The Real Arlen Specter: Joe Sestak Knows I Oppose EFCA

By SESTAK FOR SENATE

Washington, DC – In light of a reminder from Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak’s Senate campaign about Arlen Specter’s pledge to have a done deal on the Employee Free Choice Act in the Senate by year’s end, The Real Arlen Specter for Senate campaign would like to set the record straight.

After 30-years as a loyal Republican Senator, people should know better than to be fooled by election-year campaign promises. The Real Arlen Specter, who received an AFL-CIO rating of just 61%, has absolutely no intention of passing an EFCA bill by year’s end.

From Harrisburg Patriot News:

“The aftermath has seen a rash of Democratic Senate colleagues cry foul on Specter’s assertion — the same Senate colleagues who will decide whether or not to acknowledge Specter’s seniority should he win re-election.”
“With his strangely wild prediction about the controversial labor reform bill called the Employee Free Choice Act, the word is that Specter was so off-message that he even floored his own Senate and campaign staff.”
“In addition to accusations of waffling and pandering, Specter faces a growing choir of Senate colleagues and staffers who are repudiating Specter’s characterization that a new card-check bill had been hammered out.”

From The Hill Newspaper:

“Specter is facing a primary challenge from Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.), and the two are competing for the AFL-CIO and union endorsements, which could sway the race in labor-heavy Pennsylvania.”
“[Specter's comments to AFL-CIO] set off a flurry of activity from lawmakers and union officials saying no agreement had been reached.”

From Business Week:

“It seems Specter may have been playing to the crowd–in this case a room of hundreds of union delegates at an AFL-CIO conference in Pittsburgh-with the statement.”

The Real Arlen Specter’s Record of Opposing Workers:

Opposed EFCA back in April, saying, :I will not be an automatic 60th vote, and I would illustrate that by my position on Employee Free Choice, also known as Card Check. I think it’s a bad bill and I’m opposed to it and would not vote to invoke cloture.
Voted No on tax relief for working and middle class families in order to preserve tax breaks for multimillionaires [HR 3996, 12/6/07]
Voted for Santorum amendment to help employers eliminate paying overtime [3/7/2005]
Voted for Hutchison amendment, which would have prevented employees from challenging pay discrimination and cut off a woman’s right to challenge ongoing pay discrimination.

Sources:

Patriot News Story – http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2009/09/commentary_has_sen_arlen_spect.html

The Hill Newspaper Story – http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/59143-senate-democrats-pull-back-on-specters-card-check-prediction

Business Week Story – http://www.businessweek.com/blogs/money_politics/archives/2009/09/specter_and_lab.html
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