Michael Whitney at Firedoglake has some decidely unkind things to say about President Obama's speech to the AFL-CIO's executive counsel. The Hill has more on the speech, but Whitney is right.

Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens ended speculation about his continuing on the Court today by formally announcing his retirement at the end of the Court's term this summer.

We've stayed away from posting about healthcare, because until now, there was little definite about anything in the package. Now there is. This political football surely will affect employers and employees for years to come. We're not sure that the final product will be nearly as unpopular as the sausage making appeared to be. For one, there are some immediate and concrete benefits to a wide range of employees. Being able to carry your college graduate, but unemployed child on a parents' plan to age 27 for one. We suspect there will be many people realizing concrete, immediate unexpected benefits from the plan. CNN's poll showing only 39% favoring the bill and 59% against, is misleading. When broken down as to why people opposed the bill only 43% opposed it because it was too liberal, and 13% said they opposed it because it was not liberal enough. Now, while substantial confusion remains concerning the substantive provisions, 52% polled either out right favored the bill or thought it did not go far enough. Remember President Obama received less than 53% of the vote in 2008. There is a very real prospect that HCR will grow in popularity as its provisions become known, and the hysterical posturing by opponents does not come to pass. Even conservatives are pessimistic about riding healthcare to electoral wins. For those of us who believe in limited government, and personal responsibility, its easy to be concerned for the future. By abdicating responsibility and demonizing reform rather than participating in it, Republicans inherit responsibility for many aspects of this bill, which could have been made better by reasonable attempts to compromise. The party of Lincoln, T. Roosevelt and Reagan has been overrun by what David Frum calls the Republican entertainment industry. Long term, the opinions of that industry, of Beck, Limbaugh, Savage, and their ilk will continue to weaken the Republican brand and diminish the broad appeal necessary to be a national party.

A cloture vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act, S. 3772 is scheduled for tomorrow. The Paycheck Fairness Act would amend the Equal Pay Act. The EPA was designed to require equal pay for equal work, but has been judicially interpreted to permit employers to defend pay disparities provided the differential in pay is based on a factor other than sex. The PFA requires any differential to be based on “bona fide factors” such as education, training or experience. Such bona fide factors must also be consistent with “business necessity.” SInce the bill has already passed the house, Senate passage would send the bill to President Obama who favors the legislation and is expected to sign it.

President Obama made no reference to organized labor in his hour and ten minute State of the Union address, despite a major emphasis on job creation.

President Obama has signed into law the Small Business Jobs Act which, among other things, will allow all businesses to write-off 50 percent of the cost of depreciable property purchased and placed in service anytime during 2010.

The Hill notes that President Obama conceded yesterday that the chances of passing EFCA are "not real high" although the legislation retains the administration's support. But passing a law is not the only path to change. The President also noted that many of the changes to the rules of union organizing sought by labor could be enacted administratively without need for congressional action.

The Supreme Court set oral argument in New Process Steel for March 23. The case involves the validity of 2 member decisions by the NLRB. If as reported by the New York Times, President Obama intends to renominate Craig Becker to the NLRB, ensuring further delay in filling the 3 Board vacancies, the case before SCOTUS may affect an increasing number of decisions that will be decided by a two member NLRB.

Drawing on history, one former union organizer and Obama campaign staffer claims Democrats who fail to champion workers rights are doomed to electoral failure. Claiming abandonment of EFCA is political suicide for President Obama, Mike Elk supports the claim by citing Truman's 1948 election and claiming Truman's opposition to Taft-Hartley rallied workers to support him over Dewey. The piece further claims Regan's victory over Carter and the 1994 Republican revolution were permitted as a result of sitting Democratic presidents rejecting workers' rights. I don't buy this over simplistic logic. First, union density was a whole lot higher in 1948. Second, blue collar workers were significantly more likely to vote for democrats in 1948 than in 1994, or 2010. That said, if there is no passage of significant labor legislation assisting unions in their organizing efforts, labor might take a hike on the 2010 mid-terms, and that could make 2010 a lot more like 1994.