Check back often for the latest news.

• Business groups see victory over unions in Sen. Lincoln's primary victory
  Jun 9, 2010 — The Hill
  Michael O’Brien and Kevin BogardusBusiness groups opposed to “card-check” legislation declared victory after Sen. Bill Halter (D), who won 48 percent. It showed just how unpopular the bill is,” Spencer said. “This is a big setback for them.
• Another Tuesday, another test of anti-establishment mood
  Jun 8, 2010 — The Hill
  She became the butt of national ridicule when she suggested that bartering could lower the price of medical care and noted that doctors once accepted chickens in exchange for their services.
• Allen: Oil will be out there for months to come; Crist praises administration's response; Israeli ambassador: No apologies
  Jun 6, 2010 — Washington Post
  Charlie Crist (I) praised Allen's responsiveness. "Whenever we have made an ask, it has been answered. Halter did say he supports a secret ballot, which has been the main sticking point for opponents of the bill. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) appeared next.
• Unions Support Halter to Defeat Senator Lincoln in Arkansas Runoff
  Jun 5, 2010 — New York Times
  That is how badly labor unions, by their own count, want to defeat Senator Blanche Lincoln, a Democrat they once supported. Bill Halter, in a runoff election on Tuesday. Lincoln’s campaign complained about a union flyer that juxtaposed photos of Mr.
• Union leaders take credit for Sen. Lincoln's derivatives provision
  May 18, 2010 — The Hill
  Unions were eager to mobilize against Lincoln once Halter jumped into the race.As the primary heated up, the Senate began to move on its Wall Street reform bill. Lincoln surprised many when she introduced a tough derivatives amendment. Both the AFL-CIO and SEIU are members of the organization.Still, unions have not relented in painting Lincoln as a Wall Street insider.
• Trumka says Dems' aggressive posture helps election chances
  May 4, 2010 — The Hill
  They are looking for someone with some backbone,” Trumka said of Reid. Jobs will be the No. 1 issue.”For example, Democrats who voted against the healthcare reform bill have risked their labor support. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), who voted against the healthcare reform bill.
• Sen. Specter viewed as a model Democrat one year after switch
  Apr 5, 2010 — The Hill
  The union was a key backer for Specter during his 2004 reelection campaign, when he was still a Republican.The rest of the Democratic establishment in Pennsylvania, including Gov. Ed Rendell (D), are supporting Specter.More than 300 Democratic state party officials, including Reps. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.), was rated favorably by 23 percent of Democrats.
• Dem Rage Fades On Health Care Heretics
  Apr 3, 2010 — Politico
  Zack Space’s vote against the recent landmark health care legislation. His once-strong relationship with local labor chapters is strained. Registered Democrat Harry Sowers said he sent an email to Space through his web site noting that he’d definitely vote for the congressman precisely because of his vote.
• Radical views of NLRB appointee
  Apr 1, 2010 — The Boston Globe
  For example, employers are required to give union organizers the names and addresses of their employees. But the Bureau of National Affairs data show that 95 percent of the elections are held within 56 days after a union files its petition.
• Recess Appointments End Deadlock on Labor Relations Board
  Apr 1, 2010 — New York Times
  Labor unions argue that the recess appointments of Mr. One thing labor and business agree on is that the board’s deadlock will soon end. For the last decade, many unions have avoided the labor board and its elections when seeking to unionize workers.
• Obama appointment to labor board sparks opposition
  Mar 27, 2010 — CNN
  The fury is aimed at Obama's appointment of Craig Becker -- a labor lawyer -- to the NLRB, the federal agency that oversees relations between unions and employers. "Mr. Business groups and Republicans say that Becker has voiced support for skirting Congress to enact so-called card-check legislation regarding labor unions. The card-check bill -- officially called the Employee Free Choice Act -- would allow employees at a workplace to join a union if a majority signed cards.
• Senate Gone, Obama Seats Nominees
  Mar 27, 2010 — Politico
  Lipnic, Nominee for Commissioner, Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionLipnic is of counsel in the Washington, D.C. office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP. Ms. Lipnic was the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment Standards from 2002 until 2009.P. David Lopez, Nominee for General Counsel, Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionLopez has served at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for 13 years in the field and at headquarters. He began at the EEOC in 1994...
• Gop: No Recess Appointment
  Mar 25, 2010 — Politico
  Becker and his ability to serve in a fair and impartial manner as a member of the NLRB,” said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz), one of the chief authors of the letter. "If this administration chooses to recess appoint Mr.
