CONGRESS -- SPECTER ANNOUNCES HIS INTENT TO VOTE AGAINST EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT: Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) was the only Republican to vote for cloture -- and thus end debate and allow a vote -- when the Employee Free Choice Act was last considered in 2007. But yesterday on the Senate floor, Specter announced his intention to vote against cloture on the same bill when it comes up this year. During his announcement, Specter noted his previous support for the bill, but suggested that the dire condition of the economy makes "this a particularly bad time to enact" employee choice legislation. Earlier this month, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) countered this right-wing talking point, observing, "In 1935, we passed the Wagner Act that promoted unionization and allowed unions to flourish, and at the time we were at around 20 percent unemployment. ... This is exactly the time we should be insisting on a fairer playing field for people to organize themselves." As evidence of the right-wing pressure he was facing, one of Specter's first calls was to Grover Norquist, the head of Americans for Tax Reform, to inform him of his decision. Further, Specter is "likely to face a major primary challenge from Club For Growth president Pat Toomey in the 2010 election, which may have factored into this apparent decision." Specter also suggested that he did not want to bear the political cost of being the "p.mx3.americanprogressaction.org/e/er.aspx?s=785&lid=18192&elq=6565790649674626ABDC1CF2E919CAFD"" in favor of the legislation.