Will Paul Hackett support making cars and trucks more fuel efficient if he is elected to the U.S. Senate? That's the question, and if you read on, you'll see why it needs to be asked and answered right now.
Yesterday, the UAW endorsed Paul Hackett for U.S. Senate. I'm not sure how important this is for the primary, but it surprised me because of Sherrod Brown's long and strong relationship with labor.
This endorsement raises a serious question. And since I just spent four hours researching this, I hope you'll read on.
My take on the Ohio primary is similar to Kos'. As long as it's handled right, the Democratic candidate can emerge stronger as a result of the primary instead of weaker. That's what we all need to shoot for. It happened that way for Obama in Illinois, and we'd better make sure it happens that way in Ohio. This is what guides my view of what Dems should strive for. Otherwise I don't have a dog in the fight.
I was totally wowed by Hackett in the race for Ohio 2. He was great. Brown, I know, is a terrific Member of Congress.
I work on energy issues for a living and I follow the congressional debate on these issues. When I saw the UAW endorsement, it made me wonder about one of the issues that I know UAW lobbies on - fuel economy standards for passenger cars. These standards are known as CAFE standards (corporate average fuel economy). Brown has consistently supported making cars and trucks more fuel efficient, even though the UAW opposes it. I've always thought Brown especially deserved credit for this, given that there is so much fear mongering about the issue in the Midwest.
DeWine has an awful record on this issue. He votes against raising fuel economy standards whenever he can. So to me this is a very nice bright line we can draw about how leadership in Ohio will change with a Dem Senator.
For the record, Brown voted to make cars more fuel efficient on April 20, 2005. In the last Congress, he voted for it on April 10, 2003. DeWine voted against making cars more fuel efficient on June 23, 2005. In the last Congress, DeWine voted against it on July 29, 2003. DeWine even supported Zell Miller's amendment to ensure that pickup trucks are never made to be more fuel efficient on March 13, 2002. Okay, so we know where Brown and DeWine stand. Advantage: Democrat.
I am not going to use this diary to discuss why it is so essential that our nation reduce its dependence on oil. It's really clear to anyone who has even glanced at the issue. The national security and economic implications of our ever growing dependence on foreign oil are staggering. Forget about the global warming part of it. Do a little research and I bet you'll agree (but you probably already do).
The issue has political saliency too. It's very popular. Support for increasing fuel efficiency standards usually hovers around 80% or so. In fact, the Sierra Club released a poll a while back that showed that even 88 percent of Michigan UAW households supported increasing fuel efficiency standards.
Yesterday, I posted a question over in Karl Frisch's diary on the UAW endorsement about whether anyone knew what Hackett's position was on this issue. No one responded and maybe it just hasn't really come up yet, so Hackett's never talked about it.
However, I was concerned that maybe this was the reason that UAW endorsed Hackett over Brown, although I sincerely hope that Hackett does support increasing fuel economy standards. To see if my concern was warranted I did a little research this morning. I decided to see how Brown stacked up against UAW's priorities during his time in Congress. Brown has taken a lot of votes over the years and Hackett hasn't, so this seemed like the best way to see if I could identify the reason for UAW's endorsement. I took a look at two years in which UAW reported about their lobbying against increasing CAFE standards: 2002 and 2004.
UAW identified 13 issues in 2002 that they considered their key votes in the House of Representatives. Below I excerpted these issues from the UAW webpage and then I added in how Sherrod Brown voted on each issue. Take a look:
House Votes
WORKER RIGHTS
1. House Repeals Ergonomics Protection
The UAW and the rest of the labor movement worked for over a decade to establish a federal ergonomics standard to protect workers from repetitive motion injuries. But shortly after taking office the Bush administration backed a Congressional disapproval resolution to repeal this vital workplace health and safety protection. House and Senate Republicans then rammed this disapproval measure through Congress on largely party line votes. The vote in the House to repeal the ergonomics health and safety standard was 223-206 (R 206-13; D16-192; I 1-1). March 7.
