By Karoun Demirjian CQ Staff
The Democrats effort to pass a bill that would make it easier for labor unions to organize was made more difficult Tuesday when Sen. Arlen Specter R-Pa. announced he would not support a cloture vote on the measure.
The Employee Free Choice Act (S560 HR1409) commonly referred to as the card check" bill seeks to give workers the right to form unions by majority sign-up and once formed to seek arbitration in securing a first contract. It is organized labors top legislative priority for the 111th Congress.
Support for the bill breaks almost entirely along party lines. Republicans have rallied against the bill in near-unanimity since it was first introduced during the 110th Congress charging that it would cripple businesses and completely undermine the secret ballot process.
They promised to prevent Democrats from building a filibuster-proof majority a 60-vote threshold that would require the cooperation of at least one Republican senator even if Democrats are able to keep the votes of every member of their party and add Al Franken whose race in Minnesota has not been decided to their majority.
Specter is the only Republican to have broken with his party to support cloture on the bill in the past and unions were counting on his support.
I have made up my mind" Specter said on the Senate floor Tuesday afternoon. I will not support cloture on this bill."
Many have speculated that Specters motives are guided by the fact that he may face a stiff primary election challenge in 2010 from former Rep. Patrick J. Toomey R-Pa. (1999-2005) whom Specter only narrowly defeated in his 2004 primary.
Specter denied these rumors" in his announcement saying that his decision was purely motivated by concerns that the economy could not handle such a sweeping overhaul at this time and that more focused amendments to the National Labor Relations Act would be a better mechanism for guaranteeing workers rights.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid D-Nev. reacted to Specters announcement with a promise to see the bill through.
Hes not the only Republican that has indicated a willingness to see something done. We do have other suspects" Reid said. If anyone thinks theyre burying card check because of Specters statement in an effort to avoid a primary in Pennsylvania they should not think that this legislations going to go away."
