Everybody knows the union bosses names…

…at the White House.

The folks at the National Right to Work have put together this video emphasizing the Obama White House’s unnaturally close relationship with big labor’s bosses. This is a clear violation of the President’s campaign promise to keep lobbyists out of positions of influence in his administration. Of course, he’s already broken that promise many times over.

How many jobs did Obama’s stimulus create or save last month?

Answer: None.

Reuter’s headline today:

Employers unexpectedly cut jobs in December

Unexpectedly? Really?

The only people who didn’t expect job losses were likely the Marxist, Socialist, oblivious-to-reality Liberal politicians, bureaucrats, and operatives in control who believe the best way to stimulate the economy is to destroy motivation and initiative by confiscating the fruits of producers’ labor and redistributing them to those who don’t produce.

“U.S. employers unexpectedly cut 85,000 jobs in December, cooling optimism on the labor market’s recovery and keeping pressure on President Barack Obama to find ways to spur job growth.”

Though the hard left will likely cling to the fact the unemployment rate held steady at 10%, the whole picture shows there’s little to be optimistic about in the job market. President Obama’s policies have led 661,000 to give up looking for work. That means they’re not even counted in the official 10% figure!

“If they were still looking for work and counted as the unemployed, the unemployment rate would have been 10.5 percent. This clearly isn’t your father’s recession. It is looking more like your great-grandfathers. Brother, can you spare a dime?”–Chris Rupkey, an economist with Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi

Taking the real unemployment number and combining it with the number of workers underemployed (working part-time but seeking full time employment), the bleak picture appears even more disastrous. Would be workers fitting these criteria make up 17.3% of America’s workforce, and actually rose from 17.2% last month.

During the height of the Christmas shopping season (that’s holiday shopping center to those who don’t believe freedom of religion applies to Christians), when more goods are purchased and shipped than at any other time of the year, real actually increased!

Even after all Obama’s “stimulus” programs!

Our Democrat Congress and White House quadrupled the deficit, set record budgets and national debt, and took over private corporations to save the economy and American jobs. But after nearly a year of suffering under Obamanomics, those saved and created jobs remain to be seen.

It may surprise many to discover which employment sectors are bearing the brunt of the damage inflicted by our Democrat leaders who so often proclaim they represent the “working people.” Those who believe such Leninist rhetoric might expect the “working class” to fare better than their white collar counterparts in the Obamaconomy. Given the President’s affinity for unions and their cozy involvement in setting Presidential policy these days, one might also expect sectors of the economy with a disproportionate number of union workers to fare better than less unionized sectors.

Au contraire!

In 2005, blue collar workers were almost twice as likely to be unionized than white collar workers. But last month, the US economy added 50,000 jobs in the white collar professional and business services sector but lost a combined 80,000 jobs in the disproportionately unionized manufacturing and construction sectors.

Blue collar workers are suffering worse under Obamanomics than their white collar neighbors!

It’s been asked before, but with the release of this latest evidence of the failure of Obamanomics the time has come yet again to ask.

Where are the jobs Mr. President?

