Staff Reports
Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, both of whom like to remind everyone that they are “independent” despite their former affiliations with the Democratic Party, just pulled off a plot twist worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster. With a bold move, they voted against President Biden’s nominee for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), effectively delivering a swift kick to the Democratic Party’s labor agenda. The Senate vote was a nail-biter, ending in a 49-50 failure that left many Democrats scratching their heads and wondering how once-favorable winds have turned so sour.
The rejection did not just stop potential legislators from popping the cork on their celebratory champagne; it opened the door for President-elect Donald Trump, who is preparing to take office in January, to nominate a more conservative candidate to fill that seat. The NLRB, a hotbed for determining the country’s labor relations, has become the battleground where unions and businesses clash like gladiators. With Democrats now lacking a majority, organized labor will have to brace itself for a future where their wishes might not be written in the law.
As Manchin and Sinema prepare to exit Congress, their votes have officially become a parting gift for their party. Democratic leaders are likely kicking themselves, wondering how they lost their grip on the NLRB when a couple of rogue senators decided to stick to their principles over party lines. Manchin, known for his previous opposition to prominent Democratic priorities like filibuster reform, continues to assert himself as a formidable swing vote that even his party struggles to predict. He has been vocal about wanting to protect small businesses from regulations he claims could jeopardize their very existence.
Manchin, Sinema Backstab Chuck Schumer, Tank Democrats' Last-Ditch Power Grabhttps://t.co/pIAES5v4s6
— JOSH DUNLAP (@JDunlap1974) December 11, 2024
Schumer, the ever-loyal Democrat, was far less thrilled about the turn of events, describing the outcome as a “direct attack on working people.” However, it seems the only ones really under attack are the Democrats themselves, who desperately needed this victory to maintain their grip on labor policy. The loss also means that organized labor groups, which lean heavily on the board’s decisions, are facing a future where they might find themselves sidelined. It’s a classic case of what’s good for business being at odds with progressive ideals—always a preferred plotline in the modern political drama.
With all eyes now on the incoming Trump administration, officials are already strategizing on how to tilt NLRB decisions back toward business interests. The appointment of a new, conservative-minded member could mean a seismic shift in labor relations, prompting cries from liberals that their hopes of a progressive wave have come crashing down. Both senators have solidified their legacies as dissenters of the Democratic establishment, likely ensuring their names will linger well past their tenure as they continue to revel in unpredictability. While Democratic leaders are left to mourn their losses, it appears Manchin and Sinema keep waving goodbye as they take the slow ride out of Congress, leaving a fulfilling sense of chaos in their wake.
