Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Bush's union transparency rules retracted under Obama
Washington Times ^ | 3/11/10 | By Chuck Neubauer

Posted on 03/11/2010 5:59:15 PM PST by mgist

The Obama administration promised increased transparency in government but has rolled back rules proposed by the Bush administration that expanded the financial disclosure statements required of labor unions and their leaders.

Since President Obama took office, the Labor Department has rescinded or delayed three sets of rules proposed by the George W. Bush administration that would have required unions and their leaders to more specifically detail their finances, according to a review of records by The Washington Times.

The rules were rolled back while the Obama administration was seeking more stringent regulation of corporate America, including banks, insurance companies, health care providers and publicly traded companies.

The proposed Bush rules would have required labor unions to identify from whom they were buying and selling assets, forced union leaders and employees to file more detailed conflict-of-interest forms, and required unions to reveal the finances of hundreds of so-called labor trusts - largely unregulated entities set up to provide benefits for members.

Former Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao, one of the architects of the expanded Bush rules, said the Obama administration is "making a mockery of the regulations" and is giving "preferential treatment" to the unions.

"This administration is not enforcing laws on union transparency and democracy," Ms. Chao told The Times. "They are telling unions that they don't have to comply."

A senior Republican on the House Education and Labor Committee has similar concerns.

Rep. John Kline of Minnesota, ranking member on the health, employment, labor and pensions subcommittee, asked Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis in February why the Labor Department had rescinded rules designed to increase transparency in union finances. He said the rollback made it "more difficult for rank-and-file union workers to see how their dues are being spent."

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Government
KEYWORDS: acorn; agenda; corruption; international; seiu; soros; stern; unions

1 posted on 03/11/2010 5:59:15 PM PST by mgist
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: mgist

The time for fooling around with RINO’s and marxists who call themselves “Progressives” to hide their marxist agenda (as if that will continue to work forever) is fast coming to a close.

Its a blessed thing that the degenerate slick son of a bitch ROMNEY from a family of cowards is going to try for the GOP nomination because it will once and for all propel a candidate (as yet undetermined) to stop pulling punches and declare WAR ON SOCIALISM.

The candidate must name names, vow to destroy the members of the “Congressional Progressive Caucus” and excoriate geographic areas such as San Francisco and other socialist strongholds as “US AGAINST THEM”

The effin party is over, time to smack down these CPUSA stooges and fellow travelers, put PR mens heads on pikes, and put the fear of God and the sword in the hearts of the ENEMY WITHIN


2 posted on 03/11/2010 6:00:38 PM PST by Rome2000 (OBAMA IS A COMMUNIST CRYPTO-MUSLIM)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mgist

And they were once again allowed to wear the traditional, brown shirts while picketing outside insurance companies, medical companies, pharmaceutical companies, Toyota plants, large banks........


3 posted on 03/11/2010 6:02:24 PM PST by mbarker12474 (If thine enemy offend thee, give his childe a drum.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mgist

Miss me yet?


4 posted on 03/11/2010 6:05:27 PM PST by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mgist
I try to see things objectively, but I don't see the point of a union.

They pit people against the companies they work for creating an adversarial relationship that likely wouldn't have existed and blackmail those companies into paying them more than they are worth. They then demand money from their members who couldn't work unless they first join the union and then use that money without regard for the members wishes.

They seem more like a syndicate, unAmerican and extremely anti-capitalistic. They have corrupted our politics, made our goods and services less competitive, our companies less innovative and they, along with high business taxes, are probably the main reasons companies relocate overseas.

Perhaps once upon a time they were needed, but why do we need unions now? What am I missing?

5 posted on 03/11/2010 6:16:07 PM PST by GBA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mgist

Obama will turn this country into an Africanesque zoo. The little boy from S. Chicago doesn’t know the difference between being laughed with and laughed at. He’s essentially a guy that talks eloquently and wears suits but sees the world like an ultra liberal of the 60s and 70s with an afro American flavor. That’s called hope and change! We already have conventions and political rallies that are more about the music, guest speakers and show than content. We have boiled entire political campaigns down to two syllables: “hope” and “change.”

Years past I saw an election in Africa where the candidate showed up and the people all started chanting/grunting and hopping up and down, maybe that’s next?

No one respects this clown. Neither Iran, Russia, China.......no one. Our allies are scared (Israel, Iraq....Jordan.......S Korea- the ones in the cross hairs and with real threat pictures.) and all our enemies agree that they really like this guy Obama. Even our mooching allies, the ones that leach off us but don’t like to be asked to do anything generally like Obama because he won’t ask anything of them........ When the “do nothing nations” and our enemies like the guy, what does that mean?


6 posted on 03/11/2010 6:22:12 PM PST by Red6
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mgist

Obama says he doesn’t want money playing such a big role in politics. Fine. It’s the unions that are free to give. Let’s ban unions from giving.


7 posted on 03/11/2010 6:25:58 PM PST by Brilliant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mgist

self ping


8 posted on 03/11/2010 6:26:03 PM PST by Outlaw Woman (If you remove the first Amendment, we'll be forced to move on to the next one.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rome2000

Preach it!!!!


9 posted on 03/11/2010 6:27:15 PM PST by Outlaw Woman (If you remove the first Amendment, we'll be forced to move on to the next one.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Rome2000

Good post.


10 posted on 03/11/2010 7:18:40 PM PST by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists...Call 'em What you Will, They ALL have Fairies Living In Their Trees.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: mgist

It is hard to see the need for unions when there is the Fascicratic Party.


11 posted on 03/11/2010 7:33:24 PM PST by depressed in 06 (Tea parties today, Lexington tomorrow.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mgist

does this actually surprise anyone?


12 posted on 03/12/2010 5:22:24 PM PST by Munz (All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson