More insight on Joe Biden
For another insight into Joe Biden, look no further than Jonathan Tasini at Working Life and his take on Biden's record on labor, trade and immigration.
It's an interesting posting.
Tasini begins: "As a whole, Joe Biden is considered a friend of labor. But, he doesn't have a perfect voting record as far as labor is concerned. Lifetime, he has an 85 percent voting record on votes the AFL-CIO considers crucial over the past 12 years (that is the time period available on-line and that's the best you are going to get on a Saturday morning). You have to keep in mind that the AFL-CIO usually creates its scorecard, like many other organizations, based on specific votes deemed particularly crucial, not the hundreds of votes a Senator might cast in a given term.
"If you want the specifics below, go for it” I mostly highlighted votes below where he and labor parted company, or where there are votes that indicate positions that are relevant to issues coming up in the future. But, for the lazy, and more sane people who want to have a life on Saturday morning, here's what I would say generally. Throughout his career, Biden has been a strong supporter of labor rights here in the U.S., from union organizing rights to protecting prevailing wage laws. He is a co-sponsor of the number one priority for labor, the Employee Free Choice Act.
"Where are the disagreements? Mostly over trade and immigration. Biden, initially, was a strong support of so-called "free trade" but he seems to have shifted his position a bit in the past few years. That could have been partly partisan ”his votes for so-called "free trade" came during the Clinton Administration, but he tended to vote more against so-called "free trade" during the Bush Administration. But, it also may be a shift in overall philosophy” and his votes seem to indicate that he shares a similar view on trade with his potential boss. That is, that trade deals have to include enforceable labor and environment provisions (I've written repeatedly that this is not sufficient but I'll not digress here). It is also worth noting that so-called "free trade" bills have, generally, received more Democratic votes, proportionally, in the Senate than in the House.
"On immigration, he has, on occasion, voted for increasing caps for certain immigration visas that the AFL-CIO has opposed. So, that will be something to keep an eye on since immigration will be back on the policy agenda in the new Administration."
"If you want the specifics below, go for it” I mostly highlighted votes below where he and labor parted company, or where there are votes that indicate positions that are relevant to issues coming up in the future. But, for the lazy, and more sane people who want to have a life on Saturday morning, here's what I would say generally. Throughout his career, Biden has been a strong supporter of labor rights here in the U.S., from union organizing rights to protecting prevailing wage laws. He is a co-sponsor of the number one priority for labor, the Employee Free Choice Act.
"Where are the disagreements? Mostly over trade and immigration. Biden, initially, was a strong support of so-called "free trade" but he seems to have shifted his position a bit in the past few years. That could have been partly partisan ”his votes for so-called "free trade" came during the Clinton Administration, but he tended to vote more against so-called "free trade" during the Bush Administration. But, it also may be a shift in overall philosophy” and his votes seem to indicate that he shares a similar view on trade with his potential boss. That is, that trade deals have to include enforceable labor and environment provisions (I've written repeatedly that this is not sufficient but I'll not digress here). It is also worth noting that so-called "free trade" bills have, generally, received more Democratic votes, proportionally, in the Senate than in the House.
"On immigration, he has, on occasion, voted for increasing caps for certain immigration visas that the AFL-CIO has opposed. So, that will be something to keep an eye on since immigration will be back on the policy agenda in the new Administration."
Tasini then lists specfics. Go give it read and enlighten yourself.
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