Sen. Arlen Specter (photo by djwhelan)
Just days after the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO endorsed his candidacy, Arlen Specter tried to make good by rolling out something he called the “Workers’ Bill of Rights.” Sounds cool, right?
Specter’s bill of rights is a five-point platform: Forcing China to end its practice of pegging its currency to the U.S. dollar, more aggressive U.S. enforcement of trade laws, rescinding the president’s authority to overrule the International Trade Commission’s recommendations, speedier remedies for illegal trade claims, and stronger “Buy American” requirements under the stimulus.
I’m not sure how that amounts of a “Bill of Rights” – it’s more vague slate of labor-related policy ideas than anything else – but on the surface it’s not a bad collection of policy ideas for Specter to work on in the Senate.
The only problem is his spokeswoman shut that door real quick, saying it’s more “campaign rhetoric” than anything that will be “actual law.”
A spokeswoman for Specter said that the bill of rights is more likely to stay as campaign rhetoric than make their way toward actual law. The senator, though, has ratcheted up pressure on President Barack Obama and other Democratic leaders when it comes to labor issues.
I’m hoping this is just the reporter confusing Specter for Sestak; otherwise, what a massive fail by Specter’s campaign to shoot down his own plan as “campaign rhetoric.” In the mean time, I’ve asked the reporter for clarification.
UPDATE: No, the reporter is standing by his reporting that Specter’s own spokeswoman dismissed this as campaign rhetoric. Apparently Specter will be discussing these ideas in a speech but will not be following up with any legislation to actually enact these ideas. Fail, fail, fail.
