Another Look at Presidential Politics–Predictions for the Workplace–Huckabee

On January 3, 2008, a post titled “Presidential Politics–Predictions for the Workplace” summarized the views of several presidential candidates on labor and employment issues.  In today’s post, I’ll take another look at former Arkanasas Governor Mike Huckabee.  Please review the 1-3-08 post as it relates to Huckabee (click here), since I will try not to be repetitive.  Also, take a look at the post I did on January 11, 2008, titled “Presidential Politics–Huckabee” (click here) dealing with the former governor’s “fair tax” proposal (which would amount to a national sales tax that could have a significant impact on the workplace, at least as far as the payroll department is concerned).

While Huckabee is all but out of the race (and may be mathematically out after today’s primaries), he’s still technically in it as I write this post.  Also, his name continues to be floated as a vice presidential candidate.

Since Huckabee held a state position, he has no record on some of the issues at the core of the presidential campaign.  However, he does have a record from his days as governor, and he has also had plenty to say about current issues.  So let’s take another look at what Huckabee’s election could mean for the workplace and employment law.

Immigration–During the campaign, Huckabee has taken a conservative position on this subject.  He signed the “no amnesty pledge.”  He has advocated building a border fence using American labor and materials.  He has supported sending illegal immigrants back home.  He has said we need stiffer penalties for employers that hire illegals.  The immigration issue is one reason Republican conservatives have embraced the Huckabee candidacy.

Huckabee’s record as governor shows a somewhat different picture, however.  He supported a failed bill that would have given higher education benefits to the children of illegal immigrants and would have recognized them as in-state students.  This bill would have also made them eligible for the same merit-based scholarships to Arkansas state colleges and universities as legal citizens.  A member of Huckabee’s administration pushed unsuccessfully for legislation in 2001 that would have allowed illegal immigrants to obtain an Arkansas driver’s license, but Huckabee ended up signing into law in 2005 a bill making it illegal for a driver’s license to be issued to anyone who couldn’t prove legal residency in Arkansas.  He opposed a federal roundup of illegals from his state in 2005.  That same year, he opposed a bill that would have denied state welfare benefits to illegal immigrants.

Privacy–With technology moving at a thousand miles an hour, this issue has enormous implications for society generally and for the workplace in particular.  Yet presidential candidates have said little about it.  As governor, Huckabee signed the Arkansas Right to Privacy Act in 1999.  Not nearly as broad as its title implies, the Act does criminalize identity theft (which is an issue of growing importance in the workplace), as well as providing civil remedies to those who are the victims of identity theft. Interestingly, the Act contains the following clause:  “The provisions of this section do not apply to any person who obtains another person’s drivers license or other form of identification for the sole purpose of misrepresenting his or her age.”  I suppose this is recognition that controlling the use of ID’s by teens to buy booze is difficult. 

Employee Leave–In 2003, Huckabee signed the Catastrophic Sick Leave Act, which applies only to state employees.  The Act is designed to help state employees cut through red tape to be able to take an extended leave when they have ”severe illnesses.”

Healthcare–Huckabee opposes mandated health insurance and universal coverage.  He has repeatedly advocated a system that encourages and rewards prevention.  He uses one of his well-known one-liners to describe our current healthcare system:  “We don’t have a healthcare system but a disease-care system.”  Huckabee has few specifics for healthcare change–at least, in terms of legislation–although this is probably an indication of his belief that healthcare problems must be solved by the states, the private sector and individuals.  He has advocated reforming medical liability, adopting electronic record keeping, making health insurance more portable from one job to another, expanding health savings accounts, and making health insurance tax deductible for individuals and families as it is now for businesses.

Employee Rights–As noted in the 1-3-08 post, Huckabee has said he would veto any legislation that makes sexual orientation a protected class under an employment law.  While governor, he signed legislation outlawing same-sex marriage in Arkansas, which would suggest that he’s serious about his stance on sexual orientation legislation. 

I hope this helps you consider the Huckabee candidacy on a somewhat deeper basis.  Stay tuned for more on Clinton, McCain and Obama.

1. 

   John Phillips says:

   March 9, 2008 at 1:19 pm

   Thanks for linking to this.
2. 

   John Phillips says:

   April 1, 2008 at 8:56 am

   Thanks for the mention.