WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama recess-appointed three members to the National Labor Relations Board on Wednesday, bypassing fierce opposition from Republicans who claim the agency has leaned too far in favor of unions.

The appointments came just hours after Obama used a similar move to install former Ohio Atty. Gen. Richard Cordray to head the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

http://news.yahoo.com/obama-bypasses-senate-fill-labor-board-posts-202441721.html

I don't like that, that can be done.
I didn't like It before ( past administrations did it) and i still don't like it. Makes no diff. Which party is in the big chair.
In my opinion if the appointments can't pass the mustard when all branches are present, then 2 bad, maybe there is a reason. If the person is qualified then maybe they should get it unless there is another reason.
And should that reason be only a power play then maybe those nimrods who work for US better start understanding, "THEY WORK FOR US".
What a crock of crap.

Obama and I dare say most Americans are completely fed up with the
Congress trying to strangle Govt agencies by refusing to even
consider nominees.

They have no quarrel with the actual appointees or their qualifications
but they simply try to keep the agencies from functioning by not bringing
up the nominees for a fair consideration.

I think that Obama's forcing of the issue by making the appointments
during recess is actually a brilliant move politically. Congress
approval is at an all time low because of these shenanigans and voters
are p.o.'d at them. Obama adeptly shows that he will not tolerate the
obstructionist BS and he looks strong and active and able to surmount
Congressional dirty pool.

Congress just looks like ineffective dingdongs trying to keep these
agencies from functioning in a petty tantrum....

They presented Obama with a golden opportunity and he is making the
best out of it for sure.

I agree, and I see it as a consequence of the idiotic level of two-party fanaticism we have in this country. The two parties aren't even that different in this country, and yet a majority ally themselves with one party or the other and are convinced that the other part is 'wrong' and 'must be stopped'. blech.

Yep. Doing it to themselves again just like the Govt shutdown in '95 and '96.

So because both parties can't agree on he presidents appointee it's ok for the president to bypass the constitution and just appoint who he wants anyway? Sounds a little dictatorish to me.

I suppose the fact that the 3 are labor lawyers with ties to the AFL-CIO had absolutely nothing to do with them being scrutinized..

Nothing political here...

According to a White House press release, President Obama recess appointed Sharon Block, Terence Flynn and Richard Griffin to the NLRB, bringing the Board back to its full 5-member status (the 3 new recess appointees join member Hayes and Chairman Pearce who remain after member Becker’s recess appointment ended yesterday).

The move is clearly intended to energize labor unions, who want to keep the NLRB in business in 2012 and are critical to Obama’s re-election hopes.


Sharon Block, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor. Between 2006 and 2009, Ms. Block was Senior Labor and Employment Counsel for the Senate HELP Committee, where she worked for Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Ms. Block previously served at the National Labor Relations Board as senior attorney to Chairman Robert Battista from 2003 to 2006 and as an attorney in the appellate court branch from 1996 to 2003. From 1994 to 1996, she was Assistant General Counsel at the National Endowment for the Humanities, and from 1991 to 1993, she was an associate at Steptoe & Johnson. She received a B.A. in History from Columbia University and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center where she received the John F. Kennedy Labor Law Award.

Terence F. Flynn, currently detailed to serve as Chief Counsel to NLRB Board Member Brian Hayes. Mr. Flynn was previously Chief Counsel to former NLRB Board Member Peter Schaumber, where he oversaw a variety of legal and policy issues in cases arising under the National Labor Relations Act. From 1996 to 2003, Mr. Flynn was Counsel in the Labor and Employment Group of Crowell & Moring, LLP, where he handled a wide range of labor and employment issues, including collective bargaining negotiations, litigation of unfair labor practices, defense of ERISA claims, and wage and hour disputes, among other matters. From 1992 to 1995, he was a litigation associate at the law firm David, Hager, Kuney & Krupin, where he counseled clients on federal, state, and local employment and wage hour laws, NLRB arbitrations, and other labor relations disputes. Mr. Flynn started his law career at the firm Reid & Priest, handling labor and immigration matters from 1990 to 1992. He holds a B.A. degree from University of Maryland, College Park and a J.D. from Washington & Lee University School of Law.

Richard Griffin, General Counsel for International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE). He also serves on the board of directors for the AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee, a position he has held since 1994. Since 1983, he has held a number of leadership positions with IUOE from Assistant House Counsel to Associate General Counsel. From 1985 to 1994, Mr. Griffin served as a member of the board of trustees of the IUOE’s central pension fund. From 1981 to 1983, he served as a Counsel to NLRB Board Members. Mr. Griffin holds a B.A. from Yale University and a J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law.

http://lrionline.com/breaking-obama-recess-appoints-3-to-nlrb

Obama's really pissing off the voters in an election year. Axelrod isn't helping him either running his mouth off in the media.

Got to agree with this...been watching this one and listened to Obama "explain" it all away yesterday I can't speak for other voters, can't speak for the population as a whole, but he sure is pissing me off and he has been since he took office!...Obama seems to thrive on party separation, he uses it as a way to defend his need to dictate....Not good...