Yesterday Senator Arlen Specter told an audience of business leaders that he would make his decision on EFCA by assessing its merits. Based on that measure his conclusion, announced today on the Senate floor, was a foregone one:

• Pa. Sen. Specter to Oppose Card Check
• Specter Won't Back Card-Check Bill
• Report: Specter To Oppose Cloture On "Card Check"
• Specter to oppose card-check legislation

Tom Donohue's statement:

The so-called Employee Free Choice Act would be bad for the American economy and bad for our workers. The Chamber is very pleased that Senator Specter has carefully reviewed its substance and understands the adverse impact of the bill.  We applaud the Senator for taking a principled stand to support Main Street employers and workers in Pennsylvania.

There will likely be many attempts to push other forms of labor law reform with similar goals, and we urge the Senator to continue to oppose these misguided efforts.  We also urge all Senators to oppose any efforts that would take away the protection of the private ballot, impose binding interest arbitration on America’s small businesses and other employers, or create one-sided remedies. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce will continue to use every tool at its disposal to fight this legislation until it is taken off the table altogether.