Card check legislation loses support (updated)

Editor’s note: This story is part of an effort by The City Wire to provide information about The Employee Free Choice Act. The proposed federal act seeks to make unionization easier. Previous stories on The City Wire include: a former union president opposed to the Act; and a broad review of the proposed federal “Card Check” legislation.

U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said Tuesday (Mar. 24) he will oppose The Employee Free Choice Act, a move that will make it tough for the legislation to clear the Senate floor for a full vote.

Specter’s decision potentially changes the dynamic for U.S. Sens. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., and Mark Pryor, D-Ark. Lincoln and Pryor have not made clear their position on EFCA, and are considered potential swing votes if the legislation comes to a full vote of the Senate. (The City Wire has requested comment from the offices of Lincoln and Pryor about Specter’s decision.)

UPDATED INFO: “On behalf of NFIB members across the state of Arkansas, I applaud Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) for announcing his opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act and his intentions to vote against cloture,” noted a statement from Sylvester Smith, state director of the Arkansas National Federation of Independent Business. “It is our sincere hope that Arkansas Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor will join Senator Specter by publicly announcing their opposition to this unfair and undemocratic piece of legislation.”

EFCA, possibly the most contentious issue Congress will face in this term, was filed Mar. 10 by U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa. The act — commonly referred to as “card check” — seeks to make it easier for unions to organize, although a former president of a union in Fort Smith thinks the law is flawed.

The most controversial part of the Act would allow the designation of a union if a majority of employees sign pro-union authorization cards. Once the National Labor Relations Board validates the signatures, a union is created and collective bargaining with the employer begins.

During the previous Congressional session, Specter voted for cloture on similar card check, meaning he supported Senate debate. Specter, who represents the heavily unionized Pennsylvania, said at the time he did not support the legislation.

Senate Democrats will need 60 votes to move the bill to a vote. Without Specter, the Democrats (with only 59 members in the 100-member Senate) are challenged to find the extra cloture vote. Also, some pundits are saying Specter’s move could provide moderate Democrats the political cover to oppose cloture on EFCA or simply avoid making a decision.