Theres no doubt Floridas business community holds a lot of sway when it comes to electing the states next governor. Associated Industries of Florida boasts the most powerful business lobby in the state and the Florida Chamber of Commerce claims the largest membership with 139,000 businesses in its group.
One issue important to both of them, affecting endorsements and fund-raising for the candidates, is the Employee Free Choice Act, or card-check.
Card-check is currently being considered in Congress. It was co-sponsored by Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and is expected to be taken up by the Senate this fall. The bill would change the way unions can organize by getting rid of the secret-ballot system and allowing businesses with as few as 10 employees to become unionized.
Many in the business community worry that getting rid of the secret ballot would allow unions to intimidate employees, essentially checking their cards while voting.
AIF president Barney Bishop says thats one of the major reasons they are not endorsing Alex Sink, even though shes described herself as a business-friendly Democrat.
Shes a business person who just happens to be a Democrat, said Bishop. And that dog just ain't going to hunt.
Bishop says one of his primary concerns with Sink is that she will side with Congress and the White House when it comes to the union-favored card-check legislation.
Sink is in bed with Obama and Bill Nelson and shes not going to be favorable with the business community, Bishop said. If [card-check] passes Its going to kill the golden goose of the private enterprise system.
The Florida Chamber has also come out in strong opposition to the bill. Edie Ousley, a spokesperson for the group, says that bill --as proposed --works against the best interests of Floridas economy, and the businesses that drive it.
The chamber is opposed to any law that seeks to eliminate workers' rights to cast a secret ballot when it comes to unionization, she said.
If [the Employee Free Choice Act] were to pass, it would negatively affect an employers ability to keep the doors open and their ability to create jobs, said Ousley.
Though the card-check issue has been brought up in the Florida Legislature before, the Sink campaign avoided taking a direct stance by suggesting it's not a state issue.
"This is a federal issue," said Sink's campaign spokesperson, Kyra Jennings. "Alex Sink supports policies that ensure neither party is taken advantage of and there is fairness for both businesses and workers."
The chambers board of directors is in the process of vetting both Rick Scott and Alex Sink to decide who they will endorse. They expect to make a decision on endorsing Sink or Scott within the next couple of weeks.
Lane Wright can be reached at lane@sunshinestatenews.com or 561-247-1063.