Brown supported the UAW position and voted no
2. House Passes Outrageous Economic Stimulus Package
After the September 11th terrorist attacks, House GOP leaders created an outrageous economic stimulus package that provided $100 billion in tax cuts for corporations and the rich, while providing very little assistance to laid-off workers. The UAW and the rest of the labor movement urged Representatives to reject this GOP package, and instead to support a Democratic alternative that would have provided $55 billion in unemployment insurance and health care benefits for laid-off workers, along with tax rebates targeted at low-income
workers. But the House rejected this pro-worker alternative, and went on to pass the GOP economic stimulus package on a mostly partly line vote of 216-214 (R 212-7; D 3-206; I 1-1). October 24.
Brown supported the UAW position and voted no
3. House Rejects Federalization of Airport Screeners
During consideration of airline security legislation, Representative Oberstar (D-Minn.) offered an amendment that would have federalized passenger and baggage screeners at our nation's airports. The UAW and most unions strongly supported this amendment in order to improve security. Unfortunately, the House GOP leaders vehemently opposed federalization of these workers because they didn't want them to be unionized. In a mostly party line vote, the House rejected the Oberstar federalization amendment by a vote of 214-218
(R 8-211; D 205-6; I 1-1). November 1.
Brown supported the UAW position and voted yes
TRADE
4. House Stops Expansion of Cross Border Trucking
During consideration of the transportation appropriations bill, Representative Sabo (D-Minn.) offered an amendment to prevent any expansion of cross-border trucking operations from Mexico into the United States because of the threat to the safety of American motorists and thousands of American jobs. In the end, the House adopted this labor-backed amendment by a vote of 285-143 (R 82-134; D 201-9; I 2-0). June 26.
Brown supported the UAW position and voted yes
BUDGET/TAXES
5. House Repeals Estate Tax
The UAW and our progressive allies strongly opposed legislation crafted by the House GOP leaders that phased out and eventually repealed the estate tax. This outrageous bill gave a huge tax windfall to a tiny handful of the wealthiest families in our country. In addition, this legislation wasted huge amounts of money that are needed to strengthen Social Security, Medicare, education and other important social programs. Unfortunately, the House passed this measure by a vote of 274-154 (R 215-3; D 58-150;
I 1-1). April 4.
Brown supported the UAW position and voted no
6. House Passes Unfair, Unwise Tax Cut Bill
President Bush and Congressional Republicans pushed a tax cut bill that was heavily skewed toward the rich. At the same time, this unfair bill also unwisely used up most of the projected federal surpluses, leaving insufficient funds for strengthening Social Security, providing a Medicare drug benefit, improving education and other key domestic priorities. Despite the strong opposition of the UAW and a broad coalition of progressive organizations, the House approved this tax cut legislation by a vote of 230-197 (R 216-0; D 13-196; I 1-1). May 16.
Brown supported the UAW position and voted no
HUMAN RIGHTS
7. House Approves Anti-Worker Bankruptcy Bill
The UAW and a coalition of labor, consumer, women's and senior citizen groups strongly opposed a terrible bankruptcy bill that unfairly favored the interests of banks and credit card companies, and made it more difficult for laid-off workers to obtain financial relief under our bankruptcy laws. But despite our vehement opposition, the House approved this bankruptcy bill by a vote of 306-108 (R 212-0; D 93-107; I 1-1). March 1.
Brown supported the UAW position and voted no
8. House Defeats Effort to Undermine Public Education
During consideration of legislation reauthorizing the Elementary & Secondary Education Act, House GOP Majority Leader Dick Armey (Texas) offered an amendment that would have established a private school voucher program under which public funds could be used to pay for the costs of sending children to private or parochial educational institutions. The UAW and our progressive allies strongly opposed this attempt to undermine our system of public education, and the Armey amendment was defeated by a vote of 155-273 (R 152-68; D 2-204;
I 1-1). May 23.
Brown supported the UAW position and voted no
9. House Rejects School Construction Program
During consideration of legislation reauthorizing the Elementary & Secondary Education Act, Representative Owens (D-N.Y.) offered a motion to add provisions that would have provided $2 billion for a school construction and modernization program. But this labor-backed motion was defeated by a vote of 207-223 (R 2-218; D 204-4; I 1-1). May 23.
