Though there’s been no official announcement, the New York Times is reporting that the White House will renominate Craig Becker to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Obama’s original nomination of Becker was sent back by the U.S. Senate on Dec. 24, 2009, for reconsideration.

Becker met a hailstorm of criticism from Republicans and business interests when he was first nominated, largely due to his call for a gag order and an enforceable hands-off policy for businesses facing union organization. In other words, the organizers should have free rein, but employers should shut up and disappear.

Should Becker be renominated, it’s unlikely that his critics would suddenly back off, which makes one wonder why Obama doesn’t use a recess appointment to put Becker in office.