Today in Centrist Democrats

I give you Virginia Governor Abagail Spanburger, who just vetoed a bill expanding labor rights, particularly for civil servants because she finds treating employees with dignity and respect is a bridge too far.

The motto of the centrists in general, and the  Democratic Party establishment (There is no Democratic Party establishment) in general is, "A bit less evil than the Republicans."

This is horrible policy and worse politics.

She sh%$ on the people who went to the wall for her in the last election. 

These people are far less likely to do anything in the next election now.

To quote someone who wasn't Talleyrand,* "This is worse than a crime, this is a mistake.

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger vetoed a statewide collective bargaining bill Thursday to the chagrin of workers and her own party.

“I remain committed to continuing to work with the General Assembly, unions, localities, and public servants across the Commonwealth to develop a public sector collective bargaining system that works for Virginia,” the Democrat said in her veto explanation. “However, I believe additional amendments are needed to the enrolled bill currently before me."

The Democratic-controlled General Assembly passed legislation that would remove the prohibition on collective bargaining for state employees and mandate a collective bargaining right for local employees. Local employees currently have to wait for their local government or school board to opt in to collective bargaining.

“Governor Abigail Spanberger today betrayed half a million of Virginia’s public service workers by going back on her campaign promise to support collective bargaining rights for the people who keep our Commonwealth and communities running every day,” the Virginia Public Sector Labor Coalition, a lobbying group that represents large unions like the Virginia Education Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said in a statement. “Instead of aligning herself with General Assembly Democrats who unanimously supported this bill, Spanberger instead vetoed the bill just as her predecessor Glenn Youngkin did, sending Virginia workers the crystal clear message that they are no better off than they were under a Republican governor.”

The legislature rejected Spanberger’s sweeping amendments that labor unions claim weakened the bill. The original version removed a requirement that would have forced local governments or schools to hold votes to allow employees to unionize. The bill also creates a Public Employee Relations Board and codifies employees’ right to negotiate on certain issues, including staffing, working conditions and benefits.

Unfortunately, there are not enough Democrats in either the State Senate or House of Delegates to override the veto.

^*This quote is often attributed to Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, but likely comes from either Antoine Boulay de la Meurthe or Joseph Fouché.