CWA Statement on Anniversary of the "Gang of 14"

WASHINGTON, DC - The Communications Workers of America today released the following statement:

“Eight years ago this month, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist threatened to change the Senate rules.  As a result, seven Democrats and seven Republicans - dubbed the ‘Gang of 14’ - reached an agreement to break the Senate logjam to allow the Senate to vote on presidential nominees.

“Today, Republicans have since shredded the ‘Gang of 14’ deal and the subsequent gentleman’s agreement that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell made at the beginning of this session, and they’ve resorted to obstruction by any means possible. Federal courts, as well as a number of government agencies, are unable to operate because of unprecedented filibustering of President Barack Obama’s nominations. 

“Critical government functions are threatened by this obstruction.

“At a recent hearing to confirm a full five-member, bipartisan National Labor Relations Board, Senator Lamar Alexander, the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, stated his intention to block the confirmation vote even though the nominees are qualified.

“If Senate Republicans continue to block votes on presidential nominees, the Senate’s Democratic majority has the ability to change the Senate rules on nominations.

“Obama’s nominees deserve an up-or-down vote. We don’t need another handshake agreement. It’s time for real change.”

Visit www.GiveUs5NLRB.org for more information. 

Contact: Candice Johnson or Kendra Marr Chaikind, CWA Communications, 202-434-1168, cjohnson@cwa-union.org and kmarr@cwa-union.org