CEI - Tell Americans NOW How Much Time Govt. Workers Spend On Union Duties

Analysts Say ‘Official Time’ Costs Taxpayers $155 million; Call For Release of OPM Report

 

Washington, D.C., Dec. 6, 2012 – Federal employees spent about 3.4 million hours performing union duties while on the clock in 2011, according to an unreleased Office of Personnel Management (OPM) report made public in a November 26 Federal Times article. This amount of time, referred to as “official time,” cost the federal government $155 million. It represents an 11 percent increase in the amount of official time in 2010.

This information comes from leaks inside the administration. Labor policy analysts at the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) say it’s time for OPM Director John Berry to expedite release of the OPM report, which details the increase in official time.

“President Obama brags he has put in place the ‘toughest transparency rules of any administration in history,'” said Matt Patterson, director of CEI’s Labor Project. “Yet this OPM report remains unavailable for public scrutiny.

“Voters and their elected representatives deserve a full accounting of how tax dollars are being used to subsidize Big Labor, the leaders of which have been among President Obama’s most ardent supporters.”

Patterson commended the efforts of U.S. Reps. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., and Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., who issued a letter to Berry on Nov.  30 that stated: "[W]e feel that it is imperative for Congress and the American public to have access to timely and accurate official time reports."

No one disputes the right for workers to form a union, Patterson emphasized. “But when unions use the government to secure for themselves privileged status and perks, when they use the levers of power to funnel public money into their private coffers, they break a sacred covenant of free government, which works only when and if the law is applied equally and to all."

> Read more about official time on CEI’s OpenMarket blog.

 

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CEI is a non-profit, non-partisan public policy group dedicated to the principles of free enterprise and limited government.  For more information about CEI, please visit our website, cei.org, and blogs, Globalwarming.org and OpenMarket.org.  Follow CEI on Twitter! Twitter.com/ceidotorg.

Maggie Hassan Endorsed by the New Hampshire Police Association

New Hampshire’s Police Officers Say Hassan Has Right Priorities for Public Safety  

MANCHESTER – Citing her strong record on issues important to law enforcement and her commitment to public safety, the New Hampshire Police Association endorsed Maggie Hassan for Governor today.

“After listening to and evaluating the records of both candidates for governor, in addition to what the New Hampshire Police Association feels is best not only for the members of its association, but NH’s Law Enforcement community in general, the New Hampshire Police Association is proud to endorse Maggie Hassan for Governor because we know that she has the right priorities and is committed to working with law enforcement to keep New Hampshire safe for our families,” said Sergeant David Young, President of the New Hampshire Police Association.

“Maggie Hassan has a strong record of working to keep New Hampshire the safest state in the nation and fighting to pass legislation that helps protect all of our families,” Young said.

“It is an honor to receive the endorsement of the New Hampshire Police Association,” said Hassan.  “As governor, I will continue working closely with New Hampshire law enforcement to keep our communities safe and keep our state moving forward."

Hassan is the clear choice for New Hampshire public safety, having also been endorsed by the New Hampshire Troopers’ Association, the Manchester Police Patrolman’s Association, the Concord Police Patrolmen’s Association, and the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire. As a leader in the State Senate, Hassan worked to pass the toughest law in the nation to protect children from sexual predators; to increase the number of state troopers; and to establish a Reverse 911 system that allows law enforcement to notify citizens of an emergency.

Ovide Lamontagne has said New Hampshire needs a governor who will work with Speaker Bill O’Brien. Under Bill O’Brien’s leadership the House has cut funding for the Children in Need of Services Program, which helps keep young people from landing in prison; allowed guns in the State House; and passed – over Gov. John Lynch’s veto – a bill that allows people to open fire in public, even if there are safer options. They have also proposed to end all gun licensing and even to allow guns in courthouses and college dorm rooms.

