Friday, May 15, 2009
Arlen Specter raises card-check from the dead
Those of you who have reveled in the purification of the GOP following Arlen Specter's defection might reconsider your opinion if the Donks now pass the Employee Free Choice Act, which will damage American business by slowing the speed with which it can adapt just when it needs to move faster.
A trade war, higher taxes on American corporations who do business internationally, the adoption of the European approach to anti-trust, and now more labor unions and their work rules. How much harder is Barack Obama going to make it for those of us who will have to earn the money to pay back everything he has spent?
6 Comments:
By 
, at
Fri May 15, 11:32:00 AM:
Who exactly do you keep talking to with this "purification of the GOP" stuff? It would be just as easy to say, and make equally little sense, "Those of you in favor of moderating the GOP would have to get used to this sort of guy, Arlen Specter, the man who wants to bring card-check back from the dead".
By , at
Fri May 15, 11:42:00 AM:
" Those of you who have reveled in the purification of the GOP following Arlen Specter's defection might reconsider your opinion "...You ,incorrectly in my opinion, assume that Arlen would not have switched his position had he remained with the republicans. Do you have a particular reason in taking this position ? Arlen Spector has only one concern, and that is what's best for Arlen. He has flipped in the past and this instance is no different. Let us not forget, his vote on the stimulis was based on funding for a favorite cancer research program. He was, in fact, bought, in order for Arlen to have a grandstand issue,
By , at
Fri May 15, 01:19:00 PM:
This is pure Arlen being Arlen, and not a surprise. When he said he opposed this legislation (and his statement on the subject was thoughtful), he also said that he hoped he could work out a compromise. Last I read, that compromise would keep out the two key elements of the bill -- the card check provision and the compulsory arbitration provision -- and a) hold union elections more quickly and b) give NLRB more resources to enforce the existing laws. That might be the best business can do, but that won't mollify the major unions. The president said he wants to make it easier to unionize, but he ignores the fact that unions win most of the certification elections that are held. At any rate, this legislation just won't go away.
Equally troubling for moderates and conservatives alike is a story from an editorial in the WSJ this week. The president has nominated the Associate General Counsel of the SEIU to the NLRB. Apparently this fellow, while on the UCLA Law faculty, had espoused many views that are most favorable to organized labor. Having him on board to address labor law issues and convince two other NLRB members to follow along might be better for the union movement than even the "card check" legislation.
As you put it, TH, the problem with the overall agenda to redistribute the wealth is that the Obama administration could disincentize the innovators and business leaders out there -- through a) too much taxation, b) too many hassles (between Federal law compliance and the increased possibility of having to deal with unions and c) increased risk (this administration has the looks of becoming prosecution-happy). If that's the case, you'll see either early retirements or people moving their efforts into lower-risk, lower growth endeavors to bring home some money but also to avoid the hassles and risks.
All that's bad for the economy, which actually needs more business leaders and innovators to pay for the country's obligations, not fewer. Since those in power don't see this now, you can imagine what taxes might be in store -- inheritance, personal property, increased sales taxes, for starters. Plus, not only will there be a bigger Federal tax burden to pay for the stimulus, there also will be increased state and local taxes to pay for the pensions of public employees.
It's not pretty out there.
The Centrist
By 
Georg Felis, at
Fri May 15, 02:18:00 PM:
Specter stabs Republicans in the back...again. Amazing he can find the space to put in the knife, with so many others of his already embedded there.
By , at
Fri May 15, 04:46:00 PM:
Does anyone believe Specter is going to offend the unions and Dem leadership until he has received all the campaign funds and help they can give him?
Next summer, after he has the party nomination, he may swerve right a little to woo moderate voters. Will any be fooled by this snake again?
Reid and O and other Democrat leaders know Arlen will obey for only one year. Which is why they are so frantic to get heir big legislation passed this year.
Once Specter thinks he has another term locked up he will knife the Democrats too. That is his nature, he thinks it is cute, he likes the attention.
K
By , at
Sat May 16, 12:18:00 AM:
I prefer to have him as a Democrat and off the judiciary committee. Have a lot better change of blocking the worst now.
