Nancy Kassebaum: “I want to respond to several things that have come up during the course of the debate this morning. First, this…”

“I want to respond to several things that have come up during the course of the debate this morning. First, this amendment is not an effort to embarrass the President. Second, I feel strongly that this Executive order sets a precedent that we need to carefully examine. Third, we all care about justice in the workplace and for the workers. But it has been stated that this Executive order will actually restore the balance. That through this Executive order there will be balance that then will be maintained between management and labor. I argue that actually it will totally unbalance the labor/management relationship which has existed over 60 years under our Federal labor laws. Sometimes it has been abused by management. Sometimes it has been abused by labor. It was stated that if management can hire permanent replacement workers, then it would be very unfair to the strikers. Why would, indeed, strikers not be able to have any voice at that point? Strikes have continued on, and at great loss to those who were striking, where permanent replacement workers have been hired. However, if you were to forbid any permanent replacement workers, then strikes could continue on forever and the workplace could be totally shut down. A business could be totally shut down. Leverage has to be equal on both sides.”