Wednesday, March 11th, 2009
The Palm Beach Post

In what some Republicans would like to be a preview of a 2010 congressional race, state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, R-Boca Raton, is calling out U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton, over the labor-backed Employee Free Choice Act.

As noted here Tuesday, Klein was a cosponsor of the legislation last year, but isn’t a cosponsor this year. His office said he’s focused on the economy and will “review” the union bill.

Republicans, who call the bill an assault on employee rights to a secret ballot, are pressing Klein to say whether he still supports the legislation. Hasner joined in today.

“The people of Florida deserve to know if Ron Klein will stand up and protect their right to a secret ballot, or if he will vote in lock-step with Washington Democrats and strip American workers of their fundamental right to a secret ballot,” said Hasner, who’s promoting a state constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right of Floridians to cast a secret ballot.

The Employee Free Choice Act would make it easier for unions to organize by authorizing a union if a majority of workers in a bargaining unit sign cards asking for one. Under current law, votes on whether to unionize are done by secret ballot and overseen by the National Labor Relations Board.

Unions say the current system allows employers to harass and intimidate employees during the run-up to an election. Businesses say the union-backed legislation will allow labor organizers to harass and intimidate employees by targeting those who haven’t signed cards.

The legislation passed the House on a largely party-line vote last year but died in the Senate.

Hasner has been mentioned as a potential 2010 challenger to Klein in a district that was long held by Republican Clay Shaw before Klein won in 2006.