By Edwin S. Hopson
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions held an Executive Session on October 21, 2009, on numerous nominations including those of three nominees for the National Labor Relations Board:
Harold Craig Becker-a Democrat and assistant general counsel for the AFL-CIO and SEIU;
Mark Gaston Pearce-a Democrat and a lawyer in private practice who has represented unions;
Brian E. Hayes-a Republican and currently a Congressional staffer who was previously in private practice on the management side.
All three were voted to the floor. However, Mr. Becker's nomination was voted separately and passed with several Republican Senators on the committee voting no.
Senator John McCain, according to published reports will be seeking to put a "hold" on Becker's nomination. Senator McCain had called for a full hearing on Mr. Becker's nomination which was not done.