http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/labor/labor-unions-senate-waiting-on-al-franken/Labor Unions, Senate Waiting On Al Franken
One wild-card in the whole looming battle over the Employee Free Choice Act that’s gotten too little attention is this: When will Al Franken be seated as a Senator?
Labor officials say they’re reluctant to really kick off the battle over Employee Free Choice — a measure to make it easier to unionize that is labor’s top priority — until Franken is officially a member of the Senate.
Indeed, Minnesota’s other Senator, Amy Klobuchar, confirmed yesterday during an event in the state that the Senate has decided not to move on Employee Free Choice until Franken is seated, the Minnesota Post reports. If the House of Representatives pushes for the Senate to vote first on the measure, as expected, this could hold up the fight that much longer.
The pro-Employee Free Choice forces are holding their fire and waiting for Franken because the Senate is where the really bloody battle over the measure will unfold. They say that they can’t craft the finer points of their legislative strategy until they know for certain exactly how many Senators will be in their camp.