Brown supported the UAW position and voted yes
10. House Rejects Attempt to Block Campaign Finance Reform
After the Senate had approved the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill, House GOP leaders put forward a sham alternative that would have actually increased the amounts that wealthy individuals may give to federal candidates, while still preserving the soft money loophole in federal campaign law. At the same time, the GOP leaders tried to establish rules for the debate over the competing campaign finance reform measures that would have hamstrung the advocates of real reform. This cynical tactic proved to be too much for many Representatives to swallow, and the House rejected this unfair process by a vote of 203-228 (R 201-19; D 1-208; I 1-1). July 12. The GOP leaders then indefinitely postponed action on the campaign finance reform legislation.
Brown supported the UAW position and voted no
11. House Approves Weakened Bill of Rights for Patients
The UAW has long supported a strong Patients' Bill of Rights that would guarantee certain fundamental rights to all patients, including the ability to hold health plans accountable when they improperly deny needed care to patients. Unfortunately, at the last minute President Bush and House GOP leaders put forward a much weaker alternative that failed to hold health plans truly accountable. Despite our opposition, the House passed this weaker alternative by a vote of 226-203 (R 220-0; D 5-202;
I 1-1). August 2.
Brown supported the UAW position and voted no
AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY
12. House Rejects Extreme CAFE Amendment
During consideration of comprehensive energy legislation, Representatives Boehlert (R-N.Y.) and Markey (D-Mass.) offered an extreme, unfair amendment that would have required light trucks (SUVs, minivans and smaller trucks) to meet the same fuel economy standards as automobiles. The UAW strongly opposed this amendment because it increased the fuel economy standards too much and too quickly. In addition, it would have discriminated against the Big Three automakers whose product mix is more heavily weighted towards larger cars and light trucks. Because of these serious problems, the amendment could have jeopardized the jobs of thousands of UAW members. Thanks to the strong lobbying efforts by UAW members, the House rejected the Boehlert-Markey CAFE amendment by a vote of 160-269 (R 36-182; D 123-86; I 1-1). August 1.
Brown bucked the UAW position and voted yes
FAST TRACK
13. House Passes Fast Track Legislation
The UAW and a broad coalition of labor, environmental, religious, human rights and other groups strongly opposed the Fast Track trade legislation sponsored by Representative Thomas (R-CA). This legislation did not contain meaningful protections for worker rights and the environment. It also greased the skids for an expansion of NAFTA to South America and Central America, thereby threatening the jobs of thousands of workers. Despite our vehement opposition, the White House and House GOP leaders rammed this legislation through the House by a single vote. The vote on this priority issue was 215-214 (R 194-23; D 189-21; I 0-2). December 6.
Brown supported the UAW position and voted no
Did you notice the one issue that Brown disagreed with the UAW on? Here is an excerpt from an article from USA Today that might give you a hint:
A similar coalition brought down a bipartisan effort to tighten fuel-efficiency standards on SUVs, 269-160. Lobbied hard by the United Auto Workers, 86 Democrats, mostly from the industrial Midwest, joined 182 Republicans and one independent to vote down an amendment that would have raised fuel-economy standards for SUVs to 27.5 miles per gallon, the same standard that cars must meet.
Okay, now here are the 13 UAW priorities from 2004:
House Votes
Pension Plans
1. House passes dangerous pension legislation.
Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, pushed pension legislation that would have allowed employers to give biased, self-interested investment advice to workers concerning the investment of 401(k) plan assets. As a result, workers could be lured into investments that generate higher profits for company advisers, but that ultimately jeopardize the retirement security of the workers. Despite the opposition of the UAW and other unions, the House passed this dangerous pension bill by a vote of 271-157 (R 222-1; D 49-155; I 0-1) on May 14.
