Political Quotes

“Madam President, I have long supported the rights of workers to form unions, and I support the National Mediation Board's new rule allowing those in the rail and airline industries to form a union based on the votes cast by a simple majority, a basic principle of democracy. Under the previous rule, a vote not cast was counted as a vote against the union, in spite of the fact that it is impossible to discern the intention of someone not casting a vote. The new rule adopted by the National Mediation Board mirrors the practice of the National Labor Relations Board, which oversees union elections in other sectors, and it mirrors the rules by which we choose our elected officials: the only votes counted are those actually cast. Discontinuing this unfair and undemocratic practice was the right thing for the National Mediation Board to do. The new rule is fair to all parties, and is consistent with our democratic traditions. For this reason, I do not support the Isakson resolution opposing this new regulation. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Iowa.”