Financial disclosure documents filed by two of President Obama’s illegal appointments to the National Labor Relations Board show that one will continue to receive payments from a major labor union during his time on the board.
Richard Griffin, the former general counsel for the International Union of Operating Engineers, will receive regular payments under two different IUOE pension plans. The payment amounts are not listed on the disclosure form. He will also receive a single lump sum payment equal to three weeks of salary (one week for each of the three years since he enrolled in the plan). Griffin’s annual salary as the IUOE’s general counsel was $376,778, according to the disclosure form.
In his capacity as general counsel, we have noted, Griffin advanced policies that helped insulate corrupt union leaders from challenge.
Both Griffin and Sharon Block, who was also illegally appointed to the NLRB, filed ethics agreements with the U.S. Office of Government Ethics stating that they will not, in their capacity as NLRB members, participate in matters that might affect their personal finances. Assuming that agreement is adhered to, Griffin’s continued compensation by the IUOE is licit.
Below are the financial disclosure forms for both Griffin and Block.
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7 commentsHere's all the reason needed to bounce one of the recess appointments, besides the fact that the recess wasn't actually a recess.
"We" have to do all "we" can to collapse the economy, don't "we" Mr President? Go ahead Mr. President, speak for yourself.
Griffin's pension payments do not come from the Union. They come from an independent retirement plan. Payments from the union would be illegal. There is nothing remotely suspicious about this. He paid into the plan; he's now receiving its benefits. Is this even newsworthy?
Moreover, their "agreements with the U.S. Office of Government Ethics stating that they will not, in their capacity as NLRB members, participate in matters that might affect their personal finances" is required by law. There is a specific criminal statute prohibiting government officials from participating in programs that enhance their income for their government work and for working on matters in which they have a conflict of interest.
Again, this is newsworthy?
Mr. Kennedy, when government is involved nothing is procedural that doesn't benefit them. Illegally appointing people by the government we pay for is newsworthy when those that corrupt us aren't held accountable and have their hands out for benefits they didn't earn!
Maybe the appointments were illegal. Maybe not, given that the pro forma sessions were designed to prevent the president from making executive department appointments and were as phony as a $3 bill. (See the president's SOTU address). But, the fact is that the Office of Government Ethics does a good job of overseeing and educating appointees about their responsibilities. The OGE is doing that here as evidenced by the financial reports. You have nothing to fear from these appointees insofar as financial misconduct is concerned.
As for your claim that we are paying for those who corrupt us, etc., such a statement makes absolutely no sense. The Obama administration is not corrupt; no money is changing hands for government decisions. So what are you talking about?
"…hands out for benefits they didn't earn"? What does that even mean? Who are you talking about? I think your paranoia is making you say things that don't make sense. Who is corrupting "us" [you] and how?
7 percent of the private labor force is unionized, 35 percent of the government labor force is unionized, the weighted average is 8.3 percent. Obama appointed 3 members with union affiliation to the 5 member NLRB. Shouldn't the NLRB represent all labor? Shouldn't the president represent all citizens?
Is it any surprise that Unions hold Obama's leash?
http://www.zazzle.com/FirstPrinciples?rf=23851835…
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