• Unions taking on Dems who do not toe labor line
  Mar 11, 2010 — The Hill
  McEntee, as head of the AFL-CIO’s political committee, has been leading that cause.But some union officials grumble it’s a waste of time and resources. For example, SEIU Colorado has gotten behind Sen. He is coming back strong,” George said.SEIU is expected to weigh in even earlier, according to Eileen Connelly, executive director of the union’s Pennsylvania State Council.
• Democrats Need a Rally Monkey
  Mar 6, 2010 — New York Times
  “When a party’s snakebit, it’s really snakebit,” said Charlie Cook, the independent political handicapper, who is predicting a thumpin’ for Democrats in November. Pushing the Employee Free Choice Act could rally labor. In the scenario best for the Democrats, the Tea Party peaked with Mr.
• Still With Obama, but Worried
  Mar 3, 2010 — New York Times
  Obama has not pressed for immigration reform this year. Trumka said that unions would not campaign for Democrats who had done little for labor, especially on issues like the card-check bill. Obama got a health care overhaul enacted and advanced a bill making it easier to unionize, that would go far to re-energize the labor base.
• In speech to AFL-CIO, Biden defends bailouts, jobs-creation agenda
  Mar 2, 2010 — The Hill
  That’s where labor is going to lead.
• The Obama administration's poor relationship with Labor
  Mar 2, 2010 — Washington Post
  They don't have the votes, and they'll be even further from having the votes come January. Not only is that not enough, but it's not smart in the long run: Democrats need a strong labor movement, yes, but so too do American workers. Without Labor, workers have no organized lobby advocating (however imperfectly) for their political interests and no countervailing force against the corporate sector.
• Issues Tabled, Left Still Professes Hope
  Feb 21, 2010 — Politico
  Ben SmithThe news releases remain hopeful: Comprehensive immigration reform this spring! Labor leaders and immigration reform groups alike warn that their constituents will stay home in droves this fall. The Employee Free Choice Act didn't even get a mention in the State of the Union, though Obama technically supports it.
• AFL-CIO urges supporters to challenge White House about NLRB
  Feb 12, 2010 — Washington Post
  But guess who was left out of the deal? Meanwhile, the NLRB, tasked with protecting American workers' rights, has been handicapped with vacancies for the past two years.Enough is enough. America's working people are getting short shrift and it's past time to do something about it.
• Brown's first vote not the deciding one
  Feb 10, 2010 — The Boston Globe
  But by the time he cast his first vote on the Senate floor yesterday, much of that drama had evaporated.Storm drives lawmakers home. A secret ballot vote would not be required.Business groups such as the US Chamber of Commerce argue card check would allow unions to unduly pressure workers into forming unions.
• GOP seeks to block Obama's labor pick
  Feb 4, 2010 — The Boston Globe
  The final vote, to be held today before Brown's swearing in, will require only a 51-vote majority. Organized labor groups argue that employers now hold far more leverage over workers and pressure them to reject collective bargaining.Becker has further inflamed Republicans because he is prolabor. In his legal writings, Becker has suggested that many of the goals of card check legislation could be accomplished through administrative rule-making, circumventing a vote in Congress.
• Obama nominee's fate in flux as labor lawyer loses GOP support
  Feb 4, 2010 — The Hill
  Kevin BogardusTwo Senate Republicans who previously supported a controversial labor board nominee opposed him on Thursday, putting his confirmation in doubt.Sens. But his nomination stalled under heavy lobbying by business groups. He wondered if the Republicans were just instituting delay tactics to stop his confirmation.But concerns remained among Republicans even after a Tuesday confirmation hearing for Becker.
• Traveler's Aide: Customer gets lost looking for GPS refund
  Feb 3, 2010 — USA Today
  Can you get the erroneous GPS fee refunded?— John Manfredo, Owens, Ill.Answer: GPS navigation units are popular car-rental options. Thrifty has been offering GPS rentals since 2005, and the devices typically cost $11.99 per day. I often hear from readers who inadvertently purchase collision-damage waivers, for example, but once the contract is signed and the rental is complete, car-rental companies won't normally refund those charges.
• Labor needs a new survival plan
  Jan 29, 2010 — The Boston Globe
  There was also collateral damage for already-frustrated union backers of the president. Instead, he placated labor by appointing a presidential commission to study the topic. The panel frittered away the only two years during Clinton's presidency when Democrats controlled Congress.
