Politicians court union

Erin Neff

Tuesday, June 26, 2001 | 11:08 a.m.

Politicians listened to the Teamsters' talk of unity Monday as a message of bipartisanship, despite the union's clear Democratic leanings.

"Welcome to the most democratic, unified and forward-looking convention in Teamster history," Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa said. "We come together with differing viewpoints. But when we leave, we speak with one voice."

The politicians who came courting the 7,000 conventioneers at Paris Las Vegas heard bipartisan strains in that message, even though the crowd was most boisterous when Democrats took the stage.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., thanked a crowd packed with yellow-vested Hoffa supporters, for reaching out beyond party lines on national issues.

"If you're just tied to one party, both parties will take you for granted," Ensign said, drawing solid applause.

Although the Teamsters have traditionally backed Democrats, including Al Gore for president last year, Hoffa continues to meet with Republicans -- like he did Monday morning in a private session with Ensign.

"He (Hoffa) is the only person I know who is friends with President Bush, Al Gore, Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan," said Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D.

Ensign received warm applause for speaking in place of the invited Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., who could not attend because of a scheduling conflict. But conventioneers saved their loudest cheers for Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif., and drowned out Daschle with support during his most partisan remarks.

Daschle chastised President Bush for the tax cut, claiming it hurts working families.

"It includes new breaks for the rich that we don't think the country can afford," Daschle said.

He also lamented a Republican-led repeal of Clinton-imposed ergonomic standards for the workplace. Ensign, who voted to overturn those standards, claiming they would hurt small business owners, made no mention of the issue.

"When the new administration supports workers' rights and safety, we will support them," Daschle said, drawing the Teamsters to their feet.

While Daschle hurled anti-Republican barbs on those issues, he made no mention of the biggest partisan battle on Capitol Hill -- the Patients' Bill of Rights.

Support of the Patients' Bill of Rights is expected to be part of the Teamsters public policy platform adopted this week.

"When a senior citizen has to choose between filling a prescription and buying food, we suffer, too," Hoffa said.

Ensign discussed his solid working relationship with Reid, the second-ranking Democrat who Daschle called "my right-hand man."

But Ensign avoided talk of the Bush administration policies that have riled up labor representatives nationwide. Bush was not invited to speak at the convention, but Labor Secretary Elaine Chao will speak Thursday.

"Republicans don't have all the answers and neither do the Democrats," Ensign said. "If we want to get something done for our country, we have to put the labels aside."

Ensign did mention the Patients' Bill of Rights, saying he thinks passage of a bipartisan measure is possible "over the next six months." Daschle had previously threatened to cancel the July 4th recess for lawmakers if a vote were not taken by then.

Daschle said Vermont Sen. James Jeffords' defection from the Republican to Independent parties -- and ensuing shift in power to Democrats -- makes it more important than ever to "resist the politics of destruction."

"There are some who say we should use our position to get even," Daschle said. "We need to break the cycle and find principled compromise on the issues Americans care about the most."