Self-proclaimed Obama-supporter Mickey Kaus has been writing a lot lately about EFCA over at Slate. Like many who approach the issue from a more intellectually honest standpoint, he has expressed concern about the potential policy and economic implications of the bill. And he lists the bill among the primary concerns of “Obama voters who (like me) nevertheless worry about what Dems might do if they win a filibuster proof Senate majority in addition to White House.”

In a post today, Kaus follows up on an earlier piece:

P.S.--Fear of 59? An earlier Assignment desk asked if any Democratic senators might turn against card-check to sustain a filibuster even if the Dems get a 60-seat majority. An informed emailer answers by noting that every Democrat voted for cloture on "card check" when the issue came up in 2007 (except Tim Johnson, who was unable to vote). Of course, their judgment might change when their cloture vote would mean the bill would actually pass. Likely-senator Mark Warner of Virginia and possible-senator Ronnie Musgrove of Mississippi are mentioned as a potential anti-card-check apostates in the next Congress, along with incumbents Mary Landrieu (La.) and Ben Nelson (Neb.). ... Might any GOP senators defect the other way? Yes. Arlen Specter voted for cloture in 2007 and would presumably do it again (which means that the magic number for organized labor could be 59, not 60, Democrats). And beatable Republicans up for reelection in 2010 (e.g., Voinovich, Grassley, Vitter) might worry about angering the unions.

We’ve been wondering the same. After the filibuster held last year, EFCA proponents made clear their intention to seek vengeance at the polls -- something not likely to be lost on GOP candidates in this election cycle and the next. However, it may also be fair to question whether GOP Senators who have seemed inclined to break with the party and vote for cloture – or who have done so in the past – might not readily do so with a Democrat in the White House and sufficient congressional majorities to pass the bill. Add to the mix the fact that Senator Specter has recently expounded upon his desire to see labor law reform handled differently, and it is by no means certain that party lines will be broken. Still, the closer the Democrats get to that magic number 60 in the Senate, the closer EFCA comes to reality.

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The Kaus dispatch also includes an interesting reader e-mail regarding the bill:

I'm an Obama supporter - voted for him [in] the primary, and plan to again in November - but I share your concern on this particular issue.

There's a unionization campaign going on in my company, and the organizers from the local seem to be running the campaign as if card check already existing - knocking on doors, getting cards signed, and trying to use them as leverage to get management to agree to the union without an election. They don't have the votes yet for an election, and they may be biding their time until card check is passed.

Co-workers who've had union reps show up unannounced at their doors (with cards in hand) were freaked out by it. When people get a first-hand taste of this, they don't like it. I can't believe that if the basic facts of this issue were made known that a majority of people would support it.