposal."

One Republican on the committee, Rep. Bill Farmer of Lexington, described Gray's decision to hear the bills on the day of the rally as "very politically savvy."

In addition, the administration can't blame the House Democrats for being "obstructionists" because they gave it a hearing, said Farmer. He added that he's one of two or three committee members who will probably vote for the measures.

Rep. Stan Lee, another Lexington Republican who sponsored the right-to-work bill, said he welcomes the hearing and has no problem with its coming on the same day as the union rally.

"I think it's great when people get involved like that," Lee said.

Roberts said as many as 5,000 union members are expected in the Capitol rotunda. He said that, unlike a rally earlier this year, no one will be bused in from other states.

Labor unions have mobilized since Fletcher began calling for right to work and the repeal of prevailing wage in two statewide speeches last January.

Most recently, a non-profit organization headed by Democratic campaign consultant Kim Geveden began running 60-second radio spots that blister Fletcher.

Geveden formed Moving Kentucky Forward, a so-called 527 group that is permitted to be politically active, last summer "to develop and promote progressive policies," Geveden said in an August interview.

The radio ads, which began running on Thursday, represent the group's first public action.

"Supported by wealthy corporations and greedy, low-wage contractors who fund his political campaigns, Governor Fletcher is trying to make Kentucky a 'right to work for less' state and abolish Kentucky's prevailing wage law," an announcer says in the ad. "Folks, the policies and priorities of Governor Fletcher's corrupt administration are wrong."

Brett Hall, the governor's communications director, dismissed the ads as being part of union bosses' "defensive and reactionary" response.

"It's pretty arrogant for somebody to totally ignore the fact that workers in this state don't have the right to decide whether they want to pay union dues or not," Hall said.

Another non-profit advocacy group has latched onto Fletcher's arguments, which has set up dueling public relations campaigns.

Kentuckians for Jobs Now announced its steering committee last week that includes many prominent business leaders and Fletcher supporters. The group called a press conference for Monday at 2 p.m.

Doug Alexander, a member of the steering committee, acknowledged that the group probably won't be able to sway lawmakers to support Fletcher's proposals during this session. Instead, the group is looking long-term and could play a role in the fall election by running ads on the issue, he said.

"We will endeavor to do whatever it takes to get the message out," Alexander said. "That could include media, and obviously it includes building a network of people and gathering support." .

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