Despite his personal shortcomings, few can argue that Clinton was not a good president. Most notably, he balanced the budget, did a good job of managing foreign policy, and had great vision. In the face of great opposition from his own party, he forged an alliance with Republicans and passed the Welfare Reform Act. This is an amazing feat. After ten years, Clinton’s act has pushed many welfare recipients into jobs. Today, families receiving welfare have fallen from five million to just under two million. According to the Brookings Institute, a centrist think-tank, the net incomes of those now working have risen 25% in real terms. Clinton saw the future and in the face of political adversity took a risk and won.

Our city often loses out in Clintonesque vision. Not because great vision is in short supply, but because we tend to look toward short-term solutions to complex problems – solutions that end up hurting us more than having no solution at all. One such short- term solution is City Councilor Russ Stover’s plan to marry the city’s ability to attract new business, new development and new business expansion to an almost guaranteed unionization of those businesses – all in the name of helping the poorest of workers. What Councilor Stover forgets is by aiming his intentions at those businesses that might receive “public subsidies,” he could effectively kill job creation. Had Cirrus Design and United Health Care worked with the city under such agreements they would not have chosen to locate in Duluth. This is not to say that the city should not be careful when it enters into an agreement nor should it throw money at businesses just to attract jobs; but I am certain that under Councilor Stover’s plan, neither business would have located in Duluth. Under Councilor Stover’s plan, the city would have lost approximately two thousand good jobs.

Councilor Stover’s plan, then, is not visionary.

In Councilor Stover’s defense, it is safe to say that he has a heart for the less fortunate. Like the rest of us, he wants to see people receive health care, have proper housing, and get a good education. Unfortunately, his plan accomplishes these things at someone else’s expense – that of the business community’s ability to expand and provide jobs. By requiring any business that might receive any city help – including the provision of infrastructure – to allow unions free and unfettered access to organizing, he almost assuredly guarantees that employees join unions without so much as an employee’s ability to a secret ballot. What citizen in the US would tolerate such treatment when he or she employs his or her right to vote in any public election? These kinds of “open” elections are subject to inordinate union pressure and ultimately will take away the employers’ ability to shop around for the best price and best value in insurance for their employees.

Lastly, if Councilor Stover wants to help the working poor, he should be sure to fund the non-profits of our area, as they work to change social policy and provide services. This might include making sure that those who are mildly disabled, emotionally disturbed, or those addicted to drugs or alcohol get the real help and assistance they need.

In an era when the city faces great financial challenges, is a thinly disguised plan to promote union membership really the answer? We think not.

Tell Councilor Stover and the rest of the city council what you think. Let him know you don’t appreciate him serving as a voice box for union efforts. Time is short – the council reads ordinance 06-042-O tonight in preparation to vote it into law at the next council meeting. Tell them to come up with a better plan. The Council can be collectively emailed at council@ci.duluth.mn.us.