Think Progress

LABOR -- BIG BUSINESS RALLIES AGAINST EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT: Today, Democrats in both houses of Congress will introduce the Employee Free Choice Act, which provides a "fairer path for workers to unionize by enabling them to form a union by signing cards of consent." The bill has been called  "a power struggle among labor unions and businesses" and business leaders, in conjunction with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, are bringing in lobbying giants to kill the legislation. Rick Berman, executive director of the lobbying firm Union Facts, which spent $20 million last year trying to defeat the bill, is spearheading a new campaign featuring TV and radio ads in states where Democratic senators are wavering. One such TV ad features George McGovern saying the bill "cannot be justified." On a February conference call hosted by Bank of America, Berman boasted that "we have mounted the largest public education on this in the target states where there are Senate races that are still in play." In addition, the Chamber of Commerce has raised at least $10 million to supplement this effort and launched a nationwide campaign to fly 180 business leaders to pressure legislators still on the fence. They will follow up with a second round in April when the bill must be voted on. Although over-matched, the SEIU organized a competing "fly in" of 300 workers to speak with legislators about the benefits of the legislation in expediting health benefits and increasing wages. President Obama reaffirmed his support for the Employee Free Choice Act in a recent interview in the Oval Office. 

RADICAL RIGHT: LIMBAUGH CALLS GINGRICH A 'FLY-BY-NIGHT OPERATOR' FOR HOPING OBAMA SUCCEEDS: This past Sunday on Meet the Press, former House Majority Leader Newt Gingrich took a shot at Rush Limbaugh, saying that anyone who doesn't want President Obama to succeed is "irrational." Yesterday, Limbaugh responded on his radio show. "You know, I'm frankly getting tired of talking about Newt," Limbaugh began. "I mean, it's a pointless exercise." He then ripped Gingrich for being a typical finger-in-the-wind politician who can't be trusted. "They are fly-by-night operators, and most of them stand for nothing until they see a poll about what the American people want, and then they go out and try to say one way or another what the American people want while trying to falsely hold onto an ideology at the same time -- and you can't count on them. You can't depend on them. They will sell you out; they will throw you overboard to save themselves, faster than anything," Limbaugh said. Limbaugh claimed that Gingrich is simply jealous of his influence. "I know that Newt would give his whatever to have what I've got," he said. "So would any of these other critics of mine. Newt Gingrich wishes they [progressives] were running TV ads against him. But they're running TV ads against me. So I love it. I'm up for it." Gingrich is looking "seriously" at a 2012 run for the presidency. How far can Newt get if the leader of the Republican Party won't give him his blessing?

ECONOMY -- VITTER STANDS BY HIS $249 MILLION IN EARMARKS WHILE COMPLAINING THAT THE OMNIBUS BILL IS 'BLOATED': Republicans like Sens. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) have been attacking the $410 billion omnibus spending bill, claiming that it has too much spending and too many earmarks. One of the loudest voices calling for the bill's defeat has been Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), despite his earmarks worth $249 million for 142 projects. In an interview on Laura Ingraham's radio show yesterday, Vitter defended himself against charges that his position is hypocritical. "I don't think it's wrong to advocate for specific priorities in your state if it doesn't change your opinion about an overall bill, which I think in this case is way too bloated," said Vitter. Pressed by Ingraham about whether it was "worth it to put these earmarks in," Vitter said that "the important bottom line" was that he would vote against "a bloated bill, $410 billion." "Ever since I've known the size and scope of this bill, I've said that's way out of line," claimed Vitter. But that claim is questionable. The House passed the $410 billion omnibus on Feb. 25, but as recently as March 1, Vitter was telling his constituents that he was undecided about how he would vote on it. Vitter has repeatedly said that the bill is "too bloated" but  never suggested that he would be willing to do his part to slim it down by cutting his own earmarks. Considering that the bill is expected to pass, Vitter appears ready to take credit for the earmarked projects after voting against the bill.

"I don't want him to fail in his mission of restoring our economy," says Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in an interview with Politico. "These are terrible, perilous times, so I will seek ways to work with the president of the United States."

Key Senate Democrats "are wavering in their support" of the Employee Free Choice Act which is expected to be introduced today. Six Democratic senators and one Republican who have voted to move forward with the legislation “now say they are opposed or not sure -- an indication that Senate Democratic leaders are short of the 60 votes they need for approval.”

Democratic leaders in Congress are beginning to take a knife to President Obama’s "audacious budget," with the "apparent first casualty" being the plan to limit tax deductions for the wealthiest 1.2 percent of taxpayers in order to pay for health care reform. The chairmen of the House and Senate tax-writing committees, Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), have objected to the proposal.

"Republican infighting escalated Monday" at the RNC, after chairman Michael Steele issued $1 million checks to the campaign committees -- checks some tell The Hill were slashed from the $3 million promised by former chairman Mike Duncan. "That is a 'lie,' says the RNC -- and so another round of recrimination begins."

In a speech to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce today, President Obama will outline an education plan that would institute merit-based pay for teachers. Obama's recommendation has previously upset the teachers' unions. "The White House plan also includes new incentives for states to boost quality in their preschool programs, to raise standards for student achievement and to reduce the high school drop-out rate."

In a new report sponsored by Sen. Robert Casey (D-PA), the National Center on Family Homelessness estimates that one in 50 children in America -- about 1.5 million -- are homeless each year. The study uses statistics from 2005-06; the numbers for 2008 are likely to be even worse.

In an interview with the Washington Times yesterday, Howard Dean said that Republicans would likely suffer in the 2010 election cycle if they attempted to block health care reform or demonize universal coverage as "socialized medicine." "If they want to filibuster this to death, be my guest and let’s see how they do in 2010," Dean said. Dean would not comment on what he would do if he was offered the role of Surgeon General by Obama.

Yesterday, Attorney General Eric Holder hosted the first Cabinet-level meeting of President Obama's Guantanamo task force to discuss how to close the detention facility. The group, which included Hillary Clinton, Robert Gates, Leon Panetta and Robert Mueller, "discussed standards for reviewing detainee cases, which detainee decisions will get priority, and what has been done to date."

In a 5-4 vote yesterday, the Supreme Court limited the scope of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The court’s conservative majority ruled that only election districts "in which minorities make up at least half of the voting-age population are entitled to the protections." Justice David Souter, who wrote the principal dissent, concluded that the ruling may "force the states to perpetuate racially concentrated districts."

The Obama administration has chosen Center for American Progress Senior Fellow Van Jones to be a special adviser for green jobs, enterprise, and innovation. Jones will reportedly "direct the administration’s efforts to create jobs and help the environment," with a focus on "vulnerable communities." He is the author of "The Green Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems,” and has blogged over at The Wonk Room.

And finally: Former White House press secretary Dana Perino is back after a six-week vacation with her husband; two of those weeks she spent at an AIDS center in South Africa. "I feel good about the office I ran and I think over time history will be a better judge than people can be in contemporary times," she told the Hill. Fresh from her trip, she gave her first post-administration paid speech yesterday, to the National Apartment Association. "It was fun to be behind a podium and not feeling like I was going to be beat up," Perino said to Politico.