Posted on 02/09/2007 2:43:32 PM PST by freedomdefender
Breaking from his party, Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter on Friday issued his first veto, rejecting a controversial labor bill that had prompted a large and vocal campaign from business interests who said it would hamstring the state economicially.
House Bill 1072 would have eliminated one of two votes needed for unions to negotiate all-union shops.
The Democratic governor campaigned as a pro-business moderate but also indicated to labor that he would sign such a measure.
"We are obviously extremely disappointed that Gov. Ritter felt it necessary to break a campaign promise under pressure from big business," Steve Adams of the Colorado AFL-CIO said in a release. "We hope this is not a harbinger for what lies in store for the working men and women in this state."
Currently, creating a union in Colorado requires voluntary recognition by employers or support from at least 50 percent plus one of those who would be covered.
Opening negotiations to create an all-union shop, where eligible employees must join or pay an "agency fee" to offset the cost of union work to negotiate benefits, requires support in a special election from 50 percent plus one of eligible voters or 75 percent of those voting, whichever is higher.
That vote remains in place given Ritter's veto.
Business groups insisted HB 1072 would make it harder to attract new business to the state. They said they would consider pushing a constitutional amendment to make Colorado a right-to-work state if Ritter signed the bill. That designation would add Colorado to the list of 22 states that bar making payment of union dues a condition of employment.
The bill, sponsored by Democrats Rep. Michael Garcia of Aurora and Sen. Jennifer Veiga, was heard in committee on the fourth day of the session and was the first bill to pass the full House.
On Monday, the beginning of the fifth week of the session, the Senate sent the proposal to Ritter.
I'm shocked. figured it would pass easily.
Unions should be decimated and annihilated ASAP. Let the free market roll!
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Well, hopefully the massive mistakes of the auto industry in Detroit are sinking in. The sooner unions are gone from our business model in the USA, the sooner we can be more competitive and productive.
Wow! And unions were doing so well. chortle
I don't get why anyone would want to be a member of a national union. The unions pretend to protect the rights of the workers, but then they support illegal immigration. It doesn't make sense.
I wonder if the DNC will reconsider holding their convention in Denver?
There's no business bigger than the labor business.
Dang...whoda thunk that a Dem Colo Governor would do that!!
Good for him.
I wonder if the DNC will pull their convention from Denver now...
I am stunned. I did not vote for him and will not vote for him. He is supposed to be pro-life. I just figured that to be political bs.
Baby! Music to my ears! Unions do nothing but create large cluster foxtrots.
Memo to ARNOLD...
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
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