Rob Andrews

The committee has not attempted to do so.

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

And let us get the board functioning again by insisting that the Senate take a vote, an up/down vote on the people who were nominated.

I think that we are here because the Senate I believe has abused the advise and consent clause.

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

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

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.

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.

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?

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

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

We have heard some very diverging views about what various policies should be of the National Labor Relations Board.

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.

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

Retirement security is an issue of great importance to millions of Americans, including me, so I thank you for having this hearing on the challenges facing multiemployer pension plans.

Thank you, Mr. Gotbaum. When do you think we would have results about 2012?

Ten million Americans benefit from a system that has served this country for many decades very well.

Thank you for beginning our gathering with the appropriate memorial to those who suffered such a loss in Connecticut and across the country.

I thank my friend. If we don't do this, 19 days from today 98 percent of the American people--really 100 percent of the American people--get a tax increase. They have more taken out of their checks. It will hurt shoppers in the stores…

I completely agree. Uniformity of treatment on that----

If the Congress doesn't address some huge fiscal issues confronting the country very soon, it may well cause a downgrade in the country's credit rating.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Chairwoman Foxx. And, colleagues, good morning.

I thank my friend for yielding. I agree completely with the gentlelady that human mistakes are made, but that is not what this is about. And certainly the House should review----