Secret Ballot Watch

From the moment the 111^th Congress was gaveled into session, the controversial card check scheme has been a vexing problem for congressional Democrats.

Special interests have demanded passage of the legislation as political payback, yet the American people remain firmly opposed to its infringement on basic worker rights.

With support eroding among members of both political parties, the backers of card check have been forced to pursue a so-called compromise on the plan. And as Roll Call reports, such a revised plan could be brought to a vote as early as July:  

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“Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) indicated Wednesday that he will be ready to bring up the long-stalled Employee Free Choice Act next month, following weeks of negotiations with key stakeholders. …

“On Tuesday, Harkin included AFL-CIO legislative director Bill Samuel in the talks—an indication that progress is being made.”

Brady, “Harkin Suggests Progress on Card Check,” Roll Call, 06.10.09 

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Unfortunately, this so-called compromise is really no compromise at all. Congressional Quarterly reports that Democrats are wrangling every last vote in their caucus in order to secure passage of the plan: 

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"Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, has been meeting chiefly with Arlen Specter, D-Pa., and Mark Pryor, D-Ark., to hash out the terms of a compromise that could bring 60 senators on board — a cloture-proof majority that is likely to rest entirely on Democrats’ votes. …

“Union officials familiar with the negotiations have said that while the ‘card check’ provisions of the bill are likely to be altered, it appears that a binding arbitration time limit will still be part of the final product.”

Demirjian, “Lawmakers May Be Close to Compromise on ‘Card Check’ Bill,” CQ Today, 06.10.09 

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Maybe that’s because any card check compromise acceptable to the special interests would contain the same flawed policies that have made the original plan such a loser in public opinion.

Card check has been rejected because it’s bad for workers, bad for job-creation, and just plain bad for democracy. And any alleged compromise that retains these same basic flaws should be rejected for the same reasons.

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