VA Republicans Scuttle Leblanc Appointment
Monday, March 13, 2006(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
Last week's decision by
Virginia's Republican-controlled House of Delegates and Republican caucus to
deny former AFL-CIO state federation President Daniel LeBlanc the appointment to
Governor Kaine's cabinet for the Secretary of the Commonwealth was "mean
spirited and petty, and shows just how much these leaders fear the power of
Virginia's working men and women," said James R. Leaman, President of the
Virginia AFL-CIO. "Working families put Governor Kaine into office because they
wanted a leader who will fight for their best interests, and the Republican-led
Virginia House is clearly fighting back on behalf of corporate and anti-worker
interests," added Leaman. "Their decision is tantamount to saying that there's
no real place at the table for the working men and women of Virginia, who will
be keeping a close eye on elected leaders' decisions and will hold them
accountable on election day."