U.S. top court may curb presidential appointment powers

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

POLITICS | Mon Nov 7, 2016 | 3:49pm EST

U.S. top court may curb presidential appointment powers

By Lawrence Hurley | WASHINGTON

Supreme Court justices, hearing a dispute over presidential powers a day before the U.S. election, indicated on Monday they might curb a president's authority to staff top administration posts in a case involving the National Labor Relations Board.

The eight justices heard an hour-long argument in a 2014 legal challenge brought by Arizona-based private ambulance company SW General Inc to President Barack Obama's temporary appointment of Lafe Solomon in 2011 as NLRB general counsel. Obama also nominated Solomon to fill the position permanently, a move that required U.S. Senate approval.

The company, a subsidiary of Envision Healthcare Holdings Inc, challenged Solomon's appointment after the labor board found SW General had committed an unfair labor practice by discontinuing bonus payments for long-term employees.

If SW General wins, the NLRB order would be thrown out because of Solomon's participation.

Solomon filled in for former general counsel Ronald Meisburg, who resigned in 2010. Obama withdrew Solomon's nomination after it stalled for more than two years. The Senate ultimately confirmed Richard Griffin to the post in 2013.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-appointments-idUSKBN1322IR

[tonyt53]

1. Again. Congress not doing its job.