Reid's Push To Nationalize Police Unions

IBD Editorials ^ | June 15, 2010 | WARNER TODD HUSTON

[Kaslin]

In an effort to please union backers ahead of the 2010 midterm elections, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is quietly trying to nationalize rules governing every police, fire and first responder union in the nation.

Through the benignly named Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act (H.R.413), Reid wants all first responders represented by collective bargaining rules emanating from Washington D.C. Naturally this legislation is being pushed as a matter of "national security."

Democrats' union supporters will greatly benefit from nationalized rules for police and fire unions. This plan would replace with federal rules state laws on collective bargaining between state and local governments and their first responder unions and would greatly empower unions to dictate pay scales and benefits on a national level.

While a boon to unions, this law would seriously damage our federalist system by taking away a large measure of local control over police and firefighters unions and lead to higher costs to local governments and taxpayers, costs that neither will be able to affect at the ballot box.

Imagine the loss of control that local governments will face when first responder unions no longer have to deal with local rules and laws but can force a federal one-size-fits-all style rule on all local governments.

Local governments will no longer be able to determine pay scales and benefits and will lose control of their own ability to budget in that respect. H.R.413 will also completely remove the ability of voters to have any say in local matters as a top down control from Washington will rule the day where it concerns local police, fire and other first responders' benefits bargaining.

[23 Everest]

They nationalized airport security. How much safer do you feel flying?

[red tie]

Another day, another outrage out of the Dems in DC!

[combat_boots]

We need a civilian security force, just as well funded as the military. Remember hearing that one before?

[americanophile]

OMG. The corruption is breathtaking. The public employee unions have broken California, they will do the same to every state in the union.

[freekitty]

Why does he want to do that?

[jazusamo]

If this passes it will be a dream come true for the thugs running the various police and fire unions. They won’t have to be bothered with negotiations, they will spend all their time figuring out new ways to spend the huge increase in union dues to support their leftist Dem politicians.

[Ben Mugged]

Unions are the storm troopers of socialism.

[Kaslin]

That is the whole purpose of it

[Man50D]

It’s another way for BO/BS to impose his brown shirt thug tactics on a defiant populace as a means to corrupt or eliminate future elections keeping the socialists in power indefinitely.

[nolongerademocrat]

They are moving with breathtaking speed to centralize power in Washington.

[onona]

Next thing you’ll know is that they will either be federalized or be part of an emergency federalization, taking orders directly from DC. Let that roll around for awhile upstairs and see how that makes you feel.

[popdonnelly]

Socialism is certainly on the rise in this country. Now the police unions will be beholden to Reid and the Federal government?

[patriot preacher]

No surprise here. Then unionized “local” police would feel more loyal to national organizations than to their communities whom they are supposed to serve. A DANGEROUS precedent to set — we already see it’s negative effects in other forms of LE and other services and professions....

[trapped_in_LA]

“They won’t have to be bothered with negotiations, they will spend all their time figuring out new ways to spend the huge increase in union dues to support their leftist Dem politicians.”

Yes and no, dues may increase but the number of union thugs paying dues will decrease. The States can’t get any more blood out of the turnip (aka tax payers) so a fixed amount of money means less fire and police at a higher rate. Should be interesting going forward if this passes and may force some smaller cities to go with volunteer fire and county cops as the best way to avoid the costs.

[elpadre]

police unions should be abolished as contrary to the well being of the citizens.

a strike against the employers (government) is in reality a strike against the people - this cannot stand

[Kaslin]

I agree completely

[Oceander]

They nationalized airport security. How much safer do you feel flying?

That's why I don't fly anymore (unless there is absolutely no way around it).

[23 Everest]

As a ex-airline employee, and I loved almost every minute of it. Flying is still the safest way to travel. My comment on the TSA I stand behind, government can’t run a lemonade stand and it’s really all show.

[Oceander]

As a ex-airline employee, and I loved almost every minute of it. Flying is still the safest way to travel. My comment on the TSA I stand behind, government can’t run a lemonade stand and it’s really all show.

I grew up flying - not constantly, but we were foreign service, so we changed countries every two years or so - and I used to love it; but I won't go near an airport now that we're at the mercy of little tinpot fascists who march for show - and, as you say, that's mostly what it's there for - show - not real security.