And the Frontrunner for Idaho Hypocrites of the Year..

Anybody remember the closed primary debates, where folks like Senate Minority Leader Clint Stennett railed against the idea of having to declare a party being a violation of the right to a secret ballot?:

As an Idaho voter, you need to know that there’s a battle going on right now inside the GOP that would take away your right to privacy. It’s happening right here in Idaho, and it affects one of the most sacred places of government — the voting booth — where you make your choices behind a curtain of secrecy.

There’s a reason the secret ballot is treated with such care and reverence when you appear at your election poll. Our founding fathers had the wisdom to realize that only a secret ballot would render a true picture of the public will. If individuals had to show their marked ballot to the public, powerful politicians might use retribution or intimidation to change the outcome.

Of course, a closed Primary doesn’t violate the Secret ballot, because you  don’t disclose how you vote, only if you’re a Republican or not. Closed Primaries and party registeration are used in the majority of states.

Yesterday, in our state legislature, Senate Joint Memorial 102 came up in the legislature. This bill urges Idaho’s Congressional delegation to oppose the Employee Free Choice Act which would literally end secret ballot elections for forming unions. This would allow unions to form if a majority of workers fill out a card. This opens the door to intimidating workers into signing union cards, and allows unions to be formed with union lobbying and without workers being able to hear both sides on unionization.

If this were a primary, it’d be akin to candidates being able to go around with a few strong-armed buddies and collect cards from voters, and if they collect enough cards, they get nominated without an election.

Given that SJM102 would put the Idaho legislature on record as opposing such strong-arm tactics, you’d that Idaho Democrats would back it. You’d be wrong. All 7 Democrats, including Senator Stennett’s designated stand-in voted against instructing Idaho’s Congressional delegation to oppose Card Check.

So much for the sacred ballot, Democrats.