Obama executive order favors union labor

[Pirate Smile]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama has issued an executive order backing the use of union labor for large-scale federal construction projects.

The order encourages federal agencies to have construction contractors enter project labor agreements. Those agreements require contractors to negotiate with union officials, recognize union wages and benefits and abide by collective bargaining agreements.

Obama's order restores a Clinton administration rule that was rescinded by President George W. Bush.

It is the fourth union-friendly executive order that Obama has signed since he's been in office.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090206/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_labor;_ylt=AiqlCjtZNlWBjloKzXWwsdmyFz4D

[Hope And Change]

1. Bravo.K & R!

[acmavm]

2. Excellent. The government supporting the unions instead of trying to

destroy 'em.

[Norrin Radd]

3. kr

[cherish44]

4. Oh you know the GOP will be pissing their pants about that

nt

[shanti]

5. tell that to gropenfuhrer, obama!

he needs to hear that!

[readmoreoften]

6. Well, good god, I'd expect him to. He is a Democratic president.

He would've won without labor. It's nice to see Democrats do what they're elected to do.

[EraOfResponsibility]

12. You mean he WOULD NOT have won. Typo there.

:)

[No Elephants]

31. No President wins without workers. Sadly, too many workers vote against

their own best interests. Joe the Plumber comes to mind, but thanks to the monumental stupidity of the American media and viewing public, the Republican Party did become in his best interests.

[Robbie88]

7. Great!

Nice to see that we have a president who at least appears to have some sense of loyalty to America's workers.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. K&R

:kick:

[eyepaddle]

9. Excellent news.

I think we have a winner with this presidnet of ours.

Oh sure there might be a bump or two along the way, `but I think he'll prevail.

[bluesmail]

10. well.....

:kick:

[EraOfResponsibility]

11. thank you Mr. President now PLEASE make sure Hilda Solis confirmation

is not delayed any longer. Republicans are conspiring against her confirmation.

[bread_and_roses]

13. good news! (n/t)

[Earth Bound Misfit]

14. Excellent!

:kick:

[katty]

15. great!

[me b zola]

16. K&R!

:kick:

[Cha]

17. This is a big part of why

we needed Obama..to rescind bush's unending greed.

[JohnnyRingo]

18. This made my day... Thanx for posting it

While the detractors point out that 84% of construction worker aren't in a union, they fail to mention that they're free to join one.

Joe the Plumber isn't going to like becoming a union brother to get a high paying government job with health care. He was doing just fine on his own, working odd jobs here & there, and paying his own benefits... when he wasn't unemployed.

This might make a socialist Democrat out of him after the republican party discards him.

Hahahaha k&r

[antimatter98]

19. I'm sure there is fine print that obviates Obama's theatrics in this. n/t

[ConcernedCanuk]

23. ?

.
.
.

[Posteritatis]

28. You could always, y'know, read the order (nt)

[Earth Bound Misfit]

33. What Posteritatis said...

I'll even provide the linky: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/EXECUTIVEORDERUSEOFPROJECTLABORAGREEMENTSFORFEDERALCONSTRUCTIONPROJECTS/

Or, just go here.

[True_Blue_KY_Dem]

20. Bravo!!

The way it should be done. No more scab outfits doing sub-standard work. You will find union jobs have a higher safety record than non-union contractors.

[David Zephyr]

21. Obama is showing muscle and resolve. Very, very good news!

K&R.

[ConcernedCanuk]

22. Educate me please - Are Executive Orders not considered unusual? -

.
.
.

I find no fault with President Obama's behavior, but I'm curious about these EOs (Executive Orders)

Are not EOs used when the House and Congress just work too slow for the current POTUS's liking?

I WILL be reading all responses,

with thanks.

[Posteritatis]

29. I got the impression they're supposed to be what the term implies

Orders to the various departments in the executive branch; the pres is the top dog there as much as with the armed forces (which, after all, are a component of the executive branch). They're limited in what you can decree via them; someone couldn't EO a tax increase, for example, because that's Congress' bailiwick.

