AUGUSTA, Maine — A late bill offered by Gov. Paul LePage would take away the ability of independent, in-home child care providers to unionize and engage in collective bargaining.
During a public hearing Monday on LD 1894, the governor’s chief legal counsel, Dan Billings, said the bill’s goal is fairness. No other self-employed workers that receive state subsidies have the right to unionize, he said.
“This is the only group of service providers that allows them to come together to bargain for subsidy rates,” Billings told members of the Legislature’s labor committee.
The National Federation of Independent Businesses submitted written testimony in support of repealing the law.
“Pretending that private child care providers are somehow public employees because they receive a subsidy from the state sets a bad precedent that could also be used to justify the unionization of home health providers or other private business owners,” State Director David Clough wrote.
Chris Quint, executive director of the Maine State Employees Association, the union representing the independent providers, said LD 1894 is just another attempt by the LePage administration to weaken union rights.
“These small businesses are advocating for sensible child care policies and regulation, including legislation affecting the child care voucher system, and water and safety regulations,” said Quint.
No child care providers testified Monday but one, Melanie Collins, submitted written testimony.
“Maine child care providers are committed to government efficiency, a thriving business environment, job creation, and lowering the numbers of unemployed and those receiving assistance, which is why we strongly support continuing the right of home child care businesses to have a voice in what they do,” she wrote.
Other industries that receive state subsidies — hospitals, for instance — have paid lobbyists.
This same measure was included in LePage’s initial biennial budget that was proposed last year but was stripped early in the process amid opposition. The governor wanted to lower the subsidy rate last year as well but that didn’t fly.
The current law was put into place in 2008 to allow nearly 300 providers to unionize with the MSEA. Those providers all receive subsidies from DHHS to help low-income families pay for child care.
Billings said the bill was not about the subsidy rate, which is set by the Legislature. It’s about equity, he said.
Others pointed out that the governor already tried to reduce subsidy rates last year.
The timing of LD 1894’s introduction is of note as well.
Earlier this month, the Maine Labor Relations Board rejected several points contained in a complaint filed by the MSEA and against the LePage administration. However, the board also ruled that the matter should go to trial to determine whether the administration negotiated in bad faith and interfered with union workers’ rights.
That decision was the latest in a drawn-out battle between LePage and the state’s largest public employees union.
Rep. Timothy Driscoll, D-Westbrook, said the bill seemed last minute and wondered if it might be better to bring it back for discussion next session.
Billings, however, said the issue was brought back because there is no current contract between the state and the union.
The Legislature’s labor committee is scheduled to take up LD 1894 later this week.
Yeah, yeah….. blah, blah. When do we lose the right to wear the American tag? Nov. 6, 2012
The Republicans will strip workers down until they are treated no better than those in the communist police state of China–all because competition requires it.
It’s the disparity between workers and CEOs. Japan’s make 11-1 as the second highest, we come in as 475-1 as the highest. We’ve come along way for the rich with deregulating everything the last thirty years. Repubs are gone 11-6-12
can’t wait for the abusers of power liars club, AKA the GOP, goes the way of the Whig Party and Federalists…extinct!
So true, they really need to re-brand …. I think a most fitting title would be “The CornDog Party?”
More unions = higher costs = less jobs = liberal logic
and the conservative logic is send all the jobs to China, that’s worked out real well. The fact of the matter is there are good unions and bad unions. I’ve worked with them both. No one in business today can afford to pay workers to read a book in between machine cycles, … bad union. The good ones where top notch and the guys where sharp as a tack and the company very profitable. These extremist are, simply put … Greedy.
The conservative logic? The major movement of jobs to China was with Clinton. It did not start with him but it built the major momentum with him. Was Clinton a conservative? Was Clinton a Republican?
Yeah I do believe Bubba was a fiscal conservative and social liberal, he did balance budget after all. But it was that pseudo cowboy from
Texas who put the final touches on the entire mess to make sure the entire country was in a death spiral before leaving the OK corral.
Even Chinese workers are trying to improve their lot.
these clowns of democracy will be getting their clocks cleaned in the next two elections and they’ll be scratching their extreme-ly empty heads, wondering … wha-happened?
more unions = better wages and safety = happy Americans and a better country for all.
GOP = abusers of power liars club
You forgot less freedom.
What, less freedom to be exploited?
oops GOP liars club= abusers of power = less freedom for all
So just give the jobs away right sparky ? You are as bright as a Marden’s lightbulb……
then all we would have is the Socialist Communist Democratic Party, now that is quite a contradiction. I guess like Democrats.
Whatever we would have would be a damn sight better than the GOP in charge of anything. They are sell-outs. They sold the American dream right out from under the middle class, and then put the blame on the poor. This is not surprising. What IS surprising is how many people actually fell for it.
You DO read thier snarky reply’s don’t you Dude? Are you REALLY surprised? Maybe what is surprising is that they are STILL falling for it. It took us how long to rebuild after Hoover and that bunch ran things for awhile? We are absolutely right back into the same soup and we can only hope and pray we can save it again before it is too late. Again. Bush brought us as close to the ’29 crash as I ever want to see. IDIOTS!
Don’t forget Obama tripling the deficit.
You mean actually budgeting for Bush’s two wars?, instead of funding the wars under emergency supplemental budgets under W. Bush.
Are you under the impression the deficit trippled only because of Stimulus Act or something?
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act accounts for a very small percentage
You forgot GWB’s giant giveaway to old people and Big Pharma.(Prescription Drug Act.)
Worst expenditure ever.
Doughnut hole nightmare Im sure. I cant imagine what it must be like to have to choose between life saving medications or heat and food……all so some CEO can sit pretty on a gold throne.
Heck, if pharma companies just spent alittle less on marketing, it couldve probably filled that doughnut hole.
let’s not forget the pseudo cowboys grand exit, as he emptied the US treasury into Wall Street’s pockets.
Yep, and yet cowboy cheerleaders will blame Obama for TARP, which was signed by their freemarket cowboy.
So true …. sisboomba
The US is one of only two countries that allow direct to consumer medical marketing and that only since 1997.They’re great at making up diseases to fit the solution.
Watch how fast they find cures for diseases that they profit from now. Imagine no more common cold? Think of the corps that would lose money.
I never worry about any drug co. losing money.Watch “Tucker” with Jeff Bridges for an illustration of that principle in action.
At least the doughnut hole is going away slowly.
Going away that is a laugh. By the time Obama leaves we may be in a few more wars.
Not if the GOP gets Obamacare repealed! No doughnut hole coverage for seniors, no 26 year olds getting coverage under their parents’ policies, no coverage for preexisting conditions, lifetime limits will be back, insurance companies can spend whatever they want on CEO salaries, 30 million less people with healthcare coverage, no subsidies for small businesses offering health insurance for their employees….Is there something wrong with these key parts of Obamacare or is the problem the guys who used to say “repeal and REPLACE” (don’t hear them say REPLACE anymore do we?)?
I know.The problem is Obama didn’t go far enough.We need all good people to vote D in Nov and beyond.
or a little less spent on bribing Congressman
cash for clunkers, Obama healthcare. The Prescription Drug Act, was a mess.
editited I should of stated none of the above was good.
