Marathon Pundit: McConnell statement on the so-called recess appointments to the NLRB

Wednesday, January 04, 2012

McConnell statement on the so-called recess appointments to the NLRB

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for the second time today issued a so-called recess appointment statement.

Louisville, KY – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell issued the following statement today regarding the President’s unprecedented recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board:

Just hours after he circumvented the American people by 'recess' appointing Richard Cordray to the CFPB, the President has upped the ante by making several additional recess appointments, this time to the NLRB. Although all of these appointments potentially raise legal and constitutional questions, the NLRB appointments are particularly egregious. Because the ;resident waited to nominate Sharon Block and Richard Griffin until just two days before the Senate was scheduled to adjourn last month, neither has undergone a single confirmation hearing or a single day of debate by the representatives of the American people. Congress has a constitutional duty to examine presidential nominees, a responsibility that serves as a check on executive power. But what the president did today sets a terrible precedent that could allow any future president to completely cut the Senate out of the confirmation process, appointing his nominees immediately after sending their names up to Congress. This was surely not what the framers had in mind when they required the president to seek the advice and consent of the Senate in making appointments.