Harrell: Federal lawsuits demonstrate need for ‘repeal amendment’

The following is an editorial by S.C. Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell A new state constitutional amendment that guarantees workers their right to a secret ballot in union organization elections has recently drawn the threat of a lawsuit by the federal government.

The following is  an editorial by S.C. Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell

A new state constitutional amendment that guarantees workers their right to a secret ballot in union organization elections has recently drawn the threat of a lawsuit by the federal government.

Referred to as the “card check” amendment, its purpose is to prevent coercion and intimidation — by unions or employers — from influencing labor elections. It also reaffirmed our commitment to remain a right-to-work state, and therefore more competitive.

Our Legislature, along with those in Arizona, South Dakota and Utah, all passed similar amendments with wide bipartisan support — and in South Carolina, voters approved it by 86 percent in November. Now, all four states have been put on notice by the pro-union Obama administration that the federal government will sue unless we overturn the will of the people.

Major labor unions quickly followed the federal government’s lead in seeking courtroom battles to get what they want in our state. Just days after the federal government issued its threat, two of the largest labor unions in the country filed suit against our state. Although the International Association of Machinists and AFL-CIO sued over a different issue, their suit is another example of how some in our country want to diminish the power of the states even further, and put more power into the hands of the federal government.

It was about two years ago that card check gained national attention. The Democratically controlled Congress attempted to pass a law taking away workers’ right to a secret ballot in labor elections. Had this become law, union organizers could have forced workers to use the card-check process of publicly signing their support or opposition of a union — essentially looking over their shoulder in the voting booth.

By its nature, card check subjects employees not agreeing to sign the union’s support card to harassment and strong-arm tactics by union bosses.

It is hypocritical of politicians, elected by secret ballot, to deny workers that same right. The ensuing backlash and public outrage over this issue proved to be too much even for the large majorities that Democrats held in Washington, and the card-check law was defeated.

While the immediate threat was subdued, many states sought ways to protect workers from future federal overreaching. State Rep. Eric Bedingfield brought this issue to lawmakers early on, and his leadership helped make South Carolina one of the first states to adopt a constitutional amendment.

The recent federal response to our state’s preservation of workers’ rights came as a shock to most legislators and shows just where this federal administration stands when it comes to workers’ rights.

As major supporters of President Obama, labor unions tout their influence over the administration. One union representative, President of the Service Employees International Union Andy Stern, boasted, “We spent a fortune to elect Barack Obama — $60.7 million to be exact — and we’re proud of it.”

This well-funded, well-organized partnership has created the most expansive federal power grab our country has seen in generations.

Our state and federal constitutions were created to protect the people from the government and to ensure the preservation of liberty. Protecting individual rights was why we sought a state constitutional amendment on card check. It’s also why I am introducing the “repeal amendment” this session.

The repeal amendment is a way for us to regain our constitutional right to state sovereignty that Congress has eroded over the years. This is a national movement aimed at enacting — by action of Congress or constitutional convention — a federal constitutional amendment that will allow states to repeal overreaching federal law that Washington forces upon them.

Under this amendment, if two-thirds of all state legislatures agreed, unfair federal laws — such as Obamacare and unfunded mandates — would be repealed. This would return power to the states and to the people in the way our founding fathers intended.

Your state lawmakers are lining up to protect your rights and liberties. Defending our state’s constitution and status as a right-to-work state from this federal lawsuit should be the first step that we take. And by enacting the repeal amendment, we will slow down and I hope stop this kind of federal intrusion.

Courtesy of: The State