Labor board nominees advance
Panel advances 5 labor board nominees, but 2 face Republican opposition
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A Senate panel has endorsed President Barack Obama's slate of five nominees to sit on the National Labor Relations Board. Two of them advanced despite strong GOP opposition.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee voted to send the nominees — three Democrats and two Republicans — to the full Senate.
Most Republicans senators on the panel voted against two of the Democratic nominees because they are currently sitting on the board as recess appointments. A federal appeals court has ruled that their appointments were unconstitutional, and GOP lawmakers say they should have stepped down.
The White House has appealed the court's decision and insists that all five nominees be approved as a group. But they are likely to need 60 votes to overcome GOP opposition.
