Political Shift on Union Policy. Republicans are increasingly supporting union-friendly regulations traditionally associated with Democratic administrations, marking a significant departure from their historical stance on limiting government scope. The Surface Transportation Bill reauthorization, particularly provisions like the Railway Safety Act's two-man rule, exemplifies this trend. While Biden's union support aligned with his political philosophy, Republican endorsement of similar policies represents a fundamental policy reversal. The two-man rule mandates larger crew sizes despite studies showing no safety improvement, effectively forcing companies to hire more union employees. This shift toward expanding federal regulations in already heavily regulated industries contradicts core Republican principles of reducing bureaucratic scope.
