Look Around HR

The Wall Street Journal published this column yesterday titled “The Union Police.” In it they describe a law national Democrats are trying to pass through Congress. No, not the Employee Free Choice Act, but it is another attempt by Democrats to increase Union power (and their power as a result).

From the WSJ:

Under current law, every state has the ability to set policies that govern its public workforce…Democrats want to change this for the entire country. A bill that passed the House last year would make the top officials at local unions the exclusive bargaining agents for public safety officers in every town or city with more than 5,000 people. They would also have the authority to bargain for everything- pay, benefits and work rules. The goal is to give labor the whip hand with local governments, and further coerce nonunion members to join the dues-paying ranks.

The Journal also adds that similar legislation has failed at the state level every time it has been brought up, and it may possibly violate the Constitution as it gives states any powers not specifically given to the federal government.

You probably will not hear a lot about this but the reality of this is it may become law. It passed the House with a veto proof 314-97 margin last year, and has 11 Republican co-sponsors in the Senate (to go along with the unanimous Democrat support) that may break any filibuster attempt.