The Romeo Area Tea Party has weighed in on one of the many union-related issues that have stirred up Washington and several state capitals.
On its web site, the Tea Party raises questions about Congresswoman Candy Miller’s recent vote against legislation that would have ended labor unions’ advantages in landing federally funded construction projects.
The Harrison Township Republican was also called on the carpet by the Mackinac Center, which categorized her vote on the so-called Guinta amendment an anti-worker stance. The Midland-based center has been a virulent critic of so-called Project Labor Agreements, or PLAs, which essentially steer federal construction contracts to the Building Trades unions.
On her Facebook page, Miller responded:
“No current federal law mandates the use of project labor agreements on projects that are partially funded with federal dollars. The Guinta amendment would have been a mandate on state and local governments that they not enter into project labor agreements on such projects.
“I take a state’s rights view of this issue and would leave the determination on whether or not to use project labor agreements to state and local units of government who are directing these projects. My vote against the Guinta amendment was not a vote in favor or PLAs, it was a vote in favor local control and flexibility to make a determination without federal interference on what works best for them.”
A pretty well-thought-out response. But it appears the Tea Partiers in Romeo are not satisfied.
On their web site, the Tea Party responded this way:
“Will Congresswoman Miller reintroduce an amendment, that would narrow Guinta’s proposal to the federal level of government-funded projects, and protect the right for managers of federal projects to (choose), to have the “control and flexibility” to hire non-union, ‘merit-shop’ workers for federal construction projects? By voting to defeat this amendment Rep. Miller voted to use the power of the purse to put “stipulations on the use of funds,” funds that would be used to hire only union workers, who make up 14% of the (nation’s) construction workers.”
We await the next volley.
If you want to know more about PLAs and the vote that caused such a stir click here.
There is a certain phoniness to Tea Party activists and so-called conservative Republicans that complain about whether a project is completed by union workers but don't say anything about whether the project should be done at all. According to the Macomb County Road department website the 2011 construction schedule contains $7 million for bike paths but you don't hear a word from the Tea Party folks or the so-called Republican fiscal conservatives about spending tax money on those projects.