Obama rewards the SEIU
Once again Mr. Obama has thumbed his nose at the American people. Emboldened by his big win in passing ObamaCare, the future former president placed both of his thumbs squarely on the American worker's windpipe and squeezed. With the U.S. Senate in recess Mr. Obama moved quickly to wield his executive sword to fill a number of federal positions including the appointment of Craig Becker to the NLRB.
This past week all 41 U.S. Senate Republicans sent a letter to Mr. Obama requesting that he not use the recess to force Becker's appointment to the NLRB and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce sent a separate letter to the president on behalf of numerous business groups that oppose this disastrous appointment.
Mr. Becker's appointment has been on hold since his nomination last year, even though at the time the Democrats had a filibuster proof majority. According to The Foundry.
Even in Becker's policies were remotely mainstream, his role as AFL-CIO/SEIU super lawyer [9], his prior work for Obama, and his association with ACORN all raise questions about his nomination. Becker is currently associate general council for the SEIU, the same position he held when, as part of the Obama transition team, Becker drafted Executive Order 13496 [10], "requiring government contractors and subcontractors to post a Notice of Employees Rights under Federal Labor Laws." Although Becker claimed he was on "vacation" while working with the Obama transition team [11], allowing a high ranking, paid member of organized labor to draft executive orders benefiting (surprise!) organized labor contradicts the President's pledge to enforce a high standard of governmental transparency.
And then there is the ACORN issue. Although Becker rejects the charges that he has ever done work for ACORN, he did admit that he "worked with and provided advice to" SEIU Local 880 in Chicago. Yes, that SEIU Local 880 in Chicago [12]. In fact, ACORN co-founder Wade Rathke has praised Becker for his "contributions [13]."
We can clearly see that Mr. Becker's tainted appointment is little more than a payback to the SEIU for their help in the election of Mr. Obama and their nefarious role in the passage of ObamaCare. Andy Stern (frequent W.H. guest) and the SEIU stand to gain substantially from ObamaCare in the future and now they have been rewarded with immediate gratification in having one of their own wielding power at the NLRB. Another coup for the Obama administration in their quest to stamp out democracy, a process that is becoming increasingly transparent!
Mr. Obama and his family are spending a quiet weekend at Camp David after having instructed the White House to issue a statement covering the controversial appointment. Gee, another quiet after hours announcement made while the future former president sneaks away some R&R on the taxpayer's dime. Is Mr. Obama intentionally trying to provoke a crisis?
Phil Boehmke