| In any case, what the Democrats lack in their platform, they make up for in their votes. For 2008, Hillary Clinton’s last full year as a New York senator, NTEU gave her a 100 percent rating for supporting the labor organization’s legislative agenda. Among her votes that year, Clinton opposed legislation that would have used across-the-board discretionary spending reductions to pay for tax cuts and approved a measure regarding wage discrimination lawsuits. Federal labor organizations generally support Democrats and that includes strong backing for Clinton. International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers President Gregory Junemann called her “impeccably qualified. … She has a track record of accomplishments and of working across the aisle during her time in the Senate. She is also solidly in the corner of working Americans.” Like other members of Congress from the region, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Clinton’s vice-presidential pick, is a supporter of federal employees, but his grades from labor organizations have not always been honor-roll high. NTEU rated him 100 percent in 2014, but his 2015 grade from the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) was just 73 percent. That mediocre rating grew in part from his vote for “fast track” authority for trade agreements and against an amendment repealing a “Cadillac tax” on higher-end employer provided health insurance plans. AFGE supported the opposite positions on those measures. That grade, however, didn’t stop AFGE President J. David Cox Sr. from giving Kaine a ringing endorsement as the vice-presidential pick. Cox, like Reardon, is a Democratic delegate from Maryland. “While representing Virginia in the U.S. Senate, Tim Kaine has been a vocal advocate for government workers and the programs we deliver to the American public …” Cox said. “Tim Kaine believes in supporting and defending a strong public service and we look forward to continuing our positive working relationship with the senator once he becomes vice president.” While Clinton’s support among federal unions is solid, there is a crack. In March, almost four months after Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, called for a temporary, but unconstitutional “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States” the National Border Patrol Council endorsed him. The council, which is part of AFGE, cited his refusal to back down from his “bold and necessary statements. … That tells you the measure of a man.” Remember, Border Patrol agents have sworn to support and defend the Constitution. That endorsement tells you the measure of the National Border Patrol Council. | 