Wednesday, April 22, 2009 | 9:58 a.m.
WASHINGTON -- Labor Secretary Hilda Solis will be in Las Vegas on Thursday to attend a utility workers union conference.
A spokeswoman confirmed that the secretary will be attending the Power for America National Conference sponsored by the Utility Workers Union of America.
No other information about her trip was immediately available. But Nevada has many issues needing the secretary’s attention – from double-digit unemployment to workplace safety enforcement after the construction deaths on the Strip.
Solis is something of an expert in green jobs, having authored key legislation as a congresswoman on job development in the energy sector. She penned an op-ed with Energy Secretary Steven Chu (also invited to attend the conference) on the Obama administration’s energy agenda that appeared in various newspapers today.
Nevada’s Republicans in Congress issued a joint release tonight on the eve of Solis’ visit noting she supports the Employee Free Choice Act they both oppose.
The bill would make it easier for unions to organize, but is strongly opposed by the business community.
The release, one of the few issued jointly by the Republican Sen. John Ensign and Republican Dean Heller, is here.
“As Labor Secretary Hilda Solis prepares for her first official visit to Las Vegas, Senator John Ensign and Congressman Dean Heller reminded Nevada employees and employers that legislation she supports, the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), would be disastrous to an already struggling economy and threatens job growth and opportunity among minorities.”
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