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Individual liberty anywhere is a threat to the Progressive-Collectivist Cause everywhere.
Americans are leaving states with heavy union influence and choosing to live in "right-to-work" states with higher job growth where they cannot be forced to join a union as a condition of employment.(from washingtonexaminer.com)With the 2010 census, nine congressional seats will move to right-to-work states from forced unionization states.
But the Obama-controlled National Labor Relations Board isn't listening. It wants to do everything in its power to tilt the playing field toward unionization, even if it means lost jobs.
He was dubbed the accidental governor for a surprising victory that put him on the road to becoming the state's chief executive.(from argusleader.com)
But accident or not, Republican Gov. Mike Rounds has firmly established himself as one of the state's leading political figures. He turned an unexpected primary win in 2002 into two convincing general election victories. He remains popular with most residents - a feat in itself after eight years.His hand-picked successor, Lt. Gov. Dennis Daugaard, easily won the governor's race in November, evidence that Rounds himself might have won another term had constitutional limits not been in the way.
In a recent exit interview with South Dakota reporters, Rounds said he is happy the state has term limits for governors - though he doesn't support them for lawmakers.
Union activists are gearing up for an expected battle over legislation to make Maine what's known as a "right-to-work" state.(from mpbn.net)Enforced in 22 other states, right-to-work laws prohibit agreements between trade unions and private sector employers that make union membership and dues a condition of employment.
Such rules, say critics, make it harder for unions to organize, operate and collect dues.
But proponents say they also make states more attractive for business.
John C. Calhoun becomes the first U.S. Vice President to resign (1832)
Osceola leads his Seminole warriors in Florida into the Second Seminole War against the U.S. Army (1835)
The Endangered Species Act is passed in the U.S. (1973)
Senegalese Marxist group Reenu-Rew founds the political movement And-Jëf at a clandestine congress (1974)
President Barack Obama makes his first public remarks on the Christmas Day attempted bombing of Northwest Airlines Flight 253 (2009)
b: Woodrow Wilson (1856), Erich Mielke (1907); d: Victor Emmanuel III (1947)