Where are Arizona’s pro-labor ‘Lunch Pail Republicans’?

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Arizona has often been the test lab for right-wing legislation (see ALEC and the Goldwater Institute). Arizona was among the first states to adopt a "Right to Work" provision in its Constitution (1946) (a Right to Work law guarantees that no person can be compelled, as a condition of employment, to join or not to join, or to pay dues to a labor union).

In reality it should be called a "free-rider" provision — employees working under a union collective bargaining agreement with the employer receive all the benefits of the collective bargaining agreement without having to be a union member or to contribute one dime to the union for administration of the collective bargaining ageement.

• Federal law has banned forced unionism since 1963 (National Labor Relations Board v. General Motors, 1963)
• Federal law prevents non-members from paying union dues, requiring them only to pay the cost of administering their contract (Communication Workers of America v. Beck et al, 1988)

The only difference between federal law (Taft-Hartley Act, as amended) and what "right to work" laws provide is that non-members pay nothing. It is not about benefiting workers, but about taking revenue away from the unions.

The state of Indiana is currently embroiled in a fight over a "right to work" bill advanced by former Bush Budget Director (the genius (sic) who helped destroy our economy), Gov. Mitch Daniels. On Monday, the bill passed out of the Senate and led to a walk out by House Democrats. Indiana Senate approves ‘right to work,’ House Democrats leave floor | The Indianapolis Star:

House Democrats remained behind closed doors late Monday, angry that they were blocked from offering more amendments to the controversial “right to work” bill.

This latest breakdown in the House came shortly after the Senate voted 28-22 for its version of the bill, Senate Bill 269.

* * *

Moments after the vote rejecting the referendum was cast, House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, asked if there were “further motions to amend.”

He repeated those words and just as a Democrat was speaking up, Bosma gaveled the bill closed, meaning that no further amendments could be offered it was now eligible for a final vote, likely tomorrow.

Democrats quickly said they needed to caucus — and left the floor.

The question now is when — or whether — Democrats will return.

More importantly – there is still such a thing as pro-labor Republicans in Indiana:

Nine Republicans joined all 13 Democrats in the Senate to vote against the bill.

They are Sens. Vaneta Becker, R-Evansville; Richard Bray, R-Martinsville; Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso; Johnny Nugent, R-Lawrenceburg; Brent Steele, R-Bedford; Jim Tomes, R-Wadesville; Brent Waltz, R-Greenwood; and John Waterman, R-Shelburn.

A new political action committee of pro-labor Republicans has been formed, Lunchpail Republicans. Here are their announcement press releases, Take Back Our Party! | Lunch Pail Republicans:

So-called Republicans in Indiana are taking our party in a dangerous direction. By supporting a “right to work” law, the Governor and the leaders of the House and Senate have stepped outside the boundaries of responsible government. This law violates what we stand for as Republicans, and it is time we take back our party.

A “right to work” law makes it illegal for a union to require individuals working under its contracts to pay dues. So the state is saying that unions (completely independent organizations) must provide their services for free to those who simply do not want to pay. Since when do Republicans think like this?

This isn’t about ordinary Republicans and what we hold dear. This is about a few powerful politicians bringing in campaign cash from people who think lower wages are a good thing. And the saddest part is that the Republicans we elected have taken the bait- hook, line and sinker. These people are not qualified to make decisions that affect us.

Let’s take our party back!

Call Speaker Brian Bosma at 800-382-9841 and tell him that what he is doing is a disgrace to working Republicans.

And Lunchpail Republicans Launch to Return Indiana Party to Ordinary Hoosiers | Lunch Pail Republicans:

Portage, Indiana- This morning, David Fagan announced the formation of the “Lunchpail Republicans”, a movement that hopes to appeal to ordinary working Republicans disenfranchised by the abandonment of traditional Republican ideals by Indiana’s current legislative leaders. David A. Fagan, a Republican labor leader, has been appointed to several leadership positions by Governor Mitch Daniels, but is fed up with the way the Republican Party has strayed from its foundation in Indiana.

“As a lifelong Republican, one of the values I hold most dear is support of limited government. Indiana, however, has a Governor and both legislative leaders focused on a ‘right to work’ bill that interferes with private entities’ ability to conduct business,” Fagan said. “Workers and small business owners are no longer being treated as constituents, and our leaders are selling us out to appease the Chamber of Commerce. This is no longer my father’s party, and I am not alone.”

“A Lunchpail Republican believes in the rights to speak freely and bear arms, supports labor and business, and insists that the government should not interfere with the day-to-day operations of private sector organizations,” Fagan said. “We should not have to choose between our party, our union, and our guns.”

The party has already identified several candidates to run against targeted incumbent Republicans who are more concerned with “filling campaign war chests than serving the hard-working Hoosiers who elected them,” Fagan said. “The Lunchpail Republicans exist to identify and support candidates who want to make life better for Indiana’s families, and not those who would serve as puppets to national special interests pushing intrusive legislation like ‘right to work’.”

“Abraham Lincoln, our party’s first President, said ‘All that serves labor serves the nation. All that harms is treason. If a man tells you he trusts America, yet fears labor, he is a fool. There is no America without labor, and to fleece the one is to rob the other.’ Our leaders must also have forgotten that Ronald Reagan was the president of his union, the Screen Actors Guild, for seven terms. Lincoln and Reagan would be ashamed of what these guys are doing.”

David Fagan is Chairman of the Lunchpail Republicans, Financial Secretary of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 150, and president of the 14,000-member IUOE Indiana State Branch. Fagan was appointed by Governor Daniels to the Indiana Port Commission in 2007. He has also been appointed to the Law Enforcement Training Board by Governors Daniels, Kernan, O’Bannon, and Bayh. He was twice elected to the Portage City Council and spent many years as a Republican Precinct Committeeman.

When is the last time you can recall an Arizona Republican taking a stand for the rights of organized labor and the American middle-class built by labor? Where are Arizona's pro-labor Lunch Pail Republicans?

We are constantly told that there are moderate Republicans, many of them now registered as independents or no party preference, who do not agree with the radical extremist far-right agenda of the Tea-Publicans. Why are they silent? Are they cowering in fear of retribution from the authoritarian bullies of the far-right? When are they going to stand up and take back the Republican Party from the radical extremists of the far-right?

If moderate Republicans in Indiana — Indiana for godssake! — can do it, where are the moderate Republicans in Arizona? It's time to come out from hiding under your bed and to take a stand and make your voices heard.