This is a happy day for the people of Libya who want to create a free and just society, Americans share their joy. The world is a better off without Gaddafi and his regime, but as the Libyan people rebuild their nation, it is essential that they construct a new government built upon the four pillars of a free and just society; the freedom of religion, the freedom of expression for men and women, private ownership of property and the fair administration of the rule of law. We must encourage the Libyan people to form their country with these four pillars firmly in its foundation.
Advancing a new freedom-to-work agenda for America (From The Washington Examiner)
Oct 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Advancing a new freedom-to-work agenda for America
The Washington Examiner
By George Allen
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Our Right-to-Work law is one of Virginia’s foundational strengths and competitive advantages. The laws that protect workplace Freedom have made Virginia one of the best places to start or grow a business, but not everyone sees things as we do.
This is especially true in Washington. Rather than recognizing the fact that Right-to-Work laws are good for everyone, President Obama’s administration and his allies seem bent on destroying them.
As I travel around Virginia, I am constantly reminded of the importance of our freedom to work. Virginians remind me about the companies that have relocated to or expanded in Virginia since we declared that “Virginia is Open for Business!” in 1994.
Others recall those 50,000 Virginians who have left the welfare rolls to find gainful employment. I often wonder how successful our economic development and ground-breaking welfare reform efforts would have been in a less job-friendly state.
These are not abstract concepts. These are real jobs created because Virginia respects and protects our Right to Work.
Through executive fiat and the intrusive action of the National Labor Relation Board (NLRB), the Obama administration and their congressional and big labor allies are waging war on private employers under the guise of protecting workers.
They believe that more regulation and government control will protect jobs, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Businesses create jobs when entrepreneurs believe that their anticipated return on investment outweighs the risks.
Over-regulation creates uncertainty and additional risk, which in turn stifles investment and diminishes job opportunities.
The threat to Virginia’s jobs from Washington is real, and it must be checked. From the President’s job-killing monstrous health-care dictates to his gigantic $1.5 trillion tax increase proposal and Executive Orders, bureaucracy and lawsuits trying to tell Boeing where it can build a business, the opponents of our freedom to work are seriously threatening.
That is why I have created a three-part Freedom to Work agenda that will 1) help America’s businesses create jobs; 2) save taxpayers money; and 3) protect the liberty of working men and women.
ICYMI: Advancing a new freedom-to-work agenda for America (From The Washington Examiner)
Oct 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 6, 2011
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
Advancing a new freedom-to-work agenda for America
From The Washington Examiner
By George Allen
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Our Right-to-Work law is one of Virginia’s foundational strengths and competitive advantages. The laws that protect workplace Freedom have made Virginia one of the best places to start or grow a business, but not everyone sees things as we do.
This is especially true in Washington. Rather than recognizing the fact that Right-to-Work laws are good for everyone, President Obama’s administration and his allies seem bent on destroying them.
As I travel around Virginia, I am constantly reminded of the importance of our freedom to work. Virginians remind me about the companies that have relocated to or expanded in Virginia since we declared that “Virginia is Open for Business!” in 1994.
Others recall those 50,000 Virginians who have left the welfare rolls to find gainful employment. I often wonder how successful our economic development and ground-breaking welfare reform efforts would have been in a less job-friendly state.
These are not abstract concepts. These are real jobs created because Virginia respects and protects our Right to Work.
Through executive fiat and the intrusive action of the National Labor Relation Board (NLRB), the Obama administration and their congressional and big labor allies are waging war on private employers under the guise of protecting workers.
They believe that more regulation and government control will protect jobs, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Businesses create jobs when entrepreneurs believe that their anticipated return on investment outweighs the risks.
Over-regulation creates uncertainty and additional risk, which in turn stifles investment and diminishes job opportunities.
The threat to Virginia’s jobs from Washington is real, and it must be checked. From the President’s job-killing monstrous health-care dictates to his gigantic $1.5 trillion tax increase proposal and Executive Orders, bureaucracy and lawsuits trying to tell Boeing where it can build a business, the opponents of our freedom to work are seriously threatening.
