I can’t say that I blame labor unions for putting more focus on gubernatorial races than senatorial ones. They don’t want the Democrats to lose their majority in the Senate, but they really don’t want to see Rick Scott, Tom Corbett, Paul LePage, Rick Snyder, John Kasich, or Scott Walker get reelected.
But it’s not a good omen for the Senate that labor is concentrating their firepower elsewhere. Kay Hagan, in particular, could use their help. But Hagan, probably figuring that she represents the least unionized state in the country, has earned the wrath of labor.
In a speech Monday to his union’s legislative conference, Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), said Sens. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) would not be receiving IAFF support in their reelection races this year.
The firefighters are angry about a December 2010 Senate vote on legislation that would have expanded collective bargaining rights for firefighters and police officers. The bill failed to move forward in a 55-43 vote, with Hagan and Warner joining the Republicans in voting against cloture.
Calling Hagan “one of our great double-crossers,” Schaitberger said, “she now has a tough reelection, and I have made her a promise, and one I plan to keep.”
“That is she won’t get one damn dime from this union. She won’t get one ounce of support,” said Schaitberger, who was then drowned out by applause from the crowd.
Sen. Hagan will be in tough fight in November and every vote counts, but she needs union organizers more than she needs union votes. She also doesn’t need firefighters saying “to hell with her.”
The thing is, her seat is one we really need to keep. These are six-year terms we’re talking about.
A six-year term is much shorter than an endless precedent.
should vote correctly and not in fear of Republican or media spin.
If we wanted a Senator voting like a Republican we would vote for them.
She made her bed, and now we all have to lie in it. A senator with some sense of responsibility would be nice.
Right on! That is exact phrase that came to my mind. Since my area is bluer than blue – My new strategy is to pick national one pol to support. This cycle it is Rob Zerban .
That’s just the thing. How many votes does she gain by sucking up to the plutocrats versus what she loses by kicking unions in the teeth?
I guess it sucks to be Kay Hagan. Maybe if she didn’t go around fucking with the people that vote for Democrats, she’d have their help and support.
We desperately need to keep the senate, but there must be consequences for votes like this or they will keep on doing it. Maybe next time they will think twice about voting to weaken unions.
They/we will just have to get them elected without the help of union organizing.
Getting through two tough years with narrow GOP control of the Senate might almost be worth it to end up with a Senate majority after 2016 that has fewer worthless pseudo-Dems. Almost.
In Illinois yesterday a private equity billionaire bought the GOP nomination for Gov with $6 million of his own money. That is a record for self-funding in Illinois for Gov and it was already surpassed with 7-8 months left to go. Rauner has plenty more to throw into his campaign and now the real battle starts.
Meanwhile the sitting Dem. Guv is much maligned in some measure because he is taking the flak for decades of fiscal irresponsibility committed by the legislature and previous Govs (2 behind bars).
Unions have been on the ball fighting back against Rauner already but they are outgunned money-wise. The only Senate candidate this year is Dick Durbin who will likely have no problems against his opponent.
I don’t know how much of the union support/money gets done at state levels vs. national level, but at least here, there are clear reasons why unions like AFSCME-31 and others are focused on the Gov and state contests. And if IL is any indicator resources allocated to win state offices won’t significantly hurt the current Senate races.
Hagen? She needs smarter handlers.
If they are depending on Moral Monday to deliver the votes for them without their shifting their policy positions, they are in for a rude surprise. As bad as Thom Tillis is, Hagen could blow it badly on turnout.
The Governor race is going to be really close, he barely escaped in 2010. Hopefully Senator Durbin helps him as much as possible since the Senator is fairly popular in the state.
It doesn’t matter what hot race brings in voters, getting voters to vote for the full ticket instead of splitting is often a lot easier sell. Focusing on those governors aids in pumping votes into the Senate race.
Focusing on capturing legislatures has even more benefits in creating coattails.
Anything that expands the geography beyond strongholds helps the Democrats. Contested races bring out voters.
In many respects, I’m glad Kay Hagan is on the Democratic side of the aisle in the Senate. But I can understand the firefighters’ upset when they consider just what kind of an ally Sen. Hagan has been for them in the Senate.
It’s not like the IAFF made an arbitrary decision based on what color dress Hagan wore to some occasion. There’s a definite vote, and a desired outcome they wanted. Hagan failed the IAFF on that vote; the IAFF will fail Hagan in her re-election campaign. Individual firefighters can get together to form their own unofficial group to support Hagan if they want. Or Hagan could promise to support the IAFF next time around and then deliver. But second chances are not guaranteed.
Reminds me of Blanche Lincoln……