Catherwood LibraryILR School

A bipartisan effort helped end debate and bring to vote President Obama?s nomination for the National Labor Relations Board general counsel, Richard Griffin. Mr. Griffin was narrowly confirmed by a vote of 55 ? 44 that was largely split along party lines. Lisa Murkowski, a Senator from Alaska, was the only republican to vote affirmatively. Republican obstructionism has largely delayed any candidate nominated by Obama from coming to a vote and has left several positions in federal agencies vacant, including ones at the National Labor Relations Board and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Senate Democrats, in recent weeks, threatened to change the chamber?s rules in order to bring nominations to vote more quickly unless Republicans ceased blocking all nominations.