That is why I have created a three-part Freedom to Work agenda that will 1) help America’s businesses create jobs; 2) save taxpayers money; and 3) protect the liberty of working men and women.
###
I’ll be speaking with Rick & Jane at 8:50 am on 1070 AM WINA Charlottesville
Oct 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment
I’ll be speaking with Rick & Jane at 8:50 am on 1070 AM WINA Charlottesville about my new three-part Freedom to Work agenda which will ensure America’s businesses have every possible tool to create jobs. Click here to listen.
Unveiled “Freedom To Work Agenda” at Dynax America Tour
Oct 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
It was wonderful to be back at Dynax America Corporation this afternoon to unveil my Freedom to Work Agenda. This is a company that I spent much time recruiting to Virginia. The decision by Dynax to locate in Virginia highlighted the criteria that made Virginia “Open for Business” including our Right-to-Work laws, educated workforce, locational advantages, and strong, pro-growth climate. It is so heartening to see that Dynax is thriving and growing in the Roanoke Valley of Virginia.
Allen to unveil “Freedom to Work Act”
Richmond Times Dispatch
By Wesley Hester
October 5, 2011
Republican U.S. Senate candidate George Allen will today roll out his “Freedom to Work Act,” a three-pronged blueprint to free U.S. businesses of what he sees as onerous burdens imposed by the federal government.
Allen will unveil his plan at Botetourt County-based Dynax America Corp., a Japanese subsidiary that manufactures parts for automotive transmissions. Allen recruited the business to the state as governor in 1996.
The goals of the plan, Allen said Tuesday in an interview with The Times-Dispatch, are to “help businesses create jobs, save the taxpayers money and protect the liberty of working men and working women.”
The first tenet of the plan, “Freedom of Movement,” would strip the National Labor Relations Board of the power to order any employer to move, shut down, or transfer employment.
The proposal is aimed at the NLRB’s lawsuit against Boeing alleging that the aircraft company illegally shifted work from union plants in Washington state to a new non-union factory in South Carolina.
Allen called it “just a terrible lawsuit,” adding, “And that’s a threat to Virginia as well, being the furthest state north on the Eastern seaboard with a right-to-work law,” which he said is an enormous asset in attracting companies such as Dynax.
Allen’s plan would also seek to prohibit project labor agreement requirements on federal and federally assisted construction contracts, and repeal Davis-Bacon wage laws, which require that federal government construction contract workers be paid no less than the locally prevailing wages and benefits on similar projects.
In Botetourt, Allen outlines plan targeting labor union rules
Roanoke Times
By Katelyn Polantz
October 5, 2011
Gov. George Allen, who is seeking the Republican nomination to run for the U.S. Senate in 2012, announced a plan today to amend federal labor laws to prohibit compulsory union membership.
Allen, as part of a campaign stop at a Botetourt County auto parts plant, described his “Freedom to Work Act” agenda as one that will create jobs, save taxpayers money and “protect the liberty of working men and women.”
The former governor and one-term U.S. senator pushed three key ideas today:
Freedom of movement. Allen called for amending federal law to prohibit the National Labor Relations Board from ordering any employer to move, close or shut down equipment. It’s in response to the NLRB’s complaint filed against Boeing Co. that the airline manufacturer was transferring an assembly line from Washington state to South Carolina to punish union workers. A similar bill has been proposed by House Republicans.
Freedom to contract. Allen wants to reverse an executive order that requires Project Labor Agreement rules on federal and federally assisted construction contracts. Such agreements generally require unionized workers and union work rules.
Freedom of association. Aside from bringing Virginia’s right to work law to the federal level, Allen wants to mandate secret ballots for union organizing votes.
George Allen Unveils “Freedom To Work” Agenda
Oct 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 5, 2011
George Allen Unveils “Freedom To Work” Agenda
Henrico, VA –George Allen unveiled today, at Dynax America Corporation in Botetourt County, his new three-part “Freedom to Work” agenda to help businesses create jobs, save taxpayers money, and protect the liberty of every working man and woman in the Commonwealth.
