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Hillary's Voting Record on Trade, Labor and Union Issues

By Jeralyn

Barack Obama is seeking to portray himself as the better candidate on issues pertaining to NAFTA, jobs, unions and labor.

For voters in Texas, Ohio and PA (it's too late for Wisconsin), I suggest you examine their voting records in the Senate on these issues. It's a far better yardstick than speeches. A good starting place: Progressive Punch.

Hillary Clinton's voting record during her seven years as U.S. Senator is 100% progressive on "Aid to Workers Negatively Impacted Upon by International Trade Agreements", on General Union Rights and on Outsourcing of American Jobs Overseas.

Barack Obama has no voting record on "Aid to Workers Negatively Impacted Upon by International Trade Agreements."

Here is Hillary's record on Preventing Workers' Rights From Being Eroded by International Trade Agreements. It is solidly progressive with the exception of two votes on one bill in 2002. [More...]

Hillary has a 100% progressive voting record on issues related to corporate subsidies and on housing. On these issues, she ranks as the number 1 progressive among all senators. (Added: Obama has the same ranking on these two issues.

Here is Barack Obama's voting record on Labor Rights. ( His actual votes here.)

Hillary is ranked as the 19th most progressive Senator with a 91.18% progressive voting record on these issues. Barack Obama is ranked 20th with a 90.91% voting record. She has seven years of Senate votes on these issues. Barack Obama has three.

It's just not true that he is a better candidate for these groups. They are very similar, only Hillary has the more established track record of fighting for them.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on February 21, 2008 (boomark / email).