Tea Party Blasts Labor: Backroom Deals Must End
Saturday, June 11, 2011
If you don’t think labor unions are running the State House, “you haven’t been paying attention,” according to Rhode Island Tea Party leader Lisa Blais.
In an e-mail sent out to Tea Party supporters Friday morning, Blais blasted legislators on Smith Hill for putting off important legislation until the last minute and allowing labor to play too much of role in the decisions made by the General Assembly.
The e-mail asks supporters to sign a petition opposing several upcoming bills that “propose the creation of Perpetual Contracts, Binding Arbitration, and Property Rights for Pension Benefits for many Public Sector employees.” At last count, 83 people had signed the petition.
Tea Party Leader: We Aren’t Stupid Anymore
In bold, capital letters at the top of the e-mail, the Tea Party asks, “Will lawmakers push Rhode Island over the cliff?”
“They proposed bills that would take control away from our locally elected officials to make the difficult choices of cutting expenses, renegotiating contracts with public employees, and addressing the unfunded public employee benefit debt to a manageable level,” Blais writes. “They are feverishly working backroom deals to get them passed before the end of this legislative session in June. That's right - before the end of June... Make no mistake about it. They think it is a done deal. “
In an interview with GoLocalProv Friday afternoon, Blais called on the General Assembly to do what’s right for all taxpayers.
Tea Party Claim: Most Legislators Receive Union Contributions
Blais says legislators shouldn’t believe the passage of union-related bills is inevitable. But in the e-mail, she points to what the Tea Party believes is a clear conflict of interest at the State House.
“Campaign finance reports show that close to 3/4 of our lawmakers receive funding from labor unions," the e-mail claims. “What do you think will be the outcome of these proposed labor union-related bills?”
Blais said she is afraid these bills will come up during one of the last days of the session, when legislators are scrambling to get everything done.
“We can't let this happen or Rhode Island steps off that cliff,” she writes. “We have asked before and we are asking again, because that is what it takes. Use your voice today and tell them you will use your vote next election. These bills will devastate our municipalities as well as the state of Rhode Island.”
Fox and Paiva Weed: Committed To Pension Reform
House spokesperson Larry Berman said he did not wish to comment on the Tea Party’s e-mail blast, but he pointed to recent statements made by House Speaker Gordon Fox (right) and Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed (upper left). The message: The General Assembly is committed to pension reform.
Berman said both chambers will continue to work with General Treasurer Gina Raimondo on the pension issues.
“Both the Senate President and Speaker have committed to working on the multi-faceted pension issues with the treasurer and others involved throughout the summer, and they have announced that both Finance Committees will be holding hearings with the intention of resuming the legislative session in the fall to address pensions,” he said.
Grow A Backbone
But Blais isn’t buying it. She said it’s time for legislators to stand up for their constituents instead of bowing to the special interests.
“It’s time for legislators to grow a backbone,” she said. “They have a responsibility.”
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