'Card check' bill loses key supporters (Sen. Dianne Feinstein D-Calif.)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-card-check28-2009mar28,0,4048410.story

With Sens. Specter and Feinstein withdrawing their support, and the threat of a Republican filibuster, backers of the pro-union provision may have to consider less divisive alternatives.
By James Oliphant
March 28, 2009

Reporting from Washington -- Whether you label it the "card check" bill or the Employee Free Choice Act, you can also call it something else -- in deep trouble.

Key senators this week appeared to cripple prospects for passing the highly polarizing measure, the labor movement's top priority in Congress, which is aimed at making it easier for workers to join unions.



Susan Walsh / Associated Press
THE START: Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), right, and Rep. George Miller (D-Martinez), take part in a Capitol Hill news conference earlier this month to introduce the Employee Free Choice Act.


The latest hurdle came Friday, when Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said she would seek alternative legislation that was less divisive. Feinstein, a past sponsor of the act, cited the flailing economy as a reason; other critics of the bill have said it would drive up operating costs for businesses at a perilous time.

"This is an extraordinarily difficult economy, and feelings are very strong on both sides of the issue," Feinstein said in a statement. "I would hope there is some way to find common ground that would be agreeable to both business and labor."

Feinstein's words came days after Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) declared that he would not support the bill. Specter too had supported the act in the past, and his announcement was viewed as eliminating any chance that Democrats could muster enough votes to break a promised Republican filibuster.

FULL story at link.

[rockymountaindem]

1. Thanks again Feinstein n.t

[Laelth]

2. Feinstein makes me sick.

Either you believe unions are good, or you don't. If you think they're good, they ought to be easier to create. Thus, if you think they're good, and you think they ought to be easier to create, you should vote for the EFCA because it makes makes unions easier to create.

How hard is that?

Or, the better question, why is it too much to ask for a Democratic Senator from California (of all places) to be pro-union? We've got Republicans to act as corporate toadies. I expect Democrats to stand up for labor.

:mad:

-Laelth

[angstlessk]

3. "common ground that would be agreeable"...AKA..something corporations love

sorry common ground was lost from reagan till now...there is no COMMON GROUND left!

[cloudbase]

4. I'm willing to bet that she will get

labor's endorsement the next time she's up for election.

(Based on my experience as a former board member of the Harris County, Texas AFL-CIO)

[mike_c]

5. Feinstein is a waste of air....

:puke:

[blueknight]

6. she and pelosi both

are horrible democrats, and worse politicians

[rateyes]

7. Please, some progressive run against DiFi and get her

sorry useless ass out of the Senate.

With Dems like her, we don't need any fucking Republicans.

[dcsmart]

8. This is why we need a National Labor Party (NLP) n/t