Hoping to avoid an ugly confrontation between business and labor this fall, Gov. Bill Ritter wants the two sides to withdraw their competing ballot measures, his spokesman said Tuesday.
"The governor believes the best thing for all of Colorado would be if none of these measures were on the ballot in November," said Evan Dreyer, the Democratic governor's spokesman. "The governor has had conversations with both sides and will continue trying to bring everyone together and find common ground to get to a place that's good for the entire state."
This is a real display of leadership. A nasty and expensive food-fight between business and labor wouldn't do anyone any good at all. Labor is not going to see most, if any, of their ballot measures approved and business will not pass a right-to-work ballot measure either. The state will instead be caught up in a prolonged and nasty battle with shadowy outside interests dumping money into negative television ads. Nerves will be frayed on both sides, grudges will be held and gridlock will ensue.
Since the passage of Ref C in 2005 we have seen business and labor work together. Poisoning that well will just endanger progress on future issues facing the state. There's no reason to have this fight and I hope both sides sit at the table with the governor helping to broker a deal.
I'd like to see Joe Blake and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce speak up, he's been (for the most part) a reasonable and rational voice for business interests. From the left lets hear from Mitch Ackerman and the SEIU and Mike Cerbo from the AFL-CIO.
2 comments:
I actually think labor should not drop all their amendments. Sure, they have to drop some of them, but dropping seven amendments to kill the poisonous 'right to work (for less) amendment? Seems lopsided to me.
Colorado is turning blue, and pushing one or two of the strongest amendments would help move the state in a more progressive direction.
It would be a shame to lose this golden opportunity to improve the lives of workers and families in CO
I'm open to persuasion on that point. Thanks for linking to your diary, good stuff in there.
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