Roll Call: GOP Zeros in on Lincoln and Bennet on EFCA

Tuesday, 16 June 2009 08:21

Two Democratic Senators, both of whom would probably love to see a vote on the Employee Free Choice Act put off until after their 2010 re-elections, are taking different tacks when it comes to the controversial bill that is the No. 1 legislative priority for organized labor.

And yet both are taking flak for what some political insiders say are their efforts to dodge the issue because they represent states where business interests are notably anti-union.

Appointed Sen. Michael Bennet (Colo.) remains undecided on the bill that conservatives derisively refer to as “card check.” In a state with a powerful tourism industry that could be threatened by EFCA, Bennet continues to meet with labor and business leaders and has said that he’s waiting to see what sort of compromise bill Democrats can work out before he makes a decision one way or the other.

Meanwhile, Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) said in April that she can’t support the EFCA bill in its current form. It was a decision that was likely cheered by executives at Wal-Mart, the powerful and outspoken foe of EFCA that is based in Arkansas. But Lincoln has also indicated that she is open to considering alternatives that will be less divisive for business and labor.

As expected, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which has Colorado and Arkansas on its target list in 2010, has criticized both approaches to the bill. NRSC spokeswoman Amber Wilkerson said the committee intends to make EFCA a major issue when it comes to their communication strategies in Colorado and Arkansas.

“Lincoln says she rejects the bill in its current form but yet can’t explain what has changed from the same legislation that she once co-sponsored,” Wilkerson said. “And Bennet still hasn’t explained to his constituents whether he will pander to the big union bosses in Washington in order to appease the left wing of his party or whether he will reject this job-killing legislation.”

Still, while Republicans are hopeful they will be able to target the two Democrats, they have yet to find top-tier challengers to run against either Lincoln or Bennet next year. There has been talk that Bennet could face a possible primary, but the chances that a credible challenger will emerge are diminishing by the day.

For Bennet, the question is how much longer can he remain on the fence before his lack of a position does him more harm than good. As Republicans try to paint him as indecisive, some Democrats in Colorado are wondering when it becomes less politically dangerous to simply pick a side.

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