Posted on 01/11/2005 10:39:23 AM PST by ZGuy
Gov. Matt Blunt began making good on campaign pledges during his first full day in office Tuesday, rescinding the collective bargaining rights of thousands of state workers and ordering agencies to make several cost-cutting policy changes.
Blunt halted the purchase or lease of new cell phones, office space and non-emergency vehicles. He also closed the state's office in Washington, D.C.
Those were among the first pledges Blunt made when he began campaigning for governor nearly a year ago. The 34-year-old Republican was sworn in at noon Monday — becoming the nation's youngest serving governor and the first Republican governor to take office with a GOP Legislature in Missouri in 84 years.
As secretary of state, Blunt had criticized former Democratic Gov. Bob Holden's June 2001 executive order granting collective bargaining rights to thousands of state employees and allowing unions to charge bargaining fees to employees who aren't union members.
Blunt fought an administrative rule change allowing the fees, but lost a court battle with the unions when a judge said the secretary of state's office must publish the rule, allowing it to take effect. It was to finally go into effect at the end of this month.
But on Tuesday, Blunt rescinded the executive order and withdrew the new rule. Several state employee bargaining units already have the fees included in contracts negotiated by unions. But Blunt said those provisions will have no effect — an interpretation unions may challenge.
Interesting. The Indiana gov., after being sworn in today, did the same thing.
Looks like we got ourselves a convoy.
Talked to Matt while shopping at Lowe's a couple of weeks ago...told him to "git-r-done." He's not wasting any time.
The governor is younger than I am. Wow.
Please keep CAL at backend of the convey! Smells bad like a hog truck. Ten fore good buddy!!
Proud MO bump!
I sez Pig-Pen, this here's the Rubber Duck
We just ain't a gonna pay no toll!
So we crashed the gate doin' ninety-eight
I sez, let them truckers roll, 10-4.
Q.-Was the order forcing IN state employees to pay union dues (whether union members or not) imposed by previous Gov. or had it been on books for a couple of administrations?
I call this a darn good start!!! Now, perhaps we can make Missouri a Right to Work state? Can I get a OOOHHHAAAHHH!!!
Whatsoever the executive order granteth, the executive order shall taketh away.
Wonder how the unions feel now after ponying up to pay Holden's inauguration party bill? Hmmm?
On his second day in office, Gov. Mitch Daniels cancelled the state's collective bargaining agreements with the state's unions.
The action left more than 23,000 state employees represented by unions no longer able to negotiate pay, benefits and work rules with state officials. However, pay raises granted for 2005 are not affected by Daniels' actions.
The workers' bargaining power expired with Democrat Joe Kernan's term in office.
The negotiating authority, not found in state law, depends on each incoming governor to sign a new executive order. Daniels chose not to renew the order.
Daniels also issued executive orders that invalidated existing labor contracts. Those contracts, ratified in executive orders signed by Kernan, ran through June 2007.
"In many ways, this was the most complicated and difficult decision I have had to make," Daniels said.
Daniels said he did away with bargaining rights in order to move ahead more rapidly with his overhaul of state government, including the creation of a separate agency to handle child welfare and child support.
After taking office in 1989, Democrat Evan Bayh became the first of three Democratic governors to sign an order giving state workers collective bargaining rights. This sparked a massive union organizing drive in 1990 that cost the unions more than $21 million in today's dollars.
But Daniels is the state's first Republican governor in 16 years. And during last year's election, the Unity Team and Indiana's other major state workers union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, supported Kernan. These groups represent nearly two-thirds of the state's roughly 35,000 executive branch employees.
Francis "Fuzz" LeMay, president of the Unity Team's Local 9212, said the union will close up shop and about 10 union representatives will go back to their regular state jobs. "Obviously we're disappointed," he said. "But there it is. He's the governor."
THAT'S MY GOVERNOR!!!!!!!!
Methinks they simultaneously threw up in their mouths!!
Just wanted to call this to your attention ASAP! Off to a great beginning!
34 years old and a razor !
I could not be happier. Matt Blunt has already done well. ;-D
Strong stuff !
Great! Thanks! Time flies. Hard to believe a Republican state like IN has had Dem Govs for 16 years! Looks like M. Daniels off to a great start! Any action ongoing in Indiana to make it a Right to Work state?
Mine too. Isn't it nice!
Missouri ping, ping, ping!
Very low usage list. FReepmail me if you want on or off.
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