GOP senators hold hostage Obama’s public printer nominee over vacant NLRB slot

The senators, who are both known as fierce advocates of so called “right-to-work,” penned a letter to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in the summer explaining their position. 

“There is a 3-1 Democratic majority on the NLRB, which, in our view, is inappropriate, particularly given the number of controversial decision made by the Board in recent months,” they wrote on August 1. “Terence F. Flynn has been nominated to fill a vacant Republican slot on the NLRB, and, to date, very little progress has been made to move this nomination through the Senate.” 

In particular, Hatch and Isakson have adamantly objected to the NLRB’s decision to sue Boeing for opening a manufacturing plant for its new 787 Dreamliner jet in South Carolina. The NLRB sued Boeing, charging that the company picked South Carolina for new production in order to retaliate against its unionized workers in Washington State. South Carolina is a right-to-work state that generally bans union membership.

“We intend to object to any unanimous consent agreement involving Mr. Boarman’s nomination that does not also include the nomination Mr. Flynn,” the senators explained.