It's a Secret Ballot, Thank the Lord

by Mike Eastman

This week, while the House of Representatives and Senate are meeting in lame duck session, they are also holding meetings to organize for the 111th Congress. There has been much written about some high profile decisions that lawmakers must make, including whether or not to strip Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) of his Chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Rep. Henry Waxman’s (D-CA) efforts to take over the Chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee from Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), as well as various contests for Republican and Democratic party leadership positions.

Every one of these important decisions will be made by secret ballot elections.

Why would these decisions be made by lawmakers who are used to voting in public so that they can be held accountable by the electorate?

As reported in the Politico:

And most lawmakers dread picking sides.

Asked who she would be supporting, Rules Chairwoman Louise McIntosh Slaughter of New York exclaimed, "Oh, it’s a secret ballot, thank the Lord."

The fact is that there are many lawmakers who prefer to make their decision in private. They know that regardless of whatever peer pressure they receive from colleagues or leadership, they can cast a vote in good conscience and need not disclose it to anyone.

Nevertheless, the Card Check bill, which would effectively do away with secret ballot elections in union organizing, enjoys significant support from many lawmakers.

Why the double standard? Is the peer pressure or coercion that workers might face in a union organizing campaign somehow less significant than the pressure lawmakers are under this week?

We think not. We can only hope that when it comes time to vote on this issue next year, Members of Congress will think twice before stripping this important protection from their constituents even as they continue to enjoy it.

Comments

[ChristyB]

Of course they won't remember, or care. That is the beauty of being a democrat these days, their lies and hypocrisy are overshadowed only by their greed and quest for power...