Republican Kentucky Sen. and presidential candidate Rand Paul notes Tuesday that in order for his state to pass right-to-work, Democrats must break with party lines.
Kentucky is a hotbed for labor policy fights. The battle took a major turn in favor of right-to-work supporters because newly elected Republican Gov. Matt Bevin adamantly supports the policy. Paul, however, argues that for his state to pass it, Democrats are needed.
“Some of it depends on whether we can get a few Democrats to switch parties,” Paul tells The Daily Caller News Foundation. “We need to get a few more supporters in the state legislature.”
The policy outlaws mandatory union dues or fees as a condition of employment. It passed in 25 states with several more debating it. Kentucky is a unique battleground because it has a statewide fight but counties are also going ahead with their own measures.
Even with a Republican governor and state Senate, the House is still Democratic. Paul currently represents Kentucky in the U.S. Senate and he introduced a bill Feb. 5 which would have made right-to-work a national law. The policy, at the moment, is decided by each state.
Right-to-work is often supported by Republicans and opposed by Democrats. Critics of the policy often claim unions are necessary for workplace fairness, better wages and benefits. Supporters, though, assert it simply provides workers a choice while promoting a business friendly environment.
Brent Yessin, executive director of ProtectMyPayCheck, notes the undeniable problem is the Democratic majority in the House. Rather than convince Democrats to switch sides on the issue, Yessin argues the best chance of advancing the policy is staying focused on the counties.
“I can’t see a strategy for getting it through the legislature because the speaker is dead set against it,” Yessin tells TheDCNF. “We’re still chipping away locally.”
Warren became the first county in the entire country to pass the policy back in December. Since then several more counties have also passed it. The local initiative is getting plenty of resistance, especially from labor unions. Several unions have since sued, arguing counties are not allowed to enact their own right-to-work laws.
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.