Newt Gingrich Stabs Workers in Back … Again

Received via email from Mark Mix, President of National Right to Work Committee

Why is Newt Gingrich undercutting our efforts to stop Big Labor’s Card Check bill? Right to Work activists will be disturbed to learn Newt is backing an outspoken supporter of forced unionism and the union bosses in a special election for Congress next week in New York 23. Does Mr. Gingrich really think it makes no difference whether the Republican Party is pro-worker freedom or not?  Just like the final few years when he was Speaker of the House of Representatives, for Newt, it is appears it is just about power and party over principle. You’ve probably heard some of the details by now.  Opponents of forced unionism are outraged that the Republican party has nominated a candidate who is a supporter of coercive card check.  Other conservative and Republican activists have their own reasons for being upset — that the Republican nominee simply does not support positions anywhere near in line with those of rank and file, main stream Republican voters. Of course, our concern centers around the forced unionism card check bill and Right to Work issue that simply guarantees a worker the right to decide whether they will join and support a labor union. The most pressing issue right now though is the Card Check Forced unionism bill, S.B. 560, that is pending in the congress right now! The bill would eliminate the secret ballot, force workers to accept mandatory binding arbitration, and give broad new power over workers to Big Labor. The Republican nominee in New York 23, Dede Scozaffava, is simply as wrong as can be on this issue.  She answered the AFLCIO’s questions by indicating her support for Card Check. Unfortunately, that’s been a habitual pattern with Dede Scozzafava. As a New York Assemblywoman, Dede Scozzafava voted to impose binding arbitration on public employees, stripping workers of the right to vote on their own contracts. But she didn’t stop there. Dede Scozzafava also voted for “Card Check” to strip certain New York healthcare workers of the right to vote in a secret ballot election. So why would any opponent of Card Check support Dede Scozaffava? That’s a good question, and it’s exactly the question you should ask Newt Gingrich. You see, all this year Newt Gingrich has been claiming the fight against Card Check as one of the biggest issues for his group, American Solutions.  You’ve probably received emails from him asking for money to fight the card check bill. I think it’s pretty brazen for someone to raise money to fight card check, and then endorse candidates that will go to Washington and vote for this forced unionism power grab. But that is exactly what’s happening here. You would think Newt Gingrich would have learned his lessons.  Personal issues aside, the main reason Newt left the House after losing the support of his colleagues was simple – he tried to run issueless campaigns and supported too many so-called “Republicans” who were on the wrong side of key issues like Card Check. After Newt felt a lot of heat from Right to Work supporters back then for failing to move a National Right to Work law, he replied that he didn’t need to hold votes on issues like Right to Work, because “We have Monica Lewinsky.”  Again, party and power over principles, and that cost him the Speaker’s chair. So I ask you today — are you sick of politicians – even retired ones – who simply don’t back up their words with their actions? I know I am. So please, contact Newt Gingrich today at (202) 828-6025.  Tell him to apologize for his support for Big Labor Republican Dede Scozaffava.  Tell him you’re sick of So-called leaders who say one thing and then do another. Tell him it’s about issues and principles, not whether or not the candidate has an “R” next to his or her name. Sincerely, Mark Mix President

GOP Leadership in DC Still Doesn’t Get It!

Last November the nation sent a strong and clear message to the Republican Party and Democrats found themselves in complete control of Washington. However, it appears the GOP leadership in our nation’s capitol couldn’t recognize a baseball bat if it hit them between the eyes!  After everything that has transpired since January, Republican leaders still don’t realize conservatism IS what people want.

In May, RINO (Republican in Name Only) Governor Charlie Crist of Florida was endorsed by National Republican Senatorial Committee.  NRSC chairman John Cornyn said Crist is “more electable” than his conservative opponent Marco Rubio.  It’s important to point out this was the first time the NRSC has endorsed a candidate who will be opposed in the Republican primary.

Okay, in May Obama was still sailing in pretty calm seas.  Most considered the April 15 Tea Party a one-time event and expected those protesters to crawl back to their cubicles and let the President get on with the Socialization of the American economy.

But just this week, powerful Republican leaders in DC are trampling a real conservative and endorsing yet another RINO, Dede Scozzafava, in New York’s 23rd Congressional District.  Michelle Malkin has a great piece explaining why she calls Scozzafava “an ACORN-friendly, union-pandering, tax-and-spend radical Republican.”  And even though true conservative Republican Doug Hoffman is vying for the seat, the Democrat who calls herself a Republican has secured endorsements from such Republican heavy hitters as Newt Gingrich, Pete Sessions, and John Boehner.

The GOP has the perfect opportunity to make huge gains in 2010, if it offers candidates who clearly differentiate themselves from their liberal challengers.  But instead, these Republicans are playing right into the hands of the Democrats who have tripled the national debt, dramatically increased federal spending, and are seeking to put the government in control of the most personal and private decisions of every American. How can they not see this?

Immediately following the 2008 defeat, much ink was spent explaining the failures that led to the overwhelming Democratic victory. Many liberals, including those in the mainstream media, were quick to pronounce the death of Conservatism, claiming the results signified a tsunami of Liberalism sweeping across the land. While some Republicans agreed, conservatives did not. According to conservatives, the GOP loss wasn’t a result of Republicans’ conservative policies, but the lack thereof.

