Spector switch could help labor bill

[Enrique]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/21806.html

(...)

Labor leaders have been hunting for the 60 votes needed to overcome a threatened Republican filibuster on the bill. They’d found themselves about a vote short and had leaned heavily on Specter to close the gap.

Thus far, he has refused and, in a statement announcing his party switch, he said his opposition to the legislation would not change.

But Specter has always left some wiggle room in his position by opposing its current language and offering suggestions about how it might be improved.

In fact, Teamster’s President James P. Hoffa attended a meeting with Specter on Monday to discuss the legislation.

Specter’s party switch will make his relations with labor leaders all the more important since Pennsylvania is a state with a large union membership that votes Democratic.

(...)

[Taverner]

1. Although, he specifically stated he was against it, and would remain so

[Enrique]

2. which is addressed in the short excerpt

Thus far, he has refused and, in a statement announcing his party switch, he said his opposition to the legislation would not change.

But Specter has always left some wiggle room in his position by opposing its current language and offering suggestions about how it might be improved.

In fact, Teamster’s President James P. Hoffa attended a meeting with Specter on Monday to discuss the legislation.

[Dogmudgeon]

3. Only recently

He supported it before the general election. I'm not sure of exactly when he dropped his support, though.

I'd give 50:50 odds that he will support card-check.

--d!

[Enrique]

8. he voted with the dems in 2007

the only republican that crossed party lines to vote for cloture on EFCA.

[Critters2]

5. He also said he wouldn't leave the GOP.

And yet...

[SemiCharmedQuark]

7. Good point.

[Occam Bandage]

6. All we need is for him to vote for cloture,

maybe after some insignificant face-saving "compromises" on minor specifics, such as the number of workers required to sign off.

[backscatter712]

4. I'll bet the unions in PA could arm-twist him into supporting EFCA.

Card check may have to be watered down (i.e. require a higher percentage of workers to sign in before the union is formed) but I'll bet Specter can be pressured into turning around on EFCA, maybe just by voting for cloture and voting against the bill itself.