Maggie Hassan Endorsed by NH Troopers’ Association

Hassan the Troopers  Choice for Improving Public Safety

CONCORD – The New Hampshire Troopers' Association Endorsed Maggie Hassan for governor today, calling her the only choice for governor when it comes to improving the safety of New Hampshire’s communities.

“Maggie Hassan has the trust of law enforcement because she has a record of standing up for public safety and supporting policies that help us protect New Hampshire’s communities,” said Seth Cooper, President of the New Hampshire Troopers’ Association.  “Maggie is our choice for improving public safety and the New Hampshire Troopers’ Association is proud to endorse her for governor.”

Hassan has also been endorsed by the Manchester Police Patrolman’s Association, the Concord Police Patrolmen’s Association, and the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire. As a leader in the State Senate, Hassan worked with public safety officials on critical priorities, including creating a death benefit for first responders killed in the line of duty, directing the Department of Safety to develop a reverse 911 system so that first responders can reach citizens in an emergency, strengthening domestic violence laws, and working with Governor John Lynch to pass one of the toughest laws in the nation to protect children from sexual predators.

“There is no more important job for a governor than ensuring the safety of New Hampshire residents, and it is an honor to receive the endorsement of the New Hampshire Troopers’ Association,” said Hassan. “As governor, I will build on the foundation set by Governor Lynch, working closely with law enforcement to improve public safety and keep New Hampshire moving forward.”

In contrast, Ovide Lamontagne has been a vocal supporter of the current legislature and its policies, which are making it harder for law enforcement to keep New Hampshire safe, including passing an “Open Fire” law that allows people to open fire on public streets, even when there are safer options and decimating funding for the Children in Need of Services program that allows parents and law enforcement to intervene and help a child before they begin engaging in criminal activities. They have also proposed eliminating all gun licensing, and even allowing guns in college dorm rooms.

New Hampshire Troopers Association to Endorse Maggie Hassan

CONCORD – The New Hampshire Troopers Association will endorse Maggie Hassan for Governor at a press conference at 11 AM on Tuesday at the organization’s headquarters located at 107 North State St.

Hassan has also been endorsed by the Manchester Police Patrolman’s Association, the Concord Police Patrolmen’s Association, and the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire. As a leader in the State Senate, Hassan worked with public safety officials on critical priorities, including creating a death benefit for first responders killed in the line of duty, directing the Department of Safety to develop a reverse 911 system so that first responders can reach citizens in an emergency, strengthening domestic violence laws, and working with Governor John Lynch to pass one of the toughest laws in the nation to protect children from sexual predators.

Also tomorrow, Hassan will discuss her “Innovate NH” jobs plan to help businesses grow during a visit to Velcro Industries’ Manchester Facility, where she will tour their facilities and meet with Velcro USA Inc. executives.

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WHAT:            Maggie Hassan to Tour Velcro Industries’ Manchester Facility

WHEN:            TOMORROW, Tuesday, October 22, 9:30 AM

WHERE:           406 Brown Avenue, Manchester, NH 03103

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WHAT:            New Hampshire Troopers Association to Endorse Maggie Hassan for Governor

WHEN:            TOMORROW, Tuesday, October 22, 11:00 AM

WHERE:           107 North State St., Concord

Free film at Red River Theater on private prisons

On Oct. 23 NH Prison Watch will be screening “Billions Behind Bars: Inside America’s Prison Industry,” a documentary that explores the multi-million dollar private prison economy.

The screening is at Red River Theatre in Concord, starting with a reception at 6 p.m. The screening begins at 7 and will be followed by a panel discussion. Seating is limited; please RSVP to Beth D’Ovidio at 271-3411, ext. 105 or bdovidio@seiu1984.org  by Oct. 19.

To learn more about the prison privatization issue in N.H., you can visit www.nhprisonwatch.org.

And if you think the idea of privatizing prisons is wrong for N.H., you can sign a petition at http://1984.seiu.org/page/s/privatizing-state-prisons-is-wrong-for-nh.