Prescription Drug Act was signed by Bush, not Obama.
With NO BID contracts to pharmaceutical companies, there’s your free market when the tax payers are buying. Most of these ppl didn’t care about politics til the day after the election :(
You really want to be taken seriously when you say the ARRA accounts for a small percentage?
The majority of that deficit came from Obam’s bright ideas: and is still climbing isn’t it. Cash for clunkers was his, wasn’t it?
You are wrong. The MAJORITY OF Obama’s deficit spending was due to Bush’s two wars, Bush’s unpaid for Prescription Part D plan, Bush’t two tax cuts mostly for the rich costing us $4 Trillion in revenues, and Bush’s tanking of the economy. You guys sure have selective memories, but I guess if I had voted for Bush and thus helped contribute to our mess, I’d probably try to forget and deflect too.
DON’T FORGET YOURSELF that Bush left Obama two wars, an unfunded prescription drug part D plan, and less revenues because of Bush’s two tax cut giveaways mostly for the rich! PLUS BUSH left Obama the Bush Recession, the worst financial calamity in 70 years! Unfortunately, increasing the deficit was the ONLY alternative, but you probably would have preferred a worldwide Bush DEPRESSION.
Do you guys really think that if Obama came into office with a surplus like Bush was handed from Clinton, that we our economy and deficit would now be worse?
I know it’s a rural state but you obviously get internet, why not use it to educate yourself instead of all your hate? You are the problem, people like you and you are very obvious. Get over it brufie, we will be the miniority in a few years. TFB
The problem, that sounds judgemental in itself, sorry to inform you. If you think I am prejudice you are sadly mistaken. The President was not prepared the office, nor is he now. I get a laugh from people that think others do not like the President because of his color. Your accusation is pretty transparent, and unfounded. It is pretty insulting to my friends.
He is the best thing to happen to us since 2000, eight years of incompetence and greed have left us in this mess and he is digging us out with no help from the party soon to be voted out. Yes, I think you’re prejeduced, you only fool yourself and maybe your friend.
Well Obama is half way to incompetance, digging us out? He is digging a deeper whole. My friends that are the same as the President, I do not think they are or would be fooled. I think you need to check your own prejudices. As for that, I think Condaleezza Rice would of made a better President.
Please change the channel.
I hope we do that in November.
Bruce you are another GOP fool, forgetting that Bush caused the big mess, expecting it to be fixed in two years, and supporting a party which only cares about rich special interests. You won’t believe me, but if you just check on one thing, you might be able to cure your foolishness. Here’s how you do it…see if you can find even one piece of legislation initiated by the GOP in Congress in the past ten years that was geared to primarily help the middle class. Then see what they’ve done both passing and blocking legislation to help the super rich. It should make you sick, but I’ll bet money right now that brainwashed GOP followers like you, won’t even bother checking because it might shake your cult indoctrination.
Insulting me does not get me to view your points any more solidly. I have voted for Dems, Reps. and Inds. I do not follow blindly the liberal, socialist propaganda that you seem to advocate. I thought half these things they blame Bush for when Obama got into office and signed were for the middle class. I guess not.
“geared to PRIMARILY help the middle class” Did you find even one? Did you even look?
I don’t agree with your other statements but I think the world of Ms. Rice.I wish her much success in future endeavors.
:) though with both parties, it can be diffiult to say the least. She is one smart lady.
Bush and large majorities of Democrats in both houses one of which Obama was a member and they all voted for the bailouts!
They did, not hardly, or should I say the Democrats are just as bad if not worse. Surprising how many people fell for the Democrats, especially Clinton & Obama. The mess from Social Security came from Johnson.
SS/Medicare could be fixed easily with two things.Won’t happen.Both sides are gutless.
No cap on taxed earnings.
Cap on lifetime benefits.
I agree that the program is flawed.The biggest problem is young people who haven’t paid in claiming “mental disability”SSDI needs to be limited to those who put in their time and money and who have a physical disability that can be traced to their job.
It is frightening to see anyone believe that Socialism is better than the GOP.
The GOP has done more harm to this country since 2001 than 911!
and Obama is and will be worse.
Considering that Bush bombed the towers,you can add 9/11 to your list.Watch “Loose Change” and read Thierry Meyssen’s book.
The same people who voted for Palin because she’s “cute”(blech)and they thought they’d be able to “do her if they weren’t married”(actual quote)
I guess you are a true repug, not a solution, not even a suggestion. Just finger pointing and it wasn’t me, waaahhhhh. Your party is in it’s death throes, from an Independent.
Not at all I am unenrolled, I vote for the person, not blindly followingDecocratic Socialism. Independent, sounds more like a Democrat.
Just how are you able to vote if you are unenrolled? I smell a load of BS.
That is a simple answer. With the exception of primaries you do not have to belong to any party. If you do not belong to any party, on the voter roll you are simply are unenrolled. Since you seem to be unaware, check with your voter registrar.
Only in ME. I know I’m registered.
I am registered to vote too. It does not mean I have to register to a party, thus unenrolled.
Oh really? And what party replaced the Federalists and competed with the Whigs? The party of “Trail of Tears” Indian removal, the party of slavery, the party of secession – THE DEMOCRAT PARTY!
If you have to go back to the 1840’s give up.
I was replying to someone who went back before the 1840’s. But that’s ok – it is sometimes better to give up when you realize the argument is lost.
Then give it up, waaaahhhhh
If you say so…but keep in mind Parties change. Heck, when I was a member of the GOP 15 years ago, they actually cared about the middle class. Now they only work for the rich and care nothing about the middle class and even less for the poor…other than try to fool them into voting for them.
People who have never voted are registering with the sole intention of removing Republicans. The only problem with creating poor people when you hold public office is that they will soon outnumber you……
475 to 1, at least we’re number 1 at something again. sarcasm
475 to 1, and yet that is still not enough for some people. You gotta’ love greed!
Postal Service, Schools, Mills, Automobile factories, Industrial factories. What do they have in common? BROKE, BANKRUPTED, OUT OF BUSINESS, AND UNIONS! Businesses can not afford to stay in business anymore. The United States has created enough labor laws that the only need for Unions is to suck money out of their members. God forbid employers expect their employees to work hard. How dare they do such a thing.
Yep, that is terrible. Just imagine low income and middle class people in one of the richest countries in the world trying to make a decent living here of all places. They should all be happy just to have a job working in a sweat shop for 2 cents an hour like our brothers and sisters in China. I’m with you I want a pay cut and no benefits so all the millionaires in this country can have a tax break. I think I’ll have another cup of Tea
Your comment is dramatic and untrue. Show me a sweat shop in America. We have labor laws to protect our citizens from being mistreated. Employers are forced to compete against other companies, not just for business but for labor force as well. Unions are organized criminals.
yep
Sweatshop=DeCoster.
Thanks….great example.
Thanks.The R’s did everything they could keep Jack in business.Thank God there weren’t more illnesses and death with his ME operations.