Brown supported the UAW position and voted no
Unemployment Benefits
2. House rejects additional assistance for laid-off workers.
During consideration of legislation extending the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) program, Rep. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., offered a motion to add provisions that would provide an additional 13 weeks of federal extended UI benefits (for a total of 26 weeks), both to laid-off workers who had already exhausted their UI benefits and to workers who would exhaust them during the rest of this year. The UAW and other progressive groups strongly supported this motion, which would have provided additional UI benefits to thousands of long term unemployed workers who are suffering as a result of the current economic downturn. But the House rejected this motion by a vote of 205-222 (R 1-222; D 203-0; I 1-0) on May 22. The House then went on to approve a simple extension of the TEUC program, without any additional weeks of benefits for laid off workers.
Brown supported the UAW position and voted yes
Comp Time
3. House opposes "comp time" bill.
The UAW and other unions strongly opposed the "comp time" legislation because it would undermine the 40-hour workweek and overtime pay. The net result is that companies would be able to work employees longer hours for less pay. Thanks to a tremendous grassroots lobbying campaign, almost all Democrats and a block of moderate Republicans committed to vote against this anti-worker bill. When it became apparent that the comp time bill would be defeated, House GOP leaders decided to pull the legislation. Although there never was a recorded vote, this roll call includes our best information on the position taken by representatives at the time the bill was pulled on June 4.
No vote
Overtime Pay #1
4. House rejects effort to protect workers' overtime pay.
The UAW and the rest of the labor movement strongly opposed regulations proposed by the Department of Labor that would drastically alter the definitions of "executive," "administrative" and "professional" employees who are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requiring employers to provide overtime premium pay when employees work more than 40 hours in a week. These dangerous regulations would disqualify more than 8 million workers from overtime protections, undermining the 40-hour workweek and slashing paychecks. During consideration of the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill, Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., offered an amendment to block these anti-worker regulations. But the House rejected this labor-backed amendment by a vote of 210-213 (R 14-210; D 195-3; I 1-0) on July 10.
Brown supported the UAW position and voted yes
Overtime Pay #2
5. House backs second effort to protect overtime pay.
After the Senate approved the Harkin amendment blocking the Labor Department's overtime takeaway regulations, the UAW and other unions made an all-out effort to get the House to reverse its position and support this amendment. Specifically, we strongly supported a motion by Rep. Obey to instruct the House conferees on the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill to accept the Harkin amendment protecting workers' overtime pay. Thanks to a great grassroots lobbying campaign by UAW and other union activists, we were able to convince a number of GOP representatives to switch positions and vote in favor of blocking the overtime takeaway regulations. As a result, the House passed the Obey motion protecting overtime pay by a vote of 221-203 (R 21-201; D 199-2; I 1-0) on Oct. 2.
Brown supported the UAW position and voted yes
Medical Savings Accounts
6. House approves dangerous medical savings accounts.
The UAW and other progressive groups strongly opposed legislation providing tax incentives for employers to establish vastly expanded medical savings accounts, so long as they provide only "catastrophic," high-deductible health care coverage to their employees. This dangerous bill would undermine good comprehensive health care plans negotiated by the UAW and other unions, and would jeopardize health care coverage for millions of workers. Unfortunately, the House approved this legislation by a vote of 237-191 (R 222-2; D 15-188; I 0-1) on June 26.
Brown supported the UAW position and voted no
Medicare Prescription Drugs
7. House passes flawed Medicare Rx bill.
The UAW and other labor and senior groups strongly opposed a Medicare Rx bill crafted by GOP congressional leaders. This flawed bill provides only a meager Rx benefit, leaving seniors to shoulder heavy expenses for prescription drugs. In addition, the bill gives fewer benefits to retirees who currently have Rx coverage under plans sponsored by their former employers, thereby creating an incentive for employers to drop their Rx plans and make millions of retirees worse off. The legislation also privatizes the traditional Medicare program, threatening to destabilize health care coverage and drive up premiums for millions of seniors. And it establishes a budget cap on the overall Medicare program which will create great pressure for future benefit cuts. Despite these serious problems, which could make many seniors worse off, the GOP leaders twisted arms to push this bill through the House by a vote of 220-215 (204-25; D 16-189; I 0-1) on Nov. 22.
