House panel rejects Kaine nominee for cabinet post (VA)

RICHMOND — House Republicans today rejected Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s nomination of former labor leader Daniel LeBlanc to be secretary of the commonwealth, marking the first time legislators have denied a governor an appointee to his cabinet.

LeBlanc, was defeated on a party-line 55-42 vote with Republicans saying the former president of the state AFL-CIO could not be trusted to protect Virginia’s right-to-work law which bars compulsory union membership.

Kaine, a Democrat, was visibly angered during a meeting with reporters. He noted that none of the House’s complaints against LeBlanc were shared by the Senate, which confirmed the nominee by a 40-0 vote late last month.

“I view it as not just an affront to me and the Senate and to Danny, “ Kaine said, “but I view it as basically spitting in the face of regular people, regular working people, who had Danny as their champion.’

The governor said House Republicans “have taken a huge leap past any degree of partisanship that’s ever been shown in this commonwealth and they have decided that Washington-style, McCarthy-style politics is what they want to practice here in the House of Delegates.”

The rejection of LeBlanc and the sharp partisan rhetoric reflect growing tension between Kaine and the House GOP as the 2006 legislative session draws to a head. House Republicans have firmly rejected calls by Kaine and the Senate to raise taxes to improve transportation. The impasse is expected to keep the General Assembly in session past its scheduled adjournment on Saturday.

House Republicans voted unanimously against LeBlanc, an action that suggests the GOP is hanging tightly together as budget negotiations begin.

LeBlanc’s is the only nominee for cabinet appointment to be rejected since the cabinet system was put in place in the early 1970s by then-Gov. Linwood Holton, Kaine’s father in law.

The secretary of the commonwealth advises the governor on about 4,000 appointments to state boards and commissions. Republicans fretted that LeBlanc’s opposition to the right-to-work law could lead to its disintegration and the unionization of the state work force.

“Other than the governor himself, the secretary of the commonwealth has the greatest power to affect policy of any other position in the Commonwealth,” said Del. Timothy Hugo, R-Fairfax. “He would possess the ability to fill these positions entirely with people who share his views on right to work.”

Republicans complained that LeBlanc over the years had made derogatory comments about several of Virginia’s largest employers. Del. John Cosgrove, R-Chesapeake, noted that LeBlanc once called Newport News Shipbuilding a “plantation.” Cosgrove said LeBlanc’s appointment would “send the wrong message” to businesses considering locating in Virginia..

Kaine supports right-to-work laws, and LeBlanc testified before the House earlier this year that he had no intention of undermining them. House Democrats conceded that some of LeBlanc’s past comments were “over the top,” but should be considered part of the rough-and tumble demands of his job at the AFL-CIO.

House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, said he did not trust Kaine’s pledge to uphold the right-to-work law. He said Kaine has already broken a campaign pledge not to seek tax increases until he won passage of a constitutional amendment that would protect transportation funds from being diverted to other services.

“If he doesn’t keep one promise, how can you expect him to keep a promise to protect the right-to-work law?” Griffith said.

Kaine said the House GOP has rejected his bipartisan overtures. The governor noted that he has appointed several Republicans to key jobs, including the wife of Jerry W. Kilgore, his opponent in last fall’s election, as executive director of the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation.

“The bottom line that everyone can be around the table except someone who bears a union card or someone who fights for the least among us is abhorrent to me,” Kaine said.

He said he would look for a position in his administration for LeBlanc that does not require confirmation.

Kaine portrayed the House GOP as out of step with Virginia on transportation and LeBlanc. “I think they’re going to regret it because we’ve been able to accomplish a lot of good things in Virginia working in a bipartisan way,” he said.

Jerry listened to the wrong people and just fritted away a sure victory.

21 posted on 03/07/2006 5:43:57 PM PST by DarthVader (Conservatives aren't always right , but Liberals are almost always wrong.)

It looks as though the VA Senate is 23 (R) and 17 (D)

All but about 6-8 of those Republicans are major RINOs

22 posted on 03/07/2006 6:07:09 PM PST by Corin Stormhands (Edgar we hardly knew ye...)

Jerry listened to the wrong people and just fritted away a sure victory.

I think he did. VA is strong GOP. After Kaine's term, it will be again for several terms.

Dim Paine is being reminded that Virginia is a red state.

Kaine strikes me as being a complete dope. Frankly, I can't believe he won even with Kilgore running a joke of a campaign.

Good news! Funny how when the RATS thwart the President, it is courageous statemship, but when Republicans thwart a RAT governor, it is mean-spirited and attack on the regular people.

No double standard here. Nope! None whatsoever!

25 posted on 03/07/2006 6:29:02 PM PST by Redleg Duke (Kennedy and Kerry, the two Commissars of the Peoples' Republic of Massachusetts!)

Senate Party is 34 members.
Republicans 6

26 posted on 03/07/2006 7:01:41 PM PST by Captain Jack Aubrey

27 posted on 03/08/2006 6:39:39 AM PST by Gopher Broke (I would rather hunt with Dick Cheney than ride with Teddy Kennedy)

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