Can Donald Trump and his steel and aluminum tariffs rally union voters to vote for anti-union state Rep. Rick Saccone in next week's special election in Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District? Former Vice President Joe Biden campaigned for Democrat Conor Lamb with union members on Tuesday, while Trump will be campaigning for Saccone over the weekend.
But although Trump got a stronger share of union households than any Republican since 1984, his appeal hasn’t worn so well in many quarters, and Saccone has a record of his own:
But as a state legislator, Saccone backed proposals to block the state from collecting dues via public sector union members’ payroll. He’s opposed requiring union work on public infrastructure projects and mandates that the projects use domestic materials. The vote has opened him up to fierce criticism from Lamb.
“If you want to represent the people who live here, you have to stand up for them,” Lamb declared.
Saccone calls his Democratic opponent’s characterization “ridiculous.” He doesn’t dispute his voting record in Harrisburg, however, telling The Associated Press he believes “competition” strengthens the market. He said union members know his agenda — “fighting to beat back regulations” and “cutting taxes” saves jobs.
No doubt that flies well with union workers: “yes, I’ve voted against union jobs every chance I get, but I’ve also opposed regulations that make your workplace safer and given your bosses a tax cut, so yay, vote for me.”
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