Political Quotes

“I thank Senator Harkin for his leadership on this issue in opposing the Senate Joint Resolution 30. I join him in urging my colleagues to oppose the resolution. The National Mediation Board is an important entity. They have the responsibility to oversee labor-management relations in the rail and aviation industry. On May 11 of this year, they issued a final rule that allowed a majority of voting employees--let me repeat that, a rule that allows a majority of the voting employees--to determine the outcome of union representation elections. I don't understand the controversy. I thought we all agreed that majority rules, as far as what should happen. The rule is common sense. Let me explain the problem. I know it has been said before on the floor. Prior to this regulation, if a person did not show up and did not vote, it was counted as a negative. Suppose we conducted our elections that way. Suppose we were to say that if a majority of people do not show up to vote, you do not have an election. It makes sense that we count the votes that are cast. We don't know, from who does not vote, how they would vote, and to say that is a negative defies the democratic system we hold so dear in this country. Not participating voters were counted as 'no' votes, and this regulation makes it clear that will no longer be the case.”