Senate Dems Hold EFCA Strategy Session

Senate Democratic leaders met Thursday afternoon in Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's office, two sources familiar with the meeting say, to discuss compromise options to get to 60 votes for Labor's top priority, the Employee Free Choice Act (or card check).

Reid and his top two deputies, Sens. Charles Schumer of New York and Dick Durbin of Illinois, huddled with Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M). The group hashed out strategy going forward but set no timetable for action. Harkin updated those present on what progress he's made in forging a compromise. Glenn Thrush reported on the meeting earlier.

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Penn.) has said he is open to support some type of EFCA compromise. Conservatives have latched on to an effort to preserve the "secret ballot" -- saying that it prevents union intimidation. But scheduling an election in the distant future allows bosses to fire and pressure workers before the vote. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has suggested preserving the secret ballot by mailing in votes.

Under the current proposal, workers could still choose to hold a secret ballot election, but it would be exceedingly unlikely to happen, given that the union could be formed simply by turning in cards representing 50 percent of the workers plus one. A union organizer, of course, would rather have a certified union than a pending election -- given the choice.

Comments

[Marcospinelli]

I'm taking bets, step right up.

What's Obama going to announce tomorrow so that his "prevention detention" proposal in today's speech (and military tribunals, and a dozen other promises he broke this week) isn't the topic of the Sunday talk show?

It's 'Take Out The Trash'-day. What's it going to be? His nominee for the Supreme Court?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbslm1h8xjI

[ThePen]

Where is the leadership of President Obama on the Employee Free Choice Act? How about a speech from him at the Department of Labor in support of the Act?

[jsgaetano]

Why do they need to cave to the Goopers? Lock them out, and pass the bill with a simple majority.

[cbates]

I'm with you on that point. These are some spineless characters and will probably trip over themselves on the way to vote.

[mcantwell]

I agree. It's beyond ridiculous.

[dillydawg]

Well said. The Dems have become so disappointing.

[000Jade000]

The idiots ought to just start going on TV and telling THE TRUTH about the EFCA. If they'd just do that, and explain how important it is for the country to have strong unions, they wouldn't have to go around making up crappy alternatives to the EFCA.

[jordan3189]

All those newspapers, auto makers gov't workers showed us all how "great" a strong union is. Run the company into the ground, beg for taxpayer help, run and hide when the ship sinks.

[IndieBlue]

Yes, the unions caused the newspapers to not be able to compete with the internet. The unions designed crappy cars that no one wanted to drive. Next time you go to Hannity and O' Reilly for anti-union talking points remember, they are members of a union, too.

[Marcospinelli]

How did unions "run companies into the ground"?

Pick a union, pick a company, walk us through it.

[Bethany Quinn]

AMEN! Politicians are so absurdly frustrating. Instead of thinking through the frame of, "what will be best for my constituents (based on proven policies)?" they think in terms of, "Which policies conform to my ideological prism?" and, "[Based on how others are framing the debate], how will voters react to a vote? Is there enough political pressure for me to need to do something about this (or take a side)?" I have to say, I'm very impressed by politicians like Chris Dodd who write posts and editorials and such explaining their position to the public. While I still think that they conform somewhat to the terms and the rhetoric established by others, I think that it's really important for them to explain why they're voting the way they're voting, and not let others smear them into conformity against the interests of their constituents. And on a side note, I heart Harkin.

[EFCANOW]

EFCANOW! - http://twitter.com/EFCANOW

MANY OF THE ITEMS INTRODUCED WILL BE FOUND IN THE ARTICLE BELOW

Thinking Outside The Box to Get The Employee Free Choice Act EFCA Passed

http://efcanow.blogspot.com/2009/03/thinking-outside-box-to-get-employee.html

[Karmatic1]

I think the look on durbin's face, says it all.

[swift goat pet for truth]

Spineless Dems hold a spineless meeting on how they can be more spineless.

[swift goat pet for truth]

Dems are spineless.

Spineless, spineless, spineless.

[bubbuh]

Most people have an active vocabulary of between 700 and 1000 words. You, too, can raise yourself to that level if you work at it.

[jordan3189]

That coming from someone named "bubbuh". LOLOL