Where Will Lincoln Go On Union Ballot Vote?
Washington D.C. pub Politico notes that Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas will be one Democrat to watch in the coming debate on the absurdly monikered “Employee Free Choice Act,” a labor-backed bill to make union organizing easier by eliminating the secret ballot. Lincoln’s not been clear on where she stands on the issue.
That fact that has not gone unnoticed by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette editorial board, which has no use for the mealy-mouthed hedging on the issue coming from Lincoln and fellow Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor:
If and when our two U. S. senators make up their mind on this issue—perhaps they have and just don’t dare tell the rest of us—it would be nice to get a straight answer out of them.
Should they decide that Americans should be denied a secret ballot at their workplace, their votes would not be without irony.
Having just participated in the Democratic caucus in the Senate, which allows senators to cast their ballots in secret for their leaders, they would have tried to deny the same right to American workers.
The Arkansas Project has touched on this issue in recent days, along with other members of the Arkansas blogging posse Jason Tolbert at The Tolbert Report and Tim Griffin at The Griffin Room.
Are they really undecided or are they just waiting for Reid and Pelosi to tell them that which way they CAN vote?
It’ll go somethin’ like this:
Reid to Lincoln – “Okay, you’re up for re-election in two years. We need to keep you safe, so you can vote against it.”
Reid to Pryor – “How’s your daddy, son? That’s great. Hey, tell him I said thanks for not mentioning me in his book. I was afraid he might tell about that time…well never mind. Anyway, let me tell how you’re gonna vote on this Employee No Choice, I mean, Free Choice Act. You’re voting yes because you’re safe for six years. Those dumb Arkies will forget about it by then. Good to see you, son.”