Let the veto stand — Page 1 — TimesUnion.com
Allowing day care providers bargaining status with the state would set the wrong precedent

At a time when no spending initiative seems to be too extravagant for state lawmakers, Gov. Pataki has taken a principled stand in vetoing a bill that would swell the ranks of unionized public employees by 52,000 overnight. But now state lawmakers are coming under pressure from supporters of the measure, mostly unions, to override the veto. If they have any sense of fiscal responsibility, they will say no. Enough is enough.

The legislation at issue has what many consider a worthy purpose. It would enable home-based day care providers to negotiate with the state for better salaries and benefits, through unions such as the United Teachers Federation and the Civil Service Employees Association. Providers would qualify to participate if they receive any of their income from public money, usually in the form of subsidies that help welfare recipients afford child care.

But if these private workers want to become part of a union, even if only for bargaining purposes, there’s a standard procedure for doing so. That is, they can reach out to union officials or, as more often occurs, the unions can try to organize them. The bill Mr. Pataki vetoed would save the unions the trouble, however, by having the state do the organizing for them.

As Mr. Pataki noted in his veto message, the bill would “inappropriately create an artificial framework whereby such providers are deemed to be state employees, despite the fact that the state is not their employer.” And, as Mr. Pataki also noted, the measure might well jeopardize the $300 million that the state receives in federal day care subsidies.

The Business Council, which opposes the measure, warns that creating a new class of public employees could cost taxpayers $74 million. Meanwhile, the New York Public Welfare Association warns that the measure could shift liability for accidents to the counties, and taxpayers.

But the larger reason for upholding this veto is one of precedent. Until now, unions have organized workers on their own, which is as it should be. The state should not do that for them, overnight, and with no telling at what cost.

What we do not need is 52,000 more state employees with pensions, healthcare, and the strong arm tactics of the unions and politicians that jump for every dollar donated to their warchests, or should I say their slush fund.

This is just an unbelievable piece of legislation, it truly is. If they override the veto we may as well hang it up. It will be proof positive that the unions are pulling the strings and I mean all the strings of every legislator that votes to override this.