Statement Regarding 2nd District Ad Campaign

By Dennis Fusaro, Director of Communication, NRTWC

FOR RELEASE: July 31, 2002

Thank you for coming today. I have a brief statement, after which I’ll unveil the National Right to Work Committee®’s new TV ad for the 2nd District, and then I’ll take your questions.

This new 60-second ad calls on Congressman Mike Simpson to honor the campaign pledge he made to cosponsor the National Right to Work Act.

The National Right to Work Act, as I’ve outlined on the Fact Sheet provided, would end forced unionism nationwide by removing the provisions in federal law that authorize labor union officials to confiscate union dues and fees from workers as a condition of employment.

According to Department of Labor statistics, more than 8 million workers nationwide labor under contracts that require them to pay union dues or fees, or be fired.

Nearly 80% of Americans oppose forced unionism, yet federal law authorizes union officials to force more than 40,000 workers in this state to submit to unwanted monopoly “representation” by union officials. These workers are stripped of their rights to negotiate with their own employers, and must pay for so-called “representation” they don’t want and didn’t ask for.

Congress created this federally-mandated forced-unionism . . . and only Congress can end it once and for all.

While he ran for Congress, Mike Simpson vowed his opposition to compulsory unionism. He told the people in his district that he, like them, wanted to see it stopped. He signed a pledge to “cosponsor and seek roll-call votes on” a National Right to Work act to end forced unionism once and for all, if elected. I’ve enclosed a copy of that pledge with your materials today.

Frankly, I’m baffled as to why Congressman Simpson hasn’t yet kept the promise he made to his constituents.

Despite hundreds and hundreds of phone calls, letters, postcards and petitions from the folks in his district, Congressman Simpson has so far failed to cosponsor the National Right to Work Act.

As I said before, poll after poll shows that nearly 8 of 10 Americans oppose forced unionism. Why would Congressman Simpson choose to ignore the will of the people who sent him to Washington?

It is time for him to honor his pledge.

It is inexcusable for politicians to break their word to the folks they represent. Sadly, this truth seems to have been forgotten in Washington. But the truth remains unchanged.

The 2.2 million grassroots supporters that make up the National Right to Work Committee® cannot and will not allow their representatives to ignore their promises to end forced unionism by passing a National Right to Work act.

That’s why we have launched a national media campaign calling on several Congressmen to follow through on their public vows to support the National Right to Work Act.

Only the politicians themselves know why they have failed to keep the promises they made to the people they represent.

Perhaps they are afraid of Organized Labor’s billion-dollar political machine.

But they need to remember that voters, not dollars, are what put them into office . . . and what will ultimately keep them there, or not. They should be much more alarmed at the thought of facing outraged Right to Work supporters and trying to explain away their broken promises.

The nearly 80% of Idahoans who support the Right to Work issue have the power to decide who represents them on Capitol Hill as a Congressman or Senator, and they have shown time and again that they prefer representatives who oppose forced unionism –- and keep their word.

The television ad I’m about to show you will run district-wide starting next week, and will remind the people of the 2nd District that their Right to Work is at stake for as long as politicians are allowed to break their promises and stand on the sidelines of our battle to end forced unionism.

Thank you again for coming. I’ll play the ad for you now, and then take your questions.