Wanna Get Away?

A U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington just wiped out over 300 decisions made last year by the National Labor Relations Board. "All decisions handed down in 2008 by the NLRB are invalid because they were made by just two members of the board (out of 5)" and apparently 3 were needed to make a quorum. Who's mad at the democrats now for not confirming any of President George W. Bush's nominees?

In reality, the courts made two rulings that actually conflict with each other. In Chicago, the court said that a vote by the two members was appropriate and binding and then, in Washington an hour earlier, in another ruling, said that all decisions made in 2008 were invalid without a quorum.

Look for the Supreme Court to weigh in fairly soon as everything has now come to a standstill. Over 400 decisions have actually been made with the 2-man board over the last 16 months, so who knows how far this could really reach.

Former NLRB Chairman and Bush appointee, Robert Basttista thinks the consequences may not be too dire. He suggests that once the board has a quorum they may just be able to go back and ratify or otherwise reinstate those opinions decided by two members.

Here's hoping that he's right, what a friggin' mess. How does that Southwest Airlines commercial go--- "Wanna get away?"