Though left-wing pundits and news outlets loved to paint President Bush and other Republicans as “too far to the right” for the past 8 years, the truth is Bush and the party abandoned key aspects of the conservative platform. Spending, debt, and the deficit, along with the size and scope of government escalated in spite of GOP promises to promote fiscal responsibility and limited government. In fact, Obama’s campaign strategy included promises to “return to” fiscally responsible policies and reduce the role of government in our personal lives. (The fact that he has already broken both of these promises is for another article.) So the Left’s hypothesis that Election 2008 was a repudiation of everything conservative won’t wash.

But does evidence exist to support the idea that it was a lack of conservatism on the GOP’s part that cost it the election?

The plethora of conservative grassroots activist organizations that began appearing online immediately following the election gave birth to a movement that has spread across the land, a mobilization of conservative activists previously unseen in these United States. Simultaneous rallies were held across the nation on April 15, July 4, and August 22, attended by Americans young and old protesting not only the hard left turn taken by the Obama administration, but the abandonment of the conservative platform principles mentioned above as well.

Anyone who has attended these rallies can tell you the protesters aren’t calling for a return to the policies of President Bush, but a return to the conservative principles they believe made this country the greatest, most powerful, and most envied on Earth!

If that’s not enough evidence to convince you Americans want a return to conservative principles, take a look at Obama’s crashing poll numbers of late. Rasmussen’s latest Daily Presidential Tracking Poll shows the President’s approval ratings have dropped almost 20 points from their post-inaugural highs and a whopping 40% of Americans strongly disapprove of his job performance, up from 16% when he first took office. Another Rasmussen poll shows Americans prefer a generic Republican candidate to an unnamed Democratic candidate for congress by a 5 point margin. Republicans gained the edge in this poll in June after trailing Democrats for years, only 5 months after Obama began implementing his left wing agenda.

So the question is, why can’t the Republican leadership understand?  Why do they continue to promote, endorse, and patronize RINO’s when it’s plain to see this is exactly what has cost them the past two elections?

Americans don’t need or want Republicans elected.  They need and want Conservatives!

The two should be synonymous, so Scozzafava should step aside and let a real conservative take this seat!

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To see the growing list of others calling for Scozzafava to withdraw, see Michelle Malkin’s post!

Denounce SEIU Violence Against Peaceful Protesters

If you’re in the neighborhood, show up to take a stand against union thuggery and Obama’s buddies in the SEIU!

More info here

The protest is to demand justice for Kenneth Gladney, an African-American conservative who was brutally beaten by 4 individuals, at least 2 of whom were identified as SEIU representatives. The beatings included racial slurs and required hospitalization of Mr. Gladney.

Union Thugs Beat Black Conservative at MO Town Hall

UPDATE–Carnahan staffer arrested at St Louis town hall
UPDATE–St. Louis Tea Party plans to protest union violence

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Union thugs wearing SEIU t-shirts beat black conservative activist at St. Louis town hall meeting

From #TCOT Report

Eyewitness account of union thugs beating black conservative activist

August 6, 2009 St. Louis, Missouri I am a friend of Kenneth Gladney, who was attacked this evening at the Russ Carnahan town hall meeting. I was at the town hall meeting as well. I witnessed the entire melee. Kenneth was approached by a SEIU representative as Kenneth was handing out “Don’t Tread on Me” flags to other conservatives. The SEIU representative demanded to know why a black man was handing out the “Don’t Tread on Me” flags. The SEIU member then used a racial slur against Kenneth, then punched him in the face. Kenneth fell to the ground. Another yelled racial epithets at Kenneth as he kicked him. Kenneth was also brutally attacked by two other men who are SEIU members and an unidentified woman. The three men were clearly SEIU members, as they were wearing t-shirts with the SEIU logo. They punched Kenneth in the face and kicked him in the back and his head numerous times. Mr. Gladney was beaten badly. One assailant fled on foot. Three others were arrested. Kenneth is currently at St. John’s Mercy Hospital being treated for his many injuries. Mr. Gladney was merely expressing his freedom of speech by handing out flags. He in no way provoked anything, as evidenced by the fact that three people were arrested. We hope that Ken recovers from these injuries, however he is in great pain at this time. I am Mr. Gladney’s friend and attorney. We will be pursuing legal action at our disposal. This was a truly senseless hate crime carried out by racist union thugs. Mr. Gladney is a tea party supporter and conservative activist, although he subscribes to no particular political party. We are calling on the SEIU, Representative Carnhan, and President Obama to condemn the racist actions of these thugs. In the days to come, we will be investigating who these thugs actually work for and how strong their alliances to other various left-wing organizations may be. We hope the St. Louis Tea Party and Tea Party organizations around the country will protest the SEIU offices in every major city across America to expose the These strongarm actions must stop. Regards, David B. Brown

