How Kay Votes On: Union Issues

AFL-CIO

As the federation of America's unions, the AFL-CIO includes more than 13 million of America's workers in 60 member unions working in virtually every part of the economy. Their 2005 scorecard covered a broad spectrum of issues that included: class-action lawsuits, minimum wage, overtime wage protections, bankruptcy, Social Security, Medicaid, immigration, the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), energy, transit, the Roberts Supreme Court nomination and federal budget issues.

	109th, 1st Session (2005)  14%
	108th, 2nd Session (2004)   8%
	108th, 1st Session (2003)   0%
	107th, 2nd Session (2002)  23%
	107th, 1st Session (2001)  19%
	106th, 2nd Session (2000)   0%
	106th, 1st Session (1999)   0%
	105th, 2nd Session (1998)   0%
	105th, 1st Session (1997)   0%
	104th, 2nd Session (1996)   0%

Just look at all those zeroes. They really bring those "high points" down (she even broke 20% one year!), for a career score of 7.5%. That is not the score of a pro-worker, pro-union candidate.

IBEW

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) "represents approximately 750,000 members who work in a wide variety of fields, including utilities, construction, telecommunications, broadcasting, manufacturing, railroads and government." Their latest scorecard, for the 109th Congress, gives Sen. Hutchison an astounding 2% "lifetime" score.

AFSCME

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) also scores Senators. Their 2005 scorecard covered issues such as: labor lawsuits, livable wages, Medicaid, education funding, funding for "first responders" (e.g., police & fire personnel), and tax-cuts for upper-income Americans.

Below are the detailed scores for most of Sen. Hutchison's career, from AFSCME's scorecard archives. The AFSCME rates her "career cumulative record" as an abysmal 7%. 

	109th, 1st Session (2005)   0%
	108th, 2nd Session (2004)  14%
	108th, 1st Session (2003)  11%
	107th, 2nd Session (2002)  13%
	107th, 1st Session (2001)   0%
	106th, 2nd Session (2000)   0%
	106th, 1st Session (1999)   0%
	105th, 2nd Session (1998)  11%

Bottom Line

The unions shown here represent millions of American workers, trying their best to get by. These scores give an idea of whose side Sen. Hutchison is on: these workers, and workers like them across Texas and the U.S., or the powerful corporations that are making record profits off their labor. Notice that not one of these unions gives Kay Bailey Hutchison a career rating even in double digits. If you're a worker, Kay's not representing you.