I read with interest the Dec. 17 guest editorial from the Freedom Foundation accusing three respected Republican state senators of a “thinly veiled attempt” to unfairly support working people by opposing a case now pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Freedom Foundation is off base. It is the height of hypocrisy for them to attack Sens. Pam Roach, Don Benton and Mark Miloscia for supporting the ability of working people to join together with others to win better wages and benefits that can sustain their families – and win improvements on the job to make their work more effective.
Roach, Benton and Miloscia together have advocated for responsible budgets, and government accountability, efficiency and reform. True conservatives, they see that public servants need to be part of that process to suggest real solutions.
Roach, Benton and Miloscia have stayed true to their core conservative values. Unlike the Freedom Foundation, which changed its name and its mission and lost its way. It’s become the Evergreen State’s local branch of the network of wealthy, out-of-state, self-serving special interests that preach “freedom” but really are about dismantling the ability of working people to get ahead with a strong voice through a union if they choose.
I am a member of a union of public servants. My union gives me a voice and a way to solve problems. These unions are a way to join the voices of dedicated public servants to ensure quality services for children, the elderly, the abused; to keep state colleges like Green River College great places for students to get an education; to keep the mountain passes clear in winter; and more.
Our ability to speak up together at the bargaining table benefits all taxpayers and defends them against the greed of the Freedom Foundation and their wealthy backers. The efforts of senators like Roach, Benton and Miloscia and public sector unions ensure we attract and keep good workers to serve the public.
As America’s economy has swung out of balance, the Freedom Foundation instead wants to outsource jobs overseas and oppose reasonable pay raises for public servants like firefighters, police and nurses.
The Freedom Foundation instead should embrace the true conservative values of the three senators who supported public servants before the Supreme Court. As the senators said when they joined other Republicans in signing the “amicus” brief, it’s about “effective and efficient state government services through the work of public employees.”
– Sue Henricksen
