The power of 41 (GOP scores a big win against card check)

The Wall Street Journal ^ | March 25, 2009 | Editorial

[St. Louis Conservative]

If anyone were still in doubt as to the importance of a Senate filibuster, we'd point them to Pennsylvania Republican Arlen Specter's announcement yesterday that he will not support "card check." Maybe Big Labor won't be able to up-end the economy, after all.

Mr. Specter's decision means Republicans now have 41 votes against "card check" -- legislation that would do away with secret ballots in union organization elections. The Pennsylvanian was the only Senate Republican to have previously voted in favor of a debate on the bill, and as such had been the target of a furious lobbying fight by unions and the business community. Yet to be seen is whether Mr. Specter's decision will inspire any number of swing state Democrats to follow his lead, and thereby neutralize an issue for which they are getting pilloried by their home-state business communities.

Mr. Specter is undoubtedly hoping that by getting on the right side of what has become a grassroots issue for the GOP, he might avoid an ugly primary battle for his Senate seat next year. But he also made clear in his floor speech that he had serious policy concerns, and he went out of his way to criticize both the bill's "elimination of the secret ballot" and an equally pernicious provision that would require "compulsory arbitration" in many contract negotiations. He also pointed out the obvious: The legislation would create new burdens on companies and lead to "further job losses" when the economy can least afford them.

[GeronL]

workers in union states need a choice of the union they join don’t you think?? someone should launch a campaign to allow a free market in unions, and start a conservative union called the People Who Work Alliance or something. lol.

and then fight for right to work.

[MNnice]

I wonder who told him what to say on the floor of the senate, because he obviously didn’t arrive at the correct answer on his own.

[Tzimisce]

And now for the smoky backroom deals....

[skinkinthegrass]

I wonder who told him what to say on the floor of the senate,

well...he has his own teleprompter.

"When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators." - P. J. O'Rourke
"Socialism is great until you run out of someone elses money" Margaret Thatcher
"There are two sets of rules. One set for the rulers and another for the rest of us." —Richard Yancey, former IRS tax collector

[bigbob]

yeah, but just wait til they get that dumbass Al Franken in there...

[uncommonsense]

Finally, Sphincter caught up with none other than Walter Mondale. (I sleep with security regarding the integrity of our free markets for another night). /sarc

[patriot preacher]

Ole Spectre must certainly have felt the heat to change his tune... PLEASE, could a Conservative challenge this guy in the Primary in Penn?? Rick Santorum — come back!

[Brett66]

He’ll sell us all out for more pork.

[ChocChipCookie]

I wonder if any Demonrats will be voting against this bill. We need to target moderate Democrats in conservative leaning states and tell them we’ve had enough of the Demonrat bullying.

[Gator113]

I will wait until the votes are in, then I will thank Specter, and still tell that traitor that he’s fired.

[calcowgirl]

Mr. Specter is undoubtedly hoping that by getting on the right side of what has become a grassroots issue for the GOP, he might avoid an ugly primary battle for his Senate seat next year.

Me thinks not.

Go Toomey!

[uscabjd]

Does the 41 include Norm Coleman?

[Brytani]

Card check may be a liberal dream piece of legislation but a few of them in larger more moderate union states realize if they were to support this bill they’d be out on their asses.

I do not believe even with Frankenfurter in they could get this through.

(God Lord I hope my crystal ball is right on this one)