Senate Republicans Call for Withdrawal of Labor Board Nominee

Washington, D.C. – Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, sent a letter to President Obama calling for the withdrawal of the nomination of Craig Becker to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). All Republican Senators signed onto the letter, which was sent to the White House yesterday.

“I oppose the nomination of Craig Becker absolutely. Over the past ten months, Mr. Becker has made his intention and bias clear.  The NLRB is meant to be an impartial authority ensuring organizing freedom in the workplace, not a politicized institution bent on increasing unionization rates at the cost of American jobs. Last year, Mr. Becker was appointed against the will of the Senate. This year, I urge President Obama to work with Senators to identify a replacement nominee,” Senator Enzi said.   

“Last year, the Senate rejected Mr. Becker’s nomination because there were serious questions as to whether he could remain impartial while serving on the NLRB.  These questions have not been resolved and, if anything, it is more clear now that Mr. Becker is more interested in furthering a pro-union political agenda than in upholding our nation’s labor laws.  If the President, as he stated in the State of the Union, is serious about relieving pressure on the business community and ushering in a new era of bipartisanship, he should withdraw the Becker nomination and work with us to find someone that both parties can support,” Senator Hatch said.

Mr. Becker’s record showed he supported expanding the role of the NLRB without Congressional authorization. Senators Enzi and Hatch stand ready to work with the President to identify a new nominee capable of receiving swift confirmation. Please click here to view the letter.