Unions not keen on Citizens United 'fix' without changes

[30ashopper]

In a legislative summary of the bill obtained by The Hill, unions would be required to disclose more of their political spending alongside corporations. The Supreme Court ruling removed restrictions not just for corporations but also for unions, freeing them both to spend unlimited funds on election activities in expressly advocating for or against a candidate?s election.

Richard L. Hasen, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, Calif., said he was not surprised by the unions? muted response to the bill. He said the labor movement has long been skittish of advocating for campaign finance reform because it could limit their political power along with industry groups.

?The unions have long had an ambivalence if not opposition to campaign finance reform legislation,? Hasen said. ?They see this history of parity and are worried about whatever applies to corporations will apply to them.?

Unions wait to see Citizens United ‘fix’ - TheHill.com

The elephant sitting in the room. They'll want restrictions on companies, but not unions, which, ironically, are also companies. Dems will likely try to acquiesce, but then the bill will likley not gain approval in the Senate. "Fair" it seems, is not in the union lexicon.

 

[scooterbug44]

The unions need to wise up and learn some PR 101.

More and more they just don't seem to get it and IMO there are going to be some major changes that bite them in the arse.

Just got an earful from Mama Scooterbug about how every single state employee is taking a pay cut .................... but the teachers' union refuses.

 

[Bob Wells]

Does mama scooterbug realize that these are entirely 2 separate groups and in most cases are represented by different Unions, if they are represented at all? Also, does she believe these folks who toil for the people of Florida are any less deserving of a fair wage? Just asking?

 

[Bob Wells]

Budget wrangling runs into night

​

By Steve Bousquet and Marc Caputo, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau

Published Monday, April 26, 2010
TALLAHASSEE — State lawmakers labored nearly until midnight Monday to strike a deal on a new budget, bargaining over everything from workers' pay and benefits to health care appropriations.
For the fifth year in a row, rank-and-file state employees won't get an across-the-board pay raise. But in a reflection of the state's weak financial condition, the workers union declared victory because its members avoided a 3 percent pay cut that had been seriously considered.
"I really appreciate the fact that there was no pay cut," said Jeannette Wynn, president of AFSCME Council 79, bargaining unit for more than 40,000 state employees. "We're just elated that state employees are not taking the hit that they always take."
State workers in HMOs will pay higher co-payments for doctor visits, from $15 to $20 to see a primary care doctor and from $25 to $40 for a specialist.
Hospitals and nursing homes were the biggest losers in the health budget. They each sustained a 7 percent rate cut. Miami Children's Hospital, St. Petersburg's All Children's Hospital and rural hospitals had their rates cut by 3.5 percent. Mental health and substance abuse programs also received numerous cuts that lawmakers said made them uneasy.
Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston, the lead Democrat on the Senate health budget committee, protested the decision to stockpile most of the state's anticipated future extra Medicaid money, estimated at up to $1 billion.
Rich pointed out that more of the added Medicaid money would be spent on economic development projects than on health care itself. "It is shameful," Rich said. "We should be helping people with this money. That's what it's for."
For the first time, all 160 state legislators and about 27,000 highly paid state employees will pay a share of their health insurance premiums, but it won't be much: $100 a year for single coverage and $360 a year for family coverage. Legislators' salaries will remain unchanged for next year at about $31,000.
State workers who as of July 1 enroll in the state's deferred retirement program, known as DROP, will receive 3 percent interest on their contributions, not the current 6.5 percent.
Other decisions lawmakers reached Monday include:
• Requiring voter approval for school districts to impose an optional property tax of 25 cents for $1,000 of assessed property value.
• Allowing up to 20,000 chronically ill patients statewide to order drugs by mail.
• Barring taxpayer funds from paying for human embryonic stem cell research by state universities.
• Prohibiting state-sanctioned travel to "terrorist states" such as Cuba.
The $69 billion-plus budget will reach legislators' desks today in time for the constitutionally mandated three-day cooling off period before a vote on Friday, the last day of the 60-day session.
The budget talks unfolded in an atmosphere of heightened transparency, giving a seldom-seen-glimpse into the horse trading that occurs in the final days.
The Senate tried to persuade the House to accept last-minute language to salvage Sen. John Thrasher's computer-based virtual charter school bill. Former Department of Education Secretary Jim Horne, a lobbyist for virtual schools, called lawmakers Sunday night to make a final push, but the House balked.
Some legislators were struck by the absence of Gov. Charlie Crist and his key budget staff members at the crucial conference committee meetings.
"The governor's got a different style," Thrasher said, "but the budget's pretty important stuff. It's the one thing everybody ought to be paying attention to."

