Rep. LoBiondo Isn't Protecting U.S. Workers

In his letter "Congressman helped restore workers' rights" (DJ-11/15), Chip Gerrity, president of the NJ IBEW, wrote that Congressman Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd District, worked to have President Bush rescind his decision to suspend the Davis-Bacon Act for rebuilding in the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina. The act mandates that contractors pay the prevailing wages in a given area, and I join the writer in complimenting the representative for his efforts. It needs to be pointed out, however, that Mr. LoBiondo was not acting alone -- he was joined by many in the Congress, media and millions of Americans who voiced strong opposition to this Bush proposal. Could it be that the representative sees the handwriting on the wall and is beginning to realize that the American people will no longer support members of Congress or a president who do not look out for our interests? One could reasonably ask whether Mr. LoBiondo was leading the charge or merely following. Mr. LoBiondo's record shows that he has done little or nothing to challenge the president's past initiatives that have negatively impacted American workers, such as those that deprive millions of workers of overtime pay, allow companies to reorganize and do away with employee pension and health benefits, and an unwillingness to increase the minimum wage. Progressive Punch rates Mr. LoBiondo 0 percent in general union rights, outsourcing of jobs and aid to workers hurt by international trade agreements. He also gets low marks on supporting the rights of all individuals in the workplace, including public employees. The strict requirements that labor unions report any political activity and contributions without imposing those same rules on big business are more of Mr. Bush's changes. I don't remember reading anything in the media about Mr. LoBiondo opposing them and, I'll bet, the writer doesn't either. I hope that in the future the IBEW's president would be just as concerned with the needs of the members of his union who live in the Second Congressional District and are affected by all of Mr. LoBiondo's actions or inactions.

BETTIE J. REINA

Milmay

Letter published in The Daily Journal, November 17, 2008

http://thedailyjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051117/OPINION03/511170336/1014/NEWS17