In the wake of the unsuccessful vote for Craig Becker's nomination for the NLRB, AFL-CIO head Richard Trumka says it's time for Obama to break through the gridlock.
"We support President Obama's expressed willingness to make recess appointments of critical posts in the federal government if that's what it takes to get around minority delay and obstruction," says an official statement from AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. "There are currently more than 60 political nominees being held up by the Republican minority in the Senate - at this point in the Bush Administration, only four nominees were still in limbo."
In so doing, Trumka joins Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in arguing that it's appropriate for the President to circumvent GOP obstruction.
Recess appointments answer fire with fire, and breaking through Rebublican and ConservaDem obstruction. Politically, the White House has all the cover it needs now to find a way around these blocks. The Presidents' Day Recess is next week. Obama needs to make good on his threat to use recess appointments and just do it.