Presidents issue them regularly; they're usually marching orders within their branch of government. Most presidents, to the best of my knowlege, issue a few hundred over their term in office. Both Bushes, Clinton, etc., each issued about 200-300.

[No Elephants]

30. Got google?

[ConcernedCanuk]

36. Yes I do - and thank you for your concern

.
.
.

I've googled many issues - and thought someone might be ahead of me on this one

Thanks again for your concern NE

[Earth Bound Misfit]

43. Google is Indeed your friend...

Presidents often cite executive order to clarify laws passed through Congress which often require vague wording in order to please all political parties involved in their creation, in other words, Congress cannot agree exactly how to implement a law or program. In effect, this leaves the decision to the federal agencies involved and the President that stands at their head. When Congress fails to spell out in detail how a law is to be executed, it leaves the door open for the President to provide those details in the form of Executive Orders. In this case, President Obama rescinded Bush's EO, who had in turn rescinded Clinton's EO.

If Congress does not like what the executive branch is doing, it has two main options. First, it may rewrite or amend a previous law, or spell it out in greater detail how the Executive Branch must act. Just two weeks ago the US Senate rejected an attempt to codify Bush's ban into law. Senator David Vitter, a Republican from Louisiana proposed that his legislation, the Government Neutrality in Contracting Act, be amended into the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. By a Senate vote of 59-38 the Vitter amendment failed.

Congress is less likely to challenge EOs that deal with foreign policy, national defense, or the implementation and negotiation of treaties, as these are powers granted largely to the President by the Constitution.

n addition to congressional recourse, Executive Orders can be challenged in court, usually on the grounds that the Order deviates from "congressional intent" or exceeds the President's constitutional powers. In one such notable instance, President Harry Truman, was rebuked by the Supreme Court for overstepping the bounds of presidential authority. After World War II, Truman seized control of steel mills across the nation in an effort to settle labor disputes. In response to a challenge of this action, the Supreme Court ruled that the seizure was unconstitutional and exceeded presidential powers because neither the Constitution or any statute authorized the President to seize private businesses to settle labor disputes. For the most part, however, the Court has been fairly tolerant of wide range of executive actions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_order_

http://www.thisnation.com/question/040.html

http://anti-union.blogspot.com/2009/02/president-obama-overturns-bush-ban-of.html

[ConcernedCanuk]

44. Thanx - I'm a fairly constant googler, but sometimes I feel like asking a knowledgeable board

.
.
.

Thanks again for the info and links

[Earth Bound Misfit]

45. You're welcome...

DISCLAIMER: the info/links I provided are only a few basic reasons/methods a President issues EO's. I am certainly NOT expert on the subject.

:hi:

[ChromeFoundry]

24. Good!

[Omaha Steve]

25. ME TOO!

K&R!

[No Elephants]

32. All together now.......

[ConcernedCanuk]

39. Matewan - right?

.
.
.

Also to be remembered is Karen Silkwood

but US Kapitalism keeps killing the good people . .

(sigh)

[Earth Bound Misfit]

40. Norma Rae..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norma_Rae

Great Movie.

[mdmc]

26. 31

r

[Waiting For Everyman]

27. Big K&R

I was hoping this was the plan - the "more than one way to" (do something). :)

[NikolaC]

34. Great News!

:kick:

[GreenTea]

35. Fucking finally, we haven't had such a pro labor president since

perhaps Carter, maybe even Kennedy.

[ReliantJ]

38. Yes

Thats awesome

[Earth Bound Misfit]

41. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[ReliantJ]

42. Thanks

[annabanana]

37. Now if he can only get the Labor Secretary he wants. . . . n/t

[MrSlayer]

46. Alright, now let's get to building.

i think we can use 10 or 12 new massive federal buildings here in Philly.