Obama Appoints Two Democratic Nominees to NLRB, Leaves GOP Nominee Behind

[Joanne98]

Today President Obama announced a series of recess appointments, including – count ‘em – two seats on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Both appointees, Craig Becker and Mark Pearce, are Democrats nominees. A third nominee, Brian Hayes, a staffer for Senator Mike Enzi, was left behind to be voted on by the Senate.

The NLRB is the federal agency that oversees the laws relating to union organizing, and for more than two years, the NLRB has had just two of its five members. Those two members – one Democrat, one Republican – have had to set aside hundreds of cases on which they could not agree in anticipation of at least a third member. On the cases the two NLRB members have decided, anti-worker advocates contested the validity of those decisions all the way up to the Supreme Court this week. While discussing the extended NLRB vacancies, Chief Justice Roberts asked, “And the recess appointment power doesn’t work why?”

Obama finally wondered the same thing and put Becker and Pearce on the NLRB. I had worried about a recess appointment of just Becker, as the Republicans could have easily held up Pearce for revenge. So it’s good to see Obama take AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka’s advice and appoint both Democratic nominees.

Now, the problem is that the appointments of Becker and Pearce will only last until the end of this Senate session – the end of 2010 – as opposed to the normal four years of an NLRB term. That means in the next session of Congress, with fewer Democratic Senate seats, there’s going to be yet another fight to staff the NLRB. And there’s no expectation Republicans will think about lifting a finger to make sure the NLRB can function. I wrote this right before Becker’s nomination was returned by the Senate:

http://workinprogress.firedoglake.com/2010/03/27/obama-appoints-two-democratic-nominees-to-nlrb-leaves-gop-nominee-behind/

This is a fight that will never end. But for the time being, the National Labor Relations Board can get to work – with a 3-1 Democratic majority. It will be a better remainder of 2010 for workers

[Bitwit1234]

1. I think it is time we start to take charge.

bush did what he wanted, in appointing during recess, why in the devil is Obama just starting to do this. I think we should show the republicans WE ARE IN CHARGE. WE WON THE ELECTION. THEY ARE THE MINORITY. THEY ARE TRASH AND SHOWING IT MORE AND MORE EACH DAY. I would just do what I want and hope that every single move Obama does shows the republicans they are low down dirty common bunch of something not worthy of being called Americans.

[Sanity Claws]

2. Don't be so sure that there will be fewer Dem Senators next term

Republicans may have hurt themselves more than they thought with their Hell No policy.

[janet118]

3. I guess our President has had ENOUGH!!!! n/t

[Earth Bound Misfit]

4. K N R

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfPg5LjGYz8