As the decisive vote, Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Arlen Specter’s announcement Tuesday reported by Politico that he will oppose the Employee Free Choice Act could decide the fate of the bill, which would make it easier to form unions. Specter was the only Republican to vote in favor of the bill last time it was in the Senate in 2007. "It appears that 59 Democrats will vote to proceed with 40 Republicans in opposition. The decisive vote will be mine," Specter said in the Politico article. He said he decided the bill was flawed. The removal of the secret ballot in union elections, he said, would eliminate a "cornerstone" of how unions have organized for generations. He also criticized the arbitration rules the legislation would impose on companies.
Senator says he will oppose union bill
Published March 25, 2009
