Secret Ballot Watch

The misnamed Employee Free Choice Act may have been formally introduced in Congress yesterday, but introduction should not be confused with momentum. In fact, the bill’s formal unveiling has been somewhat of a dud, drawing fewer congressional supporters than it did two years ago, when it was last considered.

In 2007, EFCA boasted 233 cosponsors in the House and 46 in the Senate. This year, the figures are 222 and 39, respectively; a notable decline considering that supporters have virtually guaranteed passage of the controversial legislation that stalled two years ago. In the House, 32 Members who cosponsored the legislation in 2007 have opted not to sign their names to the bill this year; in the Senate, 11 have withheld their names.

But perhaps even more telling are recent comments from congressional Democrats questioning why we would move this job-killing, anti-worker ploy at a time when the U.S. economy continues to shed jobs and American families are struggling just to get by.

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“Another senator on the fence is Arkansas Democrat Blanche Lincoln. In an interview Monday, the Democratic lawmaker said, ‘I have 90,000 Arkansans who need a job, that’s my No. 1 priority.’

“She referred to the legislation as ‘divisive.’ Such controversy is not needed in today’s climate.

“Ms. Lincoln’s Arkansas colleague, and fellow Democrat, U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor has also changed his mind as has Louisiana Democratic U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu. All of these senators represent states that have electorates opposed to unions and could have tough re-election campaigns. …

“U.S. Rep. Marion Berry, D-Ark., is one the Blue Dogs, conservative Democrats, who oppose it. Mr. Berry recently had said that he thought the bill was a piece of junk and that he only voted for it in the past because he knew then-President George W. Bush would veto it.”

Tremoglie, “Moderates Lining Up Against 'Card Check',” The Bulletin, 03.11.09

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House Republicans have been saying all along that card check is bad news for both workers and our economy. It seems that more than a few Democrats are starting to agree.

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