Health Care Debate - Another Card Check Fail

by Brad Peck

Big Labor spent a lot of money in the 2008 elections secure in the belief that with Democratic control Congress and the White House "If the sun comes up in the morning, we’re passing card check."

And they have tried: "Labor groups have been pushing for Democrats to move on EFCA all year, though the union organizing bill has taken a back seat in the meanwhile to efforts to reform the U.S. healthcare system."

But now they are sure: "Top union officials say they believe Senate leaders are willing to move on card check early next year, after Congress acts on the health bill and a jobs bill."

Interestingly enough both of the bills which would precede EFCA in this scenario are arguments for scrapping it altogether.  In the case of jobs it is quite obvious, simply put EFCA is the "anti-jobs" bill. On health care we have to step back from the bill (though quite union-friendly in its own right) and look at Jane Hamsher's recent attempt to punish/intimidate Senator Lieberman on his health care position by going after his wife. Kathleen Parker writes:

...Hadassah Lieberman is but the most recent victim of new media that owe no allegiance to facts or to the goal of an informed citizenry. In such an environment, anyone's reputation is subject to the whim of any other person armed with an agenda and a random selection of disputable facts, and unencumbered by standards.

Fortunately Hadassah Lieberman is a public figure with public defenders. The average worker is not going to have such media protection when faced with a union organizer armed with an agenda, personal information and unencumbered by the possibility of a secret ballot. This is why EFCA needs stay off the table in 2010 -- though in the spirit of concession, we have no problem with curtains.