Faced with continued opposition among Americans from across the political spectrum, a top Senate proponent of the controversial card check plan yesterday threw down the gauntlet: either a “compromise” plan goes through, or a vote will be forced on the original plan.
That’s not all. A so-called compromise would be jammed through the Senate without full consideration by the committee of jurisdiction. And if a vote is forced on the original plan, Democrats who oppose the undemocratic measure are likely to face political retribution. The Iowa Independent has the story, based on a scoop that appeared yesterday in National Journal’s Congress Daily—
“Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin told the National Journal Tuesday that if those who currently oppose the Employee Free Choice Act are not willing to work with him on a compromise, he will try to force a vote on the original bill.
“Republicans have said repeatedly they will filibuster the bill. Earlier this month, Harkin said he didn’t believe he had the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster and that the most controversial portion, giving workers the right to unionize as soon as a majority of employees in a workplace signed cards saying they want a union, would likely be eliminated.
“Now, Harkin says that while he is still working to get 60 votes, he is willing to put the original bill on the floor of the Senate and let lawmakers vote their conscience. As Talking Points Memo writer Brian Beutler points out, doing so would put two of the bills most high profile opponents — Sens. Arlen Specter, D-Penn., and Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark. — on the hot seat.
Specter, who tacked to the right and came out against EFCA before becoming a Democrat, is facing pressure from the Democratic base and Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) to move left or face a primary challenge.
And at least one high level union official has suggested that if Lincoln doesn’t come around and support an EFCA compromise, she may face a green party challenger, in addition to a Republican challenger, in the general election.
“Specter told the Associated Press last week that ‘prospects are pretty good’ for a compromise.”
Hancock, “Harkin may force vote on card check,” Iowa Independent, 05.20.09
Sounds like a classic strategy of ‘heads I win, tails you lose.’ Or, more to the point, compromise and the special interests still win, or don’t compromise and both workers and the Senators who dare to oppose the plan will lose.
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