Specter to Oppose Cloture and Final Passage of Card Check

Senator Arlen Specter will oppose cloture and final passage of Card Check, or as it's officially known, the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA).

Opposing cloture essentially means Specter will not support attempts to overcome a Republican filibuster -- which means the bill is effectively dead.

Word of Specter's decision leaked this afternoon and was followed by a dramatic official announcement on the Senate floor.

Specter's move was likely influenced by the fact that he will likely face a tough primary challenge from conservative former Congressman Pat Toomey. In fact, Toomey credits primary pressure for Specter's 'Card Check' stance -- and the Washington Post's Chris Cillizza agrees, writing,

Sen. Arlen Specter's (R-Pa.) decision to vote against the Employee Free Choice Act, a reversal of a position he took just two years ago, is evidence of the seriousness with which he views the looming primary challenge from former Rep. Pat Toomey.

Though it may deprive Toomey of a campaign issue, Specter's decision, of course, is great news for the many conservative activists and organizations who viewed 'Card Check' as a mechanism to deprive union members of the right to a secret ballot.

Tim Mooney of Save Our Secret Ballot issued this response to Specter's announcement:

Of course we are pleased that Sen. Specter listened to his constituents and has decided to not support cloture or card check. Card check may be dead in this Congress, but we still must push ahead at the state level to effectively kill the idea permanently. Other Senators should take note that Sen. Specter specifically addressed the issue of the cloture vote. Senators who say they're voting for cloture but not necessarily supporting the bill are playing a cynical game to fool voters.

After the jump, read a summary of Sen. Specter's remarks this afternoon:

SUMMARY "On the merits, the issue which has emerged at the top of the list for many is the elimination of the secret ballot which is the cornerstone of how contests are decided in a democratic society. The bill's requirement for compulsory arbitration, if an agreement is not reached within 120 days, may subject the employer to a deal he or she cannot live with. Such arbitration runs contrary to the basic tenet of the Wagner Act for collective bargaining, which makes the employer liable only for a deal he or she agrees to."

o SUMMARY "With the prospects of a Democratic win in Minnesota yet uncertain, it appears that 59 Democrats will vote to proceed, with 40 Republicans in opposition. If so, the decisive vote would be mine. In a highly polarized Senate, many decisive votes are left to a small group who are willing to listen, reject ideological dogmatism, disagree with the party line and make an independent judgment...On knowing that I will not support cloture on this bill, Senators may choose to move on and amend the NLRA, as I have suggested, or otherwise. This announcement should end the rumor mill that I have made some deal for my political advantage. I have not traded my vote in the past and I would not do so now."