Slow Learner Mark Udall Has It Totally Backwards on Anti-Secret Ballot Bill

Mark Udall never seems to learn. He still struggles to explain why he is co-sponsoring a bill that takes away workers' rights to a secret ballot in union elections, opening them up to intimidation. From Tuesday's Chamber of Commerce debate, via Channel 7 News in Denver:

Udall defended his decision to support the Employee Free Choice Act, which would allow labor organizations to unionize workplaces without secret ballot elections, saying it still provides many worker protections that he supports.

He said the Bush administration and the National Labor Relations Board have been "missing in action" in ensuring that employees are treated fairly. He said the act ensures that employees won't be intimidated by union leaders or employers. [emphasis added]

That is so entirely backwards as to be absurd. Taking away the secret ballot protects workers from intimidation? Mr. Udall, do you wish to reconsider that statement?

At least it appears that Mark Udall has moved past his "serious reservations" about sponsoring the Employee Free Choice Act, "serious reservations" that were overcome by tens of thousands of dollars in union campaign contributions.

Voters Should Be Prepared "In Their Minds Eye"

Mark Udall admitted yesterday that voters will have the dead and dying forests "in their mind's eye" as they go to the voting booth this fall:

"What we have to do it understand what our mountains are going to look like, prepared for that in our mind's eye, but then mitigate the threat from a die-off this catastrophic," he said

The legislature is busy these days with making a turtle the state reptile. "Colorful Colorado" is the state motto, but do we need to put dead forests in the minds eye of tourists? Let's have a motto that more clearly states our plight.

How about "High and Dry Colorado?" "Forest boneyard" might work. Thanks Mark, and thank Maggie Fox and the Sierra Club, too.