Labor Bill Faces Threat in Senate

Wall Street Journal (public) ^ | March 10, 2009 | Melanie Trottman and Brody Mullins

[CutePuppy]

WASHINGTON -- Key Senate Democrats are wavering in their support of legislation that would give more power to labor unions, dealing a setback to labor's top priority as businesses warn of the damage the bill would cause.

A woman wears a model house on her head during a rally in Washington to support the "Employee Free Choice Act."

The battle over the "Employee Free Choice Act" -- expected to be introduced Tuesday -- is seen as a power struggle among labor unions and businesses, as well as a test of whether moderate Democrats and Republicans will push back on Democratic congressional leaders and the Obama administration.

At least six Senators who have voted to move forward with the so-called card-check proposal, including one Republican, now say they are opposed or not sure -- an indication that Senate Democratic leaders are short of the 60 votes they need for approval.

The legislation is divisive and distracting, said Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln in an interview Monday. The Democratic lawmaker, who was previously seen as a supporter, said the Senate should focus on creating jobs and improving the U.S. economy. "I have 90,000 Arkansans who need a job, that's my No. 1 priority," she said. The legislation, she said, would be "divisive and we don't need that right now. We need to focus on the things that are more important."

Sen. Lincoln is one of several moderate Democrats expressing doubts about the Employee Free Choice Act. The bill would allow unions to organize workers without a secret ballot, giving employees the power to organize by simply signing cards agreeing to join.

.....

[CutePuppy]

Card-check may be defeated if Dems and squishy Republicans will be made aware of consequences, both to businesses (and therefore lower tax receipts and higher expenditures for government) and their own political future. That's how the battles were waged and won in 1993 and 1994.

[CutePuppy]

Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu and Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor are among the Democratic lawmakers who have backed off their previous support.

Sen. Arlen Specter (R., Pa.) was a supporter of the legislation in 2007, but he’s wavering now and says, ‘I’m being lobbied on it very, very heavily.’

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To cynically paraphrase John F. Kerry, I guess they will “vote for it” if it will get them to 60 votes, and they will “vote against it” if that will not get them to 60 anyway.

[scooby321]

Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu and Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor are among the Democratic lawmakers who have backed off their previous support.

WALMART

[Graybeard58]

may be defeated if Dems and squishy Republicans will be made aware of consequences, both to businesses (and therefore lower tax receipts and higher expenditures for government) and their own political future.

I don't believe they give a damn what it does to businesses but that part about their political future will give them pause.

Like the uproar over amnesty, they didn't care about our country being invaded but did about their political futures. 21 dem senators wound up voting against it.

[seemoAR]

Darn, things must be really getting hot at home if Prior, Lincoln, and Landrieu are having second thoughts. They usually walk lock step with their Socialist overlords. Maybe there is hope after all. ;0)