House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) claimed on Friday that the National Labor Relations Board had refused to comply with a subpoena the committee issued on Sunday. The subpoena asked for documents related to the NLRB’s action against Boeing, and requested they be sent by today at noon.
“The National Labor Relations Board and Acting General Counsel Lafe Solomon have thus far failed to comply with a lawful subpoena,” Issa said in a statement Friday afternoon. “This refusal by NLRB to abide by the law further heightens concerns that this is a rogue agency acting improperly. The integrity of NLRB and its leadership is clearly in question.”
The NLRB did send 4,300 pages of documents, according to a letter from Solomon, which “should provide sufficient information to allow the Committee to assess the legal merit of the Boeing complaint,” the letter insisted. But Solomon maintained that “full compliance with the subpoena would unquestionably jeopardize the constitutional due process rights of the parties to the case.” The letter also claimed that “the subpoena threatens to undermine the Agency’s independence.”
The NLRB’s letter came shortly after three prominent Democrats – Reps. Elijah Cummings (MD), John Conyers (MI), and George Miller (CA) – asked Issa to withdraw his subpoenas. “You may personally disagree with the laws Congress enacted to protect workers against discrimination,” the three lawmakers said in a letter Friday. “You may also disagree with the judge’s decision in this case upholding the laws. But it is not a legitimate use of the committee’s authority to circumvent those laws on behalf of corporate interests.”
But Issa maintained that the Boeing probe is purely rooted in the public interest:
The public has a right to know the truth about why a government agency would choose to take action to benefit organized labor that threatens thousands of non-union jobs in South Carolina while setting a precedent impacting manufacturers across the country.
It is imperative that Congress get complete facts about NLRB’s decision-making process in this matter. Its continued refusal to fully cooperate will not deter this Committee as it moves forward in efforts to determine what occurred and to hold NLRB officials to account.
Isn't it against the law to ignore a subpoena? Can't they issue an arrest warrant? Someone has to stand up to these thugs Chicago style behavior. You know they're being advised by the WH.
Under Obama they are exempt from the law.
Whats to hide? The bigger question is why,and do they have the right to not comply.
The problem with America is half the leadership does the right thing while the other half fights it!
the NLRB is a public service where THERE is the ONLY independence! since the NLRB themselves show no interest and conduct no actions to service the PUBLIC as required, but only "special interests" with the publics MONEY, the removal of the NLRB must necessitate. Replace in the private sector where there's more respect for the public that doesn't become a conflict of interest.
If those in public service show no standing on accountability, they are below the standard of an American public servant and not worth the publics money. We're being taken advantage of, please clean house!!
The first victim of Obama's tyranny was the rule of law. The second was the economy. The first was caused by his arrogance and the second by his ignorance.
I liked this quote so much I put it on my screen saver ! Kudos Thomas!
When will the Sgt. at Arms be executing on a search warrant?
Stay on them, Congressman. Even to one the 'unwashed masses' (myself) this is an egrigious overreach by a Federally appointed Agency. And the fact that the latest member of the NLRB is a contrivercial recess appointment only exacerbates the matter.
This is completely despicable and I hope Mr. Issa does not forgo his duties to get to the bottom of this unconstitutional agency that has assumed such enormous power under the guise of protecting the public good.
They are buying time trying to figure out how to either destroy or bury the damning potential discovery and what to do about potential witness testimony.
The only power Congress holds presently is the majority in the House. Is the NLRB more powerful than the House of Representatives? Congressman Issa needs to take this personally and prove to NLRB that it is
NOT independent.
We will base our next vote for or against Congressman Issa's re-election on his handling of the NLRB's (read Obama's) intransigence.
Stay on them, please don't give up. The freedom of this country is at stake. Since when does government determine where a company sets up shop?
They ignore every thing, I hope they ignore the fact we will be hunting for traitors next term…
Stay on them Congressman. For the NLRB to think what they are trying to do is within their control is beyond me. Don't back off and get the documents. Hang tough for the people.
Can the House cut NLRB's funding?
So much for "Transparency" in this administration… I guess it stinks so much they can't uncover the rotting corpse that is beneath.. their day of reckoning is comming, and I'm sure the NLRB is freaked out about their prospects after the elections in 2012.. It's just annother reason to abolish clowns like the NLRB..
Arrests need to be made now…lawful supoenas cannot be ignored without consequense or by stating that "information already provided should be sufficient". Who do they think they are?
What does this subpoena have to do with "laws enacted by Congress to protect workers from discrimination", Congressmen Cummings, Conyers and Miller? Where is the discrimination? How does the interstate commerce clause, I presume, gives the NLRB any authority to even question Boeing's move?
"integrity", "leadership", "independence". Those words should never be applied to this bunch of Obama
appointees. Neither should they ever be applied to their learder, Obama. Does anyone not see the pattern here? This Obama led administration will not only NOT respond when asked, they attack anyone that dare ask question or object to their motives. But more important, they are sending a message to those that would even consider questioning their policies to not bother because they have no intentions to respond.
Do away with the NLRB it does nothing but Have Jimmy Hoffa type THUGS in the Gov. Name one thing over the years that the NLRB has accomplished just some place for appt. by the President to hide a THUG. Did not the last one Bye-pass Congress? Yes he did, The Master Thug did it on recess.
As a business owner I was appalled months ago to hear that the NLRB was trying to tell a business (it doesn't matter if it is large or small) where they can locate. Huge consequences if they succeed. To put that much power in a small board is not right and is circumventing the legislative process.
Make the dogs of NLRB heal to the "will of the people!" Congress cannot abrogate it's over-site responsibility for the sake of Union or the source of Socialist Democratic election funds.
Why am I feeling like there is huge mounds of garbage we have to go through every time we deal with Unions or the National Labor Relations Board?
I have never seen so many smart commenters in one place! I have nothing to add except my ditto about the quote from Thomas.
Well maybe one other thing….as we begin looking for places to reduce spending the NLRB ought to be in the crosshairs.
Those named in the subpoena to produce NLRB documents are in contempt of Congress. The appropriate action would be to have the Sergeant at Arms and Congressional Police arrest those officials and hold them in custody until the contempt is cured (by full compliance with the subpoena).
I hear that the DC jail is a real hell-hole. I doubt that any pampered, arrogant bureaucrat would remain there even one minute longer than necessary.
The course of the BHO administration has always been the arrogation of power. Take it, hold it, exercise it, and defy anyone to stop you. The oversight committee has been given the perfect opportunity to draw the proverbial line in the sand.
NLRB would prefer Boeing built the new plant in China? Our taxes at work in an upside down administration.