In an address to the AFL-CIO convention on Tuesday, Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) unexpectedly announced that some senators had come up with a "compromise" on the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) and that it would pass this year. This announcement remains more wishful thinking on the part of top EFCA supporters as no official compromise has been made and there are not enough votes in the Senate to stop a filibuster at this time. The small group of pro-EFCA senators has been trying to find a compromise to the card check provision, and it is believed that any compromise would still require mandatory arbitration, among other items opposed by AGC. AGC remains opposed to compromise on this bill as it is likely to be used as a Trojan Horse to pass EFCA in its current form.
It is important to continue communicating your opposition to elected officials on the Employee Free Choice Act, any compromise or cloture in the Senate on the bill. Please use the AGC Legislative Action Center to send a letter to your members of congress in opposition to Card Check or any compromise.
The key Senate targets remain:
- Mark Begich (D-Alaska)
- Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.)
- Mark Pryor (D-Ark.)
- Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)
- Mark Udall (D-Colo.)
- Michael Bennet (D-Colo.)
- Evan Bayh (D-Ind.)
- Mary Landrieu (D-La.)
- Max Baucus (D-Mont.)
- Ben Nelson (D-Neb.)
- Harry Reid (D-Nev.)
- Arlen Specter (D-Pa.)
- Mark Warner (D-Va.)
- Jim Webb (D-Va.)