Minnesota Senate Race Decided, Franken Wins

This week, the Minnesota Supreme Court declared Al Franken (D) the winner over Senator Norm Coleman (R) in the Minnesota Senate race.  This decision clears the way for Franken to be sworn in as early as next week.   With this victory, the Democratic Party gets the key 60th vote in the Senate that will assist in efforts to overcome filibusters if all Senators vote along party lines.  There is no guarantee that they can reach the magic number, especially with prominent Democrats Senator Ted Kennedy (Mass.) and Robert Byrd (W.Va.) battling medical illnesses.   In addition, some conservative Democrats often break with their leadership on various issues including card check and climate change. It is possible Franken could sit on the powerful Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.  AGC is interested in Franken's role on the HELP Committee, which has jurisdiction over many issues that concerns AGC members.  For example, this Committee is home to the debate on OSHA reforms, the current health care debate, and the "so-called" Employee Free Choice Act that AGC opposes and Franken has already publicly supported.  Continue to send letters in opposition to Card Check to your elected officials via the Legislative Action Center.