Rep. Scott: NLRB made Boeing decision to help Obama reelection campaign

Rep. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who represents the district housing the controversial Boeing plant currently being contested by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), said Thursday that he believes that the labor board makes decisions based on the interests of President Obama's reelection campaign.

"I absolutely think the NLRB is absolutely showing favoritism towards unions and things they believe strengthen the president's reelection campaign," Scott said on Fox News.

The House approved legislation sponsored by Scott Thursday that would prohibit the NLRB from dictating corporate decisions about where to open factories. The labor board brought a lawsuit against Boeing charging that the airplane manufacturer opened a plant for its new 787 Dreamliner in South Carolina, a right-to-work state, as retaliation for a strike by union employees in Washington state.

Democrats and union leaders have argued that the NLRB is an important tool in maintaining worker's rights and keeping jobs in the United States. But Republicans believe that the board is an example of government overreach and unnecessary regulation.

For his part, Scott is hoping that his bill will get a vote on the Senate floor. Although prospects are dim in the Democrat-controlled Senate, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has promised to fight for a floor vote on the legislation.

"If it does [get to the floor], I believe there will be enough senators on the Democratic side for this bill because it is really not an anti-union bill, it is an anti-federal government overreach bill," Scott said. "We have an opportunity to continue to work toward a legislative solution to the problem created by the regulatory environment."

But Scott acknowledged that the odds of legislative success were still long, and that the dispute was likely headed toward an arbitration or out-of-court settlement.

"Unfortunately, that means some back-room deal that does not work in favor of employees," Scott said.

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