Show me a JOB in America. There are no sweat shops here because the GOP/Tea Party hasn’t reduced us to the point where we will accept slavery yet. Don’t worry though…they’re working on it.
There are all kinds of JOBS in America, look in the paper. However try being an employer and try to find half decent people to work. I have been looking to fill a position for 6 months at the rate of $27.00 per hour and 55 hours per week. I get applicants that couldn’t pass a drug test, have no teeth and long hair, or bad mouth their past employers. If you are unemployed for more than 2 weeks, you probably aren’t worth being hired. Oh and the great thing about America, start your own business if you think it’s so easy.
You are absolutley full of it! I don’t believe a word you’re saying. If you are that desperate for workers then surely you wouldn’t mind posting you job wanted ad here? Or reference a link to your BDN ad say?
Read your history – the GOP defeated slavery. Democrats have been trying to reinstall it ever since. And today – Democrats are seriously close to making taxpayers the slaves government employee unions and their non-working liberal interest groups.
Maybe you should expand your history lessons besides from Glen Beck University…….
OOPS! Nice try but your assumption is false. My history lessons pre-date Glen Beck University and do not subscribe to GBTV.
ONLY a fool would spread such foolishness, but then again to be a member of the GOP liars club, you have to do what they do EVERY SINGLE DAY!
They already are pushing to get rid of the minimum wage in several states run by Republicans.
The Department of Labor estimates that 4500 of New York’s 7000 garment shops are sweatshops. Just google sweatshops in the US and check a few of the links.
And the Tea Party’s agenda is to put us back where we were before we ever had unions. I don’t believe most American workers want to go there.
This TEA Party worker who is working 2 jobs and paying taxes so government union employees can live better than I can “would love to go back to that time! A free country must allow unions in the private sector but has no obligation to allow them in for government “public SERVANTS”.
You just want to privatize government functions. And the easiest way to do that, is to break up the public unions. Theyre the last group standing in your way to creating the Corporate State.
That’s why they’re trying so hard to get charter schools.Indoctrinate the kiddies with religious swill and by the time they graduate they’ll be zombies who will work for a nickel.Look at Texas.I mean seriously-Phyllis Schafly?
Yep, and a believe it was a Harvard study that showed that Charter schools work no better or worse than public schools.
I got no problems with private or religious schools as long as they are privately funded.
Keep public schools public.
Keep private schools private.
Mixing them seems like mixing oil with water, with toxic results.
Don’t you love Texas, the conservative dream that turned into a nightmare? Bottom of the list in almost all metrics except in McJobs.
Especially poor women and women of color. Their nightmare continues.
Privatize some government functions? Sure – if it is good for the taxpayers.
And who do you think brought about these labor laws? It wasn’t the fat cat CEO’s making millions of dollars off the backs of hard working people. It was the Unions my friend, groups of people that stand together for a just cause. I have been a Union member, I’ve also worked many crappy jobs for minimum wages while the boss couldn’t afford to give us raise, or so he said, as he sped away in his fifty thousand dollar pick-up hauling his fifteen thousand dollar sleds to his favorite vacation spot for two weeks. Now as a business owner I’ve been on all sides of the debate.
Yes, some Unions are corrupt as are some employers, over all I still believe we as a country are far better off with Unions than without.
Sweatshops in Maine are disguised with the name “Seasonal Employment”? Ever see those people making wreaths? All that’s missing is the sewing machine.
And you would be surprised how many of those employers are DEMOCRATS.
NAME one.
Mardens.
And where do you think those anti-sweatshop labor laws came from? You think they came from the lobbying of the owners of the sweatshops? Or from organized workers demanding fair treatment from their employers?
That is exactly what the GOP wants for you. I don’t get the “tea” reference though ? If you mean the Tea Party then I hate to tell ya …..their agenda is the same.
I was being facetious. I hate Tea :)
Do not criticize the labor arrangements in China. It was created by the same workers paradise philosophy that Democrats, Socialists and Progressives are trying to create here!
Totalitarianism and Mulit-national Corporate Greed created the labor arrangements in China.
In China, the workers paradise socialist government and corporations are one and the same – its COMMUNISM.
Yes, however try going after a company with out a union behind you, you will get nowhere because they have the best lawyers in the nation fighting for them, what do you have?
You can’t afford to stay in business anymore because of the Federal Reserve that prints more fiat currency everytime there’s an ALLEGED crisis, and devalues your dollar. It’s funny that Union employees seem to be the only ones that can keep up with inflation ? Why is that ? Because they have muscle in numbers. The American people should ALL be union employees and any business that moves overseas should be given huge tariffs to bring their overseas products into OUR markets. If a business doesn’t pay a living wage who needs them ? I only have so many hours in my life….should I get 3, or 4 jobs ? You can’t see everything going up in price except your paycheck ? Simple basic math bub….you are getting poorer everyday. At least a Union will negotiate a wage you can live on.
Yeah ok. You may want to go and re-check your history. Go back just a little ways, say just before there were unions. You can then re-post your same list!! Unions were organized for a reason…the very reason you are blaming them for now. They saved the middle class. How ignorant can you be really? Ever heard of Herbert Hoover? He didn’t have unions to blame back then tho…go back and look at who HE blamed…the last time we found ourselves in the mess you currently blame on unions…HAH!
Look at the number of people that were killed and injured by company goons just to get the most basic rights.Most people have no idea how many it is.And guess what-NONUNION employees got those same rights in many cases.
Well if businesses can’t stay in business and you’re a business owner,let us know when you fold.I’m sure you’ll blame everyone else but yourself.
You are correct sir. As a matter of fact they are following the very same policies as China to enslave the people.
Your analogy is flawed – it is the Democrats who want to make the elusive, utopian, socialist workers paradise. Where did that come from? THE COMMUNISTS! Republicans protecting freedom is communism? More contradictory ideology, circular reasoning and redefinition of words by liberals.
Pavl Gerardovich now wants to take away the rights of child care workers to unionize. I am sure that the most pressing problem that The State of Maine has right now is if 300 or so people who are mostly home daycare operators, become members of MESA. Secret papers, secret police agencies, taking away workers rights at every opportunity. Kind of sounds like the old Soviet Union doesn’t it? I wonder when he will toss out the current state flag and replace it with a really swell one that is all red with a nice hammer and sickle on it?
And we’ll have to salute to his statute in the town square.
or steal it and scrap it at the local recycler
Freudian slip “statute” for “statue”Sadly both are correct in LePage’s newly tanned little mind.
Pavl Gerardovich is HERO. Is glorious leader.
Unions dictating the amount of my tax money going to overpaid child care providers. Now that idea sounds commie to me. Keep up the good work gov, and just maybe we can rid the state of all those who would wish to collapse our economy.
“Overpaid child care providers”. Who else but amcon could call child care providers overpaid. Keep the peasants in rags right amcon?
The problem with amcon is he doesn’t believe he is one (peasant)……that will change.
You know what is really funny. Conservatives actually believe that they are the only ones who pay taxes.
They are ignorant fools, most of them follower types, who listen to what FOX “news” tells them and they believe it hook line and stinker.
