Harry Blackmun

“ Reading the policymaker exclusion in light of the other categories of employees listed with it, I conclude that the class of "appointee [s] on the policymaking level" should be limited to those officials who share the characteristics of personal staff members and immediate advisers, i.e., those who work closely with the appointing official and are directly accountable to that official. ”

“ The amendment would provide, for the purposes of the bill and for the basic law, that an elected individual is not an employee and, th [e] refore, the law could not cover him. The next point is that the elected official would, in his position as an employer, not be covered and would be exempt in the employment of certain individuals. ”

“ Senator Javits asked "to have overnight to check into what would be the status of that rather large group of employees," noting that he "realize [d] that . . . Senator [Ervin was] . . . seeking to confine it to the higher officials in a policymaking or policy advising capacity." ”

“ In construing an undefined statutory term, this Court has adhered steadfastly to the rule that " ' " 'words grouped in a list should be given related meaning,' " ' " Dole v. Steelworkers, 494 U.S. 26, ----, 110 S.Ct. ”