| West Virginia politicians, both Republican and Democrats, ran their political campaigns in 2014 primarily against Obama's "War on Coal," most using template ads created by national political action groups that pumped lots of money into races for the WV Legislature.
Now the state legislature is taking up a long-time Republican issue, the Right to Work, which displaces or destroys unions and union wages.
So now the political hot potato is the "War Against West Virginia Miners," supported the "War on Coal" candidates.
The GOP legislature is also moving forward a bill that removes a long-time WV law regarding prevailing wages, which has allowed businesses to get the same rate as union workers when getting state contracts.
Opponents say the bill could cut the remaining 15,000 coal miners wages 30-40%. - Bob Weaver
Senate Republicans Ready For Fight On Right To Work Bill
By Joel Ebert, Capitol Bureau for the Charleston Daily Mail
Republican leaders in the West Virginia state Senate are ready and willing to take on the opposition they expect to face from organized labor after introducing a bill that could dramatically affect the state's unions because they believe it is time to take a different approach.
Five Republican lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, introduced Senate Bill 337 on Tuesday. The bill, known as "Creating Workplace Freedom Act," would make West Virginia the 25th state in the country to adopt a right to work law. The Mountain State would be the first in the nation since 2012 when Michigan and Indiana became right to work states, if the bill is enacted.
The proposed legislation prohibits any requirement for a person to be a due paying member of a labor union.
Carmichael and Senate President Bill Cole, R-Mercer, said the bill is ultimately all about creating a free market environment in West Virginia.
"I understand the value of unions and we respect and admire their contributions but to require somebody to belong to an organization is against the freedom of association," Carmichael said.
Carmichael defended the bill, saying it is not an attack on unions. He noted that the legislation in no way prohibits people from joining unions.
"You can be a union member but we encourage people to consider the options when joining a union," he said.
"If somebody wants to be represented by a collective bargaining agreement, then more power to them," said Cole. "But if not â if somebody says 'I'm fine, I just want to go to work,' I think they should be afforded that right."
Both Republican leaders said when businesses are considering moving to West Virginia among the first questions they ask is whether the state has a right to work law. When they find out the state doesn't, companies quickly become disinterested, they said.
Cole said considering right to work legislation is necessary given the state's present circumstances. He cited the state's workforce participation rate â which fell below 50 percent in November â indicating a need for change.
"It says it's time to consider doing things differently," Cole said.
Both senators said they are well aware of the implications of trying to pass legislation that union representatives say is threatening, especially in a state that has historically been politically aligned with unions.
"Even if it's hard to do â if it's politically difficult â we want to do what enables the private sector to create jobs and put people back to work," Carmichael said...
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Senate Republicans Ready For Fight On Right To Work Bill By Joel Ebert, Capitol Bureau for the Charleston Daily Mail
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