It was a big part of the Democratic platform in 2008, and opposition to it was a big part of the Republican platform that year, but today’s Wall Street Journal reports that it looks unlikely that card check will pass this year:
Chances that Congress will vote on a union-organizing bill this year are dimming as lawmakers make health care and appropriations the top priorities.
Some Democratic senators have been trying for months to find a way around the bill’s most contentious provision, the “card check” rule that would let workers to unionize by simply signing up rather than running a secret-ballot vote.
While attempts at a compromise have made headway, less progress has been made on the bill’s other divisive element: imposing a government-appointed arbitrator to set contract terms — including wages and benefits — if companies and newly formed unions can’t agree within 120 days of bargaining. The legislation, known as Employee Free Choice Act, also would increase penalties on employers that violate labor laws during organizing periods.
Further complicating the bill’s chances this year are the serious illnesses of Sens. Edward Kennedy and Robert Byrd — both strong labor supporters — and doubts about whether the two would physically be able to attend a floor vote. Democrats would need both of them to marshal the 60 votes required to thwart a likely Republican-led filibuster.
“They don’t have the votes without those two guys coming to the floor at this point,” said a person familiar with Democratic leaders’ thinking.
Peter Francia, a labor and politics expert at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., said, “Without 60 votes, EFCA will not move forward and is likely to face delays into 2010.”
And the odds of it passing in 2010, with mid-term elections right around the corner, is very unlikely.
Along with Cap & Trade and ObamaCare, this appears to be yet another part of the Democrats’ ambitious agenda that they aren’t going to be able to make a reality.
