Reply #38: Leaving out the voices of the labor and union advocates. [View All]

[madfloridian]

Pelosi had called in Rubin to speak to the freshman. She did not have opposing voices to his.

When she called the press conference last year when the trade deal was done, there were no labor advocates present. It was carefully staged and happened without the knowledge of union advocates in the House.

Labor voices not informed of trade bill

Here are those New Democrats who were in the know and on the podium with Nancy Pelosi.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi

Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr.
U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab

Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus
House Ways & Means Chairman Charles B. Rangel
House Ways & Means Ranking Member Jim McCrery

New Democrat Coalition Leadership:
Rep. Ellen Tauscher, Chair, New Democrat Coalition
Rep. Adam Smith. Vice-Chair, New Democrat Coalition
Rep. Ron Kind, Vice-Chair, New Democrat Coaltion
Rep. Artur Davis, Vice-Chair, New Democrat Coalition
Rep. Joe Crowley, Vice-Chair and Whip, New Democrat Coaltion

Here are the ones left out in the cold about what was happening.

...But a half-dozen House Democrats with strong labor ties, watching the news conference from the back of the room, later expressed strong dissatisfaction with the process. The strongest voices for workers and the environment were not included" in the negotiations and were not informed of the deal, said Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio.

..."I'm very disappointed that Speaker Pelosi held a press conference before meeting with the caucus," said Rep. Michael Michaud, D-Maine. "In a democratic process Democrats ought to know."