PA- 15th Congressional candidate Sam Bennett wants labor support
October, 2007 edition of the Union News
Congressional candidate Sam Bennett wants labor support
By PAUL TUCKER
[email protected]
REGION, September 13th- Sam Bennett, Democratic United States House of Representatives 15th District candidate, told the newspaper she wants to represent the working people and their unions in Washington beginning in 2009.
According to Ms. Bennett two term incumbent Republican Congressman Charles Dent has not supported the working people in the Lehigh Valley since being in Washington. She told the newspaper, Mr. Dent has shown what he thinks of the labor community by voting against the Employee Free Choice Act, which passed the House of Representatives in March 241-185. The legislation would replace how union elections are conducted in workplaces with a “card check” system. Despite being passed by the House of Representatives the legislation failed to become law.
Ms. Bennett also pointed out that Congressman Dent voted against raising the federal minimum wage.
Interviewed by telephone, Ms. Bennett stated organized labor has already got involved with her political campaign for Congress for 2008. All 435 United States House of Representatives two-year terms will expire in 2008.
“Charlie can be beat. I want to represent the working people in Washington, he won’t and never has,” said Ms. Bennett.
In the previous edition of the newspaper it was reported Pennsylvania Senator 18th Legislative District, Democrat Lisa Boscola, is putting some serious consideration into running for Mr. Dent’s seat in 2008. “He is beatable. Since being in Washington he has voted against the working people more than he voted to support them,” said Ms. Boscola.
Ms. Boscola told the newspaper if she decides to challenge Mr. Dent, she too will ask the labor community for their support.
According to Bill Newhard, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of the Lehigh Valley labor federation and Business Manager and Principal Officer of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Union Local 375, Allentown, which represents workers employed in the electrical construction industry, his union and many of the 20 affiliated building trade unions of the labor federation, have contributed to Sam Bennett’s 2008 campaign, and plans to ask their members to vote for her in next years election.
Mr. Newhard added however, Lisa Boscola has a great relationship with the members of the construction trade unions, and the unions may “reuvaluate” their position should Senator Boscola decide to enter the race.
Sam Bennett believes as does Ms. Boscola, Congressman Dent has been a “rubber stamp” for President Bush. “He promised to be a moderate, but he almost always votes to support President Bush and his anti-union conservative policies,” said Ms. Bennett.
“Charlie Dent is vulnerable. He doesn’t represent the thinking of the working people in the Lehigh Valley,” said Ms. Bennett.
Congressman Dent has no intention of conceding the labor vote to the Democratic party nominee, said Shawn Millan, Campaign Manager of Dent for Congress. “No way are we conceding any votes. The congressman may disagree with some of the positions unions have, but also he agrees with them on issues as well,” said Mr. Millan.