I believe the right way to resolve this is to put these two nominations up for a vote in the Senate.

I think this is a huge constitutional issue. And the reason that I believe that is, is that why wouldn't a president, a Republican or a Democrat, just simply bypass the Senate?

It means that abuse of the doctrine of advise and consent has paralyzed the ability of the National Labor Relations Board to do anything.

Some of us will like their decisions. Some will not.

The NLRB is supposed to, number one determine whether employers--employees wish to be represented by a union or, two, prevent and remedy employer and union unlawful acts called unfair labor practices.

We have three branches of government for a reason. And that reason is so that no one branch has too much power.

If they receive majority support, they will be appointed. They will make decisions.

I think there is a practical problem that has to be addressed here. And that is the board is not functioning because of this political stalemate.

I think if the purpose of a pro forma session is to avoid presidential appointments that is an invalid exercise of that clause.

This Constitution has worked. This is an important check and balance.

We have not marked up one bill or advanced one bill to the floor since the new majority took over that would accomplish that goal.

The public decided a different way.