Nomination fights return to the Senate
Nomination fights return to the Senate
Senate leaders are girding for a difficult fight over President Barack Obamas nominations in the coming weeks that could again raising the specter of a possible rules change in the chamber.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said on Tuesday he intends to push ahead on six nominations, several of which are proving controversial among Republicans. In the face of GOP opposition particularly toward Obamas picks to join powerful court and lead a key housing regulator Reid on Monday teed up a series of procedural vote over the coming week that will require 60 votes.
Im going to move forward on each one of these. Were not going to have one senator, two senators hold up these votes. People are going to have to belly up to the bar and vote on these nominations, Reid said.
Reid and his fellow Democrats got some good news when Richard Griffin cleared a Republican filibuster, 62-37, and advanced toward a 55-44 confirmation on Tuesday afternoon to be general counsel to the National Labor Relations Board. Democrats said Griffins progress was part of a deal to avert a Senate rules change known as the nuclear option by a majority vote this summer.
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http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/senate-nomination-fights-99049.html?hp=f1