Another Key Dem Senator Won’t Say Whether He’ll Cast Key Vote For EFCA
This one is very, very bad news for the Employee Free Choice Act: Senator Jim Webb, who was thought by labor to be supportive of the measure, now won’t say whether he’ll cast a key vote for it.
Worse, his office says he views this as a bad time to be introducing the legislation — a potentially serious blow, because Webb is generally seen as strong on labor issues.
“He doesn’t believe this is the appropriate time to introduce this legislation or to be debating it,” Webb spokesperson Jessica Smith confirms to me. “He’s always been a strong supporter of the right to collective bargaining, but as written, he would look towards improving the legislation in a way to make it more fair and equitable.”
In another blow, Webb’s also won’t say whether he’ll support bringing it to the floor for debate. “He’s not publicly going to say at this point,” his spokesperson said.
That could be a big deal, because the initial “cloture” vote to allow the bill to be debated, thus overcoming the GOP’s filibuster, is the one that requires 60 votes in the Senate. Labor, obviously, can ill afford to lose another Dem like Webb, particularly with another reliable backer, Senator Dianne Feinstein, also refusing to say whether she’ll back it.
So Webb’s position will cause some serious heartburn in labor circles.
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I must say that I am shocked, simply shocked that the US Senate is where the EFCA went to die an ignoble death.
The next thing I will be shocked about is that the US Senate is where universal health care will go to die. Oh shoot, that’s right, the Democrats don’t even pretend to want universal health care anymore!
And after health care reform dies a slow painful death what’s next up to die in the US Senate? How about any and every liberal proposition ever put forward.
But don’t worry their will be lots and lots of trillions dollar bills to shovel to Jamie Damon and Lloyd Blankfein, not to mention there will always be protection for the Bush/Pelosi war criminals and traitors in not just the US Senate, but the House of Representatives and especially in the Obama White House.
They just love them some war criminals there!
If this isn’t the appropriate time when is it time to start valuing labor again. The problem with our economy is that too much wealth has trickled up from the Middle Class to the Rich. Unions were part of the time in America when prosperity was spread most evenly. It won’t happen until we can join unions again.
If this isn’t the appropriate time when is it time to start valuing labor again. The problem with our economy is that too much wealth has trickled up from the Middle Class to the Rich. Unions were part of the time in America when prosperity was spread most evenly. It won’t happen until we can join unions again. i have several good editorials on EFCA on my blog Philadelphia progressive examiner Hope you will read. i would love to pass them on to democrats
I can’t support Prison reform then…**** ‘em let them all rot.
You want salience Mr. Webb?
Suck on my wet **** you ******* hack liberal.
Speaking for the Democratic party, **** you and get that fluid drained from your BIG ******* empty head.
If the democrats decide to delay EFCA, then it is critical, more than ever, to quickly confirm Patricia Smith and get enforcement where it should be.
The issue is they need to wait for Al Franken, right?
Now is exactly the time for EFCA.
It’s time when corporations are trying to get employees to take pay cuts, but they’re rewarding executives with big salaries and big bonuses.
It’s time when mergers and takeovers are at risk if unions don’t make more concessions, on top of those already made.
It’s time when 90 percent of the money goes to one percent of the population.
When do they plan to try it again, anyway? When pigs fly and we all get sparkly ponies?
This is why you don’t want DINOs as Democrats. Primary the *******.
The problem with EFCA is that for all that the American people are doing to keep banks alive these days it is the Wall Street banks that are behind the anti-EFCA activity and they are using our bail out dollars to pay for it, and that includes tending to politicians needs. I don’t suggest that Webb or any other elected official is being bribed but they are certainly hearing that businesses don’t need to be contending with pissed off workers who hold a modicum of power. This is Wal-Mart, Citi, Bof A and Morgan/Chase in cahoots w/the Goldman Sachs boys.
Ravi Batra’s book, “Greenspan’s Fraud”, explains why we are in this economic mess, even though the book was published in 2005. At the core of the problem is the fact that over the past 30 years wages (demand) have not kept pace with productivity (supply). And now Webb, displays a deep lack of understanding by asking us to put future wage gains on further hold!?
Well, that’s disappointing. Webb’s been one of the most eloquent spokesmen in the country on the rights of the working class. His moves on prison reform would suggest that he’s no political coward.
Instead of jumping on him as a phony and a fake, I’m more inclined to ask why he’s saying this. Why is the Champion of Appalachia hedging on something so righteous?
Eloquent frauds are the most dangerous frauds of all. We knew that Bush was an imbecile, so eventually people saw him for what he is. We KNOW that Obama, Webb, and others are intelligent, so we CAN’T SEE THEM for who they really are.
I heard this morning that Chrysler is looking at a merger with Fiat or bankruptcy. If they merge, Fiat is demanding a cut in union wages and benefits for workers. The really, really maddening part is that Chrysler was offered bailout monies to help them out of this mess and they refused, saying they didn’t want government regulation of their management compensation.
So Chrysler management is ******** the union worker so that CEOs can get their over-inflated bonuses.
Why isn’t the public more outraged? Where’s the anger? Damn it, I’m ready to kick some corporate ***. I’ve had enough of this BS! We need to call our congressmen, write do whatever it takes to get EFCA passed as soon as possible.
Aren’t you tired of taking **** from management ****-ups?
The problem as I see it, is that the previous administration didnt even require fair elections. Instead of the dems wringing their hands, they must get Patricia Smith in there ASAP to enforce present laws. Is there even a date for her hearnings?
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