VA: House Panel Reject Kaine Nominee for Cabinet Post

[rucky]

House panel rejects Kaine nominee for cabinet post
By WARREN FISKE, The Virginian-Pilot
© March 8, 2006
Last updated: 11:40 PM

RICHMOND — House Republicans on Tuesday rejected Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s nomination of former labor leader Daniel LeBlanc to be secretary of the commonwealth, marking the first time legislators have denied a governor an appointee to his Cabinet.

LeBlanc was defeated i n a party-line 55-42 vote with Republicans saying the former president of the state AFL-CIO could not be trusted to protect Virginia’s right-to-work law, which bars compulsory union membership.

Kaine, a Democrat, was visibly angered during a meeting with reporters. He noted that none of the House’s complaints against LeBlanc were shared by the Senate, which confirmed the nominee by a 40-0 vote late last month.

“I view it as not just an affront to me and the Senate and to Danny,” Kaine said, “but I view it as basically spitting in the face of regular people, regular working people, who had Danny as their champion.” ...

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/print.cfm?story=100754&ran=229945

[barbaraann]

1. Not "spitting in the face of regular people"--

more like blasting them in the face with a shotgun.

[Journeyman]

2. Come now, barbaraann. . . no one ever does anything like that. . .

(no one sober)

[BR_Parkway]

3. But "the Executive deserves his nominee" has been the ReThug cry in DC

for the past 5 years - obviously they didn't get the message in VA

[Toucano]

11. Yes, "He won the election!" has been the mantra.

More Republican double-talk.

[annabanana]

4. I fear that Kaine is in for a bumpy ride...

until some more Dems can get in there to help...

[Divernan]

5. There MUST be a way around this -

Leave the post of Secretary vacant, and appoint LeBlanc as "acting" Secretary, or hire LeBlanc as the top civil servant in the same Dept., or a recess appointment like bush always does. Take the Bush approach - just get the man in the top position, whatever you have to call the position, and let him start working. If the GOP wants to challenge it, let them go to court, and then that can be tied up for years. Put the man in place and put the burden on the GOP to get him out. If the GOP succeeds in court against however the Governor puts LeBlanc in, then the Governor turns right around and puts LeBlanc in under another title. Bush has broken the ground for doing administratively what used to be done only with legislative approval.

[LostinVA]

6. He can't hire LeBlanc as a State employee

ie civil servant. There's a specific protocol for this -- the Governor has zero input in the State classified system. It's illegal.

[Divernan]

7. OK - then declare an emergency power cause of "terraism"

Or start vetoing every piece of legislation which originated in the State House of Reps. Time to show some wrath from the Governor's office.

[underpants]

8. F**kin'Republicans

First of all the Senate Republicans have proposed the same gas tax increases as Kaine it's just that no one mentions that in the press and the message is getting out to the populace that it is all Kaine's idea. Everyone agrees on what needs to be done but the House Republicans are acting like there is some other magical choice.

Second- The Governor can't just wave a magic wand and end the "right to work" regulations in this state it will require legislative action. The GA is under Republican control.

This whole thing is ridiculous.

[depakid]

9. Welp- maybe the Dems ought to take a look at that

Maybe they'd understand why it's so utterly stupid to alienate your base and vote for EVERY SINGLE RIGHT WING EXTREMIST who's even nominated.

There's a reason why the Dems have lost 6 straight congressional elections- and every single issue that comes before them. It's to the point where they're no longer even relevant in national politics- and now the far right is taking it to them in the states.

I don't see this changing anytime soon.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

10. Yet a CEO has no problem enforcing the right to assembly.

Or a Mine Boss observing mine safety.
Or Oil Execs looking out for the consumer.
Or... ad nauseum.

[maxrandb]

12. House panel rejects Kaine nominee for cabinet post (War on Unions)

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=100754&ran=229945&tref=po

For the first time in the history of Virginia's cabinet system, a Goveror's nominee was rejected on a STRAIGHT PARTY LINE vote. I guess if you are in a Union, or if you represent everyday WORKING CLASS AMERICANS, you are "persona non grata" to the Repukes. What was LeBlanc's crime? He led the AFL-CIO.

Can anyone say "General Strike"?. This is how they play the game folks. Retribution, intimidation, "corporatation" and corruption. Can't have those "uppity" workers forgeting their place.

I'm just "blanking" livid. My Grandfather worked in the coal-mines in Corning, OH and fought to organize. If it weren't for folks like him, the miners would still be taking a canary with them into the shaft. I hope this wakes up the sleeping giant that is the American worker. Here's a clue, the Republicans don't give a shit about you. For them, it's all about putting more money in folks like Sam Walton's hands.

from the article:

"RICHMOND — House Republicans on Tuesday rejected Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s nomination of former labor leader Daniel LeBlanc to be secretary of the commonwealth, marking the first time legislators have denied a governor an appointee to his Cabinet.

LeBlanc was defeated in a party-line 55-42 vote with Republicans saying the former president of the state AFL-CIO could not be trusted to protect Virginia’s right-to-work law, which bars compulsory union membership.

Kaine, a Democrat, was visibly angered during a meeting with reporters. He noted that none of the House’s complaints against LeBlanc were shared by the Senate, which confirmed the nominee by a 40-0 vote late last month.

-snip-

“The bottom line that everyone can be around the table except someone who bears a union card or someone who fights for the least among us is abhorrent to me,” Kaine said. Kaine portrayed the House GOP as out of step with Virginia on transportation and LeBlanc. “I think they’re going to regret it because we’ve been able to accomplish a lot of good things in Virginia working in a bipartisan way,” he said.

------------------------------------------------------------
It's pretty obvious isn't folks? They don't want the average Joe American to have any power.

[pberq]

13. K&R - unfortunate but true

[abluelady]

14. I tell myself every day

I don't live in a red state; I live in a purple state. But some days it is harder than others. Today is one of them.

[xchrom]

15. does the governor have such a thing as a recess appointment option?

it would serve the repukes right if he did.

but other wise -- yes, repukes hate unions.

and yes -- repukes hate working class people.

[maxrandb]

17. Repukes HATE working class people

but some stupid Joe Six-Pack working at Ford will vote Repuke because, "hey, at least gays can't get married".

Wake the fuck up people. They throw a Bible in your face, while they pick your pocket.

[xchrom]

19. god, guns and gays!

never mind you can't get raise because some poor worker in china will do it cheaper and our reps think that's good for us.

[cantstandbush]

16. We are fast becoming like Poland under Reagan era.

What country will take up our cause and support our unions? We know the answer: no government in power in the world today gives a damn about unions. "There are no nations, just corporations."

[maxrandb]

18. It just makes me so angry my hair hurts

My grandfather busted his ass on the railroad and in the coal-mines. His hands were broken and callused by hour upon hours of back-braking work. He died at a young age from what my grandmother called "Black Lung Desease". He fought in WWI and was a "Great American"

Because he was Union through and through, he would not be able to have a seat at the Republican table. This was a Great Man!!! but to spineless little weasle like Boortz and Limbaugh and Hannity, and the "effing" Republican Party...he's a socialist.

"General Strike" - is it time???