Remember, these thugs represent the organization that virtually resides in the White House and advise President Obama on nearly every form of policy. Free speech under attack, freedom of assembly met with brutal attacks by left-wing thugs, the President calling on his left-wing allies to turn in those with whom he disagrees. Is this the change America voted for?

AR: Democrats Sitting on Fence, Republicans Standing on Principle

Rep Marion Berry (D-AR)

As the President and his super majority in both houses of Congress lead us farther and farther down the perilous path toward Socialism, the American voters are beginning to arise from their slumber and realize this isn’t the change they thought they’d get when they voted last November.  Recent polls show Obama’s approval numbers plumetting, Americans trust Republicans more than Democrats, and a majority of voters willing to vote the Republican ticket for Congress in 2010 in a generic ballot.

The shift in the American mood has caught many Democrats from conservative states flat-footed.  Following Obama’s January inauguration, these politicians bought the party line that the election gave them a mandate to completely reorganize the United States into something more closely resembling Venezuela, Cuba, or the old Soviet Union.  Self-proclaimed Blue Dog Democrats marched in solidarity with the left-wing radicals of their party as they quadrupled the federal deficit and helped enslave future generations to mountains of new US debt.  As you might imagine, the public’s evaporating approval of Obama is rubbing off on those Democrats who want their constituents to believe they’re fiscal conservatives.  So what’s a Blue Dog Dem to do?

Sen Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

Judging from my Congressman and Senators, they’re sitting on the fence until the last possible moment.  Yesterday I called the offices of Congressman Marion Berry (D-AR-01), Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR), and Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR).  I asked for each of their positions on the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA aka “Card Check”) and the Health Care Reform legislation currently making their way through Congress.  Their responses were noncommittal and vague, worthless really.  Pryor’s office informed me the Senator was waiting to see what came out of committee before making any statement.  The young lady I spoke with in Lincoln’s office informed me the Senator had not made a public statement on either of these pieces of legislation.  Congressman Berry’s aide with whom I spoke told me Berry was waiting to see what happened with “Card Check” legislation in the Senate before taking a position.  The best news I received from any of the three was Berry’s office’s response on the House Democrats’ health care bill.  I was told they were reading the “chronically long” bill and wouldn’t be able to take a position until they’d sorted through the 1,018 pages to see what’s inside.

Sen Mark Pryor (D-AR)

At least Berry’s reading the bill.  That’s the best I could get from both my Senators and my Representative, all Democrats, on two key pieces of legislation.  Even when asked what conditions would need to be met to earn or lose their support, none of the three would step up and give specifics.  Best I can tell…they’re not taking a stand, at all.  Their sitting on the fence as long as they can in the hopes of correctly judging the dominant political winds at the last possible moment.

To me, such a political strategy demonstrates a lack of conviction.  I want elected officials who will stand on principles rather than sit on fences.  So I thought I’d ask some of the potential Republican candidates who will challenge Lincoln and Berry next year to see if they’re standing up for their principles or polishing the top rail of this fence as well.  I emailed Rick Crawford, Curtis Coleman, and Tom Cox and asked the same questions.  Crawford has announced his intent to run for Berry’s seat next year, while Coleman and Cox are interested in unseating Lincoln.  Though I haven’t heard back from Cox, Crawford and Coleman quickly responded.  Read on and you’ll see these two Republicans who wish to represent you in Washington aren’t fence-sitters.  They’re willing to take a stand based on principle.  To avoid redundancy and for brevity, I’ll cover Coleman’s response to the Health Care legislation and Crawford’s response to “Card Check.”

