Freedom Dogs

I attended the April 12 Tax Cut Rally and met some Minnesota activists with a petition to save the Delta Queen. I signed it, thinking it wasn't necessary — who would want to get rid of a beloved historical treasure that travels up and down the Mississippi? Turns out it was unions and some Democrats:

U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot, R-OH, blamed labor unions and partisan politics for a U.S. House vote this week rejecting an amendment that could have kept the Delta Queen riverboat from having to phase out its overnight cruise packages.

This week, a House rules committee voted 9-4 against allowing the amendment to reach the House floor. All nine votes against the proposal were cast by Democrats, Chabot noted in his remarks on the floor of the House yesterday. He used a parliamentary maneuver to bring the amendment to a floor vote, but lawmakers defeated the measure by a vote of 208-195.

"I can only conclude from this that the opposition we're seeing is not so much about the Delta Queen but more about a labor dispute," Chabot said. "If this is true, why should the American people be the victims, losing access to a national landmark? Why should American jobs be lost? Why should local businesses be ruined? All because of a labor dispute? I hope that unions do not have that type of influence here in Washington."

Others working hard to keep the Queen's paddlewheel churning are still optimistic:

What can we do? Continue to talk to people, raise attention for our cause, show everyone how much we love the Delta Queen and how much we also love the other two boats, the Mississippi Queen and the American Queen! The three boats belong to the river and they need to be run by a strong company that is aware both of the historical importance of the Delta Queen and the unique cruise experience that all three boats have to offer to generations of passengers to come.

I've got a big soft spot for paddlewheel boats, as I was married on the Jonathan Padelford in St. Paul. If you want to help the cause, go here for more info and resources.