CLEVELAND, November 5 — The BLET’s worker-friendly legislative and political agenda will remain on track in spite of a shift in power following the November 2 mid-term elections.
The Republicans won back control of the U.S. House of Representatives, which had been controlled by the Democrats since 2006, by a margin of 239 to 187 (with 9 races still undecided at press time). The Republicans gained at least 60 seats and will have a majority of at least 43 seats.
In spite of this shift in power, BLET National President Dennis Pierce remained confident that the BLET’s agenda would remain on track.
“The BLET has cultivated friends on both sides of the aisle over the years. We will continue to work to get legislation meaningful to BLET members passed, and we will work to stop legislation harmful to BLET members by using the relationships we’ve built both with Democrats and Republicans,” President Pierce said. “We have friends on both sides of the aisle. What matters is who will work with us on our agenda and help us get each of our members safely home every day.”
Among the seats the Republicans won were those held by several prominent Democrats, including Ike Skelton (Mo.), John Spratt (S.C.), and James Oberstar (Minn.). Representative Oberstar served as the Chairman of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and was a powerful ally for rail labor on the committee. He had served 18 terms in Congress and had worked on the committee as a staff person prior to being elected to Congress.
“The loss of Chairman Oberstar was surprising,” BLET Vice President & National Legislative Representative John Tolman said. “He had served as an advocate for our issues on the T&I committee, and his influence and expertise in the Congress on transportation issues was unparalleled.”
In the Senate, Democrats will retain control, but by a smaller margin than they held previously. Thirty seven seats were up for election this year, and the margin is now 53 to 46, (two independents – counted with the party with whom they caucus) and the Alaska race still undecided. Just as in the past two elections, there was significant turnover in the Senate, and 40 percent of Senators are currently serving in their first term.
“Prior to the election, it was difficult to get any legislation on the President’s desk for his signature because legislation would pass in the House and get held up in the Senate,” Vice President Tolman said. “Now, with the margin in the Senate even closer and Republicans in control of the House, most observers are expecting complete gridlock.”