I've been rather obsessed with Arlen Specter's vote to allow Bush's overtime provisions to pass. Under serious pressure from the White House, he allowed the provision to go through. At the time, it sparked a lot of discussion about what he got in return (an uncontested primary? Doesn't look like it).
I've been pretty obsessed with it because I don't know how anyone who can be personally blamed for getting rid of overtime pay (for up to 8 million people) could win elective office in this country.
But now Specter is fighting against the White House to save important overtime provisions. The most interesting general thing about this article is that this will all hit the fan in March, in plenty of time to affect the elections. But it also provides insight into Specter's role (and therefore the Senate race in PA).
Here's some detail about the efforts Specter is making to oppose the new overtime provisions:
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on labor, health and human services, and education, said he intends to call a hearing on the issue on Jan. 20, the day the Senate comes back into session. He said he wants a full airing of the debate, including testimony by employers, workers, Labor Department officials and economists, to bring "some clarity" to the proposal.
"I believe we need a revision of the regulations, but this is a bad time to be cutting back on overtime when so many workers are relying on overtime for their sustenance," Specter said. He said he wonders whether it is wise to cut workers' discretionary spending now, "given the fragility of the economy."
Specter said his efforts to discuss the issue with Bush administration officials had been fruitless. "I've been in touch with the White House, but so far, there's no give," he said.
"It's really a pitched battle over a little time span," Specter said. "That's what's happening in this legislative process."
In other words, Specter is going to use his leadership position to do what's right, save the aspects of overtime pay that need saving. And he sees this as I do--that it is absurd to take away overtime pay right now, because you'd basically be giving a big number of people huge pay cuts, at a time when the economy is already under a lot of stress.
I think, wrt to his Senate re-election campaign, this just makes it easier to Specter to run after he wins the nomination (if he does so). But I do find it interesting that it will basically put him in a position where he's taking on one of Bush's pet projects.