Dynax Corporation was recruited and brought to Virginia in 1996 by then-Governor George Allen. The decision by Dynax to locate in Virginia highlighted the criteria that made Virginia “Open for Business” including our Right-to-Work laws, educated workforce, locational advantages, and strong, pro-growth climate.
“As Governor, I saw first-hand how our Right-to-Work law gives Virginia a crucial competitive economic advantage in encouraging investment and attracting new jobs to our Commonwealth. But today, through executive fiat and government intrusion, this Administration is waging war on private employers under the guise of protecting workers,” said George Allen. “With almost 14 million Americans out of work and many more who are underemployed, Washington is making it harder for job creators to expand and hire new workers while displaying open hostility to the Right-to-Work tradition and the laws in effect in 22 States, including Virginia.”
George Allen’s “Freedom to Work” agenda is made up of three major components: The Freedom of Movement, the Freedom to Contract, and the Freedom of Association.
- Freedom of Movement: Expressly protects the right of an employer to decide where to conduct business in the United States by amending the National Labor Relations Act to provide in law that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has no power to order any employer to move, shut down, or transfer employment. This will apply to any open complaint and ensures that no company or workers will be intimidated or threatened as was Boeing and its employees.
- Freedom to Contract: Promotes and ensures full, open competition on government-funded and assisted construction projects by restricting Project Labor Agreement (PLA) requirements on federal and federally-assisted construction contracts, reversing Executive Order 13502: Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects. It also prohibits federal agencies from discriminating against bidders for declining to adhere to anti-competitive and costly PLA agreements, and repeals the Depression-era Davis-Bacon wage laws that diminish competition and inflate costs taxpayers pay for construction when the federal government is involved.
- Freedom of Association: Protects the right of America’s working men and women to freely choose to join a union, or to choose not to join or pay union dues of fees by amending the National Labor Relations Act. It also ensures that union elections are open and fair by guaranteeing workers the opportunity to cast a secret ballot before a union can be organized.
“The threat to Virginia’s jobs from Washington is real and we must do everything we can to protect our competitive advantage for the creation of jobs and our economy,” continued Allen. “My three part ‘Freedom to Work’ agenda will work to unite Virginians and all Americans to help create more job opportunities, save the taxpayers money and advance liberty for all working men and women.”
The Freedom to Work Act complements George Allen’s Blueprint for America’s Comeback to further make sure America’s businesses have available every possible tool to create jobs.
For more details on the Freedom to Work Agenda click here: http://www.georgeallen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Freedom-to-Work-10-5-11.pdf
###
A-Team: Today George Allen will be announcing a major “Freedom to Work” agenda
Oct 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A-Team: Today George Allen will be announcing a major “Freedom to Work” agenda that will help create jobs, save taxpayers money and protect the rights of hard working men and women all across the Commonwealth.
Allen to unveil “Freedom to Work Act”
Richmond Times Dispatch
By Wesley Hester
October 5, 2011
Republican U.S. Senate candidate George Allen will today roll out his “Freedom to Work Act,” a three-pronged blueprint to free U.S. businesses of what he sees as onerous burdens imposed by the federal government.
Allen will unveil his plan at Botetourt County-based Dynax America Corp., a Japanese subsidiary that manufactures parts for automotive transmissions. Allen recruited the business to the state as governor in 1996.
The goals of the plan, Allen said Tuesday in an interview with The Times-Dispatch, are to “help businesses create jobs, save the taxpayers money and protect the liberty of working men and working women.”
The first tenet of the plan, “Freedom of Movement,” would strip the National Labor Relations Board of the power to order any employer to move, shut down, or transfer employment.
The proposal is aimed at the NLRB’s lawsuit against Boeing alleging that the aircraft company illegally shifted work from union plants in Washington state to a new non-union factory in South Carolina.
Allen called it “just a terrible lawsuit,” adding, “And that’s a threat to Virginia as well, being the furthest state north on the Eastern seaboard with a right-to-work law,” which he said is an enormous asset in attracting companies such as Dynax.
Allen’s plan would also seek to prohibit project labor agreement requirements on federal and federally assisted construction contracts, and repeal Davis-Bacon wage laws, which require that federal government construction contract workers be paid no less than the locally prevailing wages and benefits on similar projects.
