Labor secretary leaves card check up to Congress

By Lisa Mascaro

Published Tuesday, April 21, 2009 | 1:05 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, April 21, 2009 | 4:14 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- Labor Secretary Hilda Solis supports the Employee Free Choice Act, a spokeswoman clarified today, even as she is leaving to Congress the best way to proceed on the thorny issue.

“She supports EFCA, has supported EFCA and will support whatever action Congress can ultimately take to restore balance and make it easier for workers to form unions and increase wages,” a Labor spokeswoman said. "She believes that unions help grow the middle class."

Solis was on the Hill today in one of her first appearances since a prolonged confirmation process.

During her confirmation hearing, Solis declined to provide an opinion on the so-called card check issue, frustrating Republicans who largely oppose the measure.

The legislation would make it easier for unions to organize and is staunchly opposed by the business community.

Solis’ support for an earlier version of the bill as a congresswoman fueled scrutiny of her nomination as Labor secretary. She served on the board of a main advocacy organization.

Solis said today the details will be for Congress to decide.

“The president and I are supportive that people have the ability to bargain collectively if they choose to be part of the union, the president and I agree with that,” she told reporters after a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing. “But in terms of what the product will look like that’s entirely up to the Senate and the House.”

She added, “That will be a Senate and congressional decision because they’re the ones that are going to decide the end product.”

Solis recently appeared on the “The Rachel Maddow Show” and discussed the bill.

“The president and I are on record in support of this legislation -- I as a former member of Congress, he as a former senator. But he continues, as I do, to believe that this is a good bill and we would hope to see it passed,” Solis said on the show.

The issue may be moot. Several key senators have dropped their support for the bill, slimming its chances of passage. However, some senators are working on alternatives, hoping to broker a compromise.