Curtis Coleman

I knew Coleman had posted on Obama’s desire for a government health insurance earlier on his website, but that post dealt primarily with the inevitable end of private insurance if Obamacare becomes reality.  Today Coleman informed me of a new, more comprehensive post he released on the subject.   Here, he blasts Senator Lincoln for cosponsoring the original bill with Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) in the Senate during the 109th Congress.  He goes on to state the government “will completely control your health care.”  Coleman also notes something in his paper that inexplicably escapes virtually every Democratic politician.  Though the Dems like to try and sell their Socialized medicine saying the government will pay for everyone’s health care, Coleman emphatically states “Of course the government won’t be paying for your health care–you will be.  The government only has the money it takes from you.”

Health care needs to be reformed, not destroyed. And destruction of the finest health care in the world is exactly what this seemingly harmless little “public health insurance option” will do.–Curtis Coleman

Rick Crawford

That doesn’t sound like Coleman has any doubts where he stands, unlike his Democratic rival and her Democratic colleague.  Now let’s take a look at what Rick Crawford has to say about the inappropriately named Employee Free Choice Act (aka “Card Check”).

In Crawford’s reply to my questions, there was no hesitation, no equivocation.  “I do not support the Employee Free Choice Act, or Card Check. I’m against denying anyone the right to a secret ballot – a critical element of a representative republic such as ours. That’s the fundamental issue – a secret ballot,” he states.  This one statement displays a glaring contrast between Rick and his opponent, Marion Berry.  While Berry sits on the sidelines, waiting for the battle to be nearly over, waiting to make up his mind, the left-wing zealots pushing this legislation are gaining strength in their efforts to force virtually all American workers to pay extortionists in the form of union organizers.  Vocal, steadfast opposition from Berry would show courage and conviction in standing up for his constituents.  The worst part is that Berry isn’t hesitating in order to make the right decision, but to make the decision that involves the least amount of political risk.  That’s not leadership, it’s self-serving political preservation devoid of the hindrance of any principles or moral base.  Crawford, on the other hand, stands tall and clearly states his position based on his belief in what is best for the country and his would-be constituents.

The Republican candidate for Arkansas’ 1st Congressional District described the adverse economic impact Card Check will impose also–especially on low-income Americans.  The suffering Americans will endure will come in the form of higher prices and higher unemployment when American companies are forced to 1) raise prices for their products, 2) move their operations offshore, or  3) both.  If we force companies and jobs overseas through this legislation, the federal government will see a net decrease in tax revenues as a result.  Then where do you think they’ll come to make up their shortfall?  That’s right, us!  So even though Card Check won’t directly charge us a tax, in the end it will cause tax rates to increase to cover the cash crunch created by the Democratic geniuses who pushed this through.

Crawford closed his response to my questions with the following statement that addresses the history of union thuggery that will almost certainly be encouraged if this bill becomes law.

If pro-union groups are so convinced that a union shop is the best choice for American workers, it ought to be an easy sell. Rather than implement strongarm tactics, let workers enjoy the sanctity of the secret ballot without fear of reprisal. If unions are such a great deal, pro-union groups should have no doubt what the outcome would be. –Rick Crawford

I think we can safely infer from Crawford’s response that he’s not sitting on the fence either.

Unlike their Democratic incumbents, Crawford and Coleman know where they stand on these important issues and they’re not afraid to let the people know.  We need real leaders in the Senate and House, real leaders who will stand for what’s right, not just what’s politically expedient.  Our Democratic Senators and Representatives are showing themselves to be anything but leaders.  They’ve voted too many times as lap dogs for Pelosi and Obama, instead of conservative Blue Dogs.  It’s time we had real conservative leaders representing Arkansans’ conservative values.

Contact Berry, Lincoln, and Pryor and let them know if they won’t stand up for Arkansans, there are folks who are willing to send them home when their terms are up.  Next year for Berry and Lincoln, 2014 for Pryor.

Congressman Marion Berry 2305 Rayburn H.O.B. Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-4076 (202) 225-5602 FAX

Senator Blanche Lincoln 355 Dirksen Senate Building Washington, DC 20510-0404 Phone: (202)224-4843 Fax: (202)228-1371

Senator Mark Pryor 255 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: (202) 224-2353 Fax: (202) 228-0908

John Allison III Cabot, AR US
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What will “Card Check” really mean?