Not true but getting more true the more Democrats get their way – to create more and more programs and power for their non-working, non-taxpaying interest groups.
So you are telling me that it is liberals who are constantly posting on here about their almighty precious tax dollars and complaining about “crushing” tax burdens?
Just another greedy GOP follower who only care about number one but worries that the poor and elderly are being helped out for freeeeee. Oh no, your pennies of taxes along with everyone else’s for the common good of all.
If you want to find tax cheats and deadbeats all in one place,go to any TP meeting.They already got theirs so screw you Jack.
If unions drive the cost of childcare close to or above the amount their customes make so they can go to work then it defeats the whole purpose of the child care industry. Unionize childcare workers and most will go out of business but in the meantime the Democrat Party will get their hands on the union dues.
Is there anything more important, then a child care provider for your children when you have to trust someone else to take care of them? I once went through the horrows of trying to find a good one for my child. My child was so unhappy, I couldn’t get him out of the car to go in the caregivers home. Good child care providers should be paid above the $1 an hr the gov. would like
to pay them. Good try governor, but it won’t fly, hopefully.
According to LePage your kids should be working full time in a factory…..maybe at Marden’s junk shop ?
I don’t know where you got the idea Marden’s is a junk shop. I find a lot of useful items there at low cost. Shopping at Marden’s in not beyond my level of self-respect. I’m glad Maine people have a place to shop where they can save.
I say it is a junk shop because everything there is junk!
Junk? The lowest cost and longest lasting air conditioners I have had I bought at Mardens long before I knew of anyone with the last name of LePage.
Boy! It is starting to get deep in here, LOL
Why is it that relatives can’t work at Marden’s, yet they can all have a job at the tax payer expense whether qualified or not. Don’t even need to apply, it is handed to you. Time to desert the sinking ship.
Are you implying child care providers only get paid $1.00 per hour? Heck, I can’t even get a babysitters for that little amount. Please explain where you got this figure.
Of course they get paid more than a $1 an hour. LePage however, would like to pay them as little as possible.
My point is that if they receive state subsidies, then they should not expect the state to allow them to be unionized so that they can force the state to pay greater subsidies. If they wish to unionize – something I don’t oppose – then the state should withdraw subsidies.
Yeah…what are you gonna say when it collapses under Von Fuehrer LePage when no Mainers have any rights at all ? In the beginning I can see…give the guy a chance, however LePage has shown, in vivid detail, how completely unfit he is to be an elected official.
So contradictory whenever liberals try to tie Nazi images to Republicans. Who is trying to achieve National Socialism? Democrats, liberals and progressives of course. What is the German word for national Socialism?
Gott mit tun – they believed it too – my mother hated it while growing up under the occupation, you know nothing about it. They are much like repugs, end unions, no religion, actually I would say the Nazi’s were the prototype for the repugs of today but you can’t define socialism, communism or marxism, you’re just spewing talking points from that fake news channel.
“Just another attempt by the LePage administration to weaken union rights.” What more is there to discuss? Unions built America into a Super Power. Corporations backed by the conservatives they control are hell-bent to make us into a third world nation of illiterates who get paid pennies a day and know little or nothing beyond what the talking heads tell us on TV and radio. Mr. LePage, I want and will be taking my country back with every vote in November.
I support unions too. I was an active union member for over 30 years. It seems to me however daycare providers should not have it both ways: asking and expecting state subsidies while demanding the right to unionize. On this point I’m in total agreement with LePage. Government cannot and ought not attempt to solve every perceived ill or need in society, particularly with tax payer money.
Um, I think monopolies built America into a Super-Power. But, don’t ask the Rockefeller’s or Pulitzer’s about it, they’ll tell you it was unions too.
You “think” but you don’t know and you didn’t bother to check when America became a “Superpower.” Let me help you out here. The term was first used in 1944-1945 to describe the world status of the U.S. and Soviet Union. So in essence success on the battlefields during WW2 made these two countries into the Superpowers they became. Not Mr. Pulitzer who died in 1911 or Mr. Rockefeller who died in 1937.
What’s happened since? Um, folks like the Koch brother have sent American jobs overseas to create what is now the fastest raising Superpower on the planet, CHINA. Yep, those would be your new heroes, wealthy individuals who put their own interest ahead of their county’s. Knowing such traitors have fans or lackeys inside or outside our government is just plain sad. If it goes on unchecked it will ultimately be our undoing.
You are correct if you want to quibble about semantics. But, I was looking at it from where we began to become a super power, not necessarily when the term was coined. My point was that industrialists laid the real foundation, not unions. Unions would not have existed if it weren’t for these greedy men who so unabashedly abused their power. The unions just took over that job for them. I also was attempting to point out the irony of what kind of ideology most people now associate those names with, namely democratic socialism. Very different from the reality of the kind of awe, and terrible fear and disgust they once inspired. Oops, they still do for some!
Amcon, yer a funny guy, hehehe. Have you talked to any child care providers? I DO know some that can’t afford child care cause they can’t find work or have to work for minimum wage and or part time. Some of these child care workers are the very ones creating jobs for themselves just to make ends meet. So, What did you say you were FOR?
How are parents supposed to work the 2 jobs they need to survive without “those overpaid child care providers”? They you’d complain they were sitting home sucking up your hard earned tax dollars! Seems like you always want it both ways and the worker always loses!!!
Which workes lose? The workers who are PAYING for childcare. Drive childcare costs up any higher and the workers currently PAYING for childcare can no longer afford it! BOTH sides will lose with unions.
Unions Negotiate, not Dictate,
Non Unionised Employers ——DICTATE!
Get some Education.
If we want to get rid of those who ACTUALLY HAVE caused our economy to collapse, then America would rid itself of Republicans and their abuse of power liars club!
that’s one ignorant statement. I don’t think you could ever pay anyone enough to take care of a child!!YOUR tax money? Once it becomes tax………it isn’t YOURS!
Overpaid childcare workers? What utter ignorance. Sheer nonsense. But what else is new for one so lost in the universe of the absurd. Yup, as usual support the corporatists again and despise the workers. Hurray for you. See you in November when we CRUSH your joke of a TeaNut party.
Bye bye Republican Lawmakers come November.
The only way they’ll win big is by keeping the Democrats out of the polls. Let’s keep vigilant because we’ve already seen how hard they’ll try to keep us from our right to vote.
I’m curious, how did “they” try “to keep us from our right to vote”?
By attempting to take away same-day voter registration and imposing Voter ID.
Im sure you probably know those two attempts, but you probably disagree that those measures would keep some people from voting.
Luckily, a majority of Mainers disagreed last ballot election.
And they would’ve struck down Voter ID aswell if it came to law.
The GOP will have to do a better job misinforming the public if they want to get their voter suppresession laws passed.
“You can fool some people sometimes,
But you cant fool all the people all the time.”
Mainers will get up, and stand up, for their Rights!
