In his first sign of yielding to the incoming Republican majority in the Senate, President Obama Wednesday withdrew the nomination of Sharon Block for the National Labor Relations Board.
The move came after steadfast Republican opposition to Ms. Block because she was a recess appointment by the president. Mr. Obama installed her on the board in January 2012.
The president instead nominated Lauren McFerran, chief labor counsel for the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
Progressives, including Sen. Tom Harkin, Iowa Democrat and retiring chair of the HELP committee, were big supporters of Ms. Block’s nomination. But with the Republicans’ winning back the majority in the Senate last week, there was even less chance of her confirmation next year.
A total of 40 senators signed a letter in January asking NLRB members Ms. Block and Richard Griffin Jr. to withdraw because they were recess appointments.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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