Isn't this an especially hard time to convince people that further stacking the deck in favor of unions is a good idea? We have GM and Chrysler collapsing (due at least in part to inflexible, ridiculously expensive labor unions), lots of people looking for work while others (protected by unions) get paid far more than the market would indicate is appropriate, and increased competition from overseas (meaning our workers at all levels need to be more competitive, not less). (While we're on the subject of the appropriateness of favoring organized labor in this day and age, explain to me how a fiscal stimulus package which aims to bring back economic growth and lower unemployment has a rule which requires the prevailing (read: union) wage be paid for work done using its money. The government could hire 50 union-pay workers to do a given job or 50 market-rate employees and use the savings to take care of another project but instead the savings go to satisfy some politician's uncompetitive labor fetish.) The impulse to expand one's political base by creating a new class of subsidized workers who recognize and vote to preserve their privilege (like most union workers) is understandable but regrettable. Thank goodness at least some senators are willing to look at the welfare of the country and block card check.