You’ve made of value judgement on the GOP of attempting to suppress voter. For years others and myself have supported doing away with same-day registration and introducing a voter ID requirement to ensure the integrity of the voting system. It had all to do with a common sense and nothing to do with voter suppression. Yet you and folks like you like to say we are just trying to suppress the vote, which is a politically motivated ludicrous charge that has no foundation in reality. Yes, there may be some people who were motivated by the latter charge, but by and large the charge is essentially false. No wonder there is so much disagreement and distrust among voters and legislatures! I only wish people would be a bit more respectful.
Only Mainers should vote in Maine – and with proper ID.
Ditto
I suppose you have to be one of his relatives to be able to receive government benefits and protections.
Seems like those are the only state jobs being hired for. Unless you are a relative, you’re getting a pink slip.
Isn’t it time for him to leave for China?
Why would he have to go to China? It’s obvious he has already stolen their playbook, and is using the heck out of it. Picture fat Pauly under his covers with a flash light giggling with glee and he reads “The Chinese Business Manifesto,” and going, “Oooooh I gotta try that one”
He’s still in Jamaica, man!!!
No, I’ve been, whoops scratch that……HE’s been home for a few days now hard at work…..
It’s exciting to watch this group of extremists bring about their own demise. Keep the extreme non-sense coming Paulie, because you’re sure to become a lame duck come Nov next year.
Lepage is running for president in 2016. Mark my words.
ya doubled me over laughing there GPW. Paulie can hardly speak in coherent sentences, I doubt he has the mental horsepower to think that far ahead. But I guess you should never say never when it comes to extremists.
“Paulie can hardly speak coherent sentences…..”
Well, judging by Sarah Palin standards, atleast he’s qualified for GOP vice-president.
There ya go, maybe they’ll team up? …. create a dream team, a perfect match, being neither can articulate their thoughts.
Sarah Palin standards? It was Democrats who elected a president with less executive experience than her!
And not getting many votes either. I’m sure the GOP guys can find a much better candidate.
No way he is as ignorant as Romney.
oops … I thought he was joking.
Putin already has the job and he is much better at running KGB then Pavl Gerardovich will ever be.
HA HA HA !!!! Lepage is running for his life BY 2013……wanna bet ? His career in politics is over already.
He can’t run under any circumstances.Look at that fat Animal Farm pig face.
Yes, he was campaining in Jamaica not to long ago.
YES!!! We will need someone to challenge President Romney! Your prediction just made my day!
I doubt he’ll live that long but the scary part is he’d be Reagan/Bush 2.A big dope who can’t think for himself with the strings being pulled behind him by the real money.
Just another daily attack on our Governor.
I think you mean “by your Governor”
Is glorious leader.
If he’d stop doing extremely stupid stuff, no one would need to attack him! You don’t expect sensible people to just sit here and take it do you? Oh, I forgot, in this administration you don’t have rights unless you agree with him or are related!!
That is very true. Just look at “Dude’s” response to you. Maine is flat out doomed. Stoke your wood fire and eat some more mac n cheese
he is going to lose by a landslide,the worst in maine history
on the other hand, he will be in florida a year later, sitting back on a lawn chair in sunny, 70 degree weather…laughing at the folks up north in maine,shoving snow
[if you know the florida mentality of northerners who move south, , thats what they do. they laugh at their fellow northerners they left behind <———THAT is the best thing about moving to florida, having a laugh riot on the jackasses that still live in snow states.]
He’s upgrading from Nutting to Rick Scott in terms of Medicare theft when he goes to FL.
when he goes to china, i hope he goes though the Chinese factories areas that make walmart goods. it is about about 10 miles long, passing factory after factory after factory after factory after factory after factory after factory after factory after factory after factory…..mostly of CHILD SLAVE LABOR
So you don’t go to Walmart…ever…right?
What you call child slave labor . Republicans would call a training wage here in Maine.
Not to mention pollution beyond belief
Where do you think the computer you are typing on was made? Walk the talk.
It must feel easy for you to type with no moral qualms of how things are made.
Hey, you got yours right? Screw everyone else huh?
That is a nonsensical reply. How is it related to anything I have stated?
They worry plenty about abortions and fetuses, but once the child is born, all services are subject to slashing and burning. Welcome to the Republican dream, kid !
They only SAY they respect fetuses… The GOP : Biggest Hypocrites ever…..
Gotta love all those abortions. More abortions; a success factor of the left.
Get the government out of our freedom! except, when it comes do your body and who you love
The repugs want poor, uneducated kids so they can work them for nothing.
How does that song go? “It’s so easy, like taking candy from a baby”. Just another terrific PR move by the LePage administration.
Every thing that lapudge does has the air of spitefulness .
Good observation. I agree.
Exactly………
Don’t ya just love crispy duck?
Rather see a crispy Penguin.
Unions have been really good to the Maine workers, bring them back even more so we can see them wipe out whats left for jobs. Hopefully they will be able to unionize the tourist industry and we can watch Maine die a slow but leftist death. As the pool of taxpayers decrease along with the quality of jobs, the only choice to maintain the deserved entitlements will be to raise taxes on all those tax payers. Maine will get what it deserves, it is already a laughing stock outside of New England. BTW, all the best jobs are non-union.
LePage has already made Maine a laughing stock by running
his mouth. Its simple minded to throw all unions into the same bucket. All the
best jobs are non-union, where did you get that info? Guys in my shop where
paid $55/hr. that’s a pretty good wage if you ask me and the company,
profitable as well. These extremists have no concern for their workers and
there is plenty of room for unions. The heart of this matter is cheap foreign
labor and Greedy OWNERS, period.
Another well thought out and wise decision by Gov. LePage. This law never should of been enacted in the first place. It is unfair to those daycare providers that provide good service. The only reason someone would want to be part of a union is so they can provide sub-par performance and still maintain the same pay grade as someone providing much better service.
Cut The Penguin off at the knees this November by tossing out every Republican Senator and every Republican Representative.
Vote for the Independent, the Green, or the Democrat.
I agree, vote all Republicans out of office next election. Time for Maine to fight back against LePage.
Any Republican that actually has a conscience and wants to really work for the people that elected them will think long and hard before rallying around this rogue element calling itself the Tea Party.
Republican—- Conscience
The two words are incompatable.
just like Liberal Intelligence
Yeah liberals are totally the party that vilifies intelligent and educated people.
Whatever happened to conservation in conservitives?
You guys dont want to conserve anything anymore, just sell all natural resources off for big corporations to loot and plunder, and whatever’s left pave it over for a big-box / strip mall.
It’s like you guys cant see past your next quarter net profits.
It is exaggerations like this why we cannot make more economic progress.
Republican = con science is the way it is.
That’s way they’re changing the name of the party to, “The CornDog Party” then they will be able to claim that they have a conscience along with “love the fetus hate the child.”
More unions will be great for Maine, its worked out so well all along. Higher costs, less jobs and larger campaign contributions to the Dems to maintain the status quo.
Hows that $134.00 Income Tax Break for Voteing Republican Doing for ya now folks?
