Specter says card-check compromise ‘remains to be seen’

Senator Arlen Specter said this afternoon that a compromise on the Employee Free Choice Act might be in the cards, but did not elaborate on the nature or timing of such a compromise.

When he was still planning to seek reelection as a Republican, Specter came out against the bill, known as “card-check,” which he orignially sponsored.

Now that he plans to run as a Democrat, labor support is more critical in the primary.

“I know that labor does not like my decision, and I understand that,” Specter told reporters during a conference call. “Since I’ve taken the position, I’ve been contacted by a number of labor leaders who have wanted to discuss a bill different from card check. There are a number of senators, and we’re talking. It remains to be seen.

“There are a great many other issues where I have been supportive of labor,” he added. “We’ll have to see how card check plays out.”