Staff of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee last night made it known the nomination of David Michaels to head the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will not be included in the committee's markup session this morning. His absence is just a matter of paperwork, or so we're told, and does not necessarily mean that there will be a public hearing on the nomination -- a hearing that many business groups have been calling for.

Just for political/PR reasons, it's hard to see the HELP Committee holding a separate markup on Michaels alone -- too much attention -- so his confirmation may be slowed until another slate of labor-oriented candidates can be put together for committee action.

It appears the committee will act on the controversial nominee to the National Labor Relations Board, labor counsel Craig Becker. More at Shopfloor.org.