Washington (CNN) – All 41 Republican senators have signed a letter warning President Obama not to appoint a controversial nominee to a federal agency overseeing relations between unions and employers.
Led by Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch and Arizona Sen. John McCain the GOP senators urged the president against putting union lawyer Craig Becker on the National Labor Relations Board during Congress' upcoming Easter break.
"We are writing to urge you not to overturn the bipartisan vote against the nomination of Craig Becker to be a Member of the National Labor Relations (NLRB) through a recess appointment," the senators state in the letter. "To do so would bypass the advice and consent traditions of the Senate."
Senate Republicans, along with Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Nebraska, and Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Arkansas, effectively blocked Becker's nomination to the NLRB on February 9.
Becker previously served as a lawyer for the Service Employees International Union and the AFL-CIO.
The GOP senators cast Becker as a radical whose past writings, their letter states, "clearly indicate that he would use his position on the NLRB to institute far-reaching changes in labor law."
"The Senate has made its feelings clear on Mr. Becker and his ability to serve in a fair and impartial manner as a member of the NLRB," McCain said in a statement.
But Democrats argue Becker is qualified to sit on the National Labor Relations Board.
From CNN Politics
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Are you kidding me? Republican George W. Bush had more recess appointments than any other president in history. Give me a break with the "senate traditions" crap, you didn't care when it was your turn.
IOKIYAR: It's OK If You're A Republican
Seriously, we live in a democracy, you lost.
The sad thing is that we actually need Conservatives to present their ideas and balance Liberals, but you have to stop the crazy hipocrisy first. It's really, really hard to take you seriously.
Oh, it was fine for Bush when he did it for the Ambassador to the United Nations but not to the National Labor Relations Board. These hypocrites never cease to amaze me.
President Obama MUST avoid you cons that have stated:
1. "Bi-partisanship is over-rated" Michael Steele head of the RNC.
2. "We will NOT work with Dems for the rest of this year" McCrypt former Red candidate for President
3. "We will use Health Care Reform to break this President" and "This will be President Obama's "Waterloo" DeMint current republiKKKan representative of some back water state.
These are NOT statements from the racist, frenzied, frothing fringe know as the tea baggers, no, these are the supposed LEADERS of the republiklans.
The tea baggers appear too busy breaking windows and on the phone .
Bypass them President Obama and nominate who you want, I for one think the TSA without a permanent leader is a breach of security, so correct it during the Easter break.
Tell the Reds, you are just doing what King George the II did during his reign of error.
Hey Repubs how many recess appointments were made in the past 8 years? Don't remember you crying then.
Did Bush did it?
Yes.
Were they against Bush doing it?
Of course not, Bush was a Republican elected as President of the US.
Which means that their opposition is based on the political affiliation of the POTUS and his policies?
Yes.
If the President was a Republican, would the Dems act just like those Senators?
OF COURSE!!!
We have had 2 of a 5 member board since 2007 because Congress can't agree to any Presidential appointments. Some of those 2 member board decisions are being ruled unlawful. It is way past time to get these seats filled to get the business of the government done. President Obama has appointed 3–Republicans threaten to filibuster them. Obama should just give them recess appointments. In fact, he should just give recess appointments to all his nominees that the Republicans are refusing to approve. Get the business of the government running.
Warn? Who are Republicans to warn our President of anything? A bunch of know-nothing dweebs. You, go, President Obama and appoint whomever you wish. They have held up enough nominations.
But it was just fine for Bush to do the same thing with Bolten the UN representative.....How can you tell if a republican is being hypocritical....his lips are moving!!!
In other words, the Republicans are urging Obama not to be like Bush.
Another show, while he secretly is promoting this violence. Boehner is a modern day neo-con jihadist.
I am so sick of their so called warnings! Where were their warnings when GW Bush was in office destroying the country?
And also bypass the true citizans of these United States. This man must be stopped. Can we afford to wait until 2012. IMPEACH THIS MAN NOW.
President Obama still has a huge debt to pay the unions. Apparently appointing Andy Stern from SEIU to one committee wasn't enough. Like the Pres. said in 2007, SEIU's agenda is HIS agenda. He'll name Becker to pay his dues to his bosses – the unions, not America.