Secret Ballot Watch

Sen. Sherrod Brown is not happy with a “compromise” version of the Employee Free Choice Act – and he’s one of the act’s key negotiators.

This says a lot about EFCA’s so-called compromise even though details haven’t been officially announced yet. The Ohio Democrat admitted his dissatisfaction with EFCA – and the bill’s chances – to The Hill recently here: 

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“In an interview with The Hill, Brown said he’s not happy with some of the changes, but that he’s working hard to lobby his Democratic colleagues — and even a few Republicans — to accept the compromise. He said he is not sure if the new version would have the 60 Senate votes necessary to beat back a filibuster.

“‘I don’t know,’ Brown said. ‘It’s not clear to me that we have everybody’s vote yet.’

“But Brown expressed confidence that Congress will at some point move the union bill — if not this year, then next — saying senators have made progress on negotiating a new version of the bill. 

“‘I think this is going to happen at some point,’ Brown said. ‘There is a decent chance it will happen this year.’” 

Bogardus, “Key Dems confident card-check will pass,” The Hill, 10.01.09 

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Brown’s misery with EFCA has a lot of company. The truth is, most people aren’t happy with the Employee Free Choice Act – compromise version or not. Republicans are against it. So are some Democrats.  Many states are working on laws to block it. Plenty of business owners don’t want it – as well as some union members.

It’s time to admit that EFCA is a special interest favor, and not meant for the nation’s general benefit. Indeed, experts say the act, if passed, could burden an already weakened economy by contributing to job losses, among other problems. Let’s end the unhappiness and drop the bill once and for all.

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