Thank you to all the Pastors and Church leaders from across the Commonwealth that came to Lynchburg today!
Oct 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Thank you to all the Pastors and Church leaders from across the Commonwealth that came to Lynchburg today. We had an inspiring conversation about the future of our country and the importance of families. The family is the backbone of our society. It is the place where we learn right from wrong. It is where we learn about God, faith, honesty, work ethic and many other values. The health of our country is tied to the health of our families.
Politico: Senate Targets NLRB in spending bill
Sep 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The NLRB’s baseless lawsuit against Boeing is an assault on the freedom of movement of every American & undermines the competitive advantage of all Right-to-Work States, including Virginia. The NLRB has no justifiable reason to impede a company from hiring employees & operating in a Right-to-Work State. The Senate should pass this legislation quickly to prevent this from happening in the future & protect Virginia’s Right-to-Work law.
Senate Targets NLRB in spending bill
Politico
By David Rogers
September 20, 2011
Building on last week’s House vote, Republicans are now targeting the National Labor Relations Board budget in the Senate, hoping to win over two Democrats and attach a rider barring the agency from pursuing any order threatening Boeing’s new non-union 787 production line in South Carolina.
Given the stakes and narrow 16-14 Democratic majority in the Senate Appropriations Committee, labor is clearly anxious and mounted a last push Tuesday evening to secure its support before the scheduled committee meeting Wednesday.
Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), a member of the panel, told POLITICO that he is now “leaning toward” the GOP amendment but had yet to make a firm commitment. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), a second member and often a swing vote for Republicans, insisted he had no firm opinion on the issue. “It is a case of new impressions,” Nelson said.
As drafted by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), the amendment is clearly aimed at the Boeing case but written in such a generic fashion that it would impact the NLRB’s powers in other instances when employers are shown to have moved work from one facility to another to retaliate again workers for lawful union activities.
Boeing says now that it built the new facility in South Carolina for unrelated cost reasons, but the Chicago-based company is haunted by past public comments by its executives expressing concern over strikes and walkouts by unionized machinists working in the Seattle area. The record is such that the NLRB’s counsel found that Boeing’s decision to locate in South Carolina –a right-to-work state—constituted illegal retaliation against its union workers, and with 1,100 jobs at stake, the issue has become a cause célèbre, especially in the Southeast, against the labor board.
New York Times: No New F-16’s for Taiwan, but U.S. to Upgrade Fleet
Sep 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Taiwan is a free, resourceful, creative and steady ally. Moreover, Taiwan is a vibrant representative democracy who we should enable to defend itself. Taiwan wants to purchase American-made new F-16′s to replace aircraft much older than their pilots. It makes sense for American jobs and our friend’s security that we allow Taiwan to purchase these important air defense assets.
No New F-16’s for Taiwan, but U.S. to Upgrade Fleet
The New York Times
By MARK LANDLER
September 18, 2011
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration has decided not to sell F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan but instead to help it refurbish its existing fleet, prompting criticism in Congress that the United States is buckling to pressure from China.
The decision, which could be announced as early as this week and was shared with Congressional staff members on Friday, is a consolation prize for Taiwan, which wanted to buy 66 F-16’s to replace jets it bought in 1992 during the administration of President George H. W. Bush.
The administration’s calculation, people briefed on the decision said, is that upgrading the old jets would allow Taiwan to defend itself but would avoid opening a major rift with China, which regards Taiwan as a breakaway province and opposes any arms sales to the country.
That reasoning does not satisfy Taiwan’s supporters in Congress. “If the reports are true,” Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas, said in a written statement on Friday, “today’s capitulation to Communist China by the Obama administration marks a sad day in American foreign policy, and it represents a slap in the face to a strong ally and longtime friend.”
Mr. Cornyn and Senator Robert Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey, introduced legislation last week requiring the United States to sell Taiwan the F-16’s under a 1979 law that requires Washington to provide the island with arms sufficient to defend itself.
Production of the F-16 generates hundreds of jobs in Texas, where the jets are assembled, and in New Jersey. Mr. Cornyn noted that the sale would provide jobs for “an American workforce that desperately needs them.”
