Another conservative Democrat steps on labor's neck to shore up his support on the right. After Nelson and the united Republicans kill this nomination, will they confirm the next one? Don't bet on it. More than one year into the Obama administration and the NLRB is still trying to operate with only two of the five seats filled.
By MANU RAJU | 2/8/10 7:11 PM EST
from Politico
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) said Monday that he'll support a GOP-led filibuster over President Barack Obama's nominee to the National Labor Relations Board.
Photo: Reuters
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) announced Monday evening that he will support a Republican-led filibuster over President Barack Obama's nominee to serve on the National Labor Relations Board.
The move is likely to infuriate labor groups who have fought hard for Craig Becker's nomination to serve on the five-member NLRB - and will likely give Republicans enough support to sustain a filibuster Tuesday.
“Mr. Becker’s previous statements strongly indicate that he would take an aggressive personal agenda to the NLRB, and that he would pursue a personal agenda there, rather than that of the administration,” Nelson said in a statement. “This is of great concern, considering that the board’s main responsibility is to resolve labor disputes with an even and impartial hand."
Nelson, a conservative Democrat up for reelection in 2012, has seen his approval ratings drop sharply since he lent his support for Obama's health care bill in December and secured deals for Nebraska's Medicaid payments.
His latest decision could help him tout his independent credentials back home, but will likely generate anger from the left, which says Becker is a well-qualified nominee who has been denigrated by his opponents.
Republicans have tried to make Becker's nomination a referendum on the Employee Free Choice Act, which would make it easier to unionize. In his statement, Nelson said Becker has made several statements that "fly in the face of Nebraska’s Right to Work laws."
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