Responding to a request from Congressman Darrell Issa (R. CA), David Berry, the Inspector General for the NLRB has determined Craig Becker's decision not to recuse himself in St. Barnabas Hospital was in compliance with various ethical guidelines.

President Obama will use recess appointments to by-pass Senate confirmation for 15 high level appointments including Craig Becker's appointment to the NLRB, as well as that of another Democrat, Mark Gaston Pearce.  The NLRB's press release is here. 

John Judis in this piece in The New Republic makes the case for President Obama to "put [Craig] Becker on the NLRB via recess appointment."

Labor Secretary Hilda Solis suggests action on the Becker NLRB appointment will please labor. Recess appointment? Not sure, but solis told labor leaders they would be "very pleased."

WaPo columnist Harold Meyerson penned a pessimistic piece postulating potential passage of labor reform has for the forth time been doomed by dallying Democrats. I think he's right. EFCA is certainly dead. Whether reform occurs by legislation or NLRB action remains a long shot. Hand-wringing about recess appointment of Craig Becker draws ire and comparison to Bush appointments.

Senate refuses to invoke cloture on the nomination of Craig Becker to the NLRB, 52-33. Fifteen no voters including Saints fans Vitter and Landrieu.

A cloture vote on the nomination of SEIU attorney Craig Becker is set for today. Congressional Quarterly has details.

The nomination of SEIU attorney Craig Becker was voted out of the Senate HELP Committee on a 13-10 straight party line vote.  In October, before the McCain hold on the nomination, two Republicans voted for Becker. Some echo chamber writers, (linked article removed) displaying a limited understanding of NLRB workings, rail against Becker and claim his appointment will result in implementation of card check recognition and mandatory arbitration of labor agreements. There are many valid reasons to oppose Becker if you are adverse to the labor position. There is little doubt seating Becker and President Obama's other two nominees would tilt the Board away from its Bush Board pro-management leanings. However, elimination of secret ballot elections and imposition of mandatory arbitration would require an amendment of the Act.