Joe The Plumber Campaigning On Specter's EFCA Vote

Even though Sen. Arlen Specter has let it be known that he will opposed the Employee Free Choice Act if that legislation comes to a vote, the battle to persuade him rages on.

On Wednesday the AFL-CIO issued not-so-subtle political threats to the Pennsylvania Republican. The labor federation announced plans to flood Specter's office with letters, calls and visits and potentially run advertisements pushing the Senator to change his mind.

On Thursday, the opposing side followed suit, bringing out Joe the Plumber (among others) to urge Specter to vote against the union-backed legislation.

In an advisory to the press, the pro-business Americans for Prosperity announced that, as part of its nationwide tour, they would be making stops in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia, during which the crew would be joined by the world's most famous non-licensed plumber and current conservative poster boy.

From the official press release:

Americans for Prosperity's National Save My Ballot Tour Travels to Pennsylvania, Mar. 30-31 Wednesday, March 25th 2009

Americans for Prosperity's National Save My Ballot Tour Travels to Pennsylvania, Mar. 30-31

Events in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Philadelphia will feature special guest speaker Joe the Plumber

AFP urges Senator Sen. Arlen Specter to vote against Employee Free Choice Act

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HARRISBURG─ Americans for Prosperity (AFP) will defend workers' rights to cast secret ballots in Pennsylvania as part of its nationwide Save My Ballot tour in opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act, also known as "card check," which would strip workers of their rights in union organizing elections.

"Some lawmakers want to abolish private ballot elections through the misnamed Employee Free Choice Act, and allow unions to organize just by collecting signatures on union cards. This would give them the ability to pressure and intimidate workers in public," said AFP President Tim Phillips. "We support the secret ballot so every worker has the right to vote on such an important matter without coercion or retaliation."

AFP will be joined by Joe the Plumber in taking its Save My Ballot Tour across Pennsylvania-- Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia-- to urge U.S. Senator Arlen Specter to vote against card check legislation.

"Senator Specter may be the deciding vote on this key piece of legislation," said Phillips. "We need to send him a strong message that the so-called Employee Free Choice Act is an enormous assault on our democratic values and on our rights here in Pennsylvania and across the nation."

Beginning in North Carolina, the nationwide tour kicked off in Greensboro and Raleigh last month where over 500 citizens urged Senator Kay Hagan to vote 'no' on card check legislation. After Pennsylvania, the tour will travel to Virginia and Arkansas.

Speakers will include business, community, and political leaders concerned about what "card check" legislation could do to hurt economic prosperity in Pennsylvania.

All events are free and open to the public. Food will be served.

Comments

[FedUpWithUSW]

The unions are more interested in political clout than they are in representing workers. It is a numbers game to them. The more employees they can get under their umbrella, the more political clout they have when they lobby. They no longer care about the workers. This anti-democratic power grab must be stopped and I applaud Senator Specter for having the courage to stand up to big labor.

[JohnBryansFontaine]

Responding to Bob Burnett's Employee Choice: Which Side Are You On?

Dave Palen's statement:

EFCA takes away a secret ballot in virtually all situations is ONE BIG LIE
Aside from the WSJ admission to the contrary,

The Employee Free Choice Act Does NOT remove secret ballots:

EFCA and Secret Ballot Elections for Union Recognition
by Chris Lowe, BlueOregon

http://www.blueoregon.com/2008/08/efca-and-secret.html

Now, for elections held under Section 9(c), if a majority of workers vote for representation, a decertification election under Section 9(e) may not be held sooner than twelve months after the original election. But for new Section 9(c) petition-based certifications EFCA, no such time restriction would apply, because no "valid election" would have been held. A 30% minority of workers could force a secret ballot decertification election as soon as they gathered their signatures.

IN OTHER WORDS, IF A UNION IS VOTED IN, JUST 30% OF THE WORKERS COULD DEMAND A SECRET BALLOT AS SOON AS THEY GOT THE SIGNITURES.

So much for: EFCA takes away a secret ballot in virtually all situations

[JohnBryansFontaine]

For those who support EFCA, and therefore Freedom:

EFCA Bumper Sticker: https://unionshop.aflcio.org/product1.cfm?Product_ID=1474

http://efcanow.blogspot.com/

http://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/2009/03/efca101.html

http://www.uaw.org/solidarity/09/0209/feature03.php
http://www.TheTruthAboutEFCA.Org
http://www.employeefreechoiceactnow.org
http://efcaunionbustingclub.blogspot.com/
http://www.FreeChoiceActNow.Org
http://www.LaborUnionResources.Org

[Chuckwheat]

Next up for Joe the Fixer: enter Juarez under a white flag to persuade the cartels to turn in all weapons.

[Annnnw]

Doesn't plumbers have unions? What exactly is this man standing for? Is he the new leader of the Repugs party?

[ClareP]

Please, please, please... can we just stop hearing about this guy? Who cares what he opines (he certainly doesn't think).

[SensibleJoe]

In the interest of accuracy, the press ought to start calling this guy Joe Not The Plumber, since he seems to be doing everything but plumbing -- or staying home with his kids, for all his family values blather.

[Lucinda]

I DON'T CARE, I DON'T CARE,I DON'T CARE. STOP GIVING THIS IDIOT "INK"!!!!!!!

[gypsysailor]

Joe! Grow some hair and step away from the Dark Side before it's too late.

[AngusC]

Well he's got Joe's support now, he is all set.
LOL
What a joke.

[SILVANUS]

HUFFPOST: Please do not waste our time and your space with any more news about this Joe-Shill.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE: Work a little harder to find worthwhile stories.

[AngusC]

Seriously.
I agree.

[Greg Petty]

ditto

[teresa43]

Joe who????????????

[Greg Petty]

his 15 minutes are up, good god find a better person to write about, Ido not care at this point if it is a democrat or rethug , that dude represent s all the fringe represents, not smart , good or intelligent he is another Billy Carter

[wadda]

Joe is still alive? I thought he died.

[Ruminator]

Why, oh why, must you continually subject us, your readers, to this inconsequential Nobody? Enough, already!!!

[NYC07]

Why haven't Real plumbers demanded that this fool stop using a title that requires a licence .

[ericmiami]

I did not click on this link. I did not post a comment. I am not as strong as I wish I was.