I am appalled by the Tea Party-GOP and LePage take over of Maine Government. Destroying the hard earned rights that people have earned over the years. It is tragic how a few Thugs can destroy the lives of hundreds of thousands of Maine Citizens. There will be no next time when lazy people sit home and not vote letting Thugs like this take over our Government. Maine’s People will rise up and Vote NO against the Tea Party -GOP and LePage. Vote them OUT of office and NEVER vote for these kind of Thugs ever again.
Where are my rights when unions are forced on me
LePage runs a Dictatorship with Republican Goons in the legislature that rubber-stamp anything he does. With LePage you have no rights.
With that union job, would you be willing to take less money, or did you hate the Union, but still took that salary?
Good move…..letting this radical group of 300 child care providers continue to be united and be involved in any legislative processes that may involve them is plain ludicrous…..sounds like they will need to invest in child care lobbyist representation in order to have their concerns and voices heard in Augusta…..
You got that right, count on him going after all collective bargaining and benefits including, Fire Fighters and Police.
The tar & feathers will be plentiful if that day ever comes…..
We all better start thinking about Maine like it’s Wisconsin East,
because that is exactly the template he’s using.
Repeal Lepage!
Recycle him. It’s the more politically correct thing these days.
Unions will continue their path of destroying jobs in the state as they have in the past. Good luck with bringing back all the hacks as it is exactly what the Maine worker deserves; more and more shops moving out of the state.
The only ones destroying jobs are the multi-national corporations in their shifting production overseas with lax environmental / labor standards.
penguin is not good for much beyond a sort of all purpose stain in Maine.
Penguin has made Maine one of the TOP TEN MOST CORRUPT STATES… !!!
Out the door, in Twenty One Four,
20——1—4
Dont st0p repeating it until hes gone!
that has a such a sweet ring to it!
Good job LePage keep deflecting from the real issues… the ones that matter the most. keep changing things around to fit your needs…
LePlague must leave the building…………
Just a toe in the door–he wants to kill any union negotiating with the state. This is a trial run.
And always go after the weakest.No surprise.If we stop it in its tracks there goes any more chances.
Number 7 and climbing on the Top Ten Scariest Govenors list.
http://www.alternet.org/story/151535/the_10_scariest_gop_governors%3A_bringing_a_radical_right-wing_agenda_to_a_state_near_you?page=entire
Can’t imagine he won’t make #1, he’s certainly trying harder!! Let’s see how hard he tries once his pals in the legislature are gone in November.
Bring on those job’s govner, Bring on those job’s!
Unions should be illegal. They remove all and any aspects of a free market society. Why must I pay a fee to get a job. The goal of the union is to get the most money for the least amount of work. Unions are nothing more than extortionists who funnel cash for political power.
Right….and the goal of business is to get the most amount of work for the least amount of money. We need both to ballance each other out. Also, could someone tell me where in the constitution it says “free markets” or ‘Capatalism”? It says “common good” many times….
Altruism is not in a business vocabulary . Greed sure is. If the ones that are doing well do not want to do more to help those in need maybe they should pay more or find another place to do business. I am not saying socialism is the right way to go. But somethings they do makes it a better place. Look at the numbers and dose anyone not think thier is a bit of a social class system here compared to other western european countries.
Someone has to keep businesses in line to treat workers fair. That being said I business should have the right to hire non union workers . You want to strike them them fire the people for not showing up to work . Not because they are union. Sometimes the union kill jobs. Sometimes they help people . Not to pick on Walmart but they could afford to pay help a bit more at least in the profitable stores. Just thing company worth $100 billion and us tax payer are paying for welfare for thier workers. Makes me think Walmart is the biggest welfare collector in directly in this country.
VA wrote a law that would’ve required any company with a certain % of its employees collecting state aid to bring up the pay scales so that the state wouldn’t have to pay.The ONLY company affected was WM.They killed the bill”after further study”Wonder if that was cash or check?
And who will keep the unions accountable?
Unions are one way for ordinary people to balance the incredible power of both government and corporate America. It seems easy to forget that before unions the working conditions of most Americans was horrible. A hundred years ago the average employee in the US was working 70 hours a week, most doing 7 days a week and child labor was just beginning to be regulated.
In 1913, 61 of every 100,000 workers in the US was killed on the job, each year. Today that figure is 3.5 for every 100,000 workers. The figures for injury and illness are just as dramatic. Bottom line is, if left to itself with nothing but a profit motive, many businesses will seek less expensive solutions at the cost of the workers. Certainly not all businesses, but enough. And if you think a day care in Maine has enough clout in either Augusta or Washington to overcome an unfair situation then you are kidding yourself.
I know WalMart gets picked on a lot, but realize that if you (as an employee) were wrongfully treated by the company, that you would have to go head-to-head with a company that has a larger operating budget than 90 of the countries in the world? And again, some apologies for using WalMart as an example, but they are the largest private employer in the world. WalMart has over 2,000,000 employees and ever increasing, while the US Federal employment rate (employees working for the US) continues to decrease and is at the lowest level since before Kennedy in the 1960s and is currently at 2,600,000 employees. One way to increase problems for the working American is to continue to a) decrease the size of government b) decrease any regulations affecting business and c) disband any union representation. Oh, look all three happening now at the same time.
One would think that these extreme clowns of democracy would realize that this type of legislation is analogous to playing Russian roulette with a 9mm. ….. Apparently not?
They can’t count to 9 and they don’t know what mm means.
oh I didn’t think of that lol
Another tactic to take the bread out of the mouths of the underpaid. Good way to lose votes.
If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck it must be ALEC.
…….and drinking KOCH a cola.
Man I love this guy.
BEST GOVERNOR THIS STATES EVAH HAD ……….(please note the sarcasm)
Unreal but not a surprise.Along with home health care workers,these people are mostly women,often the sole support of their families and do great work for the most vulnerable among us .If ANYONE needs a union,it’s them.
I agree with you. Most of these women that I have met, are working 2 sometimes 3 jobs just to keep above water.
Home health care is certainly needed and will be needed more and more as the population ages.
They should get paid a decent wage.
No, they should get what parents are willing to pay for childcare, not what some union schmuck tells them to pay.
Daycare should be fully or atleast partly subsidized. Otherwise, most working people may aswell be working to be able to pay daycare and fillup their vehicle to get them to work.
I remeber paying 150 a week in daycare premiums.
It would make more sense to pay these daycare workers who work very hard, fair wages……and they should be paid with tax subsidies.
Why should daycare be subsidized? Should the State also pay for diapers and potty trainers?
So why can police, fire ,teachers, or nurses be union???????? Well could it be that most or them get all thier money from government . I just do not get the ruling.
They are public employees. The childcare providers in question are not.
LePage just doesn’t quit does he?
No, unfortunately. That’s why we need the right to recall. He treats Maine and Mainers with disdain. I may deserve it, but the rest of you certainly do not!
Maine is a laughingstock only b/c of LePage.Unions built this country and it’s greedy cheap scum like you that are destroying it.
Are you a union construction worker? Which union do you belong to and if you actually belong to one, do you have any idea what a small minority you are of the worker population?? How much of your hard earned money is siphoned off for the benefit of your union bosses?
