A Senate committee has approved President Obama’s three nominees to serve on the National Labor Relations Board. The next step would be consideration by the full Senate, but Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) says he has strong reservations about one of Obama’s choices, Democrat Craig Becker, a union attorney. McCain says he will put a “hold” on Becker’s nomination, blocking a floor vote.
The Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Oct. 20 voted 15-8 along party lines to approve the nomination of Becker, currently associate general counsel to the Service Employees International Union and the AFL-CIO. By a voice vote, the panel also cleared the other two nominees: Democrat Mark Pearce, a long-time union attorney, and Republican Brian Hayes, who most recently has been labor policy director for Sen. Mike Enzi (Wyo.), the committee’s top GOP member.