Cochran, Wicker Speak on Today’s Supreme Court Ruling on Obama’s Recess Appointments

WASHINGTON (Press Release) — U.S. Senators Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) issued the following statements regarding the Supreme Court’s ruling, by a vote of 9-0, that President Obama exceeded his authority when he invoked the Constitution’s provision on recess appointments to fill slots on the National Labor Relations Board in 2012:

“The Founding Fathers created our system of checks and balances in the Constitution to ensure that one branch of government doesn’t encroach on powers of the others. I’m pleased the Supreme Court protected our American liberties with its ruling that the executive branch, the Obama administration, exceeded its power and violated the Constitution with its approach to recess appointments,” Cochran said.

“President Obama’s blatant disregard for the separation of powers established by the Constitution is finally laid bare,” Wicker said. “No one, including the President, is above the law, and I am pleased the Supreme Court has recognized this executive overreach.”

The challenge to the recess appointments was brought by Noel Canning, a local, family-owned business in Washington state that bottles and distributes soft drinks. The company challenged the NLRB’s determination that it must enter into a collective bargaining agreement with a labor union.

Sens. Cochran and Wicker were joined by 43 Senate Republicans in signing an amicus brief in support of Canning’s challenge.