Tom Harkin: “with only half an hour to go, we are here today to consider two things, but I think most important--and what is on…”

“with only half an hour to go, we are here today to consider two things, but I think most important--and what is on everyone's mind now--is the nomination of Harold Craig Becker to serve as a member of the National Labor Relations Board. I first wish to thank my colleague from Ohio for a very poignant and pointed and very clear kind of laying out of what this is really all about. So I thank Senator Brown for that. While I am always proud to discuss the accomplishments of a highly qualified nominee such as Mr. Becker, it is unfortunate we got to this point. Last year, we had an agreement with the Republicans on the HELP Committee that we would move Mr. Becker's nomination as a package, along with the other two pending nominees for the Board, one of whom is a Republican. Well, what happened is, at the end of the year, under the rules of the Senate, one Senator on the Republican side objected to having Mr. Becker continue on the calendar.”