And how much of non-union meager wages are skimmed off to the top to pad CEO pockets?
I’d say alot has skimmed off non-union wages to benefit the top, considering when adjusted for inflation, average wages have been flatlined since the 1970’s, but CEO wages have risen 200% during the same time period.
As a percentage of wages and salaries paid in the company I work for, it is less than 1%. Have you actually examined the financial statements of companies to gather the actual facts in this matter?
Here he goes again, trying to grab all the power his office can muster. For a republican who vowed to limit the role of government he sure is taking every step to ensure he has control of just about every aspect of our lives while he sicks his dogs on those who try to control his – via his secret papers and other recent court rulings that seem to all favor King LePage – or LaPuke.
One word for our anti-American Governor……… LOSER ! I don’t think there is a “Right” he won’t tread upon !
He is trying to protect our rights to FREELY negotiate with a person or business on what to pay for childcare. The deal I make is not business of government, socialists or unions.
And what have you negotiated for daycare rates? Do you pay cheaper bulk rates for multiple children or something?
You’ll get charged the same rate as anyone else, no hard sales pitch or haggling is going to change that.
Daycare should be fully or atleast partly subsidized. Otherwise, most working poor are basically working to pay daycare and fill up their gas tanks to take them to work……
I remember I was paying 150 a week in daycare premiums……..
I have a bridge for sale in brooklyn, are you interested ?
and next they will want retirement pensions, state paid health insurance,,,,,,,, more more more.
If you can’t afford to operate your own daycare without state money,,,,,,,,,,,, you don’t know how to run a business. Just another state ripoff…… I say cut all state subs.
If the large one pulls it off Il Duce will look up and applaud. On to the corporate state and life’s simple formula: no rules for bosses, no rights for workers!
Election Day to replace this clown can’t come fast enough!
shhhhhh…….lets deal with it after the election….oops thats the democrats way….Throw all the unions out before its too late..
Bravo!. Every unionized public employee is a drain on the people of Maine. That aside, the only interest the public unions have in including these people is to collect forced dues from them.
How is willingly joining a Union “forced dues”? Where is your proof that Unionized State Employees are a drain? Please tell it to the next State cop you see, the next elevator inspector, or………….never mind…………your ignorance is your pride. I know you love it too much to part with it.
Maine is not a right to work state.
What has that got to do with my question? The child care workers decided to join, they voted, have you forgotten …………voting?
I do not believe that is correct. Contract child care workers were classified by the State as public employees and therefore covered under a union contract. What about the child care providers who do not wish to pay union dues?
Unions are formed by a vote. The majority wins. You don’t get to refuse to pay taxes that support churches, state parks, etc. I do not get to refuse to pay taxes that support wars. That means that since you are part of a group, like the (U.S.A.=Union) you don’t get to refuse to chip in to support everyone else.
The rights of the minority should never be trumped by any majority. Employees work for an employer and not a union hierarchy. If a majority wish to form a union, that is their right under the law to do so. However if 45% or even 5% of a company’s employees opt not to pay a portion of their earnings to a third party union, it should be their right to refrain from such participation. Forced union membership is not in any way agreeable to the example you provide. A more reasonable representation would be having a citizenry be forced to support another nation while a citizen of this country. Forcing a person to belong to a private organization and support that private organization is a violation of conscience and law in a growing number of states.
Workers everywhere should unionize and stop allowing others to undervalue their worth.
I think Gov. LePage comes from the corporate world where the boss is the boss and answers to no one. Maybe he feels the elected position in Maine is another place where he wants to be the bully boss. Unfortunately his position of Governort is not an office where he can govern by answering to no one. I agree that there is a problem in government that is has become to big and spends way to much to themselves and try to feed less to the fish pond. We the people vote because just maybe someone is finally telling the truth and says they are out for the little fish but then when they get into office join the big fishermen and throw back all the little fish and grab the over sized greed suckers. I agree November can not come fast enough to start weeding out the long time elected officials who are only out for their own greed but it is disheartening that when the next guy comes in he too may want his fat share. It is extremely sad they take an oath to uphold the Constitution but with their other hand with crossed fingers behind their back. I am beginning to believe that a monkey can do the job of just shaking his head up and down and get really rich on bananas. Then again monkeys may be smarter than most government officials as they live in bunches and truly care for the other monkeys in the group even the unfortunate, elder and sickly monkeys. They all know to share the bananas with their entire family not just the stronger ones and they don’t turn their backs on the youngest and share in their care.
To organize and associate freely is as American as Apple Pie.
As private sector workers at a privately owned corporation, fine. Not for public employees.
Amen to that.
Not as a GOVERNMENT union.
better than unionizing is to refuse to provide service. If enough people take this route, wages will increase.
I suggest we should forbid the legislature frrom increasing wages for any elected official. They knew what the wage was when they were hired by the voters.
Wages for State officials should not exceed the average wage for private sector workers in the State. That would knock LePages wages down to $46,000 a year, about half what he makes now.
Lepage can hire brother inlaw and daughter and whoever else he wants to. So why should he put a end to the unions. If you want to stop the unions then stop hiring your family members Lepage
Lepage would end all unions if he could.
I wish he would end all GOVERNMENT unions.
this is a hell of deal if you are running a daycare, you could charge outrageous prices,take vacations when they are the most inconvenient, charge 50.00 an hour if your late, and now on top of all that deny your help a living wage and benefits. What a racket, I could probably start a franchise now. I could call it McDaycare, DaycareKing, or Dunkin Daycare.
Just reading the title of this article makes me think this is important because A) so many child care providers are overpaid, B) there are so many child care providers striking, that’s all that’s in the news today and C) there are no more important issues facing the state today than this …..
Another attack on Maine people trying to make a living. LePage is a consistent bugger.
May 2nd, 1933, Nazis occupied union
halls and labor leaders were arrested. Unions were outlawed by
Adolf Hitler, collective bargaining and the right to strike was
abolished. The start to wiping out all opposition groups, unions, liberals, socialists, and communists using
Himmler’s state police.
Who else hated and destroyed Unions? Just name a dictator and you are right.
Yes, Hitler did support some Unions, if they took his orders and he was in control. They were then political tools, not employee unions.
“… All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service. It has its distinct and insurmountable limitations when applied to public personnel management. The very nature and purposes of Government make it impossible for administrative officials to represent fully or to bind the employer in mutual discussions with Government employee organizations. The employer is the whole people, who speak by means of laws enacted by their representatives in Congress. Accordingly, administrative officials and employees alike are governed and guided, and in many instances restricted, by laws which establish policies, procedures, or rules in personnel matters…” – FDR 1937
How quickly today’s liberals forget the common sense of the men they idolize.
I believe this is because today’s progressive liberalism has abandoned the concept of inquisitive education. They attend expensive colleges staffed and managed by that generation of anti-intellectual liberals that came of age in the 1960s and 1970s and ultimately come out of those mills knowing less of value than when they entered. Few of them have read anything written by anybody of the 19th century classical liberalism era. Hardly any have any cognizant knowledge of men such as FDR and Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Their minds are closed to reasonable inquiry preferring instead the politically expedient soundbite that is no more equivalent to academic enlightenment than Tom & Jerry is to Tolstoy. Nonetheless, they expect their vacuous degrees in esoteric social sciences to profit them greatly in a society they despise for its practicality and earned worth.
