Scottish Senator to Vote Against Card Check?
Update: Confirmed; Specter Announces on Senate Floor

Specter, who had played footsie with the idea of backing Card Check in order to get labor's endorsement, has decided against that, at least according to Grover Norquist.

Given that the Democrats need 60 votes for cloture and already have a couple or three likely defectors, this will hopefully end the threat.

Confirmation: The Scottish Senator, still proposing Scottish solutions, but, as in the case of impeaching Clinton, not going for the main option:

“In seeking more union membership and negotiating leverage, Labor has a valid point that they have suffered greatly from outsourcing of jobs to foreign countries and losses in pension and health benefits. President Obama has pressed Labor’s argument that the middle class needs to be strengthened through more power to unions in their negotiations with business. The better way to expand labor’s clout in collective bargaining is through amendments to the NLRA rather than on eliminating the secret ballot and mandatory arbitration.”

“The problems of the recession make this a particularly bad time to enact Employees Free Choice legislation. Employers understandably complain that adding a burden would result in further job losses. If efforts are unsuccessful to give Labor sufficient bargaining power through amendments to the NLRA, then I would be willing to reconsider Employees’ Free Choice legislation when the economy returns to normalcy.”

“I am announcing my decision now because I have consulted with a very large number of interested parties on both sides and I have made up my mind. Knowing that I will not support cloture on this bill, Senators may choose to move on and amend the NRLA as I have suggested or otherwise. This announcement should end the rumor mill that I have made some deal for my political advantage. I have not traded my vote in the past and I would not do so now.”

Well, he's willing to consider sabotaging the economy, but only when the economy isn't about to crater. That's something, I guess.

posted by Ace at 01:19 PM

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