Which Is It, Mr. Miller?

Most of you have never heard of George Miller. Too bad it isn’t going to stay that way. Mr. Miller is the Democratic Congressman from California’s 7th District, a position he’s managed to squat on for a whopping 35 years since 1974, but more on term limits another time. Why am I writing about Representative Miller you ask.  Because Mr. Miller needs Some Sense!

Recently Representative Miller along with two of our more Senseless Senators, Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Harking re-introduced the Employee Free Choice Act.  The legislation, as you may have heard, rewrites the law surrounding Union organization.  This is an awful piece of legislation for both the business owner and the American worker but you can bet it’s good for the Unions hence their aggressive push to strong-arm Congress to pass the legislation.  More here about how this legislation hurts American workers.

So why am I upset with Representative Miller?  Read the letter below that he and a number of his colleagues sent to the Government of Mexico in 2001 and I’m pretty sure it will become clear.  Here’s a link to the original for the doubters among you.

August 29, 2001.

JUNTA LOCAL DE CONCILIACION Y ARBITRAJE DEL ESTADO DE PUEBLA, LIC. ARMANDO POXQUI QUINTERO,

7 Norte, Numero 1006 Altos, Colonia Centro, Puebla, Mexico C.P. 72000.

DEAR MEMBERS of THE JUNTA LOCAL DE CONCILIACION Y ARBITRAJE of THE STATE of PUEBLA: As members of Congress of the United States who are deeply concerned with international labor standards and the role of labor rights in international trade agreements, we are writing to encourage you to use the secret ballot in all union recognition elections.

We understand that the secret ballot is allowed for, but not required, by Mexican labor law. However, we feel that the secret ballot is absolutely necessary in order to ensure that workers are not intimidated into voting for a union they might not otherwise choose.

We respect Mexico as an important neighbor and trading partner, and we feel that the increased use of the secret ballot in union recognition elections will help bring real democracy to the Mexican workplace.

Sincerely,

George Miller, Marcy Kaptur, Bernard Sanders, William J. Coyne, Lane Evans, Bob Filner, Martin Olav Sabo, Barney Frank, Joe Baca, Zoe Lofgren, Dennis J. Kucinich, Calvin M. Dooley, Fortney Pete Stark, Barbara Lee, James P. McGovern, Lloyd Doggett.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  Here’s a letter from less than eight years ago where Rep. Miller (and a number of other political hacks who you can be sure will vote for the E.F.C.A. when it comes to the floor) is so staunchly in favor of private ballots for union elections he is attempting to influence a foreign government to his way of thinking.  Now, a mere 8 years later, he’s willing to throw out secret ballots – hmm, wonder which lobbying group got to him?  Can anyone say AFL-CIO?

So which is it, Mr. Miller?  Are you for secret ballots or against them?  When you figure it out, would you let the rest of us know.