Don’t believe me? Just read the responses.
So, let me get this right. You support Hitler and Nazism by quoting FDR? Do you support everything else he said? Also, your comment, and FDR’s is specious as government employees can’t strike, so FDR got his way. Bargaining when you can’t strike is only bad if you are afraid to have your behavior exposed.
Let’s see how the Walker recall turns out. If he wins, Unions will take a huge hit across the country. If he loses they will start to very slowly make a return. The same can be said for Maine after the next elections. If the Rs keep their majority or even gain, state Unions like those poor DeCosta workers are toast. If the Dems win one house they will still take small hits. I can’t see the Dems winning veto proof majorities in both houses so the final fate of State Unions will have to wait until the end of LePage’s only term.
Where in the name of intelligence do you liberals get the idea that stopping the power of GOVERNMENT unions is akin to Hitler and Nazism? And one of the people running to replace Walker has also forced concessions out of government unions. Where is your hate, rage and namecalling for Democrat politicians who do this.
It is their method. Paint your opponent in heinous terms and throw as much irrelevant BS at them as possible hoping some of it sticks. The nemesis fails on all accounts.
Let me set you straight. Your obscene twisting and perverting of my posting of FDR’s comments is very much akin to the style and work of Joseph Goebbels. You apparently did not contemplate FDR’s comment. He was not only opposed to public employee strikes but adamantly opposed to collective bargaining itself in this regard. Collective bargaining is the germane issue.
NortelNru – the Nazis did not wipe out socialists. They WERE socialists! Nazi is the German word for National Socialism. They were the national branch of socialism – as opposed to the communist branch which hand more of an internationalist ideology. Banning GOVERNMENT unions preserves freedom. As opposed as I am to all unions, I am not for banning unions in the PRIVATE sector. Government = power. Government unions + government power = DICTATORSHIP of the private working class taxpayers!
Under the dictatorship of the state Unions, they have taken pay freezes, reductions in benefits, massive increases in workloads, along with pay cuts. Please explain how a dictator is powerless to increase their own pay or benefits?
They also make less than private employees with equivalent years of experience, education, and skills. Damn! Some dictators.
But, back to your point. You support government taking away the rights of citizens and letting one group have less rights than others. Sorry, I believe in equal rights for all, not for just your friends.
So you are saying LePage is a wannabee Hitler.
He likes the idea of restricting our rights, yet I guarantee you this guy cheats on his taxes. My friends are average too and we pay our taxes while others avoid them and buy whatever the repugs tell them and vote to spite themselves. Dumb
Fascist maybe, selfish definitely. He isn’t smart enough and will never be popular enough to be a Hitler. Even he knows that. If you can’t draw the parallel between the actions of repressive governments in the past and current actions then speaking more loudly and slowly won’t help.
My friends are the average people, middle and lower class earners like me. And do I want to TAKE away rights? It is your government employee unions who are TAKING from me and those like me. Most union members are now members of government employee unions. A small group with DISPROPORTIONATE power because they have the power of government and it is past time their power is strictly limited.
What are they taking from you? I suspect it’s the other way around. Your governor won’t even let an outside auditor look at the books, why is that? Why has he sealed his reccords and made his retirement untouchable by the state? Ya, he really cares about the state, who else would employ his relatives?
I take nothing from you. I earn my pay, less pay for my skill and training than the private sector including benefits. My pay is mine when I earn it, not yours. If I had that much power I would have my maid write you a nasty letter. YES, you do want to take away rights, only mine, so I guess you don’t think that is wrong.
You don’t like disproportionate power? Tell it to the Repubs, see how far that gets you unless you have a bundle of unmarked bills. Nutting would know what to do with your cash.
Yes!!! Down with unions! They no longer represent working people. They only represent the Democrat Party and liberal interest groups. NO unions should be allowed for employess of the taxpayers. They keep calling themselves public servants – servants should not be making better wages and benefits than the average person.
Or maybe private workers should band together to bring up their wages and benefits to that of public workers.
Always a race to the bottom with you conservatives. Bringing everyone down.
And when we do rise higher the government employee unions will demand even more like they have for the last 2 – 3 decades. Restoring the balance is what conseratives are asking for – and Republicans are not even going far enough. More contributions to health care and retirement plans and limits to cost of living increases that I see Republican governors asking for does not even restore the balance to the level of the average worker – yet you liberals insist on making it sound like these “cuts” will put everyone in the poor houses of the dark ages. And to compound the liberal distortions – where is the outrage for the Democrats in some states who are doing the same thing in limiting government unions?! Are these DEMOCRATS guilty of putting us back to the dark ages also?
Are you saying only dems are in unions? LOL I’ll bet you’re one of the ones I just described with the safety deposit boxes. The dems are the only one with a forward vision, every time I see a repug i hear “Lost In The Fifties”
Eighteen fifties. Before the Civil War, before those pesky wimmin folk got the vote. When the Railroad could kill the employees (right to work), when a rich man was free.
During the 1990s the public laughed at State Employee wages. Idiots are too dumb to believe working for so little was heard everywhere. Yes, they earned so little because by giving up wages they were promised a pension in the future and a reasonable job. LePage broke the promise, he lied and loves the lie.
You know what average means? Half of everyone is better than you.
“Pretending that private child care providers are somehow public employees because they receive a subsidy from the state sets a bad precedent that could also be used to justify the unionization of home health providers or other private business owners,” State Director David Clough wrote.
And???? What would be so wrong with that?
Oh no……. quality employees would actually be paid a living wage, there would be more stable funding for services, there would be safer working environments, democracy in the workplace, oh my!
Home healthcare aids and DSP’s working in group homes cant have that…..best keep them part of the working poor……Cause only management of these non-profits deserve living wages right?
I bet this State Director couldnt make it a week in the frontlines of Direct Care Services, yet he thinks he knows what’s best for us all.
They already have plenty of their own.Santorum and Palin bleed taxpayers for $30K in child tax credits every year.
Every union has one bad apple.FL must’ve been his steward’s nightmare.
Thanks!Great link.
And the idea that the many of us that know religion is a joke have to subsidize meddling churches is insane.Churches should pay huge taxes and give the rest of us a break!THAT is real reform.
A 90 year old blind hooker.
And you thought what, you were going to get something special from an ex-junk store manager?
Notice to all baby sitters in Maine. Poor Paul is coming after you. $1 an hour is ridiculous and he intends to expose your little game. You mess with the bull and you get the horns. You have been warned.
Why doesn’t he go after the ones with the safety deposit boxes that sell their wares by the road or to restaurants without paying the state a dime and then talk about others while screwing the state, EBT & LIHEAP in the winter and hide the money you make and take it from baby sitters. They are also not paying federal taxes, hope they save what they steal from the rest of us paying our taxes because they will need it.
best governor this state has evah had !!!…..