One of the biggest domestic threats of an Obama presidency teamed with an expanded Democratic Congress is passage of card check legislation making it very easy for union bosses to intimidate workers into unionization.

This year, the unions have made card check their top priority, letting Democrats know that this is their litmus test not only for support, but in order to avoid being targeted by the union PACs.

Under current law, in order to unionize a company, several things must take place. 30% of employees must sign a card requesting an election to determine whether or not to unionize. Once 30% of employees have done this, an election is called and campaigning for and against unionization begins. Then, on the predetermined day, a secret ballot election is held and whichever side gathers a majority wins.

This is a fairly democratic (small 'd') system that protects worker privacy.

Card check would upend this entire system and take away workers right to a secret ballot. Card check would force immediate unionization upon 50% of the employees signing a card requesting a union.

On the surface, this sounds fine. After all, if more than half sign a card, more than half want a union, right?

Wrong. The unions would be allowed to harrass and harangue workers on the job, at home, and anywhere else until the worker relents and signs the card.

Bay Area Democratic Congressman George Miller, Chair of the House Committee on Education and Labor is carrying the bill. The same Congressman Miller who in 2001 pressured the Mexican government to require secret ballot elections for unionization now wants to take that right away from American workers.

To me, this is the number one reason we need Congressman Buck McKeon back as the Chair of Education and Labor. He did an excellent job and under his leadership, this terrible idea would never see the light of day.

Union membership in private companies has been in a slow steady decline. This legislation would allow unions to regain the ground they've lost through bullying and intimidation.

Additionally, it would immediately give Democrats a huge financial edge as the unions would reinvest in their bought and paid for Democrat Members of Congress.

The Coalition for a Democrat Workplace has a great TV commercial succinctly making their case. It features "Sopranos" actor Vincent "Johnny Sack" Curatola as a union boss. Not sure if/how I can embed it, so here's the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNNK98ch8Ec