March 15, 2009 11:06 PM UTC

CO Senators deciding Employee Free Choice?

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• by: wade norris

Crossposted on Daily Kos and Square State

With the planned introduction of the Employee Free Choice Act into the US Senate looming, every Senator’s vote is crucial. Democrats will easily get the majority in the House, but also want to get to the magical number of 60 in the Senate to cut off debate on the issue.

Most democrats in the Senate are willing to stand up for this issue with only a few to be wavering on their support.

How much pressure is there on Democratic Senators?

Jonathan Tasini’s title says it all:

Democratic Senators: Mess With EFCA, Face A Primary

Let’s look at who is looking soft on their support, and which Republicans might be wooed to cross the aisle for the Employee Free Choice Act. Unions

The wavering ‘centrists’ and his view of a primary challenge:

From Jonathan Tasini

Max Baucus, Ben Nelson, Mary Landrieu, and Blanche Lincoln; it’s not clear to me what the replacement Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet will do on the bill, nor do I entirely trust Bill Nelson or Mark Pryor. That’s seven Senators who, in my opinion, you cannot count as passionate champions of EFCA….

Ok, so, now about the primary. I guess I’d start by saying that I think primaries are very good things to have-primaries are the place that a party defines its soul and direction. So, if need be, let’s have the debate in a primary over these issues…

The only way for our country to recover from a collapse in wages over the past three decades is to have a strong labor movement. By every measure, union workers do better than non-union workers. Sen X, you just voted to cripple legislation that would have restored a decent standard of living for working Americans. Why do you deserve another term?

So, let the waverers beware: support EFCA, fight for it and defend it… or face the prospect of cashing in that chit for a job as a corporate lobbyist.

There are a couple of variables to consider. For instance, when will Al Franken be seated? He will most likely support the bill. And there is talk of Pennsylvania’s Arlen Specter crossing the aisle on this Bill in return for labor’s support in 2010.

And how about the appointment candidates?

For Illinois’s Roland Burris, it doesn’t really matter what his view on the bill is, because he may not keep his seat.

New York’s Gillibrand looks like a safe yes vote., but what about Colorado?

Colorado’s appointee, Bennet, seems to be wedged in a corner.

On the day that EFCA was introduced last week, Bennet got a personal visit from one of the most powerful labor leaders in the country, Service Employees International Union president Andy Stern, who hammered home the importance of the senator’s vote.

A few weeks before, Bennet attended a packed meeting of Colorado Concern, a business group whose members will be critical in Bennet’s effort to win over the state’s business community.

“Leaders in high positions have to make tough decisions,” said Mitch Ackerman, regional director for SEIU, who when asked if a “no” vote would impact labor’s support for the Democrat in 2010, answered simply: “Absolutely.”

“To use a Colorado image, it’s the Continental Divide,” said Joe Blake, president of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. “This is a litmus test for business and (Bennet) understands that.”

…(Democratic)party insiders worry that an angry labor movement might help fund a primary opponent against Bennet, a potential disaster for a candidate trying to husband resources to fight off what’s expected to be one of next year’s biggest GOP efforts to unseat a sitting senator.

Bennet has a tough choice. His former employer,Colorado Billionaire Phil Anschutz and his business allies will most likely lobby Bennet to vote No on the Bill.

But this state’s elected officials, including Senator Mark Udall, owe much of their support to labor.

If Bennet signals a ‘Yes’ vote, he risks alienating his business allies who might back a republican, or if he votes ‘No’ he risks inviting a Primary, from popular democrats like former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, who has already got an unsolicited Draft Andrew Romanoff campaign started.

Ed Schulz asked an important question on his show last Friday, ‘Where’s Mark Udall on EFCA?”  It seems Senator Mark Udall has become non-committal on the bill, after being a supporter just last year in the House. It could be that Mark Udall is giving Bennet some cover on a tough decision.  Or maybe Bennet’s wavering is making Udall waver as well. If that is the case, then Bennet’s choice is really critical for the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act.

The President of the United States supports the Employee Free Choice Act.

Remind Senator Bennet of that point on his contact page.

One thing is for sure, if Bennet keeps showing up at public meetings with no definite position on Employee Free Choice, then the primary chatter will continue to grow….from DARTH STEWIE