EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY

Obama Makes 15 Recess Appointments

Average waiting time has been 214 days.

President Obama has made 15 recess appointments, including approving two members of the National Labor Relations Board, because he says Republicans are holding up his nominations to score “political points.” Obama said the appointees had been left in limbo for an average of 214 days. "The United States Senate has the responsibility to approve or disapprove of my nominees,” Obama said. “But if, in the interest of scoring political points, Republicans in the Senate refuse to exercise that responsibility, I must act in the interest of the American people and exercise my authority to fill these positions on an interim basis.” The most controversial appointment? Labor lawyer Craig Becker--a strong supporter of the right to unionize--to the NLRB. On Thursday, Republican senators sent Obama a letter asking him not to make Becker a recess appointment.