 

[30ashopper]

Does mama scooterbug realize that these are entirely 2 separate groups and in most cases are represented by different Unions, if they are represented at all? Also, does she believe these folks who toil for the people of Florida are any less deserving of a fair wage? Just asking?

Fair wages sure, but unions, like corporations can exert immense political pressure, controlling elections and legislation, resulting in abuse. California is a perfect example. The civil service unions there are driving that state into bankruptcy, and what's worse, they really don't care. It's all about me me me.

 

[Bob Wells]

So you think the State Employees who have not recieved raises in the last 5 years are overpaid, who have taken a reduction in benefits, which equate to a loss in take home pay, overpaid. When "27000 managers in the State, including legislators, are now paying for a portion of their health insurance. These are the same folks that maintain road, fight forest fires, State Troopers, Secretaries, Arson Investigators, Insurance Fraud Investigators, Doctors, Nurses, Correction Officers, Probation Officer, etc. These folks who have house payments, these folks who have kids in school, trying to pay for college and on top of all that save for retirement so they can enjoy the American Dream. We are the fat slobery pigs? Is that your implication here? That because we were in government we are not allowed to join or bargain collectively. That we are the root for all the problems in the State? Gotcha. Its not the rail system they are paying between Tampa abd Orlando, its not legislators who have there pork barrel projects like a Emergency operations Center ( Airplane Hangar). Its not money for other schools that they did not request, but future House Speakers placed in the budget.

When you go to the Court House or renew your drivers license or the like these are folks who work for you. When that Forestry Fire Fighter shows up with his tractor to cut a line around the fire to protect the persons home because he decided to build next to a large wooded area, these are the services we are losing, sort of. The State is delegating to the local governments more of the responsibility. A good example is when the State decides to close the department of Motor Vehicles in a community. In Okaloosa County the DMV is now operated by the Tax Collector. I would venture a guess that thx Collector is being compensated for this service by the State, but if it is anything like the State does, they will eventually reduce the amount reimbursed to where the local taxpayer will have to pick up the cost. They have done it with schools, why not other services they can shed and then not fund them. Yeah, your right, its the Unions that have caused all of Florida's problem. It surely isn't the banking interest or insurance industry or even the power companies. Everyone wants there piece of the pie. Every one says we (the employees) need to tighten our beltsbut Wall Street still gives out big bonuses, Banks still gives out bad loans, insurance companies still want to raise rates. Where is the help for the little guy. Oh thats right, we need to tighten our belts. We need to create more jobs so we want to give tax breaks to big business, we want to save the farmer in Florida but we give tax breaks to those who buy investment property and they put a few cows on them maintain the agricultural designation. Yeah, thats our fault also, we are that fat slobery pigs organize for better pay and working conditions that have and are dealing with the economy also. Yes we vote and yes we give to candidates. Contrary to popular belief, we are Republicans, Democrats, Independent. We are conservative, liberal and middle of the road. We vote party line and cross party lines. We are Women and Men, we cross religous boundries and skin color does not hinder us. We are Union and we vote.

 

[30ashopper]

So you think the State Employees who have not recieved raises in the last 5 years are overpaid,

Compared to similar private sector jobs, a lot of them are over paid.

who have taken a reduction in benefits, which equate to a loss in take home pay, overpaid. When "27000 managers in the State, including legislators, are now paying for a portion of their health insurance.

