Senate panel approves labor board nominee Becker

(AP) — A Senate panel has narrowly approved the nomination of union lawyer Craig Becker to become a member of the National Labor Relations Board.

But the loss of a Democratic seat in the Senate could mean that Becker won't take the post anytime soon. Arizona Sen. John McCain has vowed to place a hold on the nomination. When newly elected Republican Scott Brown is sworn in later Thursday, Democrats will no longer have the 60 votes needed to overcome a GOP filibuster.

Republicans claim that Becker would make pro-union changes on the NLRB without congressional approval. The 13-10 party line vote in committee sends Becker's nomination to the Senate floor, where a vote could come as soon as next week.