Delay for right-to-work vote?
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CONCORD — After two weeks of frenetic lobbying by labor, business and politicians, a vote to override Gov. John Lynch's veto of the so-called right-to-work bill may be postponed Wednesday.
Speaker of the House William O'Brien said Tuesday that he will delay a vote on House Bill 474 if he doesn't think he has the two-thirds supermajority needed to override.
“I remain cautiously optimistic,” O'Brien said, noting he's closed a significant gap in gaining votes. Skeptics said the fact that O'Brien is admitting he may have to put off the vote speaks volumes about his ability to deliver an override.
HB 474 prevents unions from collecting agency fees from non-union members.
Unions and union supporters, who oppose right-to-work legislation, call the payments “fair-share” fees meant to cover the costs of negotiating and enforcing labor contracts they say cover members and non-members alike. They argue court rulings prevent forced membership, claiming that's not an issue.
Those who favor right-to-work say it prevents workers from being forced into unions and from having to pay these unfair fees.
HB 474 supporters say the state will see a burst of job growth if the bill becomes law, and point to other right-to-work states as proof. Critics say right-to-work brings lower-paying jobs with fewer benefits, and that it sticks the nose of government into contract talks between labor and management.
If HB 474 becomes law, New Hampshire would be the 23rd state, and the first in the Northeast, to adopt the principle.
When the right-to-work issue first came before the House in February, it passed 221-131, 14 votes shy of a two-thirds supermajority.
The number of votes necessary to override Lynch's veto will vary depending on how many House members cast votes. If 360 people show up and vote, it will take 240 to override. Those who say they can't vote with O'Brien have been asked to consider leaving the hall before the vote to lower the number needed to get to two-thirds.
If today's vote is postponed, that means more phone calls, e-mails and meetings for House members.
Rep. Mary Griffin, R-Salem, said she is used to taking calls from voters, but the last two weeks have been something else.
“Last night was the worst,” Griffin said Tuesday. “It's almost aggravating, to the point where I am tempted to change my mind.”
Like O'Brien, House Minority Leader Terie Norelli, D-Portsmouth, said she is “cautiously optimistic.” In her case, she's hoping that the veto will be sustained.
Democrats are united behind Lynch, she said, “and we are certainly working across the aisle with Republicans who also care about working families in our state.”
O'Brien said in a Sunday email to House members that the significance of this vote is larger than just right-to-work. Now it's “whether policy in New Hampshire will be set by a Republican supermajority or by a Democratic governor,” O'Brien wrote. He warned that if the override fails, Lynch “will feel emboldened to veto more bills that are central to our party and critical to reform.” He mentioned parental notification, retirement reform and the budget bill as examples.
Outside groups from both sides have worked the phones and emails hard, including supporters — the Business and Industry Association and the National Federation of Independent Businesses — and opponents, the AFL-CIO, NEA-New Hampshire, the State Employees Association, police and firefighters unions.
John Kalb, representing the New England Citizens for Right to Work, said, “Obviously, it's very tight. There's always people missing and who those people are will have an effect on how the vote turns out.”
Mark MacKenzie, president of the AFL-CIO, said he has never seen such a concerted effort by labor on a single issue. “I think we've done everything we can possibly do on this,” he said. “It will be a really close vote, no question about it.”
Last week, Republicans lost an early round in a special election in O'Brien's House district. Rep. Jennifer Daler, D-Temple, prevailed over Peter Kucmas, R-New Boston, who was helped by Kalb. Daler said she will vote to sustain Lynch's veto, forcing O'Brien to find two more votes to offset hers.
Speaker of the House William O'Brien said Tuesday that he will delay a vote on House Bill 474 if he doesn't think he has the two-thirds supermajority needed to override.
“I remain cautiously optimistic,” O'Brien said, noting he's closed a significant gap in gaining votes. Skeptics said the fact that O'Brien is admitting he may have to put off the vote speaks volumes about his ability to deliver an override.
HB 474 prevents unions from collecting agency fees from non-union members.
Unions and union supporters, who oppose right-to-work legislation, call the payments “fair-share” fees meant to cover the costs of negotiating and enforcing labor contracts they say cover members and non-members alike. They argue court rulings prevent forced membership, claiming that's not an issue.
Those who favor right-to-work say it prevents workers from being forced into unions and from having to pay these unfair fees.
HB 474 supporters say the state will see a burst of job growth if the bill becomes law, and point to other right-to-work states as proof. Critics say right-to-work brings lower-paying jobs with fewer benefits, and that it sticks the nose of government into contract talks between labor and management.
If HB 474 becomes law, New Hampshire would be the 23rd state, and the first in the Northeast, to adopt the principle.
When the right-to-work issue first came before the House in February, it passed 221-131, 14 votes shy of a two-thirds supermajority.
The number of votes necessary to override Lynch's veto will vary depending on how many House members cast votes. If 360 people show up and vote, it will take 240 to override. Those who say they can't vote with O'Brien have been asked to consider leaving the hall before the vote to lower the number needed to get to two-thirds.
If today's vote is postponed, that means more phone calls, e-mails and meetings for House members.
Rep. Mary Griffin, R-Salem, said she is used to taking calls from voters, but the last two weeks have been something else.
“Last night was the worst,” Griffin said Tuesday. “It's almost aggravating, to the point where I am tempted to change my mind.”
Like O'Brien, House Minority Leader Terie Norelli, D-Portsmouth, said she is “cautiously optimistic.” In her case, she's hoping that the veto will be sustained.
Democrats are united behind Lynch, she said, “and we are certainly working across the aisle with Republicans who also care about working families in our state.”
O'Brien said in a Sunday email to House members that the significance of this vote is larger than just right-to-work. Now it's “whether policy in New Hampshire will be set by a Republican supermajority or by a Democratic governor,” O'Brien wrote. He warned that if the override fails, Lynch “will feel emboldened to veto more bills that are central to our party and critical to reform.” He mentioned parental notification, retirement reform and the budget bill as examples.
Outside groups from both sides have worked the phones and emails hard, including supporters — the Business and Industry Association and the National Federation of Independent Businesses — and opponents, the AFL-CIO, NEA-New Hampshire, the State Employees Association, police and firefighters unions.
John Kalb, representing the New England Citizens for Right to Work, said, “Obviously, it's very tight. There's always people missing and who those people are will have an effect on how the vote turns out.”
Mark MacKenzie, president of the AFL-CIO, said he has never seen such a concerted effort by labor on a single issue. “I think we've done everything we can possibly do on this,” he said. “It will be a really close vote, no question about it.”
Last week, Republicans lost an early round in a special election in O'Brien's House district. Rep. Jennifer Daler, D-Temple, prevailed over Peter Kucmas, R-New Boston, who was helped by Kalb. Daler said she will vote to sustain Lynch's veto, forcing O'Brien to find two more votes to offset hers.
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