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AP photo: Susan Walsh
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Reid speaks to Las Vegas Chamber
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The debate over health care reform has pushed the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) off the Senate docket, possibly for the rest of the year, according Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Speaking to the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Reid commented “We have too many other things on our plate.” Reid’s comment follows on the heels of AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka’s recent statements that the White House will not push EFCA until health care reform is finalized. As noted at EFCA Report, the vacancy in Senator Kennedy’s seat is a further impediment to consideration of EFCA before the end of the year.
Some EFCA opponents are engaging in some premature celebrating over this development, claiming that EFCA is dead for this year. Drawing such a conclusion from Reid’s brief comment is unwarranted. Clearly, health care reform will dominate the Senate agenda after the recess, but there is a strong possibility that it may get put on the back burner due to the strength of opposition from Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats. If that occurs, EFCA may once again percolate to the top of the Senate agenda.
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