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American Rights at Work has taken a page out of the DFL of Minnesota playbook by dodging a debate on the EFCA issue.

Center for Union Facts Executive Director Richard Berman challenged American Rights at Work Chairman David Bonior to debate EFCA in an August 22 letter. Nearly a month later, and Mr. Bonior has yet to respond. Perhaps he’s realized that EFCA is indefensible…or perhaps it’s time for another clucking contest.

Outside of a Carol Shea-Porter event in Manchester, 2 of the Granite Staters for Employee Freedom asked some gentlemen from the NALC and AFL-CIO a few questions about the EFCA, and things went south pretty quickly.

The representative from the NALC, even if unintentionally, makes an interesting point – it was around 90 years ago that the NLRB got rid of card check voting.  He also informs us that 100 years ago, guys like us would have been thrown in a river.  Is there a causal connection between card check voting and throwing people in rivers?  Only time will tell – but it’s pretty clear that the NALC and AFL-CIO want to get back to the good old days.

Tonight, Ashwin Madia and Erik Paulsen will again debate in their bid to replace Jim Ramstad in Minnesota’s Third Congressional District.

In their last debate, Madia was pinned down a bit more on his support for EFCA.  The nice thing about a debate: You can’t run away.

Like Congressman Ramstad, Erik Paulsen opposes EFCA.  In fact, in the State House he voted against a pro-EFCA resolution.

Minnesotans for Employee Freedom will be there tonight, as always, asking the tough questions and pinning down politicians like Ashwin Madia on just where they stand.

On Saturday Bruce Lunsford and U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell faced off in a debate sponsored by the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.  Watch below as McConnell slams Lunsford for his liberal agenda, which includes “more unions…taking away the secret ballot in labor union elections.”  McConnell tells Lunsford he should be ashamed of himself and owes an apology to Kentuckians for his latest accusations during this election.  We think Bruce needs to apologize to the working men and women of Kentucky for supporting the EFCA. 

Phillip Wilson, over at Laboring Away at the Institute, caught the AFL-CIO talking out of both sides of its mouth:

AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker is quoted saying: “We have learned painfully that in this third century of our republic, we cannot take our right to vote for granted. We have to defend it. There are people in our political system who think that voting is a privilege reserved for those like themselves, that it is fair and right to confuse and intimidate people into not voting” (emphasis mine).

Huh? Aren’t these the same people spending $300 million to get their posse to enact the Employee Free Choice Act and ensure that the rights of millions of American workers to vote in union elections is taken away. Talk about intimidating people into not voting…

Check out Bruce Lunsford as he pledges his support for union issues to hundreds of union members underneath a sign urging the passage of the “Employee Free Choice Act.” More proof that Bruce is just out to strip Kentucky workers of their rights and is yet another puppet beholden to union bosses. 

Al Franken has a sick sense of humor; but we’re not talking about his “comedic” writings.

When we caught up with Al again last week, he found it surprising and funny that Minnesotans would stand up for the basic democratic rights embodied in the private ballot.

We realize that Al’s tens of thousands in special interest campaign contributions and dozens of union endorsements have made him immune to common sense when it comes to EFCA.  What surprised even us is that he is so indifferent to the rights of Minnesota workers, that he finds the fight for them funny.

As he might say, Wow.

Jack McKay, president of the Eastern Maine Labor Council, took time away from a pro-EFCA rally to explain why the Employee Free Choice Act, a bill that will take away an employee’s right to a private ballot, should be law in the United States.

Mr. McKay compares the formation of a workplace union without a private ballot to the formation of the Maine legislature or the Iraqi democracy. According to McKay’s philosophy, a union should be instituted in any workplace, no matter what the employees of the businesses think. The union, which has power to collect union dues from your paycheck, negotiate on your behalf with management and use your money to donate to political parties, can all be put into power without a say from the workers.

The right to a private ballot is fundamental to a democracy. Anti-worker union bosses like Jack McKay believe that there is no need for a private ballot because the union bosses know what is best for every employee. No employee will have a private ballot to cast his or her choice on what would be best for them or their family.

It is important that the right to a private ballot is kept for all workers in the United States. Each worker should have the opportunity to hear both sides of the debate and make an educated and private choice. If the Employee Free Choice Act is passed, union bosses like Jack McKay will be able to influence workers’ decisions by demanding a public “card check” that an employee will have to sign, publicly, announcing their decision on unionization.

Mainers for Employee Freedom will once again ask: Congressman Allen, why do you support taking away a worker’s right to a private ballot?