Rep. Sestak (D-PA) to Challenge Sen. Specter (D-PA) in Dem Senate Primary
TPM and NPR (and EFCA Report) broke the news over a month ago. But today, with the Al Franken development front and center, Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) appears to have made it official. The Congressman will run against Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) in the Pennsylvania Democratic Primary for Senate in 2010. Many have been speculating that Sestak's support among those on Specter's left flank might put pressure on Specter to either (a) express more support for EFCA in its current form, or (b) bring forth an alternative palatable to organized labor in short order.
Many forget, however, that Rep. Sestak already has introduced an alternative to EFCA -- the National Labor Relations Modernization Act (H.R. 1355). Introduced days before Rep. George Miller (D-CA) and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced EFCA in the 111th Congress, Sestak's bill would
- provide for mandatory arbitration following a 120-day mediation period, if after an initial 120 days of bargaining failed to result in an agreement;
- increase penalties against employers (similarly to EFCA's proposed changes); and
- require an employer to provide equal access to the employees to union organizers once an election is ordered.
With talk of an EFCA "alternative" possibly being pushed to the Senate floor as early as next week, the timing of Sestak's "announcement" would seem directed toward impacting this issue more than most.
More coverage:
- "Are Specter's Senate Days Numbered?" -- Christian Science Monitor
- "Rep. Sestak Says He Will Challenge Specter In Pa. Senate Primary" -- American Spectator
- "Sestak Pulls The Trigger" -- Politico
