Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I represent a district in northeast Pennsylvania where collective bargaining rights are time-honored and highly valued. The work our unions have done over the past 100-plus years has changed our laws and practices that helped create our strong American middle class. Our middle class is something that really makes us the envy of the free world, and American unions keep the middle class strong. Today, public sector unions represent about 17.3 million workers in State and local governments across the country. These public sector workers keep us safe and teach and nurture our children, care for our families. As union members, they are empowered through collective action to fight for fair wages and work conditions, as Mr. McGovern mentioned. But yesterday, in a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled against unions in the case of Janus v. AFSCME. They overturned four decades--40 years--of legal precedent to undermine the rights of correctional officers, State and local policemen, firefighters, snowplow drivers, teachers, all the local government employees that work hard for us and make us safe every day. The Court's decision invalidates the laws of 22 States and the District of Columbia. These are States that decided to allow unions and State employees mutually to agree on ensuring that employees pay a fair share fee to cover the costs of collective bargaining enforcement. This Court's decision is nothing but bare-knuckled politics.…”