From the GOP members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, a news release, “HELP Committee Republicans Express Strong Concerns with Recent NLRB Complaint Against Boeing“:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Republicans, led by Ranking Member Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), today wrote to the Acting General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to express their strong concerns with the recent decision to file a complaint against Boeing for announcing plans to open a production facility in South Carolina.  The senators wrote that they are troubled by the chilling effect this action could have on other business decisions across the country….

“We have a duty to ensure that the National Labor Relations Act is being enforced in a fair manner,” wrote the senators.  “In this and other decisions, we believe that you have ignored the proper balance set forth in the Act between the employees’ right to collectively bargain and the employers’ right to due process.  We question the legal reasoning and motive behind the complaint, as well as the proposed remedy to force Boeing to move its additional production line to Washington State.”

The full letter is here. Other members of the committee who signed the letter include Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Richard Burr (R-SC), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Rand Paul (R-KY), Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT), John McCain (R-AZ), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL).

UPDATE (12:10 p.m.): The letter closes with a political shot across the bow. The letter was addressed to Lafe Solomon, the NLRB’s acting general counsel who actually filed the complaint against The Boeing Company at the instigation of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Engineers. The NLRB’s general counsel position requires Senate confirmation, and President Obama nominated Solomon to a four-year term in early January.

The Senators write: “While we understand the complaint process is still in the early stages, there is a need for the Board to explain the reasoning in this case to Congress. As your nomination is brought before our Committee, we will be asking for a greater explanation of your actions.”