Leaders at an association of big-business CEOs gave a cool reception to Scott Walker’s campaign proposal for overhauling union laws, suggesting that such reforms are better left to the states.
“This is one of those issues that’s been handled at the state level pretty effectively,” said John Engler, head of the Business Roundtable and former governor of Michigan. “I understand Gov. Walker wanting to make a national proposal out of this, but frankly there are so many priorities at the national level and the states are doing good on this one, let them keep at it.”
Engler, whose organization represents hundreds of CEOs, cited the passage of right-to-work laws in Michigan and elsewhere as evidence that Walker’s plan for a national right-to-work reform should not be a priority at the federal level.
“I really would like to see Congress work on the priorities that only Congress can do,” Engler said. “The states can’t fix the federal tax code. The states can’t negotiate trade deals. The states can’t rein in regulatory overeach.”
Walker, who signed a right-to-work law in his own state of Wisconsin this year, on Monday unveiled a proposal to eliminate most privileges unions have under federal law and prevent federal workers from collective bargaining.
The move was seen as a bid to regain momentum for his presidential campaign, which has seen declining poll numbers in recent weeks. Yet big business, at least, may not be impressed even if they are sympathetic.
Higher on the list of their priorities is lower tax rates for businesses.
“We’ve been very consistent at the top of the list is … tax reform and getting a competitive tax rate on businesses on the United States of America,” said Randall Stephenson, the chairman and CEO of AT&T who is serving as the chairman of the Business Roundtable.