The folks at Americans for Tax Reform and Alliance for Worker Freedom have come up with a great way to show people what passage of the poorly named “Employee Free Choice Act” (i.e. Card Check) will really mean in the American workplace.  Check out “Card Checked:  The Game.”

It’s not the most exciting game and you have to read what the characters are saying, but hey, these are conservative organizations that know how to stretch a buck.  The main thing is, it gets the point across that Card Check will strip Americans of their rights to NOT organize and result in fewer jobs.  The game not only tells what will happen, but links to documentation that such things have happened in the past.  Card Check will just give extra incentives to union bosses to harass and coerce workers who wish to remain free.

Anyone who doesn’t believe unions will use strongarm tactics to force people to fork over their hard-earned wages is sticking their head in the sand.   It has happened and it will happen more often if Card Check passes.

Use the link to the right to contact your Senator and let him/her know we don’t want Card Check!  The Hill has identified 5 key Democratic Senators who may side with Republicans in a filibuster of the bill.  We need more pressure on these five to prevent this travesty from being perpetrated on the American public!

Play Now–Card Checked:  The Game

John Allison III Cabot, AR US
Visit MyBlogLog and get a signature like this!

The Danger of EFCA (aka “Card Check”)

Union membership has been declining for decades and a natural result of that declining membership is a decline in the power held by unions in America.  Now that Democrats will control both houses of Congress and the White House, the union bosses are seizing the opportunity to reverse their decades long death spiral.  To achieve this goal, they’ve crafted the benevolently named Employee Free Choice Act (aka “Card Check”).

So, what is this bill whose name makes it sound like something everyone in America would embrace?

Hirsch Roberts Weinstein LLP, a Boston, MA law firm published The Employee Free Choice Act: An Employer’s Survival Guide.  This report explains what changes we can expect to see if this bill is signed into law.

Currently, in order to unionize workers in a particular establishment, the union must obtain signed authorization cards by 30% of the targeted workers in a company.   Once it’s accomplished this, the union files a petition with the National Labor Relations Board.  The NLRB then oversees an election by secret ballot in which the targeted employees choose whether or not to organize.  It’s important to understand that neither union leaders, other employees, nor employers can determine which employees voted for and which voted against organizing.  If more than 50% of employees vote to organize, the NLRB will certify the union as the employees’ exclusive collective bargaining representative.

How will this process change if EFCA is allowed to become law?

The secret ballot will disappear.  If the union collects signed authorization cards from 50% of the targeted workers, there will be no election.  Employees who didn’t sign cards will have no chance to vote, no chance to campaign against organization.  Once the signed cards are collected, the NLRB will be required to certify the union and the company will be required to recognize it as the collective bargaining representative of all employees.

According to Newsmax.com, 59% of Americans oppose EFCA.  The ARRA News Service reports even some left-leaning newspapers know that EFCA will further weaken the already fragile U.S. economy.  But, the following video shows President-elect Barack Hussein Obama’s unequivocal support for eliminating workers’ rights to choose whether or not to unionize their shops by secret ballot.

Most people consider the secret ballot a sacred right, a fundamental right in a democratic society.  It affords voters an opportunity to vote their conscience without fear of intimidation by those who oppose their views.  Removing the secret ballot places physically weaker employees who don’t want a union in the difficult position of changing their vote to avoid a physical confrontation with bigger, stronger coworkers.

But is this really a concern.  I mean, we live in a civilized society right?

Unions have a long history of using violence to intimidate those who don’t stand with them.  The Right to Work Blog documents these cases under it’s Union Corruption and Violence tag.

Still don’t believe this bill will endanger those who don’t want to unionize?  Check out these videos and see if they change your mind.

Nobody is debating the right of workers to organize, but some want to deny the right not to join a union.  Amazing isn’t it?  But that’s exactly why the unions want to force workers to become members–not to choose, but be forced–through this legislation.

The name sounds harmless, but the Employee Free Choice Act is anything but harmless.  If we allow this bill to become law, we are subjecting innocent people (who simply want to work and earn a living to provide for their families) to the violence of strong-arm union bosses who want to strip them of their rights!

Contact your Senators and Representatives and let them know you oppose eliminating the secret ballot and eliminating the right of workers to choose whether or not to hand over control of their lives to union bosses.

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Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) – The Team Obama’s Strategy–ARRA News Service