The Republican strategy on Capitol Hill of legislating through hostage taking worked yesterday – and now unions are screwed. House Republicans demanded that a routine FAA spending bill include harsh anti-union language that makes it harder for transportation workers to organize. The change raises the threshold for seeking a union from 35% to 50% for transportation workers – and Republican basically said if Democrats don’t agree to it then they’ll shut down the FAA again – just like they did last year.

Yesterday – despite 19 labor organizations writing a letter to Democrats calling on them to oppose the bill – Democrats caved. A majority of Senate Democrats helped pass the bill and new anti-union law for transportation workers by a 75-20 vote. As a letter from the Communication Workers of America read, “Rewarding the House Republican Leadership's desire to rewrite decades of long standing labor law in a flash by inserting an unrelated and controversial labor provision…sets an extremely dangerous precedent."

Indeed it does – unfortunately – it’s been all too common in this 112th Congress – paid for by over $300 million dollars in corporate spending.

-Thom

(What do you think? Tell us here.)

The Daily Stack

Karl Frisch in for Thom.

Hour One: The Fox Gun Ban and Murdoch Hits the Hacking Trifecta
- Eric Boehlert

Article: "Komen Official Quits After Funding Feud" by Elizabeth Lopatto.

Article: "The Fox Gun Ban" by Media Matters by Chris Brown.

Article: "Murdoch Hits the Hacking Trifecta" by Eric Boehlert.

Article: "Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Under FBI Investigation Over Alleged 9/11 Victims Hacking Scandal " by Tom Hays, 07/14/11.

Article: "UK Police Investigating Email Hacking At The Times, Tom Watson Says " by AP.

Article: "Murdoch's News Corp accused of trying to bribe Australian senator" by AP.

Article: "Santorum’s Incoherence: Manmade Global Warming Is a “Hoax” But Using “Science and Discovery” Makes Us Better Stewards" by Stephen Lacey.

Article: "For Minnesota And Colorado Caucuses, Polls Are Sparse But Hint At A Rick Santorum Surprise " by Mark Blumenthal.

Article: "Romney Campaign Spins Low Turn Out: Voters Staying At Home Secretly Support Romney" by Adam Peck.

Hour Two: Why #OWS Needs to Denounce Violent Tactics on Display at Occupy Oakland
- Tina Dupuy, Crooks & Liars

Article: "Why #OWS Needs to Denounce Violent Tactics on Display at Occupy Oakland" by Tina Dupuy.

Article: "Pete Hoekstra Super Bowl ad riles Republicans, too" by David Catanese.

Article: "Fox's Brit Hume Dismisses "Alleged 'Slur'" In Hoekstra's "Broken English Ad"" by Media Matters.

Article: "Mitt Romney's family baptized Ann Romney's atheist father into Mormon church a year AFTER his death" by Meghan Keneally.

Article: "Bill Maher ‘unbaptizes’ Mitt Romney’s dead Atheist father-in-law" by Roxanne Cooper.

Article: "Arizona Republican Legislator: White People Should Have A Holiday" by Frances Martel.

Video: "The Mormons" - PBS.

Article: "Chrysler Super Bowl commercial: Why Detroit loves Clint Eastwood (+video)" by Peter Grier.

Hour Three: President Obama Softens Super PAC Opposition
- Lee Fang, RepublicReport.org

Article: "President Obama Softens Super PAC Opposition" by Sam Stein.

Article: "Who Loves More Money in Politics?" by Lee Fang.

Article: "What is the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act?".

Prop 8 decision today
- Chris Geidner, Metro Weekly

Article: "Appeals court decision on Prop 8 expected today" by Ari Burack.

Article: "Ninth Circuit Prop 8 Ruling on Tuesday -- A Guide to Understanding What's Happening" by Chris Geidner.

Article: "BREAKING: Federal Appeals Court Finds Proposition 8 Unconstitutional" by Igor Volsky.

Case: "Romer vs. Evans" by Wikipedia.

Article: "Initial Thoughts on 9th Circuit Prop. 8 Decision" by Rick Hasen.

Article: "Congress approves long-term FAA funding bill" by Sean Lengell.

Article: "Small Biz Owners: Big Businesses, Millionaires Not Paying Fair Share" by Gary Therkildsen.

Article: "Company Faces Forgery Charges in Mo. Foreclosures" by Gretchen Morgenson.

Article: "Republicans in Colorado, Missouri, Minnesota to vote for candidates" by DPA.

Article: "Big day possible for Santorum" by Public Policy Polling.

Article: "Big Oil Pumps More Than $1.2 Million Into Romney Super PAC" by Rebecca Leber.

Article: "Louisiana's U.S. Rep. Fleming falls victim to The Onion's 'abortionplex' prank" by Nicholas Persac.

Read an excerpt here, and buy the book!