3d CD: Do you want career politician and card-check supporter Heck?

Do you want to be represented by a career politician who favors ending the secret ballot in union-organizing elections? And can't oppose tax increases? Then vote for Denny Heck in the 3d Congressional District. The Seattle Times likes this combination. Because he is more thoughtful than his opponent. Heck has been around a long time. In the Legislature, working for Gov. Booth Gardner. Ran for Superintendent of Public Instruction against a long-time incumbent. The founder of TVW, Washington's CNN. Have you watched it this week? Maybe he was a tireless administrator and leader of TVW. But he sure worked hard to stay in Olympia. Taxes - Americans for Tax Reform say that Heck misrepresented Jaime Herrera's opposition to tax increases through signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. He sure didn't make any such promise. And he supports "card check" in union organizing elections. The Times finds this an inconvenient little flaw. But he is sure he opposes secrecy in union organizing elections. Card check replaces the election by turning in signed cards by over 50% of the work force being organized. A secret ballot allows a vote of the conscience, but when collecting signatures it is possible to put pressure from coworkers and union organizers. I understand that they can corner you at home. Olympia Business Watch Former Senator and Democrat nominee for President George McGovern opposes card check:

“Under EFCA, workers could lose the freedom to express their will in private, the right to make a decision without anyone peering over their shoulder, free from fear of reprisal…..To my friends supporting EFCA I say this: We [Democrats] cannot be a party that strips working Americans of the right to a secret-ballot election. We are the party that has always defended the rights of the working class. To fail to ensure the right to vote free of intimidation and coercion from all sides would be a betrayal of what we have always championed.”

Card check also forces binding arbitration on the company-union worker relationship. It is sponsored by Sen. Patty Murray, Sen. Cantwell and supported by Congressmen Jay Inslee, Rick Larsen, Norm Dicks, Jim McDermott and Adam Smith. [The AFL-CIO link no longer works.]