Next Administration Shows Signs It Will Seek Middle Ground With Business on Thorny Issues

[billyoc]

WASHINGTON -- The weak economy, congressional races that empowered moderates and President-elect Barack Obama's choice of business-friendly advisers suggest Democrats will go slow on controversial labor and regulatory issues.

A bill that would make it easier for unions to organize workers, efforts to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions, and a slew of contemplated taxes will likely take a back seat to broader economic issues for now, Democratic operatives say.

"This administration from what I'm seeing is going to be very mainstream, middle of the road on tax and business policies," said Scott Lilly, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, a think tank close to the Obama transition. "I believe most businesses are going to find it pretty moderate...they're trying to convey that."

Later this month, Congress is expected to start crafting an economic-stimulus bill, which has the qualified support of the Bush administration, depending on what it includes. Beyond a likely extension of unemployment benefits and more rebate checks for Americans, the bill could include money to work through a backlog of state and local infrastructure projects, a potential boon for the construction industry.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122592124080902543.html

This is the Chamber of Commerce desperate to stop the Employee Free Choice Act at all costs.

[Eric J in MN]

1. Do you know if any Republican Senators support the 'Employee Free Choice Act'? NT

NT

[billyoc]

3. Specter(R-PA)

[Earth Bound Misfit]

2. And the backpedaling begins....

It took what? 48 hrs?

[billyoc]

4. I'm not going that far yet, the article doesn't even have an ANONYMOUS quote from the Obama team.

I believe this is from reactionary(DLC) elements within the Democratic Party allied with the Chamber of Commerce. But we'll definitely have to watch this like hawks.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

6. The article quotes Scott Lilly...

..."a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, a think tank close to the Obama transition"

The Obama Transition team is headed by John D Podesta, who is the founder of... wait for it...
The Center for American Progress Action Fund.

[billyoc]

7. Yeah, good catch. That's close enough for me.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

8. Let's see how it plays out

Obama owes Labor in this country BIG TIME. But like you said, this needs to be watched.

[corpseratemedia]

5. going "middle of the road" is actually far right

And will make the recession into a Depression..perhaps it is a Depression

Going slow on regulation and actual fair taxation = no resolution to our economic collapse

It's just great that the DLC is so ready to have the Dems take the inevitable blame...which could now stick ...for the economic collapse and possible loss of the Presidency in 2012.

Either that or WSJ is full of shit. I hope its the MSM's "If we say it enough, it'll come true" latter.