Senate Dem Michael Bennet Dines With CEOs After Airing EFCA Skepticism
April 9, 2009 at 05:28 PM
Sam Stein Huffingtonpost
On Thursday evening, newly appointed Sen. Michael Bennet is doing what most freshmen members do: making connections with influential figures at a reception in his home state. But the crowd that will surround Colorado Democrat at the Coors Clubhouse at Coors Field has left some labor officials a bit disconcerted.
Only days after speaking out skeptically on the labor community's highest legislative priority, the Employee Free Choice Act, Bennett will be attending a "CEO Reception" hosted by the EFCA foes: the Colorado Association of Commerce & Industry.
"The reception," the invitation reads," will include an opportunity to visit with Senator Bennet as well as an opportunity to meet with other Colorado Business Leaders. A gourmet spread will be prepared by Executive Chef Rik Kiessling. A premium bar and specially selected wines will be served."
Bennet's aides say that the event is not a fundraiser, just one of many guest appearances and meetings that he is hosting in his home state. "He met with AFL-CIO Executive Committee this morning," said aide Craig Hughes. "He is very much talking to both sides of the aisle about a wide variety issues including health care and how to create jobs."
Nevertheless, Thursday's reception represents one of those tricky political maneuvers that often trip up freshmen members, especially those from swing states. Bennet is still relatively fresh on the scene, having moved into Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's seat from the post of superintendent of Denver Public Schools. Colorado, meanwhile, has only recently trended Democratic, with an organized labor force that is growing but relatively small. In short: Bennet needs to make the type of institutional connections that can secure his political fate but must do so without disappointing the constituencies that traditionally vote Democratic.
This past week, he disappointed labor leaders by declaring that the Employee Free Choice Act, "right now" isn't "something that can be passed."
That he would dine with the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry a few days later gives fodder to the cynics. But the Senator's office insist that he is not closing any doors when it comes to labor's legislative priority.
"Michael continues to keep an open mind on the Employee Free Choice Act," said Hughes. "He is meeting with both sides to discuss not only EFCA but to get real health care reform passed this year, and how to get Colorado economy moving to create jobs."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/09/senate-dem-dines-with-ceo_n_185199.html
For More Information on EFCA please visit our websites and blog
www.TheTruthAboutEFCA.Org
http://efcanow.blogspot.com/
http://efcaunionbustingclub.blogspot.com/
http://www.employeefreechoiceactnow.org
http://www.FreeChoiceActNow.Org
http://www.LaborUnionResources.Org
For more information on Employer FEAR, Coercion and Intimidation Union Busting Tactics Press Below
http://efcanow.blogspot.com/2009/02/just-say-no-to-employee-free-choice-act.html
A new ad from organized labor targets Wall Street in Employee Free Choice Act EFCA fight
American Rights at Work (ARAW), a labor advocacy group affiliated with several unions, plans a nationwide buy for the ad to play on cable television across the country. It will begin during the two-week congressional recess now under way.
The ad targets financial companies that have asked for government bailouts for lobbying against the Employee Free Choice Act bill, which would make it easier to form unions. The ad does not specify which financial firms have lobbied against the bill.
“It’s the Wall Street way of doing business,” the ad says. “It’s time the economy worked for everyone again.”
http://efcanow.blogspot.com/
www.TheTruthAboutEFCA.Org
Tags: American Rights at Work, ARAW, Employee Free Choice Act, Employee Free Choice, EFCA, Free Choice, Free Choice Act Congress, Labor, Unions, Union Blogs, Wall Street
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