• Obama: 'i Don't Quit' -- J. Harris: 'document Of Downsized Ambitions For A Downsized Moment In His Presidency' -- Speaker Wants Military Included In Spending Freeze -- Bloomberg Balks At 9/11 Trial
  Jan 28, 2010 — Politico
  I hated it -- (applause.) I hated it. Bloomberg said that a more secure location, like a military base, would be less disruptive and less costly. While the Shinwaris are now united against the Taliban, if payments from the Americans falter or animosities flare with the Afghan government, the tribe could switch back just as quickly.
• Refund request checks hotel guest into circle of confusion
  Jan 27, 2010 — USA Today
  When I checked in, I gave my Discover card to the front desk clerk. After we had figured this out, the hotel said it would contact Hotels.com to refund the charge. After her billing trouble started, Chan contacted Hotels.com, which in turn went back to the hotel for an explanation.
• Labor Helps Kill Its Own Top Priority
  Jan 26, 2010 — Politico
  I’ll never give up on it.”For a year, labor leaders kept their bargain with Congressional Democrats and the White House: health care first, then EFCA. The election of Martha Coakley to fill the seat held for decades by Sen. But the Senate by that time was consumed by the health care issue and the issue was delayed.Now, Ackerman said labor leaders are trying to scope out the best way forward.
• Labor board nominee heats up battle over union-organizing rules
  Jan 25, 2010 — The Hill
  Labor lawyer Craig Becker was re-nominated to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) last week. Along with Harkin, the AFL-CIO and the SEIU are supporting Becker’s nomination. A spokesman for Enzi declined to comment further on Becker’s nomination.
• Nominee to Labor board heats up card-check fight
  Jan 25, 2010 — The Hill
  Labor lawyer Craig Becker was re-nominated to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) last week. Along with Harkin, the AFL-CIO and the SEIU are supporting Becker’s nomination. A spokesman for Enzi declined to comment further on Becker’s nomination.
• The 2010 Congressional Agenda
  Jan 12, 2010 — Politico
  To blunt that message, a bipartisan group of 31 senators has asked Obama to back an 18-member bipartisan deficit-reduction commission. It’s opposed by House Democratic leaders and some powerful senators. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) introduced legislation that would open a door for legal status to illegal immigrants.In the Senate, Schumer is working with Republicans to craft a bipartisan immigration bill.
• Democrats walk a tightrope ahead of election
  Jan 5, 2010 — Los Angeles Times
  Phillipenas represents a Teamsters local; Taylor, the culinary workers. Phillipenas believes card check should be a priority. Reid can count on the Latino vote, supporters say.
• Speaker Pelosi to shield vulnerable members from controversial votes
  Dec 16, 2009 — The Hill
  Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has privately told her politically vulnerable Democratic members that they will not vote on controversial bills in 2010 unless the Senate acts first. The House will not move on the issue until the upper chamber passes a bill, Pelosi told the members. Obama and Reid have vowed to pursue immigration reform in 2010.
• For Labor, There's Always Next Year
  Dec 15, 2009 — Politico
  The Northwest and Delta airline merger last year brought together a mix of workers, with some Northwest employees unionized and some Delta workers not unionized. For 75 years, transportation workers, unlike others, have had to win the votes of a majority of the work force in order to unionize. The board had competing petitions then: one to change the voting process and another to make it easier to decertify a union.The board ultimately rejected both.
• White House Expects Job Growth By Spring - Obama Will Press Bankers To Ease Credit -- Noonan: Obama Bows To Reality, Moves Center -- Google Tries Hardware -- Mo B'day
  Dec 13, 2009 — Politico
  Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.): “Democratic office holders have a lock on Arkansas politics, but for months opinion polls have recorded a big swing to the right. It runs Android, the operating system for mobile phones that Google developed, they added. Ballots were mailed to 870 media personnel across the nation plus 55 Heisman winners and one fan ballot, for a total of 926 electors.
• Column: Mr. President, here's how to lift our economy
  Dec 3, 2009 — USA Today
  Growing government, as was done with the stimulus, inevitably depresses the private sector and job creation. For example, install a robust investment tax credit, permit businesses to expense capital purchases made in 2010, and reduce payroll taxes. Government encroachment on free enterprise is depressing investment and job creation.
• Vote records can hamper member's political ambitions
  Dec 2, 2009 — The Hill
  Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) and former Rep. While Sestak has run to Specter’s left in the primary, former Rep. In contrast to Meek, another Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) member, Rep.