White House on EFCA: "I Believe It Is" A Priority For 2009
We have noted a number of times before that for all the pre-election and early talk, EFCA has not at all been a top priority of the Obama administration to date. The President has certainly declined to unequivocally state his support for the pending bill as currently drafted. Now comes this from yesterday's press briefing with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs:
Q Robert, the Employee Free Choice Act, you've got a full plate, but that seems to have gotten pushed aside. There are some labor leaders who feel that there has not been enough vocal support from the administration on the Employee Free Choice Act. So two questions: Is this something the President supports, and is it a priority for this year?
MR. GIBBS: I don't have anything new on it from what we've -- I don't know when the last time we were asked. I think you heard the President talk about his support for it throughout the campaign, and it's obviously one of many things that we will work on throughout our time here.
Q High priority for this year?
MR. GIBBS: Let me check. I believe it is -- I believe it is, again, something the President campaigned on and we'd like to see happen.
Yes, sir.
That is not likely to provide much comfort to the labor leaders referenced by the questioner.
