Democrat Melissa Bean unseated longtime suburban Chicago Congressman Phil Crane last year. Over the years Crane had become unpopular, he had a reputation for being aloof, and there were claims he didn't visit the district much.
That district, Illinois' 8th, is has a reliable Republican base, however making Melissa Bean quite vulnerable in next year's election.
Bean did what I think was a great thing for her constituents: She voted for CAFTA, the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Her reasoning was sound: CAFTA will be a boon for the businesses and farms in the 8th congressional district.
Organized labor is not happy with Congresswoman Bean. Last week, the Northeastern Illinois Federation of Labor dumped their plan to honor Bean as it's person of the year. The reason? The CAFTA vote.
Yesterday, a group led by the Chicago Federation of Labor picketed her Schaumburg office because of CAFTA.
Now there's speculation that organized labor may field a primary challenger against Bean.
This of course will almost guarantee the 8th falls back into the Republican fold.
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