Sen.
Arlen Specter (D-PA) has held a number of different views on the
Employee Free Choice Act in the last couple of years. Now, it looks as
though the EFCA-supporter-turned-opponent may be shifting his position
once more, recent reports suggest.
A
supporter of EFCA during the last session of congress (while still a
Republican) Specter withdrew his endorsement of the bill in March,
shortly after Democrats took control of Congress and the White House
in January. (McKnight's, 3/26) When Specter changed parties April
28 and became a Democrat, he warned his new liberal allies that he
would not toe the party line for them any more than he had for the
Republicans, specifically saying “my position on Employees Free
Choice (card check) will not change.” (McKnight's, 4/29)
On
Thursday, however, Specter told reporters that he has been working
with the White House and other senators on a compromise that could
pave the way for his re-endorsement of EFCA.
Speculation
abounds as to just what compromises Specter would be willing to
accept. His primary opposition is to EFCA's arbitration
clause—which imposes a federally backed labor contract if one cannot
be independently negotiated within a certain time frame—and the
contentious “card check” provision—which allows workers to
unionize if a majority sign onto the idea. Some suggest that Specter
will have a hard time getting re-elected as a Democrat if he continues
to oppose EFCA, and that any “compromises” are likely to be more
superficial than substantive, suggests an analysis at Salon.com.