Wee hours House debate on child care unionization, but still no vote
The Star Tribune reports that although the Minnesota House spent seven hours debating the bill to allow child-care providers and home-care workers to vote on unionization, the issue was not resolved. The paper reports that the House laid the bill on the table and adjourned in the wee hours of the Saturday night-Sunday morning session.
The House returns to the chamber at noon. The debate on the controversial bill will resume at some point today or Monday. The session must end by midnight Monday.
The issue brought lawmakers, lobbyists and child-care providers to the Capitol Saturday. Supporters and opponents of the proposal filled the Rotunda Saturday and made a clamoring case for their views. The Duluth News Tribune has a story about the personal stakes for each side, for and against unionization.
The proposal would allow child-care and home-health workers to vote on whether to join a union, which could add some 20,000 dues-paying members. The Star Tribune says many consider it the most consequential vote of the session, with more ramifications than the vote to legalize same sex marriage.
GOP lawmakers are saying the measure is political payback for unions that donated to DFL candidates and issues in 2012. Supporters, mostly DFLers, say the bill does not require unionization, but merely gives workers the right to vote. Opponents promise their day in court if the bill passes.
Just for fun, here's what "issue ads" used to look like 30 years ago:
