Republicans seek to scrap labor committee
Senate Republican leaders have proposed eliminating the Legislature's labor committee and putting labor issues under the Business, Research and Economic Development Committee, raising the opposition of Democrats and union officials.
Sen. Kevin Raye, R-Perry, the incoming Senate president, said merging business and work force issues under one committee would result in better economic development policies and job creation, as well as reduce staffing costs, according to Capitol News Service. Republicans sought to make the change part of the rules adopted by the Legislature today, opening day of the session, but minority leaders urged that the change be taken up by the Joint Select Committee on Rules and voted on by the full Legislature instead, according to the Maine Public Broadcasting Network. The rules committee is scheduled to take up the matter on Dec. 14.
Rep. Emily Cain, D-Orono, incoming House minority leader, said the merger would "minimize" the importance of labor issues, according to Capitol News Service, and union officials expressed concern it could lead to weaker labor laws, according to MPBN. The Maine Women's Lobby, Maine People's Alliance, Maine AFL-CIO and other groups have opposed the proposal. The labor committee was established in 1887 and deals with laws related to pay equity, medical leave, minimum wage, workers compensation and others, according to MPBN.
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