Bowing to pressure from business groups and other Republicans, Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) has announced that he will oppose the cloture vote on the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). In other words, Republicans now appear free to filibuster EFCA to death, absent key compromises.

Specter was the lone Republican in the Senate who supported EFCA last time around. House Democrats are unlikely to take up the bill unless it first passes in the Senate. The chances of that happening now appear slim.

Said Specter: “Knowing that I will not support cloture on this bill, Senators may choose to move on” to change the more controversial parts of the bill, including card check and mandatory arbitration.

“Manufacturers commend Senator Specter and will continue to urge all lawmakers to put workers first and oppose any vote on EFCA, procedural or otherwise,” said John Engler, President of the National Association of Manufacturers.

Specter expressly reserved the right to change his mind if the economy improves. Stay tuned.