The new magic word for “card check” is “consensus,” according to Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO). “We’re going to have to see whether or not there’s a consensus that can be reached that makes it something that can be passed because right now there isn’t something that can be passed,” he said. While not rejecting EFCA as it currently is, Bennet at least acknowledges that it is dead (for now). With Democrats controlling 58 seats (and perhaps 59 in the near future), it remains to see just what Bennet means by “consensus.”

An interesting story that has largely eluded attention is the trial of three former Teamsters officials that began yesterday in Chicago. The three are accused of attempting to rig a secret ballot election by stealing ballots. According to prosecutors, one member changed addresses of some union members so that the ballots would be mailed to the alleged conspirators’ family and friends.

Even the current system of secret ballots faces tampering, much as our presidential voting system still faces fraud (see ACORN, 2008 election and). But does anyone really think that opening up the union voting process to card check will make the process more secure?