Brian Tumulty of Gannet News Service reports that Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton, both New York Democrats, told members of the Business Council of New York State yesterday that they "were willing to consider [the EFCA's] effect on small businesses."  Both Senators were mum on what specific small business exemptions they might entertain, but some business groups have not been silent on the issue:

Peter Aust, president and chief executive of the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County, said he didn't support the bill, but that one compromise might be to exempt businesses with fewer than 100 employees. The current bill exempts employers with fewer than 25 workers.

Of course, Employee Free Choice Act proponents in the House of Representatives had no appetite whatsoever for amendments or compromise.  And, as we reported in an earlier post, a key Republican strategist on the measure has indicated that the bill's opponents in the Senate do not plan to attempt to “weaken” or “improve” the bill through amendments -- they hope to defeat it altogether and as is.

Schumer, in a separate appearance at the breakfast, told the business group that Democrats lacked the 60 votes in the Senate needed to break an expected filibuster of the bill, so there is time to consider changes.

Earlier this week, an Arkansas paper reported  onstatements made by Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR):

But Pryor on Wednesday said he supports the bill, though he does not believe it will pass the Senate this year.

Pryor said the bill should be seen as a precursor to more substantive changes to labor law.

"At some point, the business community and the labor community will come together and talk about how to modernize the way unions are formed," Pryor said. "I don't think that's going to happen this year." Pryor predicted the bill will falter on procedural grounds short of the 60 votes needed to advance it in the Senate.

Doesn't it seem highly unlikely that Senators Clinton, Schumer, and Pryor  have adopted a public tone of defeat and compromise without some clearance from those who hold the key to their political futures?