Those benefit requirements seem pretty reasonable to me. I have to make co-pays on my doctors visits which prevent over use. Union members also have retirement pensions paid by the state, they can retire at fifty five and live the rest of their days collecting a check from the state and social security. They also have lifetime health benefits, full legal representation, and you pretty much have to murder a co-worker beofre you'll get fired from a union job. What's the problem?

These are the same folks that maintain road, fight forest fires, State Troopers, Secretaries, Arson Investigators, Insurance Fraud Investigators, Doctors, Nurses, Correction Officers, Probation Officer, etc.

Those are all jobs, we all have one. What makes these particular positions sacrosanct?

These folks who have house payments,

Me too, most people do.

these folks who have kids in school,

yep yep.

trying to pay for college and on top of all that save for retirement so they can enjoy the American Dream.

Uh huh.

We are the fat slobery pigs?

Did you read the article?

That we are the root for all the problems in the State? Gotcha.

Never said that.

Its not the rail system they are paying between Tampa abd Orlando, its not legislators who have there pork barrel projects like a Emergency operations Center ( Airplane Hangar). Its not money for other schools that they did not request, but future House Speakers placed in the budget.

Oh, don't get me started!

When you go to the Court House or renew your drivers license or the like these are folks who work for you. When that Forestry Fire Fighter shows up with his tractor to cut a line around the fire to protect the persons home because he decided to build next to a large wooded area, these are the services we are losing, sort of. The State is delegating to the local governments more of the responsibility. A good example is when the State decides to close the department of Motor Vehicles in a community. In Okaloosa County the DMV is now operated by the Tax Collector. I would venture a guess that thx Collector is being compensated for this service by the State, but if it is anything like the State does, they will eventually reduce the amount reimbursed to where the local taxpayer will have to pick up the cost. They have done it with schools, why not other services they can shed and then not fund them. Yeah, your right, its the Unions that have caused all of Florida's problem.

I feel unions contribute to the problem, California is an excellent example of this. It's something we have to be vigilant of.

It surely isn't the banking interest or insurance industry or even the power companies. Everyone wants there piece of the pie. Every one says we (the employees) need to tighten our beltsbut Wall Street still gives out big bonuses, Banks still gives out bad loans, insurance companies still want to raise rates. Where is the help for the little guy. Oh thats right, we need to tighten our belts. We need to create more jobs so we want to give tax breaks to big business, we want to save the farmer in Florida but we give tax breaks to those who buy investment property and they put a few cows on them maintain the agricultural designation. Yeah, thats our fault also, we are that fat slobery pigs organize for better pay and working conditions that have and are dealing with the economy also.

Yes we vote and yes we give to candidates. Contrary to popular belief, we are Republicans, Democrats, Independent. We are conservative, liberal and middle of the road. We vote party line and cross party lines. We are Women and Men, we cross religous boundries and skin color does not hinder us. We are Union and we vote.

My point here is that the organizations that represent union workers can be just as evil and self serving as all those big bad businesses you mentioned previously can be. ;-) If as a union member you are working toward making sure that doesn't happen, good for you. If you as a union member are fighting against bad teachers, dirty cops, corrupt government service personnel, abusive or non-caring health serivce workers who, through union representation, keep their jobs despite their poor performance, and get paid a premium salary to boot, good for you. If you are not seeking more than your fair pay/share/benefits, good for you.

Read the article and I believe you'll come to understand my concerns.

 

[scooterbug44]

Does mama scooterbug realize that these are entirely 2 separate groups and in most cases are represented by different Unions, if they are represented at all? Also, does she believe these folks who toil for the people of Florida are any less deserving of a fair wage? Just asking?

Mama Scooterbug lives in a different state.

She doesn't feel that one group should be exempt when so many others are taking pay cuts - especially folks who have already made sacrifices and taken pay cuts.

 

[poppy]

FF 2 you're wasting your time defending unions on this board. Most only believe in this equation "Unions=Bad". It doesn't matter that most of the benefits all workers enjoy are a direct result of the decades long struggle of unions trying to prevent exploitation of workers.