Presidential Politics–Predictions for the Workplace–Palin

After looking at Biden, let’s try the same with Governor Palin.  Since we’re only now learning about her and since she hasn’t served in a position in the federal government compared with Biden’s being in the U. S. Senate since he was 30 years old (he’s now 65), making predictions about the Governor’s impact on labor and employment law is more difficult.  But here goes.

Palin’s husband is a member of the Steelworkers, something a bit unusual for the spouse of a Republican nominee for anything.  Palin isn’t shy about mentioning this fact, as she did in her vice presidential acceptance speech, referring to her husband as a proud member of the Steelworkers in Alaska.  She has received financial contributions from union members.  The legislation she recently signed to research a possible natural gas pipeline from Alaska’s North Slope includes as guarantee of union jobs.

As Governor of Alaska, she has signed no labor and employment legislation of any consequence.  She has expressed no opinion yet on any of the major federal proposals summarized in the post on Biden.  It seems likely that she would adopt McCain’s positions on these proposals.  (You can review these positions by referring back to the Biden post.)

She opposes same-sex domestic partnership benefits.  She’s against federal funding for health insurance coverage, favoring government regulations that promote competition among health care providers as a way of driving down healthcare costs.  Also, she has sponsored legislation that would establish a statewide health advisory commission, eliminate a certificate of need for new healthcare facilities, and create a transparency program so consumers can determine cost of services and can determine the quality record of a healthcare facility.

As Governor, she has appointed one person to the Alaska Supreme Court.  A graduate of Berkeley, Justice Daniel Winfree was in private practice, general counsel and executive director for the Greater Fairbanks Community Hospital Foundation, president of the Alaska Bar Association, and president of the Western States Bar Conference.  Palin has also appointed 10 persons to trial court positions in Alaska, including three women.  Based on the qualifications of these judges, it seems that Palin placed more emphasis on merit than politics.  (Click here and here for more.)

Palin also made recent appointments to the Alaska Labor Relations Agency.  While all of these appointees may have had political connections, their backgrounds are full of human resources and labor relations substance:  labor relations manager, human resource manager, chairman of State Personnel Board, and vice-chairman of the Public Employee Retirement Board; member of State Commission for Human Rights and director of the Division of Equal Opportunity Employment; vice president of human resources, senior labor relations manager and labor relations specialist, and human resources manager; and human resources manager and special assistant to the director of employee relations.