Tuesday, February 9, 2010

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GOP's to test new power during Tuesday vote

WASHINGTON -- Today marks the first test of Senate Republicans' new voting clout as they attempt to block President Barack Obama's choice of a union attorney for the National Labor Relations Board.

Senate Democrats need 60 votes to clear a GOP procedural hurdle to advance Craig Becker to a final Senate confirmation vote. That's one more than they have since Scott Brown of Massachusetts was sworn into office last week.

The Democrats' task turned more difficult when Sen. Ben Nelson, a conservative Nebraska Democrat who faces re-election this fall, said last night he would join Republicans in opposing Becker.

Republicans have held up Becker's confirmation for months, saying they fear he will push an aggressive union agenda at the agency that referees labor disputes between unions and management.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)