Brown supported the UAW position and voted no
GOP Budget
8. House approves unfair, irresponsible budget plan.
The UAW and other progressive groups strongly opposed the budget plan crafted by GOP congressional leaders. This unfair budget plan called for huge tax cuts skewed toward wealthy individuals. At the same time, it failed to provide adequate funding for critically important domestic programs, including Medicare, education, unemployment benefits and other programs that assist working families. Despite our opposition, the House approved this budget plan by a vote of 216-211 (R 216-7; D 0-203; I 0-1) on April 11.
Brown supported the UAW position and voted no
Bush Tax Cut
9. House passes misguided tax package.
The UAW vigorously opposed the misguided tax package crafted by President Bush and GOP congressional leaders. It provided huge new tax cuts for wealthy individuals. At the same time, it would exacerbate the enormous federal deficits, and jeopardize funding for critically important social programs, such as Medicare, education, and assistance to laid off workers. In addition, it would undermine prospects for economic growth. Nevertheless, the House passed this misguided tax package by a vote of 231-200 (R 224-1; D 7-198; I 0-1) on May 23.
Brown supported the UAW position and voted no
Estate Tax
10. House approves additional tax breaks for super rich.
Following enactment of the huge tax cuts for the rich at the end of May, House GOP leaders pushed new legislation to provide additional tax cuts for the richest families in our nation, by making permanent provisions repealing the estate tax. The UAW strongly opposed this irresponsible bill, which would aggravate our enormous budget deficits and benefit only a small number of super-rich families. But the House passed this legislation by a vote of 264-163 (R 223-4; D 41-158; I 0-1) on June 18.
Brown supported the UAW position and voted no
Bankruptcy
11. House approves anti-worker bankruptcy bill.
The UAW and a broad coalition of labor, women's and consumer groups opposed a terrible bankruptcy bill that would make it more difficult for working families who are experiencing financial difficulties to get relief through the bankruptcy system. This bill would tilt the bankruptcy process in favor of the banks and credit card companies, and against the interests of hard-pressed workers who have lost their jobs or been hit with high medical bills. Unfortunately, the House passed this terrible bill by a vote of 315-113 (R 225-0; D 90-112; I 0-1) on March 19.
Brown supported the UAW position and voted no
CAFE
12. House rejects excessive, discriminatory CAFE proposal.
During consideration of the comprehensive energy legislation, Reps. Sherwood Boehlert , R-N.Y., and Edward Markey, D-Mass., offered an amendment that would have required excessive, discriminatory increases in fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks. In our judgment, these increases were neither technologically or economically feasible. In addition, the structure of the increases would have imposed a much heavier burden on full-line producers. Because of these factors, the Boehlert-Markey amendment would have jeopardized the jobs of thousands of UAW members and other automotive workers. Thanks to our strong opposition, the House rejected this amendment by a vote of 162-268 (R 29-197; D 132-71; I 1-0) on April 10.
Brown bucked the UAW position and voted yes:
Electricity Deregulation
13. House passes anti-consumer electricity deregulation provisions.
The comprehensive energy legislation crafted by House Republicans contained anti-consumer provisions repealing the Public Utility Holding Company Act (PUHCA), and expanding the authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). In our judgment, these steps would compound the problems many states have been experiencing in recent years as a result of electricity deregulation. Instead of having stable and affordable electricity, consumers would be faced with the chaos of high prices and blackouts. With the support of the UAW and other labor and consumer groups, Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., offered an amendment to strike these anti-consumer electricity deregulation provisions. But the House rejected this amendment by a vote of 193-237 (22-204; D 170-33; I 1-0) on April 10. The House then went on to pass the overall energy bill, including the terrible electricity deregulation provisions.
Brown supported the UAW position and voted yes
In case you didn't catch it, Brown performed exactly the same. He supported every single UAW position except fuel efficiency standards for automobiles.
It begs the question, right? If that appears to be the one issue that Brown disagrees with UAW on, then what, if any, promises has Hackett made to secure the UAW endorsement?
Dems ought to know the answer to this, and frankly, the UAW members deserve an answer too. In my view, UAW has done a disservice to its members by pursuing a strategy of joining General Motors and others in opposing fuel efficiency. The country must reduce its dependence on oil and the UAW ought to be part of the solution.