Democrats in the U.S. House repaid the unions that supported their campaigns Thursday by passing a bill that would make it much easier for organized labor to start new locals.

The so-called Employee Free Choice Act, a typically misleading bill title, swept to a 241-185 victory on a nearly straight party-line vote. Colorado's four Democrats all voted yes, and the three Republicans no.

Fortunately, it's not likely to get through the Senate since supporters will have a hard time mustering the 60 votes needed to cut off debate. And even if it does survive there, President Bush has promised a veto.

But of course Bush will be president only for two more years, and who knows whether his successor will also be hostile to the idea.

H.R. 800, also called the card-check bill, would eliminate an employer's right to demand a secret ballot in a union organizing election. A union would be certified as soon as a majority of employees in a plant or office sign cards authorizing it. The current law entitles employers to require elections supervised by the National Labor Relations Board before a union is recognized.

Secret ballots aren't always a good thing. Elected legislators representing constituents should always cast a public vote. So should delegates elected by fellow party members to conventions. If you're representing somebody else, your vote needs to be made known.

But workers subject to a union organizing drive represent only themselves, just like ordinary voters on election day. Eliminating a secret ballot opens them up to pressure, even threats, from peers, organizers and managers alike.

Unions claim that union membership has dropped because employers work hard to kill organizing drives with meetings, one-on-one consultations and even firings. No doubt their pressure is high, but the employees get the final say with a secret ballot.

This bill is a bad one, and though it won't pass this year, it will be back.