Secret Ballot Watch

After yesterday’s news that Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter has switched political parties, talk of a compromise on the anti-worker card check plan has once again taken center stage.

Specter – a Senator who announced earlier this year that he opposed card check as a Republican, and repeated yesterday that he still opposes it as a Democrat – has been at the center of speculation about a possible compromise on the controversial legislation. The Associated Press reports—  

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“Vice President Joe Biden says he expects Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter would have ‘an open mind’ on voting for a bill making it easier to form unions if a compromise emerges.

“Specter’s party switch puts Democrats within reach of a 60-seat majority, which could overcome an expected GOP filibuster of the bill.

“The Pennsylvania senator disappointed labor leaders last month when he said he would not support the Employee Free Choice Act. But he left the door open to supporting other labor reforms.

“Biden says he remains hopeful that Congress will pass the bill. He says the White House is in ‘constant discussion’ about it with labor and business groups.”

 Hananel, “Biden hopes Specter backs card check compromise,” Associated Press, 04.29.09 

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As we said earlier this year, at its core, card check is nothing more than a special interest power grab that would be achieved by undermining workers’ rights. It’s bad for workers, bad for the economy, and just plain bad for democracy. With a premise like this, what exactly would a compromise look like?

Slightly less bad for workers? Not quite as damaging to the economy? Only a little bit undemocratic?

It’s worth repeating: The simple truth is that with card check as a starting point, compromise just isn’t possible. Those advocating a compromise are merely distracting from the reality that card check is bad policy